firebuff860

To answer you question let me use a metaphor. Everyone has heard the term "Those that can't do, teach, and those that can't teach... teach gym." Well here we have the equivelent of a bunch of gym teachers trying to design regents exams. Does that make it clear enough?

Although I am not an english major, I do not believe that qualifies as a metaphor. The bottom line is that in the end, if this "consolidation" goes through 2 of the 3 current dept's(PD, FD, EMS)are going to end up on the short end of the stick in regards to training $ and grant funding. If the county is dead set on moving forward with this, I would prefer to see a professional emergency management adminsitrator, preferably with a solid knowledge of all specialties take control, and have 3 deputy commisioners with singular expertise in their field. Then the new head of this dept can decide based on merit that involving the County PD in hazmat might make sense to get a quicker response. Or it might make sense to shelve it and have the county subsidize YFD's unit for county availability, or the squads. Either way, this topic will remain interesting until the county makes it's decision.

The haz mat stuff is the least of my concern, the County PD could take that over today as far as I am concerned. Do you need 2-3 pages to get your team out? Good luck County PD. The concern I have as a FF is that we are going to lose share of voice within County Govt as the man in charge is a cop, and he by nature will think more like a cop than a FF. For over the past 10 years the County has done an unbelievable job with training and building up the FTC, and I feel that we would lose this should this merge happen (along with 60-C).

I know the PO's on the site might not like my comments, but would they want a Fire Chief in charge of them??

I hope our fine elected officials can find some other way to trim a little fat from the budget.

Scott Air Pak 50 with 30 minute carbon bottle is 23.7 lbs.

Congrats to Tarrytown, but I have a question in regards to the facility changes. Is the purpose of the new area to do all FF1&2 at HQ and not up the road at the training center? Unless equiped with smoke house and live burn area you will still be travelling up the road. Not trying to start a fight, just trying to understand the grant.

Thanks

Great responses by those in the know. What bothers me about this post and many others on this site is the lack of basic grammar. The proper word is PAID, not PAYED. If you are a member of emergency services, PAID or volunteer, a basic ability to spell is expected. As a Lieutenant in your VAC, you are looked up to by other members who probably read this site. While your post may have had good intentions, please check spelling before putting out there for all to read.

Some may bash me for being grammar police, but a misspelled PCR could cost you dearly one day.

at 2:30 in the afternoon on a monday how many firefighter do you expect can show up??? try and factor in how many of these people are working , or dedicated to some other issue in their lives ??? THAT IS WHAT MUTUAL AID PLANS ARE DRAWN UP FOR give them a break. christ even my department had a lil bit of a hard time getting the engine out but we provided sufficient manpower to mohegan. Given the time of day and that no one was home we all (meaning all the dept.'s that responded) , and where the fire started and how it traveled made one hell of a stop on that house and to all the members of this site that are members of the departments that responded to that fire you/we made one good stop guys good job!!

I think homeowners expect enought firefighters to arrive quickly to start supression. The problem with relying on mutual aid is that it takes time for dept's to arrive on scene, thus making the fire more difficult to extinguish due to extension. And if you do not have enough firefighters to start suppression at your own fire, how exactly do you provide mutual aid? If Mohegan is having trouble with manpower they need to do 1 of 2 things, hire more men, or do a better job recruiting members especially during the daytime. If neither of those two are feasible maybe it is time to think of other options such as consolidation. I think I have read about consolidation on this site recently.

The link below is from The Journal news. Another reason why we enjoy such high taxes. And a big reason why these politicians don't want anything to change. Remember this in November.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100204/COLUMNIST08/2040382/1010/The%20Six%20Million%20Dollar%20Delegation

Everyone wants to see their taxes lowered until the time comes to cut or take away their little fifedom. Teachers, Local politicians, county politicians, and I am sure some Fire and Police Chiefs.

Let's take a look at a somewhat normal Westchester County Town that includes 2 Villages. We start with 3 separate Town/Village halls with separate admin staffs and elected officials along with separate courts. You might have 3 career police chiefs, 3 Executive Officers, 3 detective divisions, 3 patrol divisions, 3 separate dispatch sites, and 3 administrative staffs. On the fire side you might have 9 Chiefs, 6 engines (conservative), 3 ladders, and 3 rescues, along with a minimum of 3 firehouses. You also probably have 2 plus school districts with separate admin staffs, etc etc. This also holds true for DPW staffs, water depts, etc, etc, etc...........

