eric12401

Great turnout by PD, FD and EMS for the funeral of Poughkeepsie Police Det. John Falcone in Carmel.

Progress Photos 2/23/11

1. While Watch Hill Road maybe in Mohegan, it is 5 minutes or 2.5 miles away from Montrose FD HQ, the nearest Mohegan Fire House is 8 minutes for 3.6 miles away
2. U-12 is a utility with the cascade system that is requested to all fires in the tri-village. It is not a front line piece of apparatus (I.e. ambulance, rescue, ladder or engine), it is more of a scene support vehicle therefore it is understandable that it would respond with no interior members. Sounds like a great job for one of life members who still wants to help out and can drive and operate the cascade system.
3. One would need to ask the chief on scene, but 14 minutes is too long to wait for a FAS Team
4. One would need to ask the chief on scene, however the VAFD has primary responsibility for their campus, it is possible they too were tied up
5. One would need to ask the chief on scene, however Peekskill is further away and I would be willing to bet the same guarantee for manpower.
I am sorry this was not that unusual/out of line/controversial for you.

For someone who professes to be, "Young and gung-ho" ... your post shows you to be wise beyond your years. 'Buff stuff' is fine, unfortunately our main function as firefighters is to protect lives and property. This is an awesome task that requires constant training on new issues and techniques as well as continued practice on the skills (bread & butter) that we already should possess. As I was told by a senior man (old-timer) as a brand new Probationary Fireman (that was our job title back then) just out of the fire academy, "Hey kid, this is a dangerous job where we all must rely upon each other for survival. The people who call us for help need us to always be 'on top of our game'. The minute that you think that you have it all figured out and have nothing left to learn, you'll have to make an important decision: either retire or 'get back into the job' and study. Nobody on this job will ever know everything, those who think they do will get them self or somebody else killed." In closing 'JohnnyOV', you sound like you have the right attitude to be a success in this profession. If I wasn't retired, you would be the kind of Firefighter that I would want to have working with me when everything goes to s**t in seconds. Keep your head where it's at, don't be swayed by lazy, negative types!

I am going to get on my very young and gung-ho soapbox right now and speak my mind. Feel free to let the flame war ensue since I'll be opening Pandora's Box right now.
Currently we have numerous, very active threads going on in the main board and that is fantastic. I am happy to be part of a very active discussion board that allows for open discussion on any topic we so choose totalk about. There is always a new post or discussion or someone chiming in on something that provides a new direction, or insight on the topic.
What does bother's me though, is the priorities that I feel many people have, as to what is actually important to the fire service, and it reflects on the types of threads posted and the activity of each thread. Currently we have threads about types of colors on chiefs cars, blue lights, other secondary/tertiary discussions as to who should have what. I have no problem with these threads as they enlighten others as to certain laws and other regulatory information.
What does bother me though is when you have a member post a topic about resources in the county and what department has special teams, only one person answers… Why? Do we really care so little about preplanning and foresight before an incident that we would much rather discuss the correct angle of chevrons over running an incident efficiently and smoothly? I know I personally was really looking forward to seeing what departments have around the county, so in case my department ever needs assistance to something we cannot ourselves handle butsomeone else can, they can be called upon.
We also have the "Tactical considerations" forum, which is a fantastic idea, but it rarely gets used, and when it does, only 2-5 people chime in with an answer. If you're wrong with an answer, who cares? It's only online training and you'll learn from your mistake. It's better done here, then out at an actual incident.
Sure I like to "buff out" every now and then as much as the next guy and get ideas from apparatus photos, but I think proactively talking and learning from other people about pre planning actual operations, or what an IC would have done differently at a fire is much more important then who won what at who's parade. There is such a vast wealth of knowledge on this board, it puzzles me that no one wants to actually release information for whatever reason they so choose.
Not a day goes by where I do not learn something new about the fireservice, and this board has definitely supplied me and numerous other people with a plethora of information. I can only hope that more people talk about the operational and tactical side of the fire service, as to me this is what truly matters and where departments stand out. The general population does not care about your roto-ray, or your undercover chief's car. They want their fire put out quickly and efficiently and their family member cut out of their car without any more harm being done. Sure things look cool, but to me, what is far, far more important is providing a homeowner or taxpaying company relief when we show up because operationally, we look like an organized, well oiled army doing everything in our power to help them out.
I'm not sure if I'm totally off base here and singling myself out, and this is no way a shot at anyone in particular but this is just an observation I have been making over the last few months and felt like it was time to share my opinion.
edit: transfered from M.Word and the format was screwed up

