Alpinerunner

Dramatic Video of Momper Fire -- Wall Collapsing on Firefighter
By Peter Neumann
INCNOW
10/30/11
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/home/Dramatic-Video-of-Wall-Collapse-on-Firefighter-132882423.html

Date: 10-31-11
Time: 03:26hrs.
Area: High Ridge
Location: 2993 High Ridge Rd.(Bing Maps)
Frequency: Stamford Fireground(Stamford Trunked)
Weather Conditions: Cold and Snow
Description Of Incident: Engie 74(LRFD) o/s reporting a Working Fire in a 2-story wood-frame P/D. 2 L/S/O's w/quick k/d. Originally reported as a house fire at 2993 Long Ridge Rd. All searches negative w/no injuries reported.
Reporters:
Writer: sfrd18
Units Operating: SFRD, Long Ridge FD, Turn of River FD; SPD; SEMS
Box Assignment:
Engine 9, Engine 8, Engine 5(Quint), Engine 7(S/C R.I.T.), Engine 71(LRFD), Engine 74(LRFD), Engine 73(LRFD)
Truck 2
Rescue 1, Rescue 66(TORFD)
Unit 4(DC), Unit 6(S/C Safety), Unit 7-11(LRFD Chief)

Lohud was on scene and have since put up a photo gallery of the dump truck rollover at the 9/9A intersection on October 26.
Dumptruck Photos - Photos were shot by Frank Becerra Jr./ The Journal News

Here are a few photos from the build that I have to share. I have a lot more but this should give some insight into what we put into the build of this vehicle.

Instead of the department wasting money on tshirts, why don't they donate the money to a breast cancer research fund. Much better PR.

I actually think he's onto something that could be positive and bring business to the tarrytown area. Look at the Walkway Across the Hudson in Poughkeepsie with the volume it gets and it would add another great hudson river experience. The only downside that I see is that the TZ was built too low and a new bridge would allow for taller ships to have access up the river. Either way keeping it or building the new bridge I would like to see a pedestrian/bicycle right of way on the bridge much like the Brooklyn bridge has.

Thornwood E89

Pleasantville E260

Pleasantville E259

As many of you may or may not know, i spend a lot of time in Vermont, as that is where my wife if from. The Town is Middletown Springs and the local VFD is literally next door to my in-laws house. Some of my wifes family are members of the FD, including some ex-officers.
A couple years back, i helped them out at a structure fire. Since then, i have struck up a friendship with many of the members there.
If any of you have been to rural Vermont, then you know that its nothing like we're used to here. Most firehouse's are simply garages for the apparatus with little to no room for training or offices, etc. The Middletown Springs VFD is no different. They are "lucky" enough to have a meeting hall. However, the meeting hall is also where some of the rigs are stored. When the meeting hall is needed, 3 rigs have to be moved outside. These VFD's have very minimal budgets and rely heavily on fund-raising.
I was up there a few weeks ago for a family wedding and noticed a "new" piece of equipment at the FD; a Maxim ladder. This truck would definately be considered an antique here in the Hudson Valley.
I got the chance to take some pictures of the rig and talk to the Chief about it. It is a 1966 Maxim 100' straight stick that came from the Rock Hall, Maryland VFD. This rig was going to be scrapped before the MTSVFD found out about it. The MTSVFD Chief drove down to Maryland and drove the truck back to Vermont. It recently underwent a ladder test and passed with flying colors. Other than some minor repairs, the truck should be in service shortly. Im hoping it will be re-lettered and in-service the next time im up there so i can take some photos.
This "new" addition should serve Middletown Springs, as well as neighboring communities, very well. This area see's its fair share of chimney fires and an aerial unit would be a big help.
I mentioned earlier that i had the chance to help this FD with a structure fire a few years back. At one point, i asked the Chief if a ladder truck was coming. He replied that yes, one was on its way from Granville. Granville is actually in New York and had an easy 20 minute ride to the scene. Their ladder is/was a 65' (?) quint. The next closest Truck would be from the City of Rutland, a good 25-30 minute response time.
Enjoy the pictures.

Just to shed some light on this event ( I was there on the first alarm assignment)the resources supplied by FDNY were a result of their own Commanders actions. PMFD Chief called for foam right at the start of this job from FDMV, FDNR and then YFD. NYC received multiple 911 calls from nearby Bronx resident's who heard and saw the explosions and the Bronx CO sent their own assignment to the scene.The PMFD Chief did not waste any time in his decisions and all of the FDNY resources listed were sent by request of Division 7 Chief on the scene.ALL units worked very well together throughout the operation to bring about a successful conclusion with no serious injuries to any members or civilians.Hope this clears things up.

