dwcfireman

 
I was under the impression that volunteer firefighters already could attend SUNY schools at little to no cost under a state program (with some restrictions).  Regardless, this, coupled with the fire service program and a state of the art training facility, is a huge boost for Ulster County and its citizens.

 

Agreed. Especially in area's where the volunteer turnout is dismal on a regular basis.  Westchester has changed over the past 40 years and many departments have failed to keep up with the times and its come home to roost.  The AHJ has an obligation to provide fire protection to its residents and if it means conversion from volunteer to combo or a fully career department, that's what is going to happen regardless of opinion.
 
My suggestion to fire commissioners/city managers would be when a member of your department appears before you to make a suggestion that they would feel improve recruitment/retention/participation that you give it serious consideration; the mindset should be how can we make it work as opposed to why it won't work.  A positive outlook usually works better then one of negative as people tend to support what they help to create, something I think many departments have forgotten over time.  Younger members bring enthusiasm, dedication and Ideas; the older members offer experience and wisdom; combine both and you have a chance to allow the fire departments mission statement to succeed. Just my opinion.

 
http://www.nj.com/passaic-county/index.ssf/2017/04/passaic_warehouse_fire_spreads_to_apartments_forci.html
 
 

Congrats and great job Chief! (and the article was very well written)
 
 
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2017/04/08/tarrytown-firefighter-leads-tzb-rescue-becomes-chief-same-day/100224570/

 
http://www.ryecityreview.com/lead-stories/corcoran-considers-more-paid-firefighters-dept-violations-resolved/

 
If designed right, considering the plot of land described in the article, a 4 bay station would definitely fit.  You could probably go up to 6 bays if you make the building taller to accommodate the lost room on the ground.  Meh, that's a pipe dream, though.  A 4 bay station, like the old HQ, makes more sense.
 
 
100% AGREED!!!  Ridge Hill has become a small city itself.  Putting a single engine company up there would be a world of help.  Though, it would probably easier to have a couple of those golf kart-like engines like the MTA has in GCT to get around all of the traffic!!!

 
If designed right, considering the plot of land described in the article, a 4 bay station would definitely fit.  You could probably go up to 6 bays if you make the building taller to accommodate the lost room on the ground.  Meh, that's a pipe dream, though.  A 4 bay station, like the old HQ, makes more sense.
 
 
100% AGREED!!!  Ridge Hill has become a small city itself.  Putting a single engine company up there would be a world of help.  Though, it would probably easier to have a couple of those golf kart-like engines like the MTA has in GCT to get around all of the traffic!!!

 
If designed right, considering the plot of land described in the article, a 4 bay station would definitely fit.  You could probably go up to 6 bays if you make the building taller to accommodate the lost room on the ground.  Meh, that's a pipe dream, though.  A 4 bay station, like the old HQ, makes more sense.
 
 
100% AGREED!!!  Ridge Hill has become a small city itself.  Putting a single engine company up there would be a world of help.  Though, it would probably easier to have a couple of those golf kart-like engines like the MTA has in GCT to get around all of the traffic!!!

Let's watch the Yonkers smoke and mirror show......and see what develops,if I know Yonkers it will be a doozy .
 
They need a house in Ridge Hill!!!

3 Bay Station 1? There goes any hope for a reactivated Engine 301, to coincide with the Downtown Development Project. And the Mayor's spokesperson, Christina Gilmartin is saying that the Ridge Hill Fire House is unnecessary (Gee, why doesn't LoHud have the guts to ask her where the $3 Million Dollars that was set aside by the developer for that Fire House is, and why the Mayor and City Council, at the time that the Ridge Hill Development was approved, wanted it in the original proposal?)

Route 22 and Route 120 in North Castle this morning about 0715. Caught it on my way to work. Single vehicle hit pole and caught fire. As far as it is known, the driver was able to free himself and was uninjured.        

Last Sunday,  I had the opportunity to look over and photograph this unique and impressive rig!
 
2016 Peterbilt 567  with a Century 50 Ton Rotator (can be remote controlled) and body, 10KW generator, and air compressor syste,m, amongst many other customizations.
 
This rig replaces a similar rig, a 2003 Peterbilt/Century, which will become a fully equipped spare. The spare is replacing the former spare, which will be kept in the USAR caches.
 
Thanks again to the crew at Station 56 and the HR56 guys!
 

 
 

If the members currently assigned to this firehouse want to be considered "professional" then they must meet those "professional standards". Beginning with a quick response out the door when the alarm comes in. The question is, "will they be able to replace the laid off professional career firefighters who once operated out of that firehouse" ? That means 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
 
 Any one who has ever been inside a burning building knows very well how dangerous it is and how quickly that heat and smoke can build up. As firefighters operating inside those buildings we get to appreciate our protective equipment, and our life saving air pack giving us fresh air. It's tough enough for those guys, BUT for the UNtrained and Unprotected citizens trapped in there, "IT's VERY MUCH WORSE".
 
