billfitz

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Posts posted by billfitz

  3. Posted

    *prepiped waterway

    *remote control TFT Deck guns

    *folding light towers

    *1500 GPM pumpers

    *First time for YFD

    Squad & Ladder

    = XRT power system for extrication

    = Lukas outlets recessed in front bumper

    = 10K harrison generator

    = 200' cord reels (2)

    = 100' Hyraulic reels (2)

  5. Posted

    The process to budget, approve budget, finance bonds, spec, precon, build & deliver a rig can take between 2-3 years.

    While to the lay person it does seem odd to buy new trucks while laying off FF's & demoting officers. The money is from the Capital budget and is bonded and can not be used for operating expenses.

    The ALF's were delyed for over a year when ALF was in bankrupcy. These rigs - 2 ALF Pumpers and the 3 Smeals were from the 06/07 & 07/08 budgets respectively = Since the economy went in the crapper we have not recieved any money in the 08/09, 09/10, and not very likely in 10/11. Because of the time lag in the processed described above that is why we are taking delivery at the current time. We will most likely not see another new rig for at least 3 years.

  8. Posted

    It all depends if the state or the feds declare a state of emergency - that generally starts the ball rolling towards reimbursement.

    Yonkers FD has a variety of staffing preplans and callback teams to ensure proper staffing of all companies when specialized teams are deployed.

    For when they go "out of town" to an official disaster, all staffing and overtime are generally paid for by FEMA.

    I wasn't aware that FEMA would reimburse local USAR teams for the personnel salaries incurred when they respond outside of their jurisdiction. I was under the impression that FEMA only reimburses the US&R Task Forces that are trained and equipped by FEMA. FEMA USAR Teams

  9. Posted

    Every response (deployment) would depend on the circumstances and the resources available at the specific time.

    In regards to who would respond at any given time - it would be primarily members of the Rescue, Squad, SOC & additional personnel could be chosen by individual specialty (paramedic, logistics, comms etc.) or company specialty (extrication, airbags, hazmat, etc).

    On a recent deployment to operation Vigilant Guard - we deployed over 50 personel - members ranged from Tech to Ops level - In a nutshell any deployment be it HazMat, USAR or whatever would most likely include members from most if not every company.

  10. Posted

    E-309 was delivered to the dealer (NEFEA) last week - L-72 made a pitstop at FDIC before coming this way. Squad 11 should be by later in the week. Look for all 3 to be delivered mid / late May. This is the first prepiped waterway since the ALF tda's which had bed ladder pipes circa 1979 - also 2 ALF pumpers not to far behind in delivery schedule.

  13. Posted

    And what is your specific reason for going? - are you a member of a hazmat team - local, regional ? I don't think you will make the cut - Uncle Sam is not just picking up the tab for buffs or because it is on your list!- The Emperor has no clothes!

    Many Career Depts have sent members to these classes because Uncle Sam is picking up the tab = Most of this Depts cant meet NFPA standards for a structure fire let alone a hazmat incident - but it is free lets go to Anniston, Nevada, wherever else - it really does'nt matter if we can respond as long as the buffs have the certificate - Buff out!

    BTW - this is not a knock on the classes or subject matter which is excellent - it is about the selection process to the classes - The Feds hire contractors to run these classes the Feds and the State Training Coordinators are more concerned with filling every seat in every class. The role the individaul student plays in the local/regional response is secondary to filling the classes.

  14. Posted · Edited by billfitz

    I've had a few instructors and professors who've attended. Said it was a great time, but do NOT just go out there for a free trip to Vegas. This is a LIVE fire WMD course at the National Test Site, where students actually operate in a radioactive atmosphere. Its some serious stuff, and if you think its tough operating in a suit in New England, wait until you do it in the Nevada desert.

    A buddy from school and I are going to apply for the Chemical, Ordinance, Biological and RAdiological (COBRA) Training Facility in Anniston, Alabama. That's the live-fire class with Sarin and VX. I'm really interested in HAZMAT so that's the first one I want to go to, though the NTS nuke course is definitely on my list.

    There is also a Biological Agent class and a "Kinetic Materials" (read: Explosive) course. They are all spread out about the nation. The best thing is, like OoO said, Uncle Sam picks up the tab.

    And what is your specific reason for going? - are you a member of a hazmat team - local, regional ? I don't think you will make the cut - Uncle Sam is not just picking up the tab for buffs or because it is on your list!- The Emperor has no clothes!

    Many Career Depts have sent members to these classes because Uncle Sam is picking up the tab = Most of this Depts cant meet NFPA standards for a structure fire let alone a hazmat incident - but it is free lets go to Anniston, Nevada, wherever else - it really does'nt matter if we can respond as long as the buffs have the certificate - Buff out!

  15. Posted

    Yonkers used the trunked radio system during the recent storm - we used a Tac channel to communicate with additional special units in the field and our dispatchers as well as our special operations command - it proved to be an effective means of communication while not tying up our main fire ops channel. We had only previously used it during training and on a limited basis with M/A - worked out very well!

  16. Posted

    I'm curious....

    I was always under the assumption that New York City went to a Pickup truck because a diesel SUV was no longer made. If the YFD went with a gasoline engine, why not get a Suburban or other? Perhaps there's more to the Pickup truck choice? I have nothing to do with the specs, I only drive the guy in a white shirt on rare occasion.