The arguement that emergency services only takes up a small % overall is getting old. The time has come to find savings wherever we can, and if it starts "small", so be it.

When is this insanity going to end? Unfortunately, unless the hacks in Albany get voted out I don't think you will never see real change in NY.

Capt Nechis I think the regional plan is a great idea, right up until the point that the local and county politicians get their hands on it. They will hem, haw and twittle their thumbs delaying any decision where they might "lose control" of a piece of their empire. If your plan does come to fruition, congrats to you and those that fight for it.

I think it is fine the way it is. If certain "members" are upset by other "members" critiquing response times and the number of personell who respond- fix it. If an IA went out that said xyz dept responded within 2-3 minutes with appropriate apparatus and personell, then other "members" would have nothing to critique. It is not the Deputy Chief's problem for pointing out the obvious, maybe it is others problem for trying to ignore it.

Before anyone cries "censorship", there's a very good reason for this action. It was brought on by some slanderous and outright criminal comments have been made lately. It is one thing to be opinionated (not that I'd know anything about that ) but it is completely another to outright bash people and agencies for the sole purpose of inciting animus toward them.

We really need to find an outlet for hostility besides this forum! Perhaps a dart league or something (oh wait, sharp objects that won't work).

Lighten up, everyone!

Slander is spoken, libel is written. Many topics on here basically bash people or groups soley for the purpose of inciting animus. While I did not read this topic due to lack of care, why is this topic banned and others permitted??

Can anybody provide me with a list of combo (paid & volunteer) departments in Westchester County.

Pelham Manor, Pelham, Larchmont, Town of Mamaroneck, Harrison, City of Rye, Port Chester, Greenburgh/Hartsdale/Fairview have some semblance of volunteers. On paper I believe Eastchester and Scarsdale are still combo, not sure of volunteer activity.

Then it must be true

But we are to take the study you have talked about incessantly for 3 years as gospel. Right barry?

Volunteer or career, it is an embarrasment to the fire service. While a previous poster had recognized the IC or another member for realizing he was intoxicated and sending him back, the problem remains that he responded in the first place.

9/21/38

Not to change the subject, but is Fairfield combo, or all career?

just don't breathe too much or you will be on the ambulance as well as the vic's.

Brother FF,

I am a volunteer in a combo dept, I would be interested to know what you mean by physical fitness standard. Is there something in NYS about fitness, or is it a local standard? I know about the 100 hours of annual training, but I know our career staff is held to no fitness standards. We have been trying to get something passed on the local level for volunteers and career staff, but the politicians do not seem interested.

Thanks

Combo dept, 3 engines ladder, light recue. All interior FF's must be minimum FF1, train 3X per month to exceed OSHA requirements. Most active volunteers also have HMAT FR, Safety and Survival and FAST. Career training depends on duty officer working that tour.

believe it was a puff back at 50 guion.

As a volunteer and former chief, I am saddened by the LI presidents quote that he is in office to do what is in the best interests of his members period. Unless that is a misquote, I believe he is missing the big picture. While he should certainly have his members safety in mind and fight like hell for that, he should also be concerned with the overall best interests of the community he is serving, and paying for their apparent lavish lifestyle.

Mt Vernon, NR, Yonkers, WP are all career. Greenville/Hartsdale/Fairview and Eastchester are mostly career, with volunteers called to working fires only (I believe). Mohegan is a combination dept, like many in the sound shore area. I think the problem with the post is calling career FF's paid drivers. Regardless of what you may consider them, they have all gone through the career FF's academy, and deserve being called something other than a paid driver.

very funny fuego, you really seem to be fond of volunteers.

Is there really a diiference between a slow and busy dept, paid or career? What about dept's who can put out their own fires???

My condolences to the Arena family on your terrible loss. My parents lost a son in their younger years, and they always told me that there is nothing harder than losing a child. Look to Jimboy for strength when you are feeling sad, remember the happy times you were able to enjoy with him. His battle is an inspiration to many, and I am sure that his spirit will live on through you both and his sisters.

the differance is they are being paid not volunteering to do plumbing or elec. or anything else that takes a job from another.

Lickey,

I think the point being made is said career FF is working at his second job (painter, plumber, electrician) far below union prevailing wage. If he was not doing that, the union worker would get the job. If your arguement is just the fact of being paid, then you must not have a problem with the custodian being paid in Purchase and other Dept's to roll the rigs.