JBJ1202

Right back pocket: Wallet
Left back pocket: Car keys
Left front pocket: A couple of crinkled up dollar bills
Right front pocket: iPhone
Radio strap and radio over right shoulder
My point here is that the equipment was kept in our bags.

Right back pocket: Wallet
Left back pocket: Car keys
Left front pocket: A couple of crinkled up dollar bills
Right front pocket: iPhone
Radio strap and radio over right shoulder
My point here is that the equipment was kept in our bags.

What about quads? I think a quad is a lot more practical for some departments that don't really have any larger structures.

WP Drill School ERA 59

Training with ropes , Over the Top.

Since this is my first day of retirement after 20 years @ 60 let me tell you our protocols. EMS dispatch: no answer dispatch again 3 min later. No answer after 2 more min. dispatch again and dispatch mutual aid. Fire: after initial dispatch if no answer after 5 min. dispatch again. If no answer (and it has happened) dispatch again and dispatch mutual aid. Mutual aid run cards have been set up by both ems and fire agencies for their districts. Barry I understand what your saying if dept. x crashes, but what if I don't send anybody to the call in a TIMELY manor! The cad prompts us on all re-dispatchs. The buck does not stop @ 60 Control. It is up to each department whether volunteer or career to cover your calls. The cad will prompt us for the city of New Rochelle or Bedford EMS in the same manor. We run with NYS DOH protocols for ems and NFPA for fire. If you can't cover your call's start thinking about joining forces with your neighbor who is covering the call! Thanx for all you do and please stay safe!

I've been giving something a lot of thought lately, and decided to post it here for discussion.
There's quite a few departments in Westchester running FAS Teams (or RI Teams). Rarely, unless I am wrong, do any of them train with each other or the department's they routinely run with.
I'm thinking that maybe it's time for those of us running these teams to perhaps get together and start working together towards a common practice. I think we all pretty much use the same equipment, require the same training and have the same mindsets on how we should do our jobs.
Firefighter safety is a very serious topic to me. I've been thinking of ways to increase our safety in my own department, and started to think about ways to help all of us get on the same page - or close to it.
Please note this isn't a debate about how they should run, etc. I just want to open up the discussion of other departments in the WC interested in starting to work together towards - dare I say it - a more standard approach to all of this FAST stuff we do. It all starts with every firefighter recognizing and knowing what to do to avoid / get out of trouble, and maybe as a united voice (all of us running FAST's) we can start helping our own avoid ever needing us.
Just food for thought - I'm more than willing to work on this and to use our station to play host for meetings / training.
Thanks for reading.

39 years ago I pulled up with Patrol 4 [ now Rescue 40] to find Gullevers fully invovled with engines 58 and 62 ingaged in a full atack on a bad fire. 24 died that night but little was told how over 100 were saved. Many firefighters went down that night going above and beyond the call. Most of us old guys think about this every day of our lives and wished we could have done better with our 3/4 boots two airpacks to a rig and red fireball gloves. There were no paper firefighters and keyboard firefighters that night! .

Twelve years ago today, June 22nd, Lt. Michael Neuner died in the Line of Duty fighting a house fire with the Brewster Fire Department in Putnam County. Mike was a Police Officer in the City of Peekskill, a former member of the Putnam County Sheriffs Department, Armonk and Patterson Fire Departments. My Uncle Mike was one of the funniest, coolest and nicest guys to ever walk this earth.

We remember you today and every day, Satch. You may be gone but you'll never be forgotten!

Maybe some of the agencies in the county running 2, 3 or 4 rigs that they can't staff is looking to offload something for a decent price...

Purchase FD Quad 8 (retired from active duty)
1957 Seagrave Quad
Quad=Pump, Tank, Hose, Ground Ladders
One of my favorite antiques, and she shines like they just delivered it.

Port Chester Fire : 1201 Fire NO EMS

Croton-on-Hudson FD - 437 Calls, no EMS.

