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Where to start.  Volunteers get a pass because they're volunteers and the more the merrier. Our annual physical is pretty thorough and you can get 'downgraded' from interior firefighter to exterior if you miss the marks on some of the exams. It has come a long way from when I joined in 1970 and it was strictly turn your head and cough.
 
On the paid side, everyone comes out of the academy fit and for many its all down hill from there.  How long it takes to get to the bottom of the hill depends on each individual and their personal discipline.  Even if a department has weight requirements, try to get someone fired.  The weight becomes a disability or the result of a medical condition, maybe its the result of a psychological issue. Throw in some age, gender, religion or ethnicity and try to dismiss that person.  Good Luck.
 
If you consider yourself a first responder, you need to understand and accept that people are counting on you to perform certain specific functions.  If you physically can't fulfill those functions, you put them and others at risk when you pretend to be someone you are not.
 

21st. Century.  Bullies, Pirates, Gangs, Dictators, etc. etc.  We're really not as advanced a peoples as some would like to think.
 

It would appear that the death of the MD medic is also responsible for the life of another.  MOS returning from his funeral were first on the scene of a vehicle fire with the occupant unable to exit the vehicle due to a medical emergency.  The MOS were able to rescue the occupant before the vehicle became engulfed in flame which would have rendered her a horrible death were it not for the intervention of the MOS.
 
Even in death, he is a lifesaver. 

It would appear that the death of the MD medic is also responsible for the life of another.  MOS returning from his funeral were first on the scene of a vehicle fire with the occupant unable to exit the vehicle due to a medical emergency.  The MOS were able to rescue the occupant before the vehicle became engulfed in flame which would have rendered her a horrible death were it not for the intervention of the MOS.
 
Even in death, he is a lifesaver. 

Haven't attended one in many years but I remember them at the Kensico Dam and they were great times.
 

Haven't attended one in many years but I remember them at the Kensico Dam and they were great times.
 

Greenhouses, car ports, three season sun rooms/porches.

Greenhouses, car ports, three season sun rooms/porches.

Just curious.  Are the marine units operated by many of the departments 'real' fire-rescue boats? I know Yonkers, the County and Tarrytown have capable boats, but what kind of boats are utilized by other depts.  I spent some time on the river myself and it can get pretty rough out there at times.  

Generally the same pump, same tank, same equipment, same engine and transmission to get you to the fire in a slightly less fancy package.  What do they pay for these commercial cab engines vs a custom cab? Probably significant money.  

Just curious.  Are the marine units operated by many of the departments 'real' fire-rescue boats? I know Yonkers, the County and Tarrytown have capable boats, but what kind of boats are utilized by other depts.  I spent some time on the river myself and it can get pretty rough out there at times.  

The news is reporting tonight that the homeowner/shooter will not be facing any charges.  It was a case of mistaken identity in that he believed his house was being broken into.  

Generally the same pump, same tank, same equipment, same engine and transmission to get you to the fire in a slightly less fancy package.  What do they pay for these commercial cab engines vs a custom cab? Probably significant money.  

Generally the same pump, same tank, same equipment, same engine and transmission to get you to the fire in a slightly less fancy package.  What do they pay for these commercial cab engines vs a custom cab? Probably significant money.  

Did he sign a RMA?

According to the story, the bankruptcy of Transcare left the City short by 81 tours made up of 200 EMS professionals.  There was money from somewhere paying those 200 EMS professionals.
 
So, why didn't the City just hire those former Transcare workers and have the money that was funding them redirected to City coffers? There must be some way to waive or sidestep, legally, civil service hiring rules for a declared public health emergency.  If there was a compensation disparity between Transcare and City compensation, the City would have to make up the difference, but given that we are only talking about 200 workers, the difference can't be more than a ripple in a budget the size of NYC's.
 
It would seem to be a win/win, the workers keep their jobs, the City gets State certified, trained and seasoned EMS professionals and the Public gets to keep the EMS workers familiar with their neighborhoods.
 
I don't know how many buses are involved with those 81 tours, the Transcare physical assets aren't as readily obtainable as released employees, but I imagine the City must have spares or if they must, buy some stock/demo units from whomever has them to get by.
 
Where was the crisis management plan? Weren't there rumors of issues about Transcare's long term viability? Was it necessary to overwork existing crews? I have no doubt I am oversimplifying a possible remedy, but I also don't think this needed to be more than a speed bump for an EMS response.

