markmets415

Pawling's BRAT had been delivered, may it serve the Pawling fire district and it's neighbors well.

Silly season is here and gone for some fire companies or departments, here are our results from Wassaic Fire Company.

Chief: John Kelleher (new Chief, first term holding the title of District Chief)

Deputy Chief: Kenny Elliott

Assistant Chief: Mark Christiansen (out of retirement again)

Assistant Chief Rescue: Paul Voorhees

Captain: Dave Wilcox

Lieutenant : Bradley Whalen (first term holding the title of Lieutenant)

A few photos from the shop, flat bed body is completed and mounted.

We are a fire company that is within a fire district, the fire company was established first and own the building and property that the building sits on, the fire district provides us rent for the bay and office space with the building as a line item in their budget.

We have 9 members within the fire company that are the board of directors which oversee the daily operations that the fire company handles, i.e, fundraising, building and ground maintenance issues, sponsoring the civic organizations such as the boy and girl scouts, we provide a space for these groups to meet monthly as well as the senior citizens and assist in functions that these organizations put on. The members of the fire company elect all officers both civil and Firematic on the annual meeting and the District Chief and Deputy Chief are nominations to the Fire Commissioners subject to their approval. All new members voted into the fire company or rescue squad are all subject to approval by the Fire District Commissioners

The fire district pays for all fuel for the apparatus and ambulance, equipment, workman's compensation, payments for the apparatus, repairs on the apparatus, approves all functions that the fire company members may partake in such as parades, drills and so on. The fire district has the power to set forth rules and regulations to governing the fire company and shall have the power to enforce the disciplinary actions (NYS Town Law Section 176 subsection 11.)

In short we have a fire company President that is the chairman of the board of directors that deals with the fire company issues, The line officers deal with all things Firematic and rescue squad related

We'll figure it out and make it a good day and see if we can get the CT and NYS Rangers involved, we can never train enough, last year Kent CT lost an engine at a brush fire, so I'm sure we can pull it off

Well said Alex, I will keep you informed as to when are going to have a training session, we also work closely with some of the CT folks as well so maybe we can make it work and get you and a few of your members over for some training, Kent CT's Firematic BRAT is now being built, I would say that's about an hour trip from you? Let's make it happen in the spring!!!!!

But to my knowledge CT DEEP only offers a few brush fire courses a year, and they're definitely not held in the greater New Haven area.

Then it's time to travel where they are, come on over to NY, training is training, you're a Lieutenant and 24 not that that is a slight by any means as you always offer very good opinions and obviously seem beyond your years, where are your Chief's if your the one "fighting" for funds, I have no idea how CT budgets work but something seems a bit off if that's all your department is getting, NY towns do not get much smaller than Wassaic and our operating budget is low for our area at $240,000.

Sorry, but I can't justify sending people to school for Wildfire certification when I'm fighting to get funding for basic Firefighter training.

Alex whom are you fighting with? And that statement seems a bit irresponsible on your part, I'm sure if one of "your" members suffers an injury or god forbid a LODD at a scene of a brush fire and a court happens to see this statement "Sorry, but I can't justify sending people to school for Wildfire certification when I'm fighting to get funding for basic Firefighter training." you won't have to worry about getting funding anymore, it happens, Millerton N.Y., one of our neighboring departments had a LODD at brush/grass fire not that long ago, we respond to just as many brush and grass fire then we do actual structure fires, just be more careful how you choose your words, especially when they are out there for "EVERYONE" to see.

This fire was in the 90's, it was right after I moved from Long Island to upstate NY and I remember wishing I was still there to help them. It jumped the Sunrise highway, which your are correct was 6 lanes wide, they had planned to use that as a natural fire line but it didnt work and they had to chase it.

Upstate we get the NYS Class, Wildland Firefighting, taught by DEC rangers. It is a very good class, but when I took it there was little to no hands on portion of the class. We went into a field and practiced "Attacking" the fire from the burnt side like your supposed to or from the flanks. He laid out marking tape on the field and labled the front, the flanks and the rear of the fire, and we learned briefly about digging fire lines. I also took the Wildland Search & Rescue class also taught by DEC and that was a great class too.

We dont train nearly enough with our brush truck, but we just got a new 4 wheeler so I am sure we will start to drill more with that (untill the magic wears off). We have a lot of brush fires too, primarily being farm land and forest.

Same here Brian, we've had the both DEC courses as well, shortly after we took delivery of the BRAT we hosted the Wildland course but it the last we have had other then the real deal fires

They are attempting to find an alternate site to relocate to for more room as their production #'s are increasing. I can only speak from our experience but our BRAT had far exceeded any expectations that we had for it, it has been called out to several mutual aid departments in NY and neighboring CT, if you haven't seen it here it is.

And me flowing Class A foam using our Port-A-CAFS unit with our BRAT

Firematic Manufacturing has now started another B.R.A.T (Brush Rapid Attack Truck) in our area for our neighbors in Kent, CT., the unit will be almost identical (it will not be blue) to our unit, this will add to the growing list that with Wassaic (2), Rhinecliff, Pawling (will be delivered this week) and Washington CT in our area.

