unleashedff248

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Posts posted by unleashedff248

  1. Posted

    I think Mass. does the same with their trucks to get to incidents as an effort to get traffic flowing.  But they might be yellow and white lights  I can't remember.  Check your local and state laws what is allowed.

    Here in MA the Mass Highway trucks use Amber and Clear LED lightbars. I'm not sure about the V&T laws. I've never seen anyone pull over for them.

  2. Posted

    Thanks so much for all you do Seth. We all appreciate it. When I found out you had closed, I was really amazed. I know you love this board almost as much as I do, and I've known you since you started it. You're not one to let a few hecklers ruin all this work.

    I've learned an insurmountable amount of information from this board, and not just what happened in westchester today. Hopefully one day some of that information will save my life.

    This board is great. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. We all have bad days, so nobody holds it against you, but I'm glad it's back. I actually looked into starting a board similar to this and realized the cost you absorb every month. It's amazing you're not in debt. We love you, we love the board, and that's not gonna change. I've been refreshing the site every 5 minutes since it got shut down and working on an email to you, as have been many of the people I know that use the board. And remember, for every jerk that hassles you over this board there are 100 other people that love it. Unfortunetly, you don't hear from them quite like you do from the people who only have bad things to say.

    KUDOS TO YOU! Thank you so much for everything you do, your countless time and dedication to this board is a wonderful thing.

    -Dave

    Somers VFD

  3. Posted · Edited by unleashedff248

    CAUTION: SCIENCE AHEAD...

    LED light projection is higher by the nature of the LED light beam. LED lights only emit light at one wavelength (which determines color), whereas halogen and strobes emit white light (a combination of many wavelengths) and then filter out the ones they don't want to project. This creates a beam that has many so called "holes" in it, and is easily refracted/scattered by air and suspended particles in the air. Every time light passes from air to another material and vice versa it gets bent a little bit (refracted) due to differences in the speed light travels in different mediums. Narrow, single wavelength beams are less subject to scattering by refraction than wide multiple wavelength beams. It also creates a ton of heat from the light that is filtered out (since light is energy and energy cannot be destroyed but rather only converted in form). LED lights form a tight collimated beam. This is the reason LED's were/are so bad at off axis lighting, but with the new "Gen 3" lights the use of internal reflectors has made them spread light at off axis angles much more efficiently. LED's offer many advantages over halogen and strobes, but I do agree that a combination of all 3 types is the most effective, as each has it's advantages and disadvantages.

    Halogen/strobe:

    color

    white filter colored light little light intensity projected

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    --------------l (absorbed as heat)

    --------------l------------> H2O (refracted and scattered by water in the air)

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    --------------l (absorbed as heat)

    LED:

    colored clear colored light (most light intensity projected)

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    --------------l------------>------------------------------------------->

    ...hence the need for 100 watt/50 watt halogens as compared to 1 or 3 watt LED's that exceed the light output of said halogens. LED's are not zero loss, as there is no such thing as a zero loss "energy converter" in this universe. Every light will create some heat, but halogens and strobes create much higher heat outputs than LED's.

    So I hope this answers some questions on why LED's are so much more popular than strobes and halogens. It not merely for looks and low current draw, there is some science behind it. And LED's will always project further than strobes and halogens do, but may not project as wide of a beam, hence the misunderstanding. Moving off-axis of a LED creates a much larger intensity difference than moving off axis of a strobe or halogen light. Any questions class? huh.gifwacko.gif

  5. Posted · Edited by unleashedff248

    Im glad alot of departments are letting younger firefighters step up to take charge.  Sadly though more times than not alot it seems like a ton of departments are run by a few " good ol boys" who are afraid of change

    AMEN!!! I had a friend who had a phrase for describing those individuals, "100 years of tradition unimpeded by progress." Change isn't always a bad thing, but when you do something the same way for a number of years, change is a hard thing to overcome, hence the necessity of training and continuing education. Don't be afraid to change things, and definitely don't let friendships and disagreements influence your judgments.

  6. Posted

    Man Saved After Scanner Deflects Bullet

    Man Saved After Scanner Deflects Bullet

    Wisconsin Man in Living Room Saved After Scanner Apparently Deflects Bullet

    The Associated Press

    SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. - Police say a police scanner may have saved Floyd Kimme's life. Kimme, 50, was sitting in his living room Sunday evening when a bullet was fired into his home by a large-caliber weapon, authorities said.

    The bullet went through the wall and hit the scanner, which was in front of the recliner where Kimme was sitting, said Sheboygan County Sheriff's Captain Dave Adams.

    The scanner apparently deflected the bullet away from Kimme, Adams said.

    Police said the incident remains under investigation.

    Information from: The Sheboygan Press, http://www.sheboygan-press.com

    Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

    ohmy.gifblink.gif

  7. Posted

    Date: 10-28-06

    Time: 1300- ongoing

    Location: Brockton, MA

    Departments: Brockton PD, Brockton FD, Easton FD, Stonehill College EMS

    Description: Widespread flooding around the Brockton/Easton area, with multiple calls for vehicle rescues. Brockton units all tied up with impassible roads, vehicle rescues. Reports of people trapped in vehicles at Westgate Mall (Westgate Dr.). Stonehill EMS Car 1 on location, multiple rescues made, awaiting FD/EMS for evaluation of 2 infants, possible hypothermia.

