GBFD111

I have to respectfully disagree with you. You should be able to read the conditions around you to make good decisions without having to "feel" the fire. BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS CONSTANTLY. God forbid you need to bail out or a mayday is called and you are not in an ideal location, I would want myself and the other members of my department, or any department for that matter, to have the BEST PPE to give the best protection to that firefighter until that brother is safe.

Date:11/6/13
Time: 21:01
Incident Type: MVA w/ diesel spill
Location:I-684 NB area of 17.8
District: Katonah
Units: Katonah Fire: 2211 2212, R-17, E-115 KBHVAC: 65B2, WEMS: 45M1

Description:
21:01 Katonah FD, 45Medic 1 KBHVAC dispatched, tractor trailer roll over NB I-684 under Jay Street Overpass, possible entrapment
21:02 2212 responding
21:03 R-17 Responding
21:04 NYSP chatter states near milemarker 17.8
21:06 E-115 responding
21:06 KBHVAC 63B2 responding
21:07 On scene with the medic, possible self extrication, tractor trailer rolled over on side, leaking diesel fuel
21:09 R-17 On Scene, taking middle lane, keeping left lane open, middle and right lane used as saftey zone
21:09 2212 requiring spill number, lots of diesel on the roadway
21:11 E-115 On Scene, pull in front of R-17, help R-17 with light source, "going to need lots of light"
21:19 KBHVAC on scene
21:24 reported leak is plugged, significant hazard with the trailer
21:25 2211 on scene
21:27 2211 assuming command
21:32 KBHVAC en route NWH BLS
21:41 KBHVAC out NWH
still updating..

As stated earlier, and I agree that to "expedite" is a phrase we use to make ourselves on scene feel better in an uncomfortable or serious situation. It can be beneficial to get across that the call is serious and we need all hands on deck as soon as possible but at what cost?
For example, you have an ambulance driver who just got cleared 2 days prior to drive the ambulance. This is also the first time that the driver has ever drove anything bigger than a Toyota Prius. Now the driver hears the word "expedite" and pushes the gas pedal through the floor without using "due regard" on his/her response. Keep in mind this is the first time he/she has ever responded to a call, want to impress the other members on his/her "savy driving" and then rolls and crashes the ambulance.
(I know arguments can occur that "well that person shouldn't be driving the ambulance but lets forget about that because it DOES and CAN happen, especially in the world of volunteers)
Words like "expedite" may very well be uncomfortable for incoming responders. What should be done is to either communicate with Dispatch or to the Incoming Units on the patients current condition.
Now you are NOT telling the new driver how to drive which will make the driver feel more comfortable. Also you are giving crucial updates to the EMT's/Medics/First Responders to help in best outcome of the patient.
Will everyone stop saying "expedite?" No. Its a good discussion, especially for officers and those who really do care, but radio etiquette and proper word choices that should and should not be said over the radio is way too long of a discussion and will never end.
Just my 2 cents...

Date:11/6/13
Time: 21:01
Incident Type: MVA w/ diesel spill
Location:I-684 NB area of 17.8
District: Katonah
Units: Katonah Fire: 2211 2212, R-17, E-115 KBHVAC: 65B2, WEMS: 45M1

Description:
21:01 Katonah FD, 45Medic 1 KBHVAC dispatched, tractor trailer roll over NB I-684 under Jay Street Overpass, possible entrapment
21:02 2212 responding
21:03 R-17 Responding
21:04 NYSP chatter states near milemarker 17.8
21:06 E-115 responding
21:06 KBHVAC 63B2 responding
21:07 On scene with the medic, possible self extrication, tractor trailer rolled over on side, leaking diesel fuel
21:09 R-17 On Scene, taking middle lane, keeping left lane open, middle and right lane used as saftey zone
21:09 2212 requiring spill number, lots of diesel on the roadway
21:11 E-115 On Scene, pull in front of R-17, help R-17 with light source, "going to need lots of light"
21:19 KBHVAC on scene
21:24 reported leak is plugged, significant hazard with the trailer
21:25 2211 on scene
21:27 2211 assuming command
21:32 KBHVAC en route NWH BLS
21:41 KBHVAC out NWH
still updating..

