lt411

This drill is in its 8th year---FDNY has set the standard as to what IT wants for ANY mutual aid form ANY department. FDNY has desiginiated Westchester departments to cover the BRONX nothing more. Yonkers Raceway is the stageing area. OFPC with the help of WCDES Field Com checks the TRAINING RECORDS participents to make sure they meet the standard that FDNY has set. then they are given assigements and are escorted into the city.
Todays drill went off smoothly with the help of OEM and OFPC.
Citi Field is another staging area that uses Long Island companies that will cover Queens.
Is is my understanding that a third staging area is being developed on Staten Island for Coverage from NJ units. ALL participents must meet the FDNY standard.

Don't get your hopes up. Obviously it would be nice for Putnam County to require automatic sprinklers, but the real estate industry will protest that they "build to code". I can guarantee you that the status quo will remain on this subject.Hope I'm wrong!

We had an elderly gentleman who visited us daily at Headquarters for many years. He could hardly walk with his cane, but managed every day to make it up the hill to the firehouse. He wouldn't accept any help getting around.
I learned a lot about the job from senior men. I learned even more about life from daily chats with Al. He made me feel more comfortable in my own firehouse than some of my co-workers.
He's passed on now, and I hadn't thought about him for a while until this story brought back very fond memories.
The unsung about things that all people in emergency services do for others. Obviously, the Brothers in Lansing go above and beyond the call, each and every day. Humanity and decency; traits of our Brothers and Sisters everywhere across this country.
God Bless them all. Thanks for a very heartwarming story.

I covered a day tour at Eng 64 in the Bronx one day, and we had AM-BI (building inspection duty). The brothers were in a Parkchester bldg., and the MPO (chauffeur) and I were standing outside the rig on the sidewalk. Up walks a slightly disheveled fella in his mid 30's, and starts asking me questions (I can see the MPO smiling behind him). This fella was one of E64's buffs, and he was a "Rain man". He could tell me the fire alarm box number for any intersection in the Bronx; he asked what date I was appointed and he told me the dept. order number,and where I was assigned out of proby school; he told me what companies were disbanded since I was appointed- it was unreal. But yet when you asked him a simple current events question, he was clueless. He was one of E64's favorites. Firefighters seem to have a soft heart, everywhere. It's a nature of the beast, and a good one!

I covered a day tour at Eng 64 in the Bronx one day, and we had AM-BI (building inspection duty). The brothers were in a Parkchester bldg., and the MPO (chauffeur) and I were standing outside the rig on the sidewalk. Up walks a slightly disheveled fella in his mid 30's, and starts asking me questions (I can see the MPO smiling behind him). This fella was one of E64's buffs, and he was a "Rain man". He could tell me the fire alarm box number for any intersection in the Bronx; he asked what date I was appointed and he told me the dept. order number,and where I was assigned out of proby school; he told me what companies were disbanded since I was appointed- it was unreal. But yet when you asked him a simple current events question, he was clueless. He was one of E64's favorites. Firefighters seem to have a soft heart, everywhere. It's a nature of the beast, and a good one!

I covered a day tour at Eng 64 in the Bronx one day, and we had AM-BI (building inspection duty). The brothers were in a Parkchester bldg., and the MPO (chauffeur) and I were standing outside the rig on the sidewalk. Up walks a slightly disheveled fella in his mid 30's, and starts asking me questions (I can see the MPO smiling behind him). This fella was one of E64's buffs, and he was a "Rain man". He could tell me the fire alarm box number for any intersection in the Bronx; he asked what date I was appointed and he told me the dept. order number,and where I was assigned out of proby school; he told me what companies were disbanded since I was appointed- it was unreal. But yet when you asked him a simple current events question, he was clueless. He was one of E64's favorites. Firefighters seem to have a soft heart, everywhere. It's a nature of the beast, and a good one!