Just some additions / corrections to the IA.
Date: 12/11/2012
Time: 1323hrs (1:23pm)
Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire
District: Croton Fire District
Location: 96 S Mt. Airy Rd (Between Glengary Rd and Georgia Ln)
Units on Scene:
Croton FD: 2081, 2082, E118, E119, E120, T10, R18
Ossining FD: 2331, 2334, TL42, U51
Montrose VAFD: 2571, 2574, E225
Buchanan FD: 2551, U12
Croton EMS: 55B2
Cortlandt EMS: 88B2
Ossining EMS: 74A1, 36M1
WCDES Units: Battalion 10, C&O Zone 4
Other: Croton PD, NYSP, Croton Water Department, Con Edison
Units on Standby:
Montrose FD: 2273, E121
Yorktown FD: L51
13:23 - Croton Full Department Response for Reported Structure Fire. 2081 responding.
13:24 - 2082 responding.
13:25 - 2081 on location, heavy fire showing from a 1.5 story wood-frame structure, 10-75.
13:27 - Ossining FAST, Buchanan Cascade, Croton, Cortlandt and 36M1 EMS units dispatched along with Battalion 10.
13:29 - Command reports 1.5 story wood-frame dwelling, heavy fire in basement and first floor, all occupants are out of the house.
13:40 - Bat 10 reports heavy fire conditions, 4 L/S/O, requesting E225 from Montrose VA to the scene.
13:46 - TL42 from Ossining to the scene.
13:49 - Bat 10 reports heavy fire conditions, now has 5 L/S/O.
13:50 - Con Ed Electric on scene, killing main. Bat 10 reports unit operating from exterior.
13:55 - Interior operations resuming.
14:17 - 88B2 to Phelps with one for possible smoke inhalation (civilian).
14:34 - Bat 10 reports all visible fire knocked down, probable will hold per Command.
14:45 - Bat 10 reports fire is under control.
15:07 - Ossining FAST & U12 released.
15:35 - TL42 released.
16:01 - E225 released.
16:19 - All Croton units in service, Command terminated.
On arrival, we had heavy fire coming out of the D-side basement windows, the C-side entrance to the basement and fire showing on the first floor. Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack along with a brief exterior attack, using handlines in the basement, first floor and attic as well as the exterior. We pulled the men back briefly to hit it from outside and regroup, then pushed on with coordinated roof ventilation.
The occupants of the home included two elderly parties that were assisted from the home by other family members and a work crew at a neighboring house. I give credit to these guys for getting everyone out of the house, as this fire took off with great intensity and speed.
The report from the occupants and C&O indicate candles in the basement fell and created a fire involving the bed, books, and other combustibles in the room. The gentleman in the basement ran upstairs and got everyone out of the house. (Thank God).
I'd also like to point out the understated usefulness of our Mutual Aid Coordinators - not just ours (Battalion 10). As the IC I was able to worry only about my units on scene, and anything I needed relayed to 60 Control or any apparatus requests, all I had to do was have Battalion 10 handle it. I know a lot of Chiefs and Incident Commanders feel the need to try and do everything, but this way worked SOOOO MUCH BETTER than other times where I tried to juggle both task.
If you have a fire in this county and don't have the luxury of an Aide, take advantage of the MACs (Battalions). That's what they're there for - not to run your call but to help you manage it.
On behalf of the Croton Fire Department, I'd like to thank our Mutual Aid partners from Ossining, Montrose VA and Buchanan for their assistance on scene, as well as the coverage units from Montrose and Yorktown. Also, thanks to Croton, Cortlandt and Ossining EMS for being there.
Lastly, thanks to the men of the CFD that were there today. You guys always make me proud.
Thanks.
Chief John Munson
Croton FD

http://www.nydailynews.com/scores-blacks-hispanics-soar-newly-revamped-fdny-test-article-1.1168399?post_id=100000600302076_444228925628277
Actually, it is quite the opposite. Over 95% of the individuals who took the test passed. The 9,417 people who scored a 97% or above are likely to be considered for hiring.
Bottom line... They wanted everyone to pass the test, and thats what they got. In the article it is already clear that the next step for certain organizations is to attack the "post-test" process, i.e. interview/investigation, psyc test, and the CPAT. After that it will be the FDNY Academy itself, followed by the entire profession of firefighting.
JBJ

