SECTMB

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Posts posted by SECTMB


  1. Not withstanding our wishes for the speedy and complete recovery of the injured firefighters, I don't think this thread is about the hazards and suppression methods for a basement fire.

     

    Its about staffing. One of these days Westchester is going to experience the unfortunate outcome that comes from the inability of the volunteer and paid depts to maintain proper staffing. It will be a sad day for all involved, but we will be able to look back at the hundreds of posts on forums such as this one and wonder why something so recognizable went unsolved. It will provide no comfort.

    DR104 and BIGRED1 like this

  2. Date:               04/25/2017
    Time:               0140
    Location:         48 Gordon Avenue
    District:           Town of Ossining

    Battalion:        12

    Channel:

    Weather:  
    Units:              2051, 2052, 2053, E92, E93, E94, TL-40, R-37, 53-B1
    Writer:            SECTMB


    Description:    Dispatched for reported structure fire.

     

    Upon arrival, Car 2051 reported a working structure fire and requested 2nd alarm response.  Structure and adjacent vehicle fully involved, heavy fire, all occupant evacuated.

     

    M/A units from Ossining FD, Croton FD, Chappaqua FD, Pleasantville FD, Pleasantville VAC, Ossining VAC, Thornwood FD, Pocantico Hills FD and Buchanan FD assisted at the scene or backfilled stations.

     

    Westchester DES Battalion 12 and C&O team also responded.

     

    Multiple 2-1/2" lines and 1-3/4" foam lines were put into play for a defensive operation.

     

    Photos and video can be found on the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department's facebook page.

     

    x635 and LayTheLine like this

  3. Date:  April 9, 2017
    Time:        Afternoon
    Location:  Morningside Drive
    District:    Town of Ossining District

    Battalion:

    Channel:

    Weather:
    Units:         2051, 2052, 2052, 2055, Eng. 92, Eng, 93, TL-40
    Writer:       SECTMB


    Description:  Two youths ascended a large pine tree and were unable to descend safely without assistance.  A 35 foot extension ladder was positioned and two FF's

                         assisted the youths to the ground.  No injuries resulted from the incident.

     

                         As units cleared they were directed to a second call in district, automatic alarm at Brandywine Nursing Home. 2-pull boxes activated, but call unfounded.

                         

    EmsFirePolice and x635 like this

  4. Just today I was speaking to another 'ex/retired' firefighter who wondered who was better Pierce or Seagrave.  I thought they were about equal but generally better than the rest.  You see a lot of posts critical of various apparatus makers and the lack of quality in their products. Are there too few manufacturers for the demand and therefore less quality control in order to keep up with that demand?

    WCFCX613 and x635 like this

  5. 55 minutes ago, DR104 said:

    Saw this today on my way to Costco. Seems a little bit unprofessional  if you ask me due to the circumstance

    20170324_112920.jpg

     

    I guess you can assume from this that the volunteers have accepted that there will be no paid personnel in, at least, the near future. And, I agree this is in poor taste given the circumstances by which their paid 'brothers' lost their jobs and livelihood.

     

    lemonice, DR104 and BIGRED1 like this

  6. 9 minutes ago, MESS11FOREVER said:

    a department out in western Pennsylvania somewhere would kill for a nice rig like that!

     

    I don't think I would be out on a limb to suggest that this vehicle received its regular, required maintenance. They couldn't donate this rig to some 'poor' department where it could provide service for years to come rather than accept $4+K so it can be sold for scrap or some parade piece?  There are hundreds if not thousands of departments with equipment far inferior and aged that this engine.

    x635 and Westfield12 like this

  7. On 3/1/2017 at 6:53 AM, vodoly said:

    Dept by us uses the duty company concept week to week where 1  of the 4 companies in town staffs the firehouse with a crew & 1 officers from 4 pm to6am & 7am to7am on weekends anyone on duty shift get credit toward stipend 

     

    I have proposed this idea previously but included neighboring depts in the mix to spread the responsibility.  The 'duty' apparatus responds immediately to any call in the 'mutual' district, supported by the primary department when it assembles their crews.  Many depts are providing dual response these days so designating alternating companies to provide a duty crew can build teamwork and commeraderie while providing immediate response to the community. If two neighboring depts that typically rely on each other can't field a duty crew of 4, then the problem is more serious than some would like to acknowledge.

    vodoly, AFS1970 and LayTheLine like this

  8. 1 hour ago, mreis95 said:

    Another issue is the housing market in areas where they join. They join as younger members still living at home, go off to college and graduate. Now they come home get a job but are unable to afford or find a suitable home in the town or even nearby to make it for calls. 

     

    I think this is one of the more significant reasons for loss of volunteers, especially in the more affluent communities. The median home price in Pleasantville is over $500K, Briarcliff Manor is over $700K, in Chappaqua and Katonah it is over $800K.  So you lose the younger members who followed their childhood desire or their parents/family into the service because at some point most need to move on. Those who are moving into town and buying homes of these values aren't necessarily inclined to become volunteer firefighters.

     

    You just have to listen to the scanner to know that, especially day time, many of the volunteer departments are lucky to get one piece of apparatus on the road and it is usually inadequately staffed.  Sooner or later many of these departments will be forced to go combination.  In some of the more rural departments, the lack of volunteers will undoubtedly affect response times as fewer members to make up a crew need to travel further to make the apparatus.

     

    Fifteen years ago when my nephews came into the service as our families fourth generation of volunteers I said they would probably be the last.  I believe I will be correct in that prediction.


  9. Pooler is the City next to where I live now. The Pierce tiller is brand new along with 5 new Pierce engines. The tiller is in their new HQ which just opened last month.

    They now have three stations, all new, and a fourth is under construction at this time.  The City has doubled in size over the past 10 years. 

     

    When I was checking out their new engines they told me about the tiller coming in. There are a lot of condo and apartment complexes in the City and they wanted a tiller for its manueverability in the tight parking lots.  

     

    vodoly, dwcfireman and bigrig77 like this

  10. 3 hours ago, nfd2004 said:

    The Rye, as well as Port Chester area seems to have some serious issues when it comes to it's fire service.

     

    The fire service is a High Priority no matter where it is. With manning and response times being high up on the list. When we add in the contributing factors such as todays, flimsy modern construction and highly flammable contents in these buildings, that becomes an even much bigger concern.

     

     I'm sure this is already being recognized by the insurance industry.

     

    ALL of Westchester County, paid and volunteer, has serious issues. 


  11. 57 minutes ago, Bnechis said:

    They recall 4 members to cover and they staff a spare engine. In the case of a Ladder, they use ma to cover. But considering the call volume and area covered, that's not really an issue 

     

    all what money? Their budgets are so low that they can barely pay for what they have. 

     

    What I mean't by all the money is not a Dep't budget, which all seem to be inadequate, but all the money from one the highest taxed Counties in the Country. 

     

    And with regard to the M/A, they pay overtime which their budget can not sustain to fulfill a request to another town whose budget does not allow for proper staffing or send their only ladder out anticipating the arrival of a neighboring ladder if needed but what if the next closest ladder is already providing M/A to the same incident?  

     

    It this is what NYC adjacent fire services look like 15 years post 911, what will they be like 5 or 10 years from now?