    Writer:unleashedff248

  8. Posted

    Agreed on the poor driving...

    ...but where's PD with the crowd control??? Granted I'm not sure how things work wherever this was shot, but here in the US PD usually provides some sort of crowd control. Some of these people were way too close to the fire scene and were crowding the streets. Maybe it was early on the dispatch (obviously the fire had been burning for a while), but who knows...

    Either way, no excuse for that kind of driving. blink.gif

  9. Posted · Edited by unleashedff248

    Date: 9/29/06

    Time: approx 01:00

    Location: Norwood, MA on Endicott St. Industrial Park

    Departments: Norwood, Easton, Brockton, Wareham

    Description: Fire in a large commercial warehouse, 4th alarm transmitted, Easton FD transmitted box 8 for station coverage at 0150 due to 1 and 1 being out (Easton only has 1 ladder and 3 engines). 5th alarm 1 and 1 from Bridgewater on standby to respond. Sporadic power outages in the area due to disruption of National Grid feeders.

    Links: http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO29743/

    Writer: Unleashedff248

    Preliminary reports say fire ruled as suspicious.

  10. Posted

    Res6cue is correct and I agree with him on this, the reporter never laid a hand on anyone.  Obviously what is worng is worng but still the aftermath is going to be a nightmare for all involved.

    Agreed with. Assualt is assault, and on top of it these weren't two 'Grade A' citizens to begin with. And with the camera rolling...wow, that's ballsy on the assulter's part. This is case closed when it goes to court. And as for the lawsuit, I hope the reporter sues and gets everything they "own". If he does the right thing he'll give it back to the rightful owner.

    I'm no legal expert, but cracked ribs??? I think that's 1st degree assualt, and with the rock involved, it may be lifted to a low degree attempted murder on the woman's part, or at least attempted assault with a weapon. And on top if it, if the stolen identity thing does pan out, these people are going away for a LONG LONG time.

    Yes, it may have been a little wrong to be on private property, but come on. Nothing justifies what happened here. Don't stand up for the assualters. They don't deserve any pity from any of us. Good thing the PD arrived quickly with guns drawn, or this may have been much worse.

    My 2 cents...hopefully the system works in favor of the reporters and the ID theft victim.

  11. Posted

    Never thought I'd be able to apply mythbusters knowledge to real life experiences...You guys remember how many bug bombs they had to set off in that place to get it to blow??? People are unbelievable! That house must have had one heck of a bug problem...

  12. Posted

    Just got home from work...I-684 southbound just south of exit 3 (Armonk) looks like a warzone. You can see where the tornado crossed over the southbound lanes into the northbound ones and into the Greenwich area. It's about a 500' by 500' swath of sheared trees. Multiple road closures in Greenwich as well between Glenville and Armonk. Unbelievable...

  14. Posted

    Another case of good people being punished while the criminals walk the streets. What's wrong? Are we that far down on the list of law enforcement goals that carrying an EMT badge is the new drug posession? Is every drug dealer and murderer off the street? I'd love to see this go to court. What's this world coming to?

    How about more focus being put on the people that take lives, not save them? But then again the good and innocent people are the easiest to take advantage of, right?

    Whatever happened to the brotherhood and good relations between the community, the police, and the fire and EMS personnel that I've always heard about? That's not to say nobody gets along, but the community overwhelmingly doesn't appreciate the emergency service workers (especially volunteers). Now the police relations are deteriorating too, not to mention that I'm starting to see fellow EMS/fire personnel turn their backs on their own people.

    Legally speaking EMS badges may be wrong. But shouldn't we consider intent?

    I can't believe that the officials don't see that this is the absolute LAST battle the police should be fighting right now. This is really quite disheartening.

  15. Posted

    I believe that the 'loudmouth' attitude of juniors arises from three factors:

    1. Inexperience (both in the fire service and in life)

    2. A willingness to learn

    3. The progressive 'can-do' attitude we forge in children today

    We have to remember that these members are learning, and sometimes instead of phrasing their uncertainty in the form of a question, it turns into an opinion or statement offered for no other reason than to be corrected. Plus, sometimes juniors do have good ideas for dealing with unique situations. Just because a 'rook' offers an opinion doesn't mean it should be laughed at. Consider it, and if it's wrong, correct it and explain why. Sometimes gripes about attitudes need to be put aside when dealing with younger people. If it becomes a major problem, confront them. If they don't listen and still continue to cause problems, you know that the attitude was intentional.

    Would you rather the juniors be quiet and keep their opinions to themselves, thinking they're correct when they may be mistaken?

    On the other hand, defiance is a completely different issue. Defiance leads to danger. This now becomes a disciplinary issue.

    As for the machismo attitude...let it go (unless of course it leads to danger). We all did it/do it. In time they'll grow out of it.

    Show a young person respect, and they'll give it back two-fold.