Thank you to all. My wife Helen, who I called "Pumpkin" gave up her battle with lung cancer on Saturday morning Oct 1, 2011. She was such a good wife. Very mellow and low keyed. To this day, she looked the same way she did when I married her on Oct 9, 1976. Even after all those chemo and cancer treatments, she could still pass for a beautiful 25 year old. She just never aged.
Our first date was on Valentines Day, February 14, 1975. We went to see a new movie out about a high rise fire called "Towering Infernio". I told her that I was on the list to get on the fire dept. But I really don't think she was too impressed.
Our second date, I had to stop back home because I had forgotten to take the tickets for the show we were going to see. I invited her in for a few minutes and she talked with my mother. Later when I came home, she said to me "that's the girl you're going to marry". She was right and we would have celebrated our 34th Wedding Anniversary on Oct 9th.
"Pumpkin" was an Angel. She died peacefully at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Ct. Those nurses were the Greatest.

What's the problem? It's an ad, no different from the classifieds or the back of a trade magazine.
If they are hiring sight unseen solely off an email response, then yes, I agree that is cause for concern. I would think, however, that they would do their due diligence and bring respondents in for an interview, perform background checks, etc.
And no, I do not work for whatever company this is purported to be.

Fire based is absolutely not the best way to go. A dedicated 3rd service EMS is the ideal way to go. However it is more expensive to implement and maintain such a service. Once municipalities start looking at EMS as more than just a ride to the hospital and use it as an integrated part of their healthcare system, benefits emerge that cannot be accomplished with an agency trying to also serve as police or firefighters. In other countries and in a growing number of communities here EMS is used as an outreach to reduce ER visits, able to mitigate minor illness and injury on scene rather than transporting, and provide local services like education and vaccination.
The IAFF is absolutely only pushing EMS because it keeps their members busy and helps to protect them from budget cuts. If cities were burning like they did 30 years ago there is no way this would be anywhere near their agenda. Why would they seek to add more work to an already busy workforce? EMS is a perfect fit as fire companies are already distributed throughout the community and already somewhat familiar with EMS due to the nature of the job. This is not to say that fire based systems don't work. That's just flat out stupid as they are currently performing very well through out the country. But to suggest the IAFF began aggressively pursuing EMS for anything other than self preservation is naive.

I live in Somers. I am an FD member. I own my home. I pay about $10,000 in property taxes a year. About $500 are fire and EMS taxes (it says "fire and EMS" on my tax bill).
My home is made out of wood and there are no hydrants in my immediate neighborhood, though a recent water project put one in about 1800 feet away. At age 45 I have never had a fire in my home. I have never been in a structure that caught fire. (other than going as a fireman) No one in my family (brother, sister, mom, dad) has either. I have never met anyone that has been rescued from a fire. I have absolutely no expectation that under currant conditions a fire in my home would be extinguished in a manor that would save anything of value. We in Somers do not use the F.I.T. devices that allow 1 man to knock down a fire.
I do not want anyone risking their lives to save my house. It is insured. I have no ability to pay yearly taxes to fund a crew of firemen that may or may not be available (due to calls) to come and successfully/unsuccessfully save my home. I am told that the "loaded cost" of 1 fireman is about $140,000 per year (salary, pension, workers comp, OT for vacation/training, days off, sick time etc) So a small ( 4 guys- gotta have 2 in 2 out, right?)crew will cost me about 1/2 million dollars a year. Our Somers Town Budget is about $11 million dollars/year. The SFD budget is about 2.8 million, though they have managed to save over 4 million in various special accounts. (I have heard of tax and spend, but the SFD taxes and puts it in the bank!) So $500,000 every year in costs for the small daytime crew represent about a 20% increase in spending for the District. That is about $250,000 PER FIRE for the roughly 2 working fires we average a year. Yes it will be sad if my home burns. Even sadder if I and/or my family is home when it does. I have 7 smoke detectors ($7 each) and about as many extinguishers. For $500,000, I will step out the window into fresh air, walk across the kitchen bump-out roof, and jump the 9 feet, hopefully into deep soft snow (most fires are in winter). Since I am a 10 minute firetruck drive from the main station, I would probably have to do that anyway.
I am really sorry. I would love to see everyone get a great job as a paid fireman. I would love to have a standing army of highly trained and well equipped first responders in our four stations staffing 2 ladders, 5 engines a heavy rescue and a tanker. May as well throw in the scuba truck and ATV thingy too. I simply don't have the money it would cost to do that. As the "buyer" in this transaction, I am afraid I can't afford it. I will be careful to not overload any wires. I will keep the chimney clean. I will hope for the best. At 45 years old, I will be moving into assisted living in another 30 years or so. Hopefully I'll make it, house intact, then they can hire as many firemen as they want.