I covered a day tour at Eng 64 in the Bronx one day, and we had AM-BI (building inspection duty). The brothers were in a Parkchester bldg., and the MPO (chauffeur) and I were standing outside the rig on the sidewalk. Up walks a slightly disheveled fella in his mid 30's, and starts asking me questions (I can see the MPO smiling behind him). This fella was one of E64's buffs, and he was a "Rain man". He could tell me the fire alarm box number for any intersection in the Bronx; he asked what date I was appointed and he told me the dept. order number,and where I was assigned out of proby school; he told me what companies were disbanded since I was appointed- it was unreal. But yet when you asked him a simple current events question, he was clueless. He was one of E64's favorites. Firefighters seem to have a soft heart, everywhere. It's a nature of the beast, and a good one!

I covered a day tour at Eng 64 in the Bronx one day, and we had AM-BI (building inspection duty). The brothers were in a Parkchester bldg., and the MPO (chauffeur) and I were standing outside the rig on the sidewalk. Up walks a slightly disheveled fella in his mid 30's, and starts asking me questions (I can see the MPO smiling behind him). This fella was one of E64's buffs, and he was a "Rain man". He could tell me the fire alarm box number for any intersection in the Bronx; he asked what date I was appointed and he told me the dept. order number,and where I was assigned out of proby school; he told me what companies were disbanded since I was appointed- it was unreal. But yet when you asked him a simple current events question, he was clueless. He was one of E64's favorites. Firefighters seem to have a soft heart, everywhere. It's a nature of the beast, and a good one!

I covered a day tour at Eng 64 in the Bronx one day, and we had AM-BI (building inspection duty). The brothers were in a Parkchester bldg., and the MPO (chauffeur) and I were standing outside the rig on the sidewalk. Up walks a slightly disheveled fella in his mid 30's, and starts asking me questions (I can see the MPO smiling behind him). This fella was one of E64's buffs, and he was a "Rain man". He could tell me the fire alarm box number for any intersection in the Bronx; he asked what date I was appointed and he told me the dept. order number,and where I was assigned out of proby school; he told me what companies were disbanded since I was appointed- it was unreal. But yet when you asked him a simple current events question, he was clueless. He was one of E64's favorites. Firefighters seem to have a soft heart, everywhere. It's a nature of the beast, and a good one!

Don't get your hopes up. Obviously it would be nice for Putnam County to require automatic sprinklers, but the real estate industry will protest that they "build to code". I can guarantee you that the status quo will remain on this subject.Hope I'm wrong!

No sprinkler system;no hydrants;one fire division cider block wall(floor level ,extending 2 feet above the roof,placed one third from the exp.3 side of fire bldg. The division fire wall did its job, and prevented the fire from extending past it. Would have been nice to have had the very long bldg. divided up w/ more than that one wall (sprinklers would have been great,too). No one was allowed on the roof, which was metal trusses, and light-weight Q-decking on top.This was a very challenging fire due to numerous factors: smoke showing from numerous storage units (all locked w/ no master key) upon arrival;delayed alarm due to workmen reportedly trying to extinguish it themselves;no hydrants;limited manpower due to being a daytime/weekday fire. If you have any of these type of occupancies in your district, definitely have a pre-plan,which includes heavy emphasis on forcible entry of many units ASAP,and LOTS of manpower to find;confine;extinguish. It is a very hard type of fire to "look good at". Bottom line- nobody hurt;fire stopped at fire wall;insurance will rebuild bldg- occupants loss, is another question- don't know if they needed "renters insurance".
Stay safe!

No sprinkler system;no hydrants;one fire division cider block wall(floor level ,extending 2 feet above the roof,placed one third from the exp.3 side of fire bldg. The division fire wall did its job, and prevented the fire from extending past it. Would have been nice to have had the very long bldg. divided up w/ more than that one wall (sprinklers would have been great,too). No one was allowed on the roof, which was metal trusses, and light-weight Q-decking on top.This was a very challenging fire due to numerous factors: smoke showing from numerous storage units (all locked w/ no master key) upon arrival;delayed alarm due to workmen reportedly trying to extinguish it themselves;no hydrants;limited manpower due to being a daytime/weekday fire. If you have any of these type of occupancies in your district, definitely have a pre-plan,which includes heavy emphasis on forcible entry of many units ASAP,and LOTS of manpower to find;confine;extinguish. It is a very hard type of fire to "look good at". Bottom line- nobody hurt;fire stopped at fire wall;insurance will rebuild bldg- occupants loss, is another question- don't know if they needed "renters insurance".
Stay safe!

