newsbuff

For those of you that don't know who the merchant marine is, it is the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels.
Seeing as how 9/11 was a few days ago, and I just found this video, I think this speaks volumes about how much the merchant marine is ready, willing, and able to help in times of need.
So, If you have 12 minutes,

For those of you that don't know who the merchant marine is, it is the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels.
Seeing as how 9/11 was a few days ago, and I just found this video, I think this speaks volumes about how much the merchant marine is ready, willing, and able to help in times of need.
So, If you have 12 minutes,

So because this person is a friend of yours, we can't talk about a big operational error that he made? So that means if my friend isn't wearing his gear right, or not wearing it at all, I should just overlook it because friendship comes before safety?

So because this person is a friend of yours, we can't talk about a big operational error that he made? So that means if my friend isn't wearing his gear right, or not wearing it at all, I should just overlook it because friendship comes before safety?

So because this person is a friend of yours, we can't talk about a big operational error that he made? So that means if my friend isn't wearing his gear right, or not wearing it at all, I should just overlook it because friendship comes before safety?

Woohoo. Ill be deployed

What the hell are you trying to say????
English man....

What the hell are you trying to say????
English man....

First off, I am not your bro....
Secondly, I said that I agree that he could have been taken into custody, I just didn't agree with swimming out there in a bathing suit.
Thirdly, we all risk our lives to save others. The model of risk vs benefit that I use is one that allows me to conduct a rescue while taking the proper necessary precautions to ensure the highest possibility of success to effect the rescue without placing myself, my co-workers, and my victim in unnecessary harm. Unnecessarily risking your life is utterly ridiculous, a dead rescuer is no good to anyone, especially when the proper training and equipment is readily available.
Cowardice? If you see my respect for the standards that have been established to ensure rescuer and victim safety as cowardice, then so be it, it's not worth arguing. But if you need to prove to yourself what a brave man you are by carrying out "thrown together" rescues for the people you "swore to protect", then I'm sorry but you are a dangerous individual and I just hope you don't get anyone else hurt.

"Emergency personnel arrived nearly an hour later" remind me to never get hurt in NZ...........
and in some Westchester community's as well

Police Officer Aaron Hess is a hero and saved lives the night that Criminal Danroy Henry attempted to run over Police Officers and may have killed civilians in the process. Its very simple:
1) PO Hess = good guy.
2) Criminal Henry = bad guy.
Any questions?

Percentage is a very poor way to determine coverage. If dept X has 100 interior members and 60% go to the parade, you still have 40 members left. If you only have 10 interior members and 60% go, you are pressed to meet the 2in 2out standard.
The bigger question is not what parade coverage you provide on a few days a year (which is important), but what is your ability to meet minimum national standards, 24/7/365.
Too many depts cant do this every day of the year.
And if you cant do that, then feel free to go to the parade, because its clear that your dept is not there for the community anyway.

I was reading an article in "First Responder Newspaper: New York Edition" April 2011, about the history of Dobbs Ferry VAC's 1948 Cadillac Meteor ambulance by Frank Rauhofer. It was aqquired by the newly formed Dobbs Ferry VAC in 1962 from it's previous operator, Dobbs Ferry Hospital. It was sold in 1964, to a retired Dobbs Ferry Police Officer to ultimately move to AZ.
It was found in October 2008 in a California salvage yard, still reading "Dobbs Ferry VAC" on the doors.
Members wanted to buy back this vehicle and restore it, but apparently the DFVAC board declined it as a "waste of money", and was sold on an online auction site and shipped to Europe. Even though a resident offered a place to store the vehicle and work on it, as well as storage after the resoration.
This kind of stuff ticks me off. First, there should be a proper Fire/EMS/PD museum in Westchester. Another rant for another day. History like this should not be passed over. In my opinion, again my personal opinion, they should have at least aqquired the vehicle and stored it until they found a proper home. EMS history like this is hard to find, many FD's have antique fire apparatus but many EMS agencie's don't have much to highlight EMS history. And now, quite possibly, this car is gone forever, to someplace in Europe.
I'm aware that the VAC has other financial commitments, but after talking to some people about this, there was quite a bit of people willling to step up and help out and this would cost Dobbs Ferry VAC very few dollars.
Thanks to Frank Rauhofer for highlighting this, and hope he does not mind me sharing this information here. Also, if he is a member here, I hope he'll add the photo to this thread.