Weather advisories are issued based upon forecast weather conditions not people's driving ability. They do issue them upstate and elsewhere, they just don't make a big deal about them.
See the attached from the NWS on when they're issued and why.
criteria.pdf

To Poughkeepsie Police Officer John Falcone's family, friends and the Brothers and Sisters of the Poughkeepsie Police Department; we here at EMTBravo, hundreds of fellow police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel all grieve with you for the tragic and senseless loss you have suffered.
Most of us did not know John personally, but we now know who he was because of his actions; his willingness to go into harms way, do his duty, and heroically carry out his final call.
He will never be forgotten by us.
When a tragedy like this happens, when a man such as Officer Falcone is taken from this world in the line of duty, our hearts are broken with yours, we stand at attention and salute him and all of you, and offer you all our deepest condolences and respect.
He reminded all New Yorkers, and all fellow Americans, what it means to be a Police Officer. An innocent three year old girl will live her life thanks to the courageous and selfless last actions of a hero.
Officer John Falcone, No Greater Love....Rest in Peace and thank you.

Let us keep the comments down until we hear otherwise with respect to everyone involved.

I highly disagree with you posting the department's name for starters. Second what agency are you in let's see how good you guys are. Everyone has issues there is atleast one dept in that same area that's worse than the one you listed, but everyone has issues no one can be as perfect as your agency.

It's a confusing article. It starts out with this "political bantering" comment. Where did that take place, in the firehouse amongst the members? Did they get into a heated political argument, because towards the end of the story the firefighter in question says he was so distraught that he felt he couldn't perform his duties, so he went home sick. He also said he voted for Giffords.
He also retired apparently. So he's gone.
Not much of a story here really, much ado about nothing in my opinion.

We recently studied the Imperial Sugar Explosion in my Hazardous Materials class. It goes back to the idea of surface area, what burns better, a block of wood, or that same block of wood shaved into saw dust? Obviously the saw dust, now while one may not think that sugar or in this case toner dust might be flammable, anything given an LEL and heat will explode and combust. In the case of Imperial Sugar, a ball-bearing in a conveyor belt overheated and with enough sugar dust in the air it exploded and 14 people died. Safety systems that should have been in place either failed or were non-existent. Relevant OSHA standards for the Toner Explosions:
29CFR1910.22 Housekeeping
29CFR1910.307 Hazardous Locations
29CFR1910.1200 Hazard Communication
General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1)
OSHA Advisory on Combustible Dust:
http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/OSHAcombustibledust.pdf
Imperial CSB report below:
http://www.csb.gov/UserFiles/file/Imperial%20Sugar%20Report%20Final%20updated.pdf

