signal30

Ah, yes... when this discussion with commissioners turns into "we'll just pay the fine" and then ultimately, when you mention that you can be sued if you screw it up...

"That's what we pay insurance for"

What agency did you guys use to buy it surplus? DLA or another agency?

Date: 10/30/2014
Time: 0900
Location: Rt 9W
District: Village of Ravena Fire Department
Units:

Ravena Fire Department: C801, C840, R808, E805

Ravena Rescue Squad: A5887

Albany County Sheriff's Office: Medic 3, 4, & 5

Coeymans Police Department, Bethlehem Police Department, New York State Police

Description:

Single vehicle rollover w/ reported entrapment. First arriving reports vehicle on the roof, one patient still in vehicle- "barely" breathing. Rapid extrication done by first arriving Paramedic, Fire Dept Chief Officer, and PD officer.

Patient was transported to Albany Medical Center by Ravena ambulance, in serious condition. Highway shutdown for accident reconstruction.

Date: October 19, 2014
Time: 1300 hrs (Approx)
Location: US Route 9W (Cross streets- Winnie Avenue / Maple Crest Drive)
District: Village of Ravena (Albany County)
Units: Car 801, Rescue 808, Engine 805, Ambulance 5887, Medic 4, Medic 5, Coeymans Police

Description:

One vehicle rollover with entrapment with arm injury. Patient was extricated and transported to Albany Medical Center.

If they're still in High School, that should be their priority. EVERYTHING comes second to them completing their education (figuring out those pesky pump calculations is much more difficult without simple Math)-- yea, I'm stretching that reasoning a little bit, but I think we see the point.

I think the department should be commended for this!!! The higher ups seem to be leading this young, impressionable minions along the correct path. This path means that there are bigger things than coming down for "big one" (let's face it, we've all missed the "big one" at one point or another).

I don't think you see it right now, but I hope you will, but it seems like this department is saying "I want your help, I need your help, but I don't need it THAT much, you do what you need to do, and that means finish school, we've got this"

Kudos!

Date: February 5, 2014
Time: 1030

Incident Type: Structure Fire (Arson w/ armed gunman)
Location: Saddlemire Road

District: Town of Knox
Units: Knox Fire, Berne Fire, East Berne Fire, Altamont Fire, Gallupville Fire, Albany County Fire Coordinator (C1), Guilderland Medic 32, Albany County Sheriffs Office, New York State Police

Description:

Units dispatched to a possible structure fire in the Town of Knox, first arriving Chief found trees that had been cut down blocking the driveway who then advised all units to stage. Albany County Communications Center received calls indicating that the person who lived at the residence was heavily armed and threatened to kill any responders. Confirmed working fire, unable to proceed in due to scene not being safe.

Further reports indicated that the subject who had set the fire fled the scene in a 2007 Chevy Silverado and was armed with a shotgun. Area police agencies are currently on the lookout.

Either way, I'd like to take a moment for the cheesy "thanks for the response" type of post...

I think it's interesting that there are some similarities between the goals of the Unions and the "Companies"

My department now is a fire department. I work for and get paid by them.

I also belong to a union. We do fundraising, coordinate the honor guard, get members involved in the parades, sponsor a little league team as well as a whole host of other items (including negotiating our contracts.)

Wow, look... We have two separate organizations. Both with similar goals but different functions.

Just because YOU don't get the system, doesn't mean it's stupid or a waste of time and energy. The NY fire system is a little convoluted, but it is also filled with tradition and in many cases, pride.

There are things you just can't get done from the floor. The separate organizations provide a means to get things done in many case

Not sure if it was regarding the post where I stated "got it, big waste of time", if it was, I'd like to note that it was stated in a thick layer of sarcasm...

I appreciate the responses.

I do understand that everyone is different, I won't disagree with that. I just figured that there would be some sort of commonality that most organizations would have so that's what I'm trying to learn more about. This would pertain to not just volunteers, but career firefighters as well, as some districts are combination agencies.

Alrighty then, message received, just a big waste of time, thanks!

So...for those of you who are still members of organizations wasting your time... how do they go about wasting your time? Basically the inner workings of such wasting of times?