They were running with a 1979 Ford/Hamerly, 1999 HME Pumper, 1975 American La France ladder truck. I think the town made the right choice. Why waste $1.5 million on the vols when they only went on 61 calls. I don't think that money total took into consideration that a new rig needed to be purchased. They had a GoFundMe site set up to buy a ladder. The town weighted the options and it would be cheaper for Pittsburgh to come into the town when they had a call. It works out to about one call every week, easy coverage. The borough is 0.4 sq mi. with a population of 3,330 people. There are only 28 members on the rolls but i think we all know about the roll numbers and actual firefighters are two different numbers. They should be happy a fully staffed department with properly trained guys are now covering the town. 

While it certainly sucks for its members, does a .4 sq mile town really need it's own department? It's certainly unlikely that a town with 3,000 people could afford the apparatus or supply the manpower for a self sufficient department. At the end of the day the town needs to give the best fire protection possible and do what's right for th taxpayer. 

Date:  04-10-16
Time:  1430
Location:  53 Herriott Street
District:  City of Yonkers
 
Weather:  clear
Units:  Engines 303, 304, 306, 308   Ladders 74, 71 and Battalion 1 on the initial response.    Ladder 72 as FAST and Squad 11 added due to numerous calls. 

10-29 confirmed on arrival.  (working fire).  Batt 2 as safety officer
Batt 1 reports 3 story frame with possible extension into connected 3 story frame already.  Similar exposure with 3 foot separation on other side of building.  
 
Engines 309 307 and Ladder 75 on the 2nd Alarm.  MSU also requested.
Engine directed to stretch into exposure 4.
 
Engines 310 312 Ladder 73 on the 3rd Alarm.  FIU and MSU on scene.
3rd alarm companies to stage on Riverdale Avenue.
 
New Rochelle sending 1&1 to Yonkers (engine 22 and ladder 12) Station 12.
Car 3 is now the IC.
PD requested to close Riverdale Avenue so they can access large water main on Riverdale.

Engines 313 314 and Ladder 70 on the 4th Alarm.  This accounts for all on-duty companies in the city.
Ladder from Eastchester to Station 14.  Engine 29 out of service to staff.
 
Car 3 reports partial collapse of original fire building - #53 Herriott.  All companies are out of building.

YFD personnel recall underway to staff reserve apparatus.  Engines 300, 319 and Squad 45 in service (that I've heard).

Yonkers OEM on scene.  Red Cross requested to assist displaced residents.
 
During this fire:
Engine 319 (reserve) responding to medical emergency.
New Rochelle 1&1 with Yonkers Batt 3 responding to fire alarm.
MVFD Engine 204 and YFD Squad 45 responding to trauma (fall victim).
Greenville Squad 15 responding to medical emergency.
 
 

Writer:  Me

 

I also wonder if these cars are similarly equipped as NYS. At a community thing one year they had a K-9 Trooper attending and the vehicle was set up so that if the interior temp reached a certain degree, the door would automatically open so the dog could get out.
 
Doesn't take long for the temp to get critical in FL w/o AC.

I also wonder if these cars are similarly equipped as NYS. At a community thing one year they had a K-9 Trooper attending and the vehicle was set up so that if the interior temp reached a certain degree, the door would automatically open so the dog could get out.
 
Doesn't take long for the temp to get critical in FL w/o AC.

Just caused me to remember the blue Hess and Eisenhardt Cadillacs when I first started with OVAC.

Just caused me to remember the blue Hess and Eisenhardt Cadillacs when I first started with OVAC.

 
Then I hope you are comfortable with contributing to any award.  Where do you think the money comes from? 

All you have to do is look within your own departments and see that the number of active members, and I mean real actual active members, is not as many as a couple of years ago, less than a few years ago, even less than a decade ago.  For all the reasons that have been identified within these forums the ranks of volunteers is dwindling.  Certainly the way departments are dispatched affects this.  
 
How many times can you drop what you are doing to respond to an automatic alarm that turns out to be caused by steam from a shower or dust from construction workers? Or to be cancelled before you even get off the ramp?
 
And, everything now requires an ambulance.  The public has been over educated to dial 9-1-1 for even the most minor maladies.  It seems nobody gets to the hospital under their own steam these days. 
 
Eventually it will have to become all paid.  Since I left Westchester I have lived in three Southern counties that provided paid fire/EMS-Paramedic services.  Palm Beach County has some pretty pricey areas like Westchester but the other two were/are not nearly as wealthy as Westchester.  If they all can provide paid fire/EMS to their citizens, so can Westchester.  
 
And for those who keep bringing up that laws and fire districts and all that prevent changes, well, change the laws for the benefit of the people.  That's what legislatures and legislators are for.