Good dissertation, Cap. Might I add a like more about the Gamewell Telegraph Syatem?
The 3-fold box came into widespread use in the early 1900s, and if installed correctly (most are not) it is almost foolproof The 3 folds are Non-interfering, Sequential, and Ground return. It is meant to operate with the boxes on a single wire loop, but unfortunately many places have installed them on a feed loop and a home run which can defeat the features that make the system fail safe. Non-interfering means that if one box is transmitting it has control of the system. A second pulled box will not be able to join in and give wrong bells. Sequential means that if several boxes are pulled, one will wait for the prior box to finish before it transmits. Ground return means that if a wire is broken, the system will rely on the one good incoming wire ant transmit using the ground (earth)as its second wire. If a tree limb falls and breaks the wire on single loop, gorund return will work, but if two wires are broken, it defeats the ground return feature.
If many boxes are pulled at once a box will keep waiting its turn to transmit, until its mainspring is almost wound down, in which case, it will take over the system from the other boxes and transmit its box number on its final breath, so to speak. Remember, this was early 1900's and all this was accomolished by a series of gears, contacts, coils, and springs. The system is actually digital because the whole thing operates on a series of "if...then" tests and line open...closed.
The system was also a two-way system. Let's say the Chief arrives at Box 271 in his buggy, and wants to sound a Second alarm. Remember there is no radio and phones are only for the rich. Let's say the bell signal for a senond alarm is 2-2. The Chief would open the box and on the telegraph key inside he would tap out 2-2 271.
Most of you have not worked in a place with a municipal system, but it is still the fastest response time of any other system, even the systems today using CAD,etc.
(Vols systems were slow because the system had to be timed slow for the whistle to operate) All hands would start counting the bells as soon as the box started coming in. No matter how big or small your city was, by the second digit you knew if you were 1st due, 2nd due, not assigned, etc.
Old guys like me are like Pavlov's dog. Start ringing bells at the proper timing, ,and we start counting.

I'm going to agree with M on the necessity of maintaining the pull box system for inner city areas. Like Dennis Smith wrote about; if somebody pulls a box they KNOW a fire engine is coming. Sure it's a different system now, ERS, push to talk, take a look at JBE's profile photo to see one.
We had a pull box system in the Eastchester Fire District. It connected three school systems, a college, a hospital, public buildings, private schools, and public streets directly to every firehouse. Inside each house had a reel-to-reel tape at the watch desk, and bells on the wall of the apparatus floor, and whistles on the roofs. The tapes and bells were spring loaded, and had to be wound at the start of every day tour. As soon as a box was pulled, it would activate four rounds of the box number through all five houses and simultaneously activate all five fire whistles.
The schools, hospital, public buildings all had box numbers like 83..or 881. You had to hear all five whistles going in the district at the same time to believe it. Back in the day, this was the only way to notify the volunteers...they would count the number of blasts on the whistle to figure out the location of the alarm. There was a pocket-sized box location reference guide; I think there were at least a couple hundred boxes in the district.
Back in the day, the Alarm Bureau was staffed with one or two career guys. The district eventually put the maintenance of the system under the purview of the department mechanic. The system was pretty durable, but over the decades the underground cables connecting it all needed more and more maintenance/replacement.
The general public was getting pretty fed up with the incredibly loud whistles that would go off at all hours, so the department installed kill switches for them, and we began shutting them down at 2300 hrs every night.
The invention of the Plectron probably had the most impact on smaller municipal alarm box systems like ours. With the volunteers now getting toned out, the days of the fire whistle were rapidly coming to an end.
And that day did come, with a Resolution by the Board of Fire Commissioners, they pulled the plug on the pull box system, and another part of fire department history went the way of the horse drawn steamer.
The 1800 hr system test was for decades, the way by which many a resident would set their pocket-watch....pulling it out using the fob, double checking the time and then catching the trolley car for a ride home. Career firemen in Eastchester were required to come and go from work in their Class A uniforms. They could ride the trolley for a nickel, but they were not allowed to smoke while wearing their Class A's.
So they did away with the pull boxes, they did away with the whistles, eventually firemen didn't have to wear their Class A's to work anymore.....and the trolley cars came to a halt....they paved asphalt over the tracks at some point. But through it all some things endured the test of time; the design of the New Yorker...and the Halligan Tool!