Date:11/6/13
Time: 21:01
Incident Type: MVA w/ diesel spill
Location:I-684 NB area of 17.8
District: Katonah
Units: Katonah Fire: 2211 2212, R-17, E-115 KBHVAC: 65B2, WEMS: 45M1

Description:
21:01 Katonah FD, 45Medic 1 KBHVAC dispatched, tractor trailer roll over NB I-684 under Jay Street Overpass, possible entrapment
21:02 2212 responding
21:03 R-17 Responding
21:04 NYSP chatter states near milemarker 17.8
21:06 E-115 responding
21:06 KBHVAC 63B2 responding
21:07 On scene with the medic, possible self extrication, tractor trailer rolled over on side, leaking diesel fuel
21:09 R-17 On Scene, taking middle lane, keeping left lane open, middle and right lane used as saftey zone
21:09 2212 requiring spill number, lots of diesel on the roadway
21:11 E-115 On Scene, pull in front of R-17, help R-17 with light source, "going to need lots of light"
21:19 KBHVAC on scene
21:24 reported leak is plugged, significant hazard with the trailer
21:25 2211 on scene
21:27 2211 assuming command
21:32 KBHVAC en route NWH BLS
21:41 KBHVAC out NWH
still updating..

Date:11/6/13
Time: 21:01
Incident Type: MVA w/ diesel spill
Location:I-684 NB area of 17.8
District: Katonah
Units: Katonah Fire: 2211 2212, R-17, E-115 KBHVAC: 65B2, WEMS: 45M1

Description:
21:01 Katonah FD, 45Medic 1 KBHVAC dispatched, tractor trailer roll over NB I-684 under Jay Street Overpass, possible entrapment
21:02 2212 responding
21:03 R-17 Responding
21:04 NYSP chatter states near milemarker 17.8
21:06 E-115 responding
21:06 KBHVAC 63B2 responding
21:07 On scene with the medic, possible self extrication, tractor trailer rolled over on side, leaking diesel fuel
21:09 R-17 On Scene, taking middle lane, keeping left lane open, middle and right lane used as saftey zone
21:09 2212 requiring spill number, lots of diesel on the roadway
21:11 E-115 On Scene, pull in front of R-17, help R-17 with light source, "going to need lots of light"
21:19 KBHVAC on scene
21:24 reported leak is plugged, significant hazard with the trailer
21:25 2211 on scene
21:27 2211 assuming command
21:32 KBHVAC en route NWH BLS
21:41 KBHVAC out NWH
still updating..

Rescue pumpers are an excellent choice for volunteer departments that are not staffed with technical rescue certified firefighters and whose main rescue function is automible crash patient extrications. Considering the great staffing difficulty that many V.F.D.'s have been experiencing for years (especially during weekdays when many members are unavailable due to work responsibilities as well as late night / early morning when members are sleeping before they go to work) it frequently is difficult for one department to staff an ambulance, a rescue truck and a pumper for response to a vehicle crash. The rescue pumper provides rescue equipment, vehicle stabilization equipment, equipment for initial patient care, firefighting capability and scene support devices (cones / flares, scene lighting, etc.) and eliminates the need to decide whether a poor turnout of personnel will require making a choice of bringing either a rescue truck or a pumper. As far as 'heavy rescues' go, many departments equip them with some truck company tools and the same equipment that a properly equipped rescue pumper carries and little more other than possibly a cascade system or a command post. True heavy rescues are equipped to provide rescue technician certified firefighters with the necessary equipment to assist them in dealing with high angle, confined space, trench, structure collapse, water rescues, etc.. And, in most cases the heavy rescue rig can't by itself carry everything that may be needed at a technical rescue incident. As a result, many fire departments have additional special op's support rigs to provide large amounts of shoring, carpentry tools, pavement breakers, air compressors, etc.. Unless a V.F.D. is able to make a commitment to maintain a sufficient number of certified rescue technicians and as a result needs to carry equipment to deal with the various tech. rescue regimens, it's very possible that a rescue pumper is the best choice.

That only works with a wild animal. Hazmat you have to out run the chemical and it does not stop at the 1st victim