We are short 650 firefighters, not 3000. About one and a half academy classes will most likely be drawn from the EMS promotional list. One class, beginning in January, is almost a certainty and will be comprised of all promos.
As you can see in that top 1,100, there are many vets and children of deceased FDNY/NYPD members. While it is true that the physical has not yet been conducted....I can't imagine too many military vets will have trouble with the laughably easy CPAT.
The city anticipates a 4:1 ratio or list numbers needed to fill each position. That number will probably be smaller in the beginning and then grow as the list ages. The city has said that they anticipate filling 2,400 positions over the life of the list and that will require reaching list numbers in the 8,000+ range after using the promotional list. These are all ballpark estimates the city has made.

http://www.nydailynews.com/scores-blacks-hispanics-soar-newly-revamped-fdny-test-article-1.1168399?post_id=100000600302076_444228925628277
Actually, it is quite the opposite. Over 95% of the individuals who took the test passed. The 9,417 people who scored a 97% or above are likely to be considered for hiring.
Bottom line... They wanted everyone to pass the test, and thats what they got. In the article it is already clear that the next step for certain organizations is to attack the "post-test" process, i.e. interview/investigation, psyc test, and the CPAT. After that it will be the FDNY Academy itself, followed by the entire profession of firefighting.
JBJ

Event flyer:
melillonightout.pdf

And then promotions...

Date: 9-7-2012
Time: 1734
Location: 1 Augusta Court
Frequency: 46.26 (Dispatch), 155.895 (HPD/HEMS), Fire 19, EMS 19, FG 2
Units Operating: [Purchase FD: 2411, 2412, E238, E240, TL53, U10]; [West Harrison FD: 2501, 2502, E265, TL9, U25]; [Town of Mamaroneck FD: 2231, R6 (FAST)]; [Harrison EMS: 61A4, 61-11]; {WCDES: Battalion 19]; Harrison PD; Harrison Building Department; Con Ed;
Units Relocated: [Port Chester FD: 2393, E61, L31]; [West Harrison: E267];
Weather Conditions: Rain, lightning
Description OfIncident: Working fire in a 100x75 ft 2.5-story wood frame. 2 L/S/O. P/D. Original call for Purchase and West Harrison dual response to above address for reported roof on fire from a lightning strike. Town of Mamaroneck FAST put on standby in own HQ. Units on scene confirming working fire. Town of Mamaroneck FAST upgraded to the scene, Port Chester one Ladder and one Engine to Purchase HQ. Harrison requested to relocate one Engine to West Harrison HQ but were unable to fulfill. Valhalla requested to relocate one Engine to West Harrison HQ, Car 2483 and E83 cancelled en-route, West Harrison FD Engine 267 standing by.
Reporters: Firedude; Res30cue
17:34 - Purchase FD and West Harrison FD toned out for "reported roof on fire."
17:35 - Town of Mamaroneck FD requested to have their FAST on standby in their HQ.
17:37 - Units on scene confirming working fire. 10-75 transmitted. Town of Mamaroneck FD FAST to the scene.
17:38 - Port Chester FD requested for an Engine and Ladder to Purchase FD HQ.
17:53 - Car 2411 advising they have 2 L/S/O, fire is doubtful, holding with the current assignment..

Negative. If memory serves me correctly, the breakdown for agencies dispatched by 60 Control are as follows:
Staffed Fire and EMS agencies: (Dispatch) - One minute to respond
Unstaffed EMS agencies: (Dispatch) - Three minutes to respond - (Redispatch) - Three minutes to respond - (Redispatch) - (Dispatch) mutual aid agency
Unstaffed Fire agencies: (Dispatch) - Five minutes to respond - (Redispatch) - Five minutes to respond - (Redispatch) - (Dispatch) mutual aid agency