How does the president/director work with the Chief?

Anyone have a little further insight on how the municipal departments and how they go about it?

Company event on department/district grounds*

So who would handle a disciplinary action? Say there is a pizza night fundraiser where two members have an argument, no fists, just yelling in front of patrons. Clearly, it's not okay to do so. The head of the "company" decides no action should be taken, the "department" head disagrees, who has final say?

I am not going to go through every possible scenario or anything like that, but this is a pretty good example of a possible scenario.

It does seem that this doesn't seem to be a major issue as I don't really see it popping up on here, but I'm really only trying to understand how it works. My question isn't by any means meant to stir up the "waste money, me vs. them" conversations, as it's meant for a better understanding as to how these organizations are set up, and how they run.

I understand the dynamics of municipal departments and how they generally run when they are career staffed.

Could any of you provide insight as to how it works within your organizations in regards to the dynamics of the Fire Company and the Department itself? I'm mainly curious about a municipal volunteer department and how it works with the fire company, although insight on fire districts would be great too!

The Hose Company provides the man power for the department, correct? The department (fire chief) is in charge during calls and the company (company president) is in charge of the inner workings of the building such as fundraising, elections?

How do you guys operate and are there any good items to read about the subject? Any specific laws? I know this is a wide range of questions, just wondering how your organizations operate and differentiate things between the chief being in charge and the president being charge.

Training is at Goodfellow AFB (San Angelo, Texas)

Date: October 11, 2013
Time: 1300

Incident Type: Structure Fire
Location: Biechman Road

District: Coeymans Hollow Fire District
Units:

Coeymans Hollow Fire- Car 63, Tanker 630

Ravena Fire- Engine 805

Coeymans Fire- ETA 527

New Baltimore Fire- Engine 203

Ravena Rescue Squad- Ambulance 5889

Albany County Sheriff- Medic 2

Description: Reported garage fire. Per Car 63, Signal 30 requesting mutual aid for manpower and water supply.

Date: 9/6/2013
Time: 1330 (approx.)
Location: South Clement Avenue
Units:

R808 (Ravena Fire Department)

C51- (Coeymans Fire District)

E524 (Coeymans Fire District)

A5889 (Ravena Rescue Squad)

M4 (Albany County Sheriffs Department)

Coeymans Police Department

Description: Garage Fire, house exposure approximately 6 feet from garage.

just keep going until it sounds expensive...

When is it expected to go on the market?

This article comes from the brilliance of a "Sentence Former". That's what he was doing when he wrote the article, right?

Yea, they're always on official business... quite frankly, I get to watch thousands spent on gold leaf for trucks...then I go to work... where I'm told "there's no money" for fixing damn near anything on the trucks, and forget hiring another guy... There is more of an issue here than just bringing the command vehicle wherever you go because you're technically in service.

True, does sound like a little childish to bring it up here...but I do get what he's getting at. I'm quite tired of seeing the constant struggle for so many departments, then watching other departments spend the money on bullshit because if you don't spend it, you lose it...so that's where the goldleaf for the command vehicle goes...or maybe an extra lightbar...

just because a set of by-laws doesn't mention it...doesn't exclude it from ethical behavior. Our trusty bylaws haven't exactly been known to be perfect by any means...

For the record, I'm not against chief cars... I'm in favor...they have a purpose, but they should only be used for that purpose and that purpose only... perhaps state contract should only allow for non-luxury cars...perhaps military grade...because some of us know how the military thought of comfort when it came to vehicles...

We are, indeed, our own worst enemies...

Farmers Almanac is usually more accurate for long term predictions... then again, looking outside always helps too!

Date: August 15, 2012

Time: 0730

Location: Vischer Ferry (Saratoga County)

Frequency:

Units Operating: Vischer Ferry Fire District, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriffs, Clifton Park-Halfmoon Ambulance

Weather Conditions:

Description Of Incident: Small plane crashes into a house, one fatality confirmed with another injured.

Reporters:

Ever get the feeling some people here post things just to pound their chest and claim to be the most amazing "whatever" in history?

Any literature out there as to how these work and can show start up cost figures as well as continued costs? curious as to how this works.

nicely done