No sprinkler system;no hydrants;one fire division cider block wall(floor level ,extending 2 feet above the roof,placed one third from the exp.3 side of fire bldg. The division fire wall did its job, and prevented the fire from extending past it. Would have been nice to have had the very long bldg. divided up w/ more than that one wall (sprinklers would have been great,too). No one was allowed on the roof, which was metal trusses, and light-weight Q-decking on top.This was a very challenging fire due to numerous factors: smoke showing from numerous storage units (all locked w/ no master key) upon arrival;delayed alarm due to workmen reportedly trying to extinguish it themselves;no hydrants;limited manpower due to being a daytime/weekday fire. If you have any of these type of occupancies in your district, definitely have a pre-plan,which includes heavy emphasis on forcible entry of many units ASAP,and LOTS of manpower to find;confine;extinguish. It is a very hard type of fire to "look good at". Bottom line- nobody hurt;fire stopped at fire wall;insurance will rebuild bldg- occupants loss, is another question- don't know if they needed "renters insurance".
Stay safe!

No sprinkler system;no hydrants;one fire division cider block wall(floor level ,extending 2 feet above the roof,placed one third from the exp.3 side of fire bldg. The division fire wall did its job, and prevented the fire from extending past it. Would have been nice to have had the very long bldg. divided up w/ more than that one wall (sprinklers would have been great,too). No one was allowed on the roof, which was metal trusses, and light-weight Q-decking on top.This was a very challenging fire due to numerous factors: smoke showing from numerous storage units (all locked w/ no master key) upon arrival;delayed alarm due to workmen reportedly trying to extinguish it themselves;no hydrants;limited manpower due to being a daytime/weekday fire. If you have any of these type of occupancies in your district, definitely have a pre-plan,which includes heavy emphasis on forcible entry of many units ASAP,and LOTS of manpower to find;confine;extinguish. It is a very hard type of fire to "look good at". Bottom line- nobody hurt;fire stopped at fire wall;insurance will rebuild bldg- occupants loss, is another question- don't know if they needed "renters insurance".
Stay safe!

Just got back from 3 weeks trekking in Nepal, going up to Mt Everest base camp and climbing Kala Pathhar, across the valley from Everest (went with REI, the outdoor equipment company). Great trip!
Anyway, at the end of the trip we spent 2 days in the capital, Kathmandu. Almost one million people in the city. Fire protection comes out of ONE fire house, in Durbar square. Due to a language barrier, we didn't get too much info, but saw only 2 pieces of apparatus- an old British pumper, and a small rear-mount aerial ladder (I think they also have a tanker). These rigs had to be at least 20-30 yrs old, and were beat up and battered. There were 10 fireifghters on duty, none of them wearing the same clothing. Their turnout gear resembled 1960's style US gear, other than the British style helmets.
No fire hydrants in the city; cows roaming the streets (Hindu religion believes cows are sacred); old,old bldgs that were out-of square and looked like any type of tremor would cause a massive collapse;narrow streets;phone/cable/electric wires ( by the hundreds )overhead; and add in the fact that power is cut off twice a day,every day, for 5 hours each time in the entire city Despite all this, the Nepali people were so friendly and welcoming, and always cheerful.
As my grandfather always said: "In our country,we have much to be thankful for"!

Just got back from 3 weeks trekking in Nepal, going up to Mt Everest base camp and climbing Kala Pathhar, across the valley from Everest (went with REI, the outdoor equipment company). Great trip!
Anyway, at the end of the trip we spent 2 days in the capital, Kathmandu. Almost one million people in the city. Fire protection comes out of ONE fire house, in Durbar square. Due to a language barrier, we didn't get too much info, but saw only 2 pieces of apparatus- an old British pumper, and a small rear-mount aerial ladder (I think they also have a tanker). These rigs had to be at least 20-30 yrs old, and were beat up and battered. There were 10 fireifghters on duty, none of them wearing the same clothing. Their turnout gear resembled 1960's style US gear, other than the British style helmets.
No fire hydrants in the city; cows roaming the streets (Hindu religion believes cows are sacred); old,old bldgs that were out-of square and looked like any type of tremor would cause a massive collapse;narrow streets;phone/cable/electric wires ( by the hundreds )overhead; and add in the fact that power is cut off twice a day,every day, for 5 hours each time in the entire city Despite all this, the Nepali people were so friendly and welcoming, and always cheerful.
As my grandfather always said: "In our country,we have much to be thankful for"!