• 2014 Ford F550 2 Door 4x4 Chassis w/ 19,500 lbs. GVW
• Super Single Aggressive Tread 19.5" Interco Irok Tires
• Lightweight Aluminum Fabricated Flatbed with FEA Tested Roll Bar
• Pro Poly 400 Gallon Protector Skid w/ 10 gal. Foam Cell
• Hale HPX300 - B18 Gasoline Pump
• Hale Pro Kit Stainless Steel Inlet and Discharge Manifold
• Exhaust Primer
• Scotty "Around the Pump" Class A Foam Eductor System
• Two Aluminum Diamond Plate Rear 1.5" Hose Trays
• Two Electric Hannay Reels Mounted on Tank (1) 200' of 1" Lightweight Booster and (1) 1000' of 1" Forestry hose
• (4) Aluminum Diamond Plate Compartments with ROM roll up doors.
• Whelen LED Lighting and Siren Package
• Warn 9.5ti Portable Electric Winch
• Oil Pan and Transmission Skid Plate
• Slide out front tool board
• Custom Suction Hose holders
• Whelen LED scene lights

Here is the drawing of the unit

http://www.firematic.com/brat/kent14/kent_drawing.pdf

Information, forth coming photos and drawing added with permission from David Horton of Firematic

I believe Pawling's delivery will take this week.

My dad Wassaic Past Chief Richard Christiansen Sr., who still to this day is at the firehouse every single day at the grand age of 78.

Wassaic Past Chief Delos Luther, who was our Chief during my rise up through the ranks and whom I learned so much from.

Past Chief and current life member Dan Killmer, who still lends his ears to my voice.

Past Chief Richard Killmer who was more of a mentor in life than the firehouse by being there for all of snotty nosed kids that knew everything growing up in a small town.

NYS Fire Instructor Rich Carroll, who I simply adore, great instructor and friend.

Fairview (Dutchess County) Firefighter Craig Elderkin, the best live instructor in my eyes Dutchess County had at the time, he pushed me to always strive higher and to become an even better person.

Last but not least and one of my favorites of all time Tom O'Gorman, Arlington Fire District, one amazing man!!!!

My name is my screen name and my agency was listed in my profile. I have since updated it so feel free to view.

No need to, I was simply pointing out was that you made a thread and had none of the information you stated in your first post was present even on your profile, if you updated it that's great, I myself could care less about someone profile or if they provide there information.

I myself have no problem with my information being out there for all to see. If anyone is worried about their employer seeing their posts then maybe just maybe they shouldn't post. There are many members that are to sensitive and over react to posts that are made here, people have opinions and that's what makes this place worth visiting, to hear just those opinions, we are not all going to agree on things but as long as we are respectful and have an honest and real debate then its all good in my eyes.

Looking at your post above and going to your profile all we see is that you're a male from Yonkers, so what's your beef if you're not even doing what you've stated above?

thank you Mike for coming up and doing the video and also capturing some of our past history, kills me to see our old retired pieces you captured near the end sitting there rotting away!

Has she taken in her first run yet Chief?

Yesterday morning Dan, had a PIAA in front of Jack's Auto, car vs. tractor trailer with extrication, the guys used the newly purchased cutter/spreader on the Engine to pop the door. Saw one of the fire commissioners shortly after the accident and he said that purchase already paid for itself on the rigs first run.

Took a few of our fleet today, minus the ambulance

Tanker 69-31, Engine 69-12, Light Rescue 69-51 and Utility 69-62

Big Blue and The Blue Beast together

Nice, thanks for the info. would be nice to have the 4WD as an option for those nasty wintery days on patrol

Reading some of the comments and posts here makes me smile, I am curious how many have no issues taking rigs to parades as far as Lake George for a weekend, it's parade people, some of these I am sure these rigs are valued over 1 million+ and paid for by the taxpayers of their districts, justified for purchased, yet this is ok? Personally I do not see how any fire district can justify taking any of their apparatus to a parade unless it's to a neighboring department, that just me as we are continually being asked or forced to do more with less.

Above it was posted that this vehicle is not a Chief staff vehicle and a fire district vehicle and perhaps just maybe the operator was in attendance at the Fire District conference that was the same weekend, are we really debating this topic without even having any facts other then this photo?

This was a bittersweet image to see, I recognized to many of those names but I hope it serves the district for many years and is as good a truck as she looks right now!

It sure is Mark but I wanted to ensure they were added with center graphic as they all were very active until their passing, I think it came out wonderful and actually brought tears to the eyes of some the relatives and members.

I love it.

Thanks Dan, stop up Saturday morning if you're available, we're doing some training with Firematic starting at 9am

and some random exterior shots, thanks to all that watched the build with us!

foam pail compartments that are on both sides under the speed lays, they hold two pails each and have the foam pail wrench in the compartment for easy access and the CAFS trash line/reel with 200' of hose under the rear cab step

front compartment, tools, electric PPV fan and electric cord reels and EZ foam fill