First of all its a Clean Harbors truck, so you know its going to be a nightmare sorting through all the different products you're going to have inside. But it should be run the same way any other HAZMAT call runs, use the 8-Step Process:
1. Site Management and Control - Isolate the area, evacuate anyone nearby, set up some initial zones based on an unknown product, since this is a Clean Harbors truck and is likely a collection of various HAZMATs picked up from locations all over the place. Start ICS and make sure you have an IC and a Safety Officer. In CT we're also going to call the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection as required by state statute, they'll send one or two of their Emergency Response Coordinators out to assist. Regional (or in NY's case, County) HAZMAT team also added and EMS for standby.
2. Identify Product - The placards are only telling me so much. We're going to need some kind of paperwork on the products involved. If the leak isn't all over the place, we can likely send someone into the cab to get some shipping papers. If not, remember we're dealing with Clean Harbors here, not Crazy Joe's Overnight Waste Removal and Handyman Services. Its a HUGE environmental company with some professional management staff, and I wouldn't be totally surprised if they had an electronic database that will tell me exactly what's supposed to be inside that truck. Obviously we're going to trust but verify, but it will give me a starting point to get my research guys on.
3. Hazard and Risk Evaluation - Sure, the placards look scary, but realistically what states of matter am I dealing with? What's the hazard to my personnel if I send them in there? What are the exposure limits, etc?
4. PPE and Equipment - Based on the info from 2 and 3, I'm going to confer with my HAZMAT guys to determine what the right suit is to wear. Say it with me: NOT EVERY HAZMAT CALL REQUIRES LEVEL A!!!! Our team uses the HAZMATIQ system in our region, so based on the chemical name the "playbook" we use tells us what our PPE should be for our mission posture, either "Rescue" or "Plumbing," and what the metering package is that's relevant for that/those products. It will also lay out the "red light" meters, ones that, if they go off, indicate there's something unexpected happening or something we haven't accounted for in our plan. It really simplifies the process and cuts back on a lot of the chemistry lessons we need to give non-HAZMAT geek Chiefs and ICs on scene. Based on the video these guys are in turnouts and SCBA and some of the guys were in the Lion or Blauer suits with the Nomex outer shell so its probably pretty safe to assume the flammables were really their main concern, along with the respiratory hazards that we almost always protect ourselves from.
Most likely we're bringing in pH and F paper to ensure its not a corrosive atmosphere before we bring in the expensive toys, then a 4-gas, PID, Drager Chipset if you can narrow things down, maybe a First Defender or other Raman Spectroscopy device if you're really coming up with nothing at all (but only if you're sure its not a flammable)
5. Information Management and Resource Coordination - Do I have my ICS set up to make sure the right people are running the right operations? Do I have all the personnel and equipment I'm going to need for this operation? If not, who am I calling to get them? Do I have a RIT/Backup team in place? Am I going to need a forklift and/or jack for moving some of these drums?
6 - Implement Response Objectives - Now that we have ourselves organized and know what we're dealing with, lets go in and start moving some drums. Sort them out, figure out what's leaking and how to stop it. If we can't stop it, lets over-pack it and let the cleanup company get it the hell out of my district. But remember, we can't do anything until we have #7 at least set up first!
7 - Decontamination - Clean up the guys, the gear and the other drums that weren't leaking but have some product on them. Assuming the product wasn't that "Dangerous When Wet" one, we're probably just talking about soap and water, but again its based off what my research came back in steps 2/3.
8 - Termination - Brief everyone on short/long term symptoms of exposure, quick hotwash of what went well and what we can improve on. Start taking up and handing off the scene to the cleanup company (who will probably just end up being Clean Harbors again anyway.)

haha the ultimate whacker mobile

Date: 9/12/13
Time: 01:30
Location: 205 Front Street, Rensselaer Falls
Units: Rensselaer Falls Fire: (didn't hear the units check out) Canton Fire: 4-2, R-1, TA-20, E-8, Morley Fire: TA-47, ETA 61 E-32, County Cars: 4, 15, 24, 28

Description:
1:30- Rensselear Falls Toned for possible structure fire
1:30 Chief Requesting Morley and Canton Fire
1:31 - Rensselaer Falls Chief On Scene Confirmed Working Fire
1:32 - Rensselaer Fals Chief Requesting NYMO and C&O
1:33 - Hermon and Dekalb Stanby at their station
1:33 - Car 4 en route
1:34 - Morley E-32 en route 4 interior
1:34 - Eta 61 OOS
1:34 - R-1 and TA-20 responding from Canton full crew
1:42 - Canton E-8 Responding
1:45 - County Cars 3 15 24 28 38 for C&O
1:46 - 4-2 on the scene with R-1 and TA-20
1:46 - Pierrepont Fire requested to standby at Canton Station
1:47 - Car 4 on scene
1:49 -West Potsdam Mutual Aid to Standby at Morley Station
1:58 West Potsdam E-76 Responding to Morley
2:04 - West Potsdam R-98 Responding to Standby at Morley
2:05- Morley TA-47 On Scene

1939 Seagrave Engine 138

1946 Seagrave Engine 139

Engine 65 was sent also. maybe who did the IA didnt hear it. They always send 2 and 1. that was the 3rd working fire for white plains fd in that 24 hour shift. GREAT WORK FROM THE GUYS IN GROUP 4 AND WPFD

1939 Seagrave Engine 138

1946 Seagrave Engine 139

Hey it's alright he can call me a jackass if he wants to. I've been called worse and don't take it personally.