Where in the definition of "Volunteer" does it say lack responsibility? It seems to me to be the ever growing "attitude" within volunteers. Whether it is a new mandate for training , or a change in operations for better overall function of your home dept. It seems to me that the "excuse" of "I'm a volunteer, why should I have to take OSHA," or "I'm a volunteer why should I have to be at my ambulance when I am rostering that time." The last time I checked when I became a volunteer at the age of 16, I joined because it was something I enjoyed doing and wanted to help. Just because you don't receive any type of monetary payments does not mean you cant uphold yourself to the same standards as everyone else. I for one feel that without changing that outlook, volunteers will be a rapidly dying breed. Now for those that don't me, and may think I am "voly bashing" get your facts straight. I have been in my dept for 10 years, and put as many hours as any other active voly. I have not forgotten where I came from, and continue to provide the service and have the attitude as of a volunteer just as I would at work. The main objective of this topic is to answer the following ques. and agree or disagree with the above statement, (Because I am a volunteer I don't have to uphold responsibility.) Is this attitude moral oriented? Is it something that can be changed? If so how?

Lohud

EGO

So which one is it

Nah, they don't need the manpower. Just cut the entire crew..
Go politics..

Just ask the guy who was fighting the dumpster fire when that blew up on him, oh that's right he can't talk right now he died fighting the regular old dumpster fire
Use your gear especially when it's already on your back. save the tough image for the gym.

Date: 12/9/10
Time: 05:35
Location: 3901 Gomer Court (Off of E Main St) Town of Yorktown "Jefferson Valley Collision"
Frequencies: 46.26 / 453.275 / Fire 17 / FG 1 / MVAC
LMFD Units Operating: 2261, 2262, E253, E258, L10, 69B1
YHFD Units Operating: 2533, E270 FAST
MFFD Units Operating: 19-6-1
MFD Units Operating: 18-2-1, 18-7-1
CVFD Units Operating: 2132, E231
PVFD Units Operating:
YVAC Units Operating: 86B1?, 34 Medics
SFD EMS Units Operating: 80B2, U88 (RAC)
WCDES Units Operating: Bat 16, C&O Zone 4 w/ 1404
Weather Conditions: Cold, 21 Degrees
Description Of Incident: Working fire in 30' x 50' 2 1/2 story dwelling attached to 100' x 100' auto body shop
Reporters: Remember585
Writer: Remember585
LoHud Article
Relocated to Mohegan HQ: 2341, 2342, TL45 (Peekskill FD) & 88B1 (Cortlandt VAC)
05:35 - L10, E253, E258 dispatched to reported structure fire. 60 Control advising multiple calls on it.
05:39 - 60 Control advising responding units one person possibly trapped per YPD.
05:40 - E253 reports fully involved house fire, still not on scene.
05:41 - 10-75 transmitted. E253 has a propane tank that already "let go."
05:41 - 60 Control dispatching Yorktown FAST, Mahopac Falls Cascade, Mohegan VAC & Bat 17 to the scene.
05:42 - E253 to 2262, fully involved and reports from units on scene all occupants are out.
05:43 - 2261 requesting a Ladder to HQ and send one Tanker from "somewhere."
05:45 - Peekskill TL45 dispatched to cover Mohegan HQ.
05:46 - 60 Control dispatching Battalion 10. 2261 cancelling the Tanker.
05:48 - E270 responding. 2262 requesting Con Ed Electric to the scene. Battalion 16 dispatched.
05:49 - 2262 reports an auto body shop on first floor with a residence above, 30' x 50'.
05:50 - 2262 requesting Con Ed to "step it up."
05:52 - 19-6-1 responding.
05:54 - "L10, as soon as the PD car moves, I want you to set up in the rear," per 2262.
05:55 - "E258 to the hydrant, send me water!"
05:56 - "2262 to the hydrant on E Main St, shut it down, I have a situation." 19-6-1 on location.
05:57 - "2261 to 60 Control dispatch an Engine from Mahopac, we need manpower here."
05:59 - E270 on location.
06:02 - Units reporting partial collapse, E258 has no water, 2262 reports "we're working on it."
06:03 - "2261 to all units, switch to Fire Ground 1."
06:05 - 18-2-1 responding. 69B1 transporting 1 to WMC.
06:06 - 2261 requesting Yorktown Highway Department for salt, "we're falling all over the place."
06:12 - 18-2-1 on location.
06:18 - Bat 16 on location, 2261 requesting the C&O Team to the scene. DC41 reports "Ladder operation is underway."
06:19 - C&O Zone 4 dispatched. Mohegan VAC, 39M2, U18 dispatched to an EMS call.
06:23 - Bat 16 requesting an update on the electric company, please put a 2nd call in, we have a hazardous condition.
06:25 - 60 Control advising Con Ed crew assigned, should be there in 15-20 minutes.
06:28 - 60 Control advising Bat 16 that Con Ed reports they have a rep on scene.
06:29 - Bat 16 requesting run down of EMS units on scene, 60 Control reports a YVAC rig and Yorktown Medic.
06:31 - Unknown unit reporting, "not enough pressure on this line over here."
06:32 - Bat 16 requesting 1 Ambulance to cover Mohegan and 1 Ambulance to the scene.
06:34 - Cortlandt VAC dispatched to Mohegan HQ for coverage.
06:38 - New Channel 4 Chopper showing live video, fire appears to be darkening down.
06:41 - Bat 16 reports units making progress, exposure issue is a 100 x 100 body shop, 4 L/S/O and 1 Ladder Pipe.
06:44 - 2261 requesting two ambulances total on scene at all times. YVAC is transporting unknown #.
06:47 - News Channel 4 Chopper reports business is "Jefferson Valley Collision."
06:48 - Bat 16 requesting Somers Rehab to the scene. Carmel VAC & Somers EMS have been requested to the scene.
06:49 - 1404 responding.
06:53 - 60 Control reports that YVAC is going to be transporting 3 with smoke inhalation shortly.
06:54 - Bat 16 requesting Con Ed Gas to the scene.
07:06 - 1404 on location.
07:07 - 60 Control advising Bat 16 that 80B2, 18-7-1 on scene. Bat 16 reports exterior operation, fire darkening down, making progress.
07:22 - U88 (RAC) responding.
07:31 - U88 on location.
07:36 - 2261 declaring the fire under control.
07:39 - Bat 16 requesting Code Enforcement to the scene.
08:01 - 2261 reports they have an excavator coming, the building has to be torn down for total extinguishment.
08:02 - 2261 requesting manpower from Continental Village & Putnam Valley to the scene.
08:15 - 2132 on location.
08:16 - E232 responding. (Originally called in as E231, later corrected they were in E232).
08:27 - 24-2-1 responding.
09:13 - Yorktown FD units released.
10:00 - C&O units returning.
10:09 - Bat 16 reports Red Cross is on location.
10:15 - Bat 16 going in service.
10:28 - Continental Village units in service.
10:45 - 2261 requesting Yorktown Water Department to the scene.
11:00 - Mahopac & Mahopac Falls FD units in service.
11:08 - E254 & TL45 responding on a CO investigation.
12:05 - All units clear from the scene. TL45 released from standby.