    What is the advantage of a crewcab pickup and what was the driving factor for it's purchase.

    It's very nice looking, watch the ejector seat.

    We wanted a vehicle that was more HD (safer) than a suburban the excursions were great but were discontinued - as far as the diesel our mechanics wanted to stay away from the newer diesels with all of the emissions systems we went with the V-10 for the power - we only get about 5 years of frontline service with these so the gasoline engines should work out.

  19. Posted

    Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the county tech team consolidation? Instead of every town and village trying to form their own they created this team. From what I'm getting from this site, this is what everyone wants and now its no good?

    It is unneccessary duplication of existing reosurces and a drain on resources ($$$$) for other more viable resources

  20. Posted · Edited by billfitz

    State Fire administrator has authority to create additional teams

    NYC = NYTF-1

    Capital District Team = NYTF-2

    They have not designated any additional teams because they claim they do not have the resources ($$$$$)to validate any others at this time.

    The Career Chief's have a template which utililzes over 9 dept's - The Yonkers team as well as the Squads from other career dep'ts.

    Yonkers recently deployed over 50 personnel with a squad from Greenville (for a total of just under 60) to the Buffalo area for operation Vigiant Guard for a 4 day exercise. Outside of the 2 teams mentioned above there were no other NY resources there that were even close to our capabiltiy.

    Why do I point this out - it is becasue of the politics on the County and state level of pandering to every little group out there that wants to be a State team. The state knows if they acknowledge any additional groups it would create a "me too" effect and they would not want to stir up that hornets nest state wide.

    The career depts in Westchester have trained, have a "real" track record and the resources to be designated a state team - It has always been my contention that these other teams are a drain on the system and create unneccessary duplication and competion for the limited resources available ($$$$$)

    All the nice tales of training twice a month and having been activated (????) all sound nice but we all know the the truth - but no one wants to hear it or say it

    But it all boils down to they don't want to hurt any ones feelings by telling them they are not needed or especially never going to be capable of measuring up to what they say they can be.

    "The Emperor has no clothes", Don't upset the apple cart - that is the underlying message

    Maybe the new C/E Rob Astorino if he is really concerned about cutting ($$$$$$) will realize that the County Hazmat & Tech Rescue team would be nice to have but are really a waste of resources that are already provided through other dept's - they all want to talk about sharing resources but they certainly don't want to offend anybody. Especially all of of the volunteer (aka voters) team members and fire fighters.

    So go ahead and bang my post with the negative rep points - the more attention that is brought to it maybe the truth will finally surface - and that is all I have to say about that!

    x129K, Chkpoint, helicopper and 4 others like this

  22. Posted · Edited by billfitz

    I appreciate the members backing up my recollection of the radio that day. I'm going to expand a bit. The dispatcher also said words to the effect "all departments north of 287 respond to the Westchester Training Center."

    I have no idea who went where initially, except for one rig. When we took our infamous bus ride to Ground Zero, there was a Westchester career department's rig hooked up to a hydrant, a few blocks north of the collapse zone on the West Side. The members working the rig looked exhausted.

    Now; how do you think that rig got there? Do you think their Chief just decided to send apparatus to Ground Zero without orders or dispatch from someone? I highly doubt it.

    The debate went on for many months as to what the "right" thing to have done that day would have been. If my chief had followed the directional from 60-control and sent us right to the World Trade Center (assuming the directive to respond "to Manhattan" meant just that), we would have done our duty and gone as ordered. Just as we did our duty, and did nothing regarding the original dispatch; as per Chief's orders; until the plan was evolved to relocate the rigs to the Bronx staging area.

    I certainly do not doubt you or the other members who heard that transmission - my concern is who authorized everyone south of 287 to respond to Manhattan - how ridiculous does that sound! - where is the accountability

    Well enough about that -

    We request 4 men on a rig for mutual aid because that is what we provide when we go out on mutual aid - simple as that - just like when we go to FDNY we put 6 on the rig

  23. Posted

    I can only say what happened in Yonkers and there were no tones -"Everyone south of 287 respond to Manhattan" - maybe that is where part of the problems lies "who" said respond to Manhattan - I find that hard to believe unless you can say who said it! - Who are they?

    There is currently a plan in place which we have been drilling on for the past several years with FDNY - which puts us in a better place than where we were in 2001.

    As far as M/A within Westchester the Career Chiefs demonstrated the Day of Pat Joyce's funeral that they could send upwards of 20 units to cover Yonkers or any other jurisdiction instantaneously - there is a blueprint.

    "The Emperor has no clothes"

    "Everything is fine no need to worry"

    Buffout! - as long as everyone thinks we did a good job that is all that matters!

    afd65 likes this

  24. Posted

    ok so he's out, what's the big deal now? What's your point?

    My point has always been "the emperor has no clothes" people like him want to take credit for something that NEVER happened like all the buffs want to think it happened. The County DES stood by while all the freelancing took place because they could not or would not attempt to coordinate it! And it is disgusting that Spano & DES would attempt to Capitalize on something that never occurred - read the article - Spano made the claim! As long as we all feel good that is all that matters!