  18. Posted

    I can't really see too well...but from what it looks like they open the door, find extremely high fire and heat conditions, and advance the charged line in UNOPENED. It doesn't look like they did anything to supress the fire and heat inside before entering (correct me if I'm wrong). I almost think it was less tunnel vision and more showing off for the crowd. Either way, a horrifying video.

    Stay safe.

  19. Posted

    I know Somers was looking at purchasing one. The salesman came and let us play with one (I was able to try the one made by Ferno). It's nice, not gonna lie. However it does cost a lot, as other posts have stated. My opinion is that it will benefit the older members more than the younger ones. I personally had no preference either way, as lifting the stretcher up is not a major concern of mine. The stretcher is slightly heavier than a regular one too, which will make getting it inside a bit more of a chore. Like any luxury, it's nice...but not really neccessary.

    If I had one recommendation for any departmnent looking to buy new patient transport equipment it would be the new stair chairs that self-retard the load while descending the stairs. These things are truely amazing, and make me feel a lot more secure getting heavier/larger patients down the stairs safely. In Somers we recently purchased a set. Truely a great piece of equipment!

  21. Posted · Edited by unleashedff248

    First off, i'm not taking either side or saying that a $100k+ ambulance makes a lack of patient care any better. But I do believe the reason departments buy such rigs is for a certain pride factor that encompasses the fire service as a whole. Everyone likes to take out the new rigs. I'd rather be on a nice looking and new engine/ambulance than a 20 year old one. Why do we put gold leaf and fancy graphics on our apparatus? It's a tradition.

    The whole idea behind LED warning packages is that they provide superior light output with minimal current draw. This allows for greater engine efficiency and other technological advantages. As for mechanical problems with new rigs...I don't think the fire departments/EMS corps are the ones to blame for that. It's the manufacturer's fault at that point. If you buy a DVD player, take it out of the box, plug it in, and it won't turn on because of manufacturer defect, do you blame yourself for the problem? I didn't think so.

    The lack of coverage for the volunteer fire/ems service is a huge problem indeed, but as I see it, it's due to a shift in the way people think now-a-days. Everyone's out to make as much money as they can so they can buy a beautiful house and that BMW or Mercedes. They simply don't care about anyone or anything else. How do we solve that problem? An incentive perhaps, such as money? But now it's not volunteer. That's not to say there aren't people who do a lot too. In Somers, we're facing staffing issues with EMS. Our call volume is ridiculous, and it's rising by hundreds of calls every year. We have 12 or so EMT's, yet only about 10% of our EMS calls go mutual aid. I believe we do over 1000 EMS runs every year. Do the math. That's a lot of calls and time (about 2 hrs per call) for the ones that do show.

    Why don't people pull over for red lights and sirens anymore? Years ago, one rotator and a siren used to be fine. Now, forget it. Everone's in such a rush to go nowhere, and God forbid they should take the solid 10 seconds to pull over for an emergency vehicle, which is REQUIRED by V&T Laws. Ask people why thay still talk on their cell phones while driving. We all know it causes accidents, we've seen it over and over. Not to mention it's against the law. Next time you go to an MVA involving an intox, ask the person why they did it. Does it make any sense?

    So for all of us that go out there every day and do our jobs, whether it be career or volunteer, consider these nice rigs and new equipment the LEAST our departments can do for our time and services. And maybe we should stop yelling about not covering calls and start thanking those who do the 100+ calls a year. Does it solve the problem of coverage? Not really. But ask, can we really solve the problem and keep everything volunteer? I'm not so sure anymore.

  22. Posted

    the class couldn't have had better instructors .

    I couldn't have said it any better myself. Once again, from the whole Firefighter 1 class a thank you goes out to all who helped, including Adrian from White Plains FD, Robert Benz from Greenburgh, Dave from NRFD, Chief Kelly from NRFD, but especially Jim and Tommy of NRFD. They all taught us how not only to be firefighters, but how to be effective and safe firefighters. Jim and Tom's dedication to the fire service and the people involved is astounding. The most important things they taught us can't be found in any book, about the comraderie and brotherhood behind the fire service. Once again, thank you so much for all you do!

  24. Posted

    I've been working my side job in Somers out of the Lincondale house for almost a year now, and I didn't know until today that they had a spill trailer. Seems like a very nice resource to have. RES20CUE, or anyone else - care to share what is in it?

    The spill trailer contains mostly Haz-Mat containment and cleanup equipment such as booms, pads, speedy-dry, etc. It's been used a couple of times for MVA's with large scale fluid spills. It's usually pulled by U-5. It was purchased when E-183 was the rescue apparatus. Rescue 20 has much more storage to hold such equipment.

    Otherwise Somers has E-182, a 1958 Seagrave pumper. It is technically still a responding piece of equipment (even though it's out of service ATTM.) We also have U-34 (scuba bus) and Marine-22, a 2001 Zodiac Rescue boat that doesn't see too much use. MA-13 (1966 International brush truck) was recently retired after 39 years of service. It was a good piece of equipment, but very few were qualified to drive it.

    Obviously the more specialized equipment won't see as much use as the everyday engine companies.