The street pull-box has not become obsolete. Not one bit. Unless you can show me a fool-proof, never fail method of reporting an emergency, there will be a place for the street pull box. Oh, remember that this device has to be available to everyone. How many people don't have cell-phones, or home phones? Not many in Dobbs Ferry, but in some inner-city neighborhoods, there are still some without.
How about a child? That same group of kids who maliciously pulls the box after school might actually have an emergency to report and no phone.
How about a catastrophic event? I don't know about you, but on 9/11 or the 2003 black-out, I couldn't make a phone call on my cell for hours.
Dispatch has taken steps to reduce malicious false alarms. Almost all pull-type boxes have been replaced with an intercom style. The person pushes a button and speaks with a dispatcher. Between the hours of 7am and 11pm, if no contact is received by the dispatcher, no units respond. If a "no-contact" box is received after 11pm, one single engine responds to investigate.
It doesn't happen often, but I have responded to more than one "ERS" (intercom pull-box) alarm that turned out to be an all hands fire. While the alarm was phoned in as well, it was the ERS report that had us out the door 30 seconds earlier.
The street alarm box still has a functional place in many areas. Cost? It is an almost invisible line item on this city's budget. It is a small price to pay for a tried and true system. This is a great example of positive redundancy.
Lastly, in light of the recently introduced "UCT 911" system and it's many shortcomings and failures, it's nice to know that there is still as system out there that will put the public in direct contact with Fire or Police dispatchers and not some low-rent, ineffectively trained call-taker.

Delivered
GSO #8016 - Napanoch Fire District
Napanoch, NY
Custom Pumper
KME Predator MFD w/ 22" Raised Roof Cab
Detroit Series 60, 515 HP Engine
Allison 4000 EVS Transmission
Hale QMAX, 1500 GPM Single Stage Pump
1,500 Gallon Poly Water Tank w/ 20 Gallon Foam Cell
163" Flatback Body w/ 12 GA Stainless Steel Body
Onan 15kw Mobile PTO/HYD Generator
Akron 3126 Foam System
398" OAL/ 217" WB/ 121" OAH
ASA Voyager DUal Camera
Whelen Warning Lights
Two (2) Hannay 120v. Electric Cord Reels
NS Vertical 240v. Optimum Light Tower
** All information & pictures courtesy KME website.

I'm not at work so I can't look this up and verify it, but here's what I recall from memory... (NRFD guys please feel free to correct me)
Initial was probably the usual 3 & 2: E21, E22, E24, TL11, L12, 2302
10-75 would be E23, 30A1, 2301
2nd Alarm would be E25, L13, MSU3 with a backfill of 1 & 1 to Station 1 (Pelham & Pelham Manor) and 1 & 1 to Station 3 (Greenville & White Plains)
3rd Alarm would be another 1 & 1 with an additional backfill (Fairview & Hartsdale)
4th Alarm would be another 1 & 1?
5th Alarm would be another 1 & 1?
I believe NRFD had 2301, 2302, 2303, E18, E21, E22, E23, E24, E25, TL11, L12, L13, L14, R4, U91, MSU3 on scene.
Greenville E150, Town of Mamaroneck E36, Larchmont TL7, White Plains TL6 on location.
Pelham Manor E1, Pelham L2, Fairview E174, Hartsdale L46 covering several other runs.
Eastchester normally is involved early on, but last I knew TL17 is OOS. Again, if I am wrong, let me know.
I think Larchmont's TL7 was special called to the scene, which IMHO is a smart move. If you're going to prolonged master streams, Towers are much safer than straight sticks. (From what I recall in training with Lt. Mike Wilbur, FDNY)
It sucks that a historic building, especially a church, had to burn down like this. At least all of the brothers there went home safe at the end of the shift.
Good job NRFD.