I was hoping to see something about testing professional racing pace cars on the highways

Available from EMTBravo Advertiser: http://www.fire-police-ems.com/books/bc7970.shtml

I'm a volunteer in Wallingford, and I gotta say it works REALLY well there between career and volunteer. Obviously each volunteer house is a bit different, but I'm very happy where I am.
The difference I've noticed between Wallingford and other combination departments that I've been a part of and/or observed. Yeah, the volunteer officers can be in command, but that's not what makes it work, and I feel like this article focuses a little too much on that aspect.
The reason the volunteers in Wallingford can be in command, and the reason that everyone gets treated equally there is because of training. Volunteers are held to a specific training standard. If you don't meet that standard, you don't get on the rig. Period. We also had a voluntary OSHA assessment to identify gaps in what we do and what we train in. Basically the way it works now is there is a database run through HQ with everyone's names. If you don't make your mandatory trainings within 1 year of the last one (365 days exactly) you go offline until you make it up. We have quarterly live burns, I believe you have to make 1 per year. Officers are required (according to what OSHA told us) to receive additional training above the Firefighters, so we do that too. Since everyone is held to a standard and that standard is non-negotiable, the Shift Commander and the rest of the career department knows that the guys stepping off the truck have a reasonable idea of what they are doing and can be trusted to make intelligent decisions. Not only that, but we train WITH the career department. That way we know what they expect from us and they know what our capabilities, equipment and limitations are. There are certain things we take active roles in, and certain things we take support roles in (some of the special ops stuff, specifically) simply because we lack the equipment and training to do proficiently. So we maintain our training in how to best support the career staff on such a scene (IE: proper sizeup of a tech rescue incident, setting up an initial system, etc)
But in all honesty, we don't make a big deal out of the "who is in command" business, we don't really care as long as the person knows what the hell they are doing. Which is the way it SHOULD be everywhere.
Just for informational purposes, Wallingford runs the following:
Headquarters (Career)
Car 4 (Shift Commander - Captain)
Truck 1
Engine 2
Medic 1
Numerous Special Ops and spare vehicles
Station 1 (Career)
Engine 1
Rescue 3 (ALS pickup, runs from 9-6 on weekdays I believe)
Station 4 (Volunteer - Cook Hill Company)
Engine 4
I believe the HAZMAT pickup/trailer is stored here as well.
NOTE: Station 4 only runs from 6PM-9AM, staffed by volunteers from Company 5, due to a lack of volunteers at that company.
Station 5 (Volunteer - Yalesville Company)
Engine 5
Squad 5 ("Medium" sized engine, used for EMS, rescue, brush, service calls, etc)
Station 7 (Volunteer - North Farms Company)
Engine 7
Rescue 7 (Heavy Rescue)
Tanker 7
Station 8 (Volunteer - East Wallingford Company)
Engine 8
Squad 8
Light/Generator Tower

Date: 9-25-2011
Time: 08:59
Location: 2447 Southern Boulevard
Frequency: FDNY Bronx Dispatch
Units Operating: (See Rundown Below)
Weather Conditions: Dry
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 2-story PD. Heavy fire U/A with quick K/D. 5 injured civilians, 2 serious. NYPD called a Level 1 Mobilization for the scene due to an assault. A man with a machete attacked the resident of the PD, striking him in the head with the machete. The attacker then set the building on fire, leaving himself severely burned.
Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue
NY Post
Box Assignment:
Engine 88, 48, 45, 79
Ladder 38, 56, 58 (FAST)
Battalion 18
2nd Alarm Assignment:
Engine 46, 90, 75, 42
Ladder 37, 27
Division 7

Without getting into the politics of the NYPD, the point you make about having the capability is the key. The perceived ability may act as a deterrent and the capability may never have to be implemented.
It's largely a psychological game and they're trying to play it to their advantage. Whether or not their capability is a .50 cailber Barrett or some other armament, the point is they're advertising that they can take down an airplane so someone doesn't try to attack the city by airplane agian. That's all.

NYS AG Opinions are non-binding on NYC, so it would literally be just that, an opinion.
But in general, if we all take off our tinfoil hats for a second, does anyone honestly believe NYPD would move forward with something like this in absence of the federal governments consent? And if they actually did do that on thier own, would they brag about it on national television?

Date: 9-20-2011
Time: 10:40
Location: 76 Willoughby Street
Frequency: FDNY Brooklyn Dispatch
Units Operating: (See Rundown Below)
Weather Conditions: Dry, chilly
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 5-story 50X100 commercial structure. Heavy fire on the #2 floors with fire out the windows. Ladder 105 was the original FAST but was put to work for a person hanging out the window. Ladder 102 came in as the new FAST. One 10-45 Code 4, One 10-45 Code 1. 2 L/S/O. Fire placed U/C by Division 11 @ 11:35.
Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue
Box 431 Assignment:
Engine 207, 224, 205
Ladder 110, 108
Battalion 31
10-75 Assignment:
Engine 210
Ladder 105 (Original FAST)
Rescue 2
Squad 1
Battalion 32
Division 11
Extra E & T:
Engine 226
Ladder 101
2nd Alarm Assignment:
Engine 202, 211, 279
Ladder 119, 102 (New FAST)
Battalion 35 (RUL), 2 (Safety Officer)
Engine 9 w/ Sat 1
TAC 2
Field Comm


Two Additional Trucks:
Ladder 131, 104

Holy Wheelbase!!
Some thoughts: When it goes down for service, it is like two units being down.
How does the Pt feel being moved sideways? Hard stops will throw the Pt sideways off the board/cot, not into it like a traditional ambulance and a sitting up Pt. I would like to take a long stretcher ride it it over curves hills and bumps. After all, we work for the person on the bed.