I'll say again my point is that this isn't a dig at anyone involved in the response to Hawthorne this week. It was a critical analysis of our failure to develop the "fire service" in Westchester and as others have pointed out around the region too.
A lot of excellent FF are in the departments that responded to Hawthorne's job. The departments that responded have a lot of apparatus that didn't respond though because they don't have enough people to staff them. So we went wider and wider to cover a job while idle apparatus sat in stations. THIS is a problem and THIS is the kind of thing we need to address.
It was never personal. And it still isn't.

Damn, I am trouble for using my cell phone while driving, now I have to use it again to call the police, because the police are following me. lol

I completely agree with you here. This reminded me of an article that i read a few weeks ago about a department near my mutual aid company in Northern NY where they are actually "locked out" of their firehouse until they complete their mandatory trainings. No matter what your call volume is, one should be trained properly to hold their status as a firefighter.
http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Tuesday-Newton-Falls-Fire-Volunteers-Locked-Out-201104971.html?m=y&smobile=y&clmob=y&c=n
^^^^article on firehouse lockout^^^^^

It's about time that someone took action!!!! I commend the Fire District in that municipality for having the guts to take drastic measures. I can't tell you how many times that I have attended a "mandatory" training in my department. However, when the class was over, and members didn't show, their keys remained on and their gear remained on the rack. Why? Because people are too afraid that a member is just going to quit. Then his friends and father and everyone else that he is connected to will be disgruntled also and stop coming around. I can't tell you how many times I have heard things like "we need everyone we can get" and "we'll take anybody." I tell you what we don't need; a sexual harrassment suit because someone didn't attend the mandatory sensitivity training; an accident that takes a piece of apparatus out of service for a few months because someone did't attend the mandatory driver training; or god forbid, a line of duty death because someone didn't take thier mandatory Firefighter 1 trainnig. We CAN afford to lose a few members who are untrained or lack the respect for their command that tells them that they need to attend a certain class or training because its important to the goals of the organization. I actually heard an Officer brag recently that he didn't attend the mandatory sensistivity training because he thought it was stupid to a table full of young, new, impressionable firefighters. In the process, he undermined the authority of his commanding officers completely to those young members and gave them the impression that the Chiefs and Commissioner are "all bark and no bite." Yet, that officer ran for his position regardless, won, and currently holds his positon with or without the knowledge that his department deemed mandatory.
Additionally, I have seen a tremendous amount of hesitation on behalf of the Commanding Officers to make trainings mandatory. I have always suggested mandatory Officer's classes in my department (which shall remain anonymous) if a person wants to be an Officer. The response, "we already don't have enough guys to fill the spots." You know what that makes them? Spot fillers...not trained, knowledgeable fire Officers.
I have also suggested that it be mandatory the take Emergency Vehicle Operations Course in order to someone to be qualified as a Chauffeur and Pump Ops for someone to be qualified to drive an engine. The response, "We already have enough trouble getting the trucks out the door during the day." Once again, in this instance, you don't have Chauffeurs or Pump Operators, you have an accident waiting to happen. You have an individual responsible for the lives of 5-8 members with no formal training hauling ass down the road and a fire room full of firefighters with no water between them and the fire.
There needs to be consequences for failure to comply with mandatory training in order for them to actually be mandatory. I can guarantee that after this mess in Newton Falls is sorted out, the next time the Newton Falls Fire District deems a training as mandatory and gives the department officers a mandate to see that all members are compliant, those officers will take them seriously. Once this department gets back on their feet, I am sure that they will be be a better trained and more qualified department. Its better to have your neighboring companies laughing at you for getting shut down than to have them saluting the engine carrying your casket to your final resting place. Plus, I'm sure that they don't mind taking in the extra calls while you get your asses in gear.

NYSP Troop K Trooper recieves Brummer Award for Bravery, NYSP's highest award, for his actions during this May 2012 home invasion in Poughkeepsie.
Awesome job by Trooper Hoffman, and to all the 22 other Troopers who recieved awards last night for their heroic actions!
http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/214798/37/Police-Honor-23-State-Troopers-Including-Two-from-WNY

meow

Hah its only January 18th, there are always going to be "better" calls.
Just hope the gun was empty...