Date: 2-15-11
Time: 2121hrs
Location: I 84 Eastbound offramp to Route 9
Frequency: 453.900 (Dispatch Ch. 1); 453.925 (Response Ch. 2); 453.800 (Command Ch. 3)
Units Operating: Rombout; Mobile Life; NYSP
Weather Conditions: Cold
Description Of Incident: Person down as a result of a high speed chase
Reporters: billy98988
Writer: xfirefighter484x
2121hrs - DC911 to Rombout and Mobile Life, respond Priority 3 for a person down as a result of a high speed chase, I-84 Eastbound offramp to Route 9
2122hrs - DC911 to any Rombout Car on Command - 62-3 please landline this agency prior to approaching the scene
2123hrs - Mobile Life Medic 274 responding - per DC911 standby for a message - requested to respond up the exit ramp the wrong way - multiple shots have been fired in the area - 1 subject down/shot this location


Poughkeepsie Journal Article
**This pursuit is reported to have started in Newburgh**
**Update** PD are still investigating the scene, Rombout being used for lighting. 17 y/o female txp to St Francis, multiple GSW's. Taser also used. PD Det. putting officers weapon & 2 officers uniforms in evidence

Date: 02-15-11
Time: 1742hrs
Location: 207 Chester Heights Dr.
Frequency: OC911
Units Operating: Chester, Goshen FASTeam, Washingtonville, Warwick, Greenwood Lake, Coordinators.
Weather Conditions: Clear/Cold
Description Of Incident: Structure Fire
Reporters:
Writer: BFD1054
1742hrs-Orange County 911 dispatching Chester FD to the above address for the reported structure fire.
1744hrs-Orange 911 alerting Goshen; request for their FASTeam to the scene.
1745hrs-Orange 911 alerting Washingtonville; request (1) Engine to the scene.
1746hrs-Orange 911 alerting Warwick and Greenwood Lake; (1) Engine from Warwick to re-locate to Chester's Sugar Loaf Firehouse & Greenwood Lake to re-locate to Chester's Trout Brook Firehouse.
*Any member with additional info, please PM me.

They should have fixed spelling...rookie mistake!
I like how it says "We will not stop until Mr Hess is held accountable for killing our beloved DJ." Shut up...your beloved DJ tried to use his car as a weapon and kill or injury our beloved cops (and good friends)!
I understand that this is a hard time for the family and friends of DJ and his death is a tragedy since he is just a kid, but the family and friends of DJ need to move on...cops eliminate deadly force with deadly force. They will not just stand around while their lives or their fellow Officers lives are at risk.
Instead of putting all blame on the cops, blame DJ and his terrible decision to drink and drive while not intoxicate but s***faced.
Smart people make stupid decisions, but so do stupid people. From what I heard about DJ's grades...he is not the genius, his friends and family made him out to be.
It is a shame that this all happened and that DJ's family lost a son, but now it is time to continue on with this nightmare journey and get to the end of it.
RIP DJ...thankfully because you are doing so, our Police Officers are not.

Date: 2-14-2011
Time: 18:31
Location: 104 Battle Hill Rd Google Maps
Frequency: St. Lawrence County Central Dispatch
Units Operating: Gouverneur FD; Oxville FD; Richville FD; Gouverneur Rescue Squad; SLC Car 3, 5, 30, 32, 33;
Relocations: Edwards FD (@Gouverneur FD); Dekalb FD (@Richville FD); Hermon FD (@Hermon FD)
Weather Conditions: Cold, snow
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 2.5-story wood frame P/D. M/A departments diverted to electrical fire while en-route to structure fire.
Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue
18:31 - Gouverneur FD, Gouverneur Rescue Squad, SLC Car 5 toned out for a reported structure fire.
18:33 - Gouverneur FD Chief 11-3 on-scene reporting a working fire in 2.5 story wood frame P/D. Have Richville FD and Oxville FD respond all equipment to the scene.
18:37 - SLC Car 30 responding.
18:38 - Oxville FD responding.
18:39 - SLC Cars 3, 32, 32 toned out for C & O.
18:47 - SLC tells Oxville FD to divert and respond to 28 Williams St. for a electrical fire.
18:49 - SLC tells Richville to divert their engine to 26 Williams St fire.
18:51 - Gouverneur Chief 11-1 requesting Edwards FD pumper/tanker to start heading to Gouverneur incase of second structure fire.
19:00 - Gouverneur Chief on-scene at Williams St fire, reports the fire is contained. Have Edwards FD respond to Gouverneur station.
19:08 - Richville FD and Oxville FD clear of the fire on Williams St., responding to Battle Hill Rd structure fire.