  THEY CAN NOT SEE
  THEY CAN NOT BREATHE
  THEY BECOME DISORINATED
  THEIR SKIN MAY START TO BURN
 
 Every passing second counts as they try to breathe. For those people there may be no way out. The super heated air that's left starts to burn their lungs as every breath they try to take. They are the one's that will truly decide at that moment who the Professionals really are. The Professionals will make the utmost attempt at getting them out because that's their job and there is NO TIME TO WASTE. This is NOT a Game or some Make Believe Training session. But in a matter of minutes, people could die. Somebodies mother, father, brother, sister, friend. Maybe somebody you know.
 
 At least to me, I consider BOTH Career and Volunteer Firefighters to be Professionals with a very important job to do. But here in Port Chester, it was decided that this job can be completed WITHOUT the use of any career firefighters. Most places these days find it to be quite the OPPOSITE though. Due to todays very busy work schedules and much more training requirements, the volunteer numbers are dwindling and it is necessary to hire MORE Career Firefighters. Not really because they want to, but because they HAVE TO. It is just more and more difficult these days to count on the skills of the required number of volunteer firefighters.
 
 We can assume that Port Chester is about to prove otherwise. As Professionals, those Volunteer Firefighters should be able to prove themselves "Each and Every Time", without the use of any Career Firefighters. So with this unique, newly created situation, many of those involved in todays fire service will be closely watching. "I know I will". But most importantly, for the Citizens who live and work in Port Chester, and for those PROFESSIONALS that Protect Them, "IT'S SHOWTIME".
 
  

Bought brand new by the Village in 1969 Sicard  2 stage snow blower . Very well maintained  by the DPW shops and upgraded a few years back with new paint and decals . Know as Taz  You can see the end result on the other side of street.

 
Considering the median age of former presidents the likelihood that any would be an active volunteer firefighter is slim. 

Further, considering the manner in which our presidential candidates are selected, unless Harvard or Yale starts a volunteer FD, I don't think we're going to see any volly presidents in our lifetimes.

 
President George W. Bush did enact a law that would rid himself and all future Presidents of lifetime Secret Service protection.  He did this as a way to save taxpayer money as the idea was that since you were no longer POTUS, you were no longer a target.  The enacted law stated that future ex-Presidents (starting with GW) would get 5 years protection post-office and protection would cease.
 
 
President Obama had the law repealed because he believed that no matter your status, if you were POTUS then you will forever be a target, thus to protect the future ex-Presidents for life.  Yes, this was done much more discretely than when GW initiated the change, but it makes some sense that there are probably a few people out there trying to kill you.
 
Now, let me drop this question on everyone:  WHAT IF, and this is a strong IF, an incoming president was a firefighter (let's say a volunteer for the sake of the argument).  After this firefighter is done being POTUS, would the Secret Service allow him/her to respond to emergencies?  Think about it...If you were the President, and you're a volunteer firefighter, AND you need 24/7 security protection, can you still be a firefighter after the completion of your term(s)?  I'm picturing a Secret Service agent nervously masking up with an ex-President that has the knob and is screaming, "Let's rock and roll!"

Your worried about the cost for Trump and his familiy, Our President,  I know where to get the money.
 
Look what it costs to protect the UN with direct and indirect costs.............
 
Table 5. Estimated Costs to New York City
Figures reflect annual impacts in millions of 2014 dollars.
Direct Expenditures Forgone Tax Revenue
Security $8 million
Real Property Tax $72 million
Education $45 million 
Personal Income Tax $26 million
Mayor's Office for International Affairs $1 million Sales & Use Tax $1 million
 
Direct Expenditures - $54 million
Forgone Tax Revenue - $99 million
 
Source:
The Economic Impact of the
United Nations Community
on New York City
 
Lets trim a little from their budget to protect our President.

this is a non story - perhaps we should make an amendment that you only can run for President if you are poor.  That way they will be so impressed with White House - have no vacation homes and just stay in the White House for 4 years (maybe 8).  Its life, its the law - I know a ton ton more waste everyday in the federal Gov't going on every single day.    

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Per the weather Channel  42 inch's at my cabin upstate , near Cooperstown  New York. From the firehouse ramp Richmondville New York

Guess I was a little off on my prediction LOL.

What happens to peoples snow shovels over the summer that they have to go out and buy new ones at the first hint of snow.  ??????

 A few inches of snow or hurricanes, tornadoes or bugs. choices, choices!

Shovel the Hydrants for the FD stock up on food & get ready BE Safe All!!!