Monies received by most fire companies I know generally goes to some of, if not all of, the following;
- Station amenities not covered by the district / municipality (this includes cable, phone, internet, furniture, furnishings, etc.).
- Retention events (picnics, dinners, etc.).
- Public Awareness / Recruitment (websites, "members wanted" signs, open houses)
- Community Give-Backs (funding a Little League team, etc.)
- Celebrations (Wet Downs [usually open to the public], Anniversary dinners / parades [often open to the public], etc.)
I really don't think anyone that writes a donation check to their local FD isn't doing so because they want to show their support to those neighbors of theirs who are coming to their aid when they need them. Often times they make comments like "I wish I had the time to help" or "I give you guys a lot of credit for what you do." The ones that don't donate are either doing it because they can't afford to, don't donate to anything or just plain hate us.
jumping up and down, screaming that all volunteer fire departments are ripping off taxpayers, using donations for lavish vacations just isn't true for all of us. We don't even send our Chiefs to trade shows anymore because we realized that more time (let's be honest - money) was being pissed away at meals and lodging. The money we get from our Village for training is used for everyone and no longer pays for 2 or 3 guys to "vacation" in Baltimore. Sure, you sit in on one 3 hour seminar each day, but how many hours of that same day are you at the pool or the bar?
None of us are perfect. And at the end of the day I think most of us will agree that our "system" (to be used loosely) is fractured in New York, but it's what we have and we are all trying our best to do what we believe in - right?
To Mr. Flynn, I appreciate how strongly opinionated you are. We share that trait and I credit it to our similar first name. And believe me, I hold nothing against any one person, one organization or one group of individuals. What I do have a hard time with is anyone that wants to degrade any group or organization for doing something wrong, when everyone (myself included) has made mistakes as well.
I think all of us on EMTBravo should stop making everything a debate and try to put our energies into more prudent efforts.
Let's start by agreeing on one thing - whatever that one thing is - and working TOGETHER to find a resolution. Nothing will ever come from all of us (especially yours truly) getting all hot and bothered here.
To all, I apologize for my lunacy in earlier posts, but I tend to get emotional when my department gets lumped into the poor choices some others (and I am NOT talking about Irvington, so don't hate me guys!) routinely do.
Thanks.

I find it interesting how every post generally turns into a Paid vs. Volunteer issue or a Fire vs. Police issue. As a former NYS Fire Instructor who has trained many volunteers and a former director of the Westchester Career Fire Academy who has trained many career firefighters, there are many excellent and dedicated career and volunteer firefighters as there are many not so excellent career and volunteer firefighters. You are always going to have individuals who are going to play the system (career and volunteer), using it to their advantage, and getting everything out of it for themselves that they can. This is a fact of life and it’s not changing anytime soon.

Let’s all wake up, the fire really doesn’t care if you are paid or volunteer, it’s not going to say “lets take it easy on them, they are volunteers”. It is paramount that all firefighter’s career and volunteer keep current skills and training. The same applies to the poor victim trapped in a fire or motor vehicle, do you really think they care what the patch on your sleeve states, FD, PD, paid or volunteer!

Everyone’s time would be better spent working together, FD, PD, paid and volunteer, for the common good and betterment of emergencies services, rather then bickering over who is better or who’s doing who’s job.

Pound Ridge isn't linked to 46.26.
Eastchester isn't linked to 46.26.
One Yorktown frequency listed isn't linked to 46.26 - it is linked to Fire 17.
One Peekskill frequency listed isn't linked to 46.26.
453.0250 is Croton's 46.26 link.

Foam is only allowed to be used on the property during true emergencies due to the close proximity to wetlands and Rye Lake.
JBJ

Barry,
Most of the frequencies you've listed are not part of our airport response. A single channel (A- OPS 5) is used by all fire and EMS units responding. County PD does operate on their own channel and are not in direct communication with units on OPS 5. An officer from WCPD will report to the command trailer as soon as one is available.
Fire 15, Fire 16, Fire 19, EMS 15, EMS 16, 46.06, 155.895, and 155.625 are used by the home agencies during their normal incident responses. I feel the standby today actually shows the opposite of what you are suggesting.
If this incident did escalate to an actual major emergency the number of channels utilized would expand based on need to the predetermined channels in the airport response plan.
JBJ