Date: 2/14/11
Time: ~1400
Location: East Chester St., near Honda of Kingston
Frequency: 33.48, 46.46
Units Operating: Ulster Hose FD, Mobile Life Support, Kingston PD, UCSO, Central Hudson
Weather Conditions: Sunny, warm, windy
Description Of Incident: 1 vehicle rollover w/traumatic arrest.
Reporters/Writer: eric12401
~1400 - Ulster Hose and Mobile Life respond for a rollover accident with entrapment.
1404 - Additional dispatch for 1 engine to set up a landing zone at the Town Highway Department. Requested to go through the City of Kingston.
1406 - LifeGuard-18 with a 10 minute ETA.
1409 - Extrication complete, CPR in progress.
1411 - Canceling helicopter, Mobile Life en route to Kingston Hospital with a traumatic arrest.
1414 - Central Hudson has a 2-3 minute ETA for a broken pole and primaries down.
http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2011/02/14/blotter/doc4d59a4fec2224089783444.txt

In re: to the 5th alarm. 2301 notified 60-control that he was declaring a 5th alarm due to the apparatus that was on the scene. There was no additional apparatus dispatched at that time. It doesn't sound like there was a 1-2-3-4-5 alarm progression of dispatched apparatus. There was a second alarm called on arrival. Very soon after the second alarm a request for 1 and 1 to the scene with a TL requested for the truck.
re: water. Around 4:30 AM there was a report of water entering houses on the top end of Webster Ave. Just south of the Twin Lakes. I believe this is one of the major water main entry areas into N.R. Covering companies dispatched to that location found a large water main break in the middle of the road. Later there was a second water main break located on Webster south of the original break.

Hey everybody,
Dont think ive already posted here and didnt see any previous posts so here goes. My name is Ian Haggerty, im currently finishing up my Junior year of electrical highschool in Mass. Ive been on this fourm for a while, being a large FDNY buff, and buff of pretty much all agencies small and large. Finally turning 16 im able to join the local Vol. FDs, tomorrow will be my first meeting for a FD a few towns away. Not sure what my lifes plan is, probably follow my fathers footsteps into Law Enforcement or who knows what this world will bring in my future. All in all i have a large intrest in anything police or fire related, and like to learn as much as i can. So far this has been a great forum to be part of and i enjoy the different things posted here. -Ian.

Hi All:
Irwin Marks here. I am a freelance videographer for News 12 as well as other television stations out if NYC and live in Hastings On Hudson.
I drive around Westchester with 2 scanners in my car shooting fires, auto accidents, shootings and other newsworthy incidents. Perhaps you've seen me around. Perhaps I put you on tv. If I did I hope I got your good side (get that one alll the time).
Next time you see me say hi! I love what I do and wouldn't mind being asked for copies of the videos by departments for training purposes or just to watch yourselves!
My email address is NYCNewsGuy@yahoo.com and all emails come to my cell phone so I respond immediately.
If there is something you're involved in email me and I'll be right there!
Cya around and stay safe.
Irwin

Date: 2/12/11 (called in on 2/13)
Time: Around 20:00 Saturday night, 2/12
Location: In a field near the intersection of Krum Rd and Cedar Ridge Rd.
Frequency: 33.48, 46.46
Units Operating: Accord FD, Kerhonkson-Accord Rescue, Mobile Life Support, Air-2
Weather Conditions: Cold
Description Of Incident: Snowmobile accident with 2 patients. 1 DOA, 1 in critical condition. Critical patient was spotted by a snowmobiler who then called for help. Patient flown to WCMC. Accident occurred on Saturday the 12th.
Reporters/Writer: eric12401
http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2011/02/13/blotter/doc4d58684052a0d391659562.txt