Hah its only January 18th, there are always going to be "better" calls.
Just hope the gun was empty...

Hah its only January 18th, there are always going to be "better" calls.
Just hope the gun was empty...

Personally, I think this just seems like a frivolous waste of money, It's just another form of duplication and excess, which if I'm correct is what most departments are trying to get away from. How do you justify such an expenditure when multiple systems are already in place for each aspect that it will be used for? Checking department e-mail? I'm sure each station has a computer, not to mention almost everyone has a smartphone or home computer (the few old school people I know who don't have either wouldn't care to check their department e-mail anyhow). Time card? I am fairly sure most employers prefer to have a supervisor handle timekeeping as opposed to the employees themselves, or in the case where no supervisor is present at a station they prefer a timekeeping system that can only be accessed at the workplace, not anywhere you take the iPad. As far as training goes, there is really no accountability for on-line training, there's no way to verify that the person doing it is actually the person it's intended for nor that they aren't just killing time in front of the computer while they have an answer sheet from someone else ready to copy from and fill out sections at appropriate times, I've seen it happen many a time. As far as dissemination of training information, what's going to make the employee read a training bulletin on an iPad if they are already the type who don't care to read it on paper? As far as patient care and written reports, I don't think each person needs one, maybe one per ambulance for PCR's, and one per station for community use in filing of reports, although it seems like the desktops or laptops that most fire stations already have could support this function, not to mention the fact that the majority of the time it is only one supervisor or member filling out the report, not each individual.
Many departments already have in place electronic systems to perform all of these functions, most can be easily accessed from a computer available to the employees at work or by logging on remotely from a personal device. Handing everyone an iPad and saying, "now this is only for work use", that's almost a challenge to some people, and expecting everyone to be on board, that's pretty naive, I have a teenage neighbor that if I wanted could have the thing unlocked in twenty minutes so I could use it how I pleased. You would probably be better off giving members unlocked iPads honestly. If it's locked down and can only be used for a few limited work functions its not really able to be customized to the employee and many members will simply throw it in a drawer as another extraneous piece of junk the job has handed them. If they can use it how they please they will be more likely to use it for personal and work use. As far as taking care of department business while off-duty, off-duty is off-duty, one of the great thing about most emergency services jobs is that you don't take your work home with you. If you want to read, train, and enrich yourself out of work that is one thing that I personally promote, but work, stays at work.
I also don't see any real efficiency savings, as you aren't really saving any money by spending more money. What can be eliminated now that everyone has an iPad? Saving paper maybe, but I doubt those savings will really make up the cost of your investment especially after maintenance and upkeep costs.
As far as the comparison to the expense of each member having a portable radio, how many lives do you think personal iPads will save? Will it give a Mayday for you? Are you going to carry it into the building with you? Is it your lifeline to other members when you are trapped or lost? Personal portable radios have been proven and documented to save lives, and not to sound hackneyed, but that is PRICELESS. Unless you can place efficiency on an equal footing with the life safety of members, then the cost of personal iPads cannot be compared to the cost of personal radios, period.
In my opinion, in this day and age of cost cutting, tightening budgets, and increased scrutiny by taxpayers as to where their money goes, this is a waste of money and will be conceived by the taxpayers as such. Many taxpayers and politicians have already begun to perceive the emergency services as a whole to be an expensive, extravagant, luxury item that can be slashed and cut down to the bone, lets not give them more fodder for their arguments. Spend money on the things we REALLY NEED and that are easily defensible to the public and politicians alike.

Date: 1-5-13
Time: 12:37
District: Golden's Bridge
Location: IAO MM 18.7 I-684NB
Units: 2141, 2143, 2144, 2146, R-24, E-140, KBHVAC, NYSP
Frequency: 46.26 & WCDES Fire 13
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Reporters: GBFD109, firedude

Description:

12:37 - Initial Dispatch MM18.7NB I684 1 Car MVA w/ poss injuries

12:40 - 2141 Responding, update from 60 Control CPR in progress

12:43 - 2141, 2146 On location, confirmed entrapment, 2 Patients, CPR in progress on both
12:45 - 2143 On location

12:49 - R-24, 2144 on location, beginning extrication

13:02 - E-140 on location, stretching 1 handline

13:05 - as per 2141 both PT's extricated, 1 Transported, 1 DOA

**Transported PT pronounced at NWHC