Good advice, M'Ave! My thirty years on the job in the Bronx and Manhattan was the best times of my life. I truly wish that I had not retired nine years ago. If I could go back today, I'd RUN to 9 Metrotech to sign back up! Stay safe!
And to the future FDNY probies, that are taking the test- listen to the above advice from M'Ave- you may be able to get on the "best job in the world"! Good luck!

Good advice, M'Ave! My thirty years on the job in the Bronx and Manhattan was the best times of my life. I truly wish that I had not retired nine years ago. If I could go back today, I'd RUN to 9 Metrotech to sign back up! Stay safe!
And to the future FDNY probies, that are taking the test- listen to the above advice from M'Ave- you may be able to get on the "best job in the world"! Good luck!

Good advice, M'Ave! My thirty years on the job in the Bronx and Manhattan was the best times of my life. I truly wish that I had not retired nine years ago. If I could go back today, I'd RUN to 9 Metrotech to sign back up! Stay safe!
And to the future FDNY probies, that are taking the test- listen to the above advice from M'Ave- you may be able to get on the "best job in the world"! Good luck!

Good advice, M'Ave! My thirty years on the job in the Bronx and Manhattan was the best times of my life. I truly wish that I had not retired nine years ago. If I could go back today, I'd RUN to 9 Metrotech to sign back up! Stay safe!
And to the future FDNY probies, that are taking the test- listen to the above advice from M'Ave- you may be able to get on the "best job in the world"! Good luck!

Just a quick story- one afternoon,when was a newly promoted captain,I was called by the OAD (officer assignment desk) and told to report to a S. Bronx engine company to do my 6x9 (night) tour. I got there plenty early (it was where I was assigned as a probie,24 yrs earlier,so I was somewhat excited). The day tour officer said-sorry,Cap-there must be a mistake- I'm working for the Captain tonite- he just went full-duty yesterday from medical leave.
Ok, so I called OAD and they explained the situation. SO,they said go to Ozone Park, Queens, to Eng ?. After getting directions from the brothers in the Bronx, I headed there. After the toll over the Triboro, and an hour of driving, I got there. Of course they were out of quarter! When they got back I tracked down the engine officer- he said No, we don't need an officer- I'm working a mutual tonie for the captain. On the phone again to OAD- oh, sorry,they said- go to the Rockaways (Queens) to the "Big house" (only FDNY house w/ 2 engines and a truck). Another toll, and another 40 minutes of driving! Total of 4 tolls (there and back home) and who knows how much gas and driving! Get promoted and see the world! At least I caught a "job" in a PD, so it wasn't a total waste.

Just a quick story- one afternoon,when was a newly promoted captain,I was called by the OAD (officer assignment desk) and told to report to a S. Bronx engine company to do my 6x9 (night) tour. I got there plenty early (it was where I was assigned as a probie,24 yrs earlier,so I was somewhat excited). The day tour officer said-sorry,Cap-there must be a mistake- I'm working for the Captain tonite- he just went full-duty yesterday from medical leave.
Ok, so I called OAD and they explained the situation. SO,they said go to Ozone Park, Queens, to Eng ?. After getting directions from the brothers in the Bronx, I headed there. After the toll over the Triboro, and an hour of driving, I got there. Of course they were out of quarter! When they got back I tracked down the engine officer- he said No, we don't need an officer- I'm working a mutual tonie for the captain. On the phone again to OAD- oh, sorry,they said- go to the Rockaways (Queens) to the "Big house" (only FDNY house w/ 2 engines and a truck). Another toll, and another 40 minutes of driving! Total of 4 tolls (there and back home) and who knows how much gas and driving! Get promoted and see the world! At least I caught a "job" in a PD, so it wasn't a total waste.

Brewster Fire Rescue - (Putnam County) 2118 runs, both Fire and EMS