On September 10 I was shooting a semi-pro football game at SUNY Purchase College. While I was there, Tower Ladder 2 was at one endzone with its ladder up that had an american flag draped over the bucket. It was a nice display and I liked how the lights from the bucket would peek through the flag further illuminating it. By the way, the team was called the Westchester Warriors and they play in the Big East Football Federation in case anyone is interested.

Last weekend after I got married we got to leave to go to York beach Maine for a nice honeymoon. I was able to sneak in a few shots of fire houses and some apparatus. York beach fire house is right behind the hotel I stayed in so I was able to snag the most shots since I was there on other business I didn't get a chance to talk to anyone and get some real info but I figured I'd share a few shots.

Seeing that West Harrison is having their 100 Anniversary celebrations in the next couple of weeks, I thought I would post some of the pictures that I have found digging through my collection. Had the pleasure and sometimes frustration serving on all of these. Looking at them brought back alot of memories. These photos were taken by myself or Gus Strets.

Tower Ladder 9 a 1980 75'Mack/Baker

Engine 52 a 1956 Ward/Lafrance

Mini Attack 3 a 1962 International

Engine 265 a 1973 Seagrave

Me and FF Sciliano Carrying the Department Banner at the 75th Anniversary Parade

Growing up in the East, I recall that my parents were always good at stopping and rendering aid. I also remember waiting at an accident on I-84 in New York circa 1969 and seeing impatient people drive over people's belongings laying in the road rather than wait (my parents were appalled; it made quite an impact on me - I can still hear the crunching of pots and pans).
I wasn't involved in emergency services until after we moved West, so I can't compare East vs. West. I'm not terribly surprised about the Utah behavior; people here generally seem to stop and offer to help. The biggest issue is trying to strike a balance between bystander/civilian safety and using the additional resources.
The best example I have is from about 7 years ago. The fire district I'm on is quite small (~120 square miles 1st due, several hundred square miles mutual aid). We got called to a rollover right on the Western edge of the district. At the time, we had very few responders on the Western end; most of our folks responded from our main station about 14 miles East (and down a mountain pass) from the accident. Mutual aid from the next district over was ~30 miles away. Our SOG was that I would respond POV to the scene, and sort it out as well as possible (we now have a station on the Western end, and more responders, so we don't do this anymore). I arrived on scene (with my PPE and radio) to find what appeared to be multiple vehicles, some of which were demolished (it turned out to be 1 full sized pickup towing 2 trailers; a house trailer (which transformed into matchsticks) and a flatbed with ATVs on it). My response was pretty quick - probably 5 minutes from page to on scene - but there were already ~20 people and numerous vehicles who had stopped to help. All this on a 2-lane highway that is 'busy' by Wyoming standards, but not really very busy ... I think pretty much every passing vehicle must have stopped!
My first problem was figuring out what had happened (it wasn't obvious), then figuring out who was actually _in_ the accident and who was helping. Since I had bunkers on, I at least looked like I was in charge(!); I yelled out, "if you were in the accident, raise your hand!". I quickly found out I had 4 patients. 2 were walking wounded (I had them sit down, and assigned a couple of civilians to monitor them, after giving them instructions). 1 had been ejected _over_ a barbed wire fence, and was laying face down AAOx4 but clearly hurt and in pain (I triaged him, then instructed a few more civilians on how to hold C-spine [yes, I gave them gloves too]), then was directed to patient 4, who was laying in the back seat of the pickup complaining of lower back pain (triaged, then assigned a few more civilians to hold C-spine and monitor him). I then took a few civilians and had them help me get traffic control started (it was mostly off the road, but there was some lane intrusion). Once the rest of the department got on scene (it seemed like it took forever, but was probably about 15-18 minutes), I started replacing civilians with our folks. I was blown away by how helpful the civilians were. All they wanted was some direction, and to help. Without them, it would have been a huge mess, and patient care would have been delayed.
I can't say for sure that this always happens, but I have way more stories of people stopping and helping than driving past.
Results, by the way:
2 walking wounded - transported & released (no injuries)
1 ejection - fx pelvis
1 back pain - fx lower (lumbar area) vertebrae