It very disturbing that any fire department would not want to buy fire fighting equipment to save its own members.
Its also sad that the members are blind to this issue.

I started this thread to once again alert members of the volunteer sector that having a dedicated F.A.S.T. on-scene promptly in the early stages of an interior fire attack is essential for firefighter safety.
I also said earlier in this thread that:
"As I have stated in previous discussions, EVERY Firefighter must be trained in F.A.S.T. operations, it should not be a option. If every volunteer firefighter is 'F.A.S.T. certified' it will be that much easier to form up a F.A.S.T. in an acceptable time frame (The sooner, the better)."

It's most unfortunate, but as I follow the postings I get the feeling that many still don't get the concept that F.A.S.T. IS NOT intended to be a 'special team'. F.A.S.T. is a basic firefighter skill just like hose line selection and Vent - Enter - Search. The mentality of " what we're doing is good enough' or 'we are volunteers, we don't have the time available to train everyone' is unacceptable. There are many functions that members of the the volunteer fire service put untold number of hours into that are nowhere near as important as firefighter safety. Until members of the volunteer fire service truly embrace the fact that firefighter safety and public safety must be THE priority, nothing will change.
Stay safe.

As the driver of SFRD Engine 1 this morning I just want to say that ALL precautions were taken while we were operating at a fully involved vehicle fire. The vehicle that was on fire was located in the breakdown lane of I-95 southbound. CSP had two patrol cars on scene , both with their emergency lights operating, both blocking the breakdown lane. As we approached the scene I positioned the engine approximately 75' short of the fire and at an angle that took control of the center and right lanes of I-95. CSP had also put out road flares to warn southbound vehicles of the hazard. Second due SFRD Engine 6 arrived shortly thereafter and also blocked the right two lanes of I95. During the incident the left lane of I-95 remained open and vehicle traffic was passing the scene at full posted speed limit (55) and at much greater speeds, in my estimation.  After extinguishment Engine 6 was clesared and Engine 1 remained on scene. The crash ocurred as the damaged vehicle from the fire was being loaded on a flatbed wrecker. The impact was immense! The tractor trailer continued down I95 approximately 600 yards after impact. Fortunately all three firefighters and our Officer were unhurt by the impact or flying debris. One of the CSP Troopers was hit by debris and was transported to Stamford Hospital for minor injuries. The tow operator was uninjured. The impact from the tractor trailer lifted the rear of the apparatus 1-2' off the ground and forward approximately 4'. The vehicle's maxi brake was applied as well as the rear tire being  chocked. All members were wearing high reflective safety vests over turn-out gear. The cab and trailer suffered signifigant damage as well. The SOG's developed by the SFRD concerning apparatus placement at vehicle fires DEFINATELY prevented injury to SFRD personel. <br>

Ya think speed was a contributing factor to this accident