WCFCX613

And this is why I moved South!

 

 
 
I had to read this a few times. Thought it may be an April Fool's joke, but I realized that was what, eight weeks ago ?
 
Regarding soap boxes, you see an adversary, I see an individual exercising the right to free speech.
 
Taxpayers do have rights, most importantly the right to hear the truth about any manner. Tax savings ? A double edged sword. When was the last time (especially) in Westchester you saw a piece of fire apparatus that wasn't considered a "parade wagon," with all the bells and whistles, often duplicating what already exists in their own dept.
 
Back to the facts. Depts with career staff on duty 24/7/365 have a faster response time than those that don't.  In no way is this the fault of an all volunteer dept., Its just the way it is.
 
I got a job (now retired) and had and still have a life, one beyond my wildest drams, all because of my career as a firefighter. A career I attained by taking a written test with 4,000 to 5,000 other people, then scoring high enough to be in the roughly top 125 who were actually hired. The career academy. which wasn't a "show up and you pass" type of deal. Then 22 years putting up with, for the most part, know it all chiefs, AKA better known as the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. 
 
The situation in Port Chester has nothing to do with tax savings. Nothing. The facts truly spell that out. It's all about jealousy, ego, and, pure lunacy, all on the part of the chiefs of that dept. 

Way to just put up an idiot post and start all kinds of rumors! This is why I'm never on this stupid site anymore but I got an email and felt obligated to reply to this bs. Get the facts before posting something like this. All you are doing is starting a massive rumor and getting people worked up for no reason. TC Hudson Valley is separate from TC Westchester, NYC, etc. Putnam will not be losing their service and the HV division as well as Pittsburg will not be ceasing operations.  Also, I will not be replying or coming back on so.. aha, got ya last.

I gave you a like, Jim, because it's definitely something that's gone to the wayside. A lot of members won't reply to posts, and then they get to the point where they read and just move on. It's like looking at Facebook all day....eventually you just see a few posts and move on. But sometimes there's a great topic and some awesome information that comes across the threads, and no one acknowledges that they were there, that they read anything! I'm just as guilty of this, as sometimes I'm just catching up on things or just reading a few threads before I have to run out the door.
But, you're right. We should be acknowledging each other a little more with that tiny blue button in the lower left corner.

I notice fewer & fewer people using the "Like This" button, now of course everyone is not going to "Like" everything but consider the contribution the person made to the topic.
As an example if a person creates an "Incident Alert" and they really take the time to put some details in the story please consider giving them some credit. I have seen some people who no longer post them because it appears no one cares.
If people post some photos of an incident and you like them let them know by hitting that "Like" button.
Good conversation started or comments you agree with in a topic give them some credit hit the button.
Just my opinion
Jim

Until the New York State "Home Rule" is totally abolished (and we all know that the UNIONS will 'Never' allow this to happen), the concept of either a Regional or Consolidated Fire Service in the County of Westcehster will NOT happen and this MADNESS of a CRIPPLED Mutual Aid System (specifically tied to the City of Mount Vernon) will continue to happen

why would the unions stop home rule?

Don't you mean FASNY, which lobbies against same standards of training for professional career staffing, and volunteer members? If I was a betting man, which I've been known to be, I'd place my money on the non-uniformed training standards of volunteers, vs known and required training of career firefighters as the reason for not being called into Mt. Vernon and a majority of other career/combo departments.Why would I roll the dice with the qualifications of those coming in, vs knowing when I call for an engine, I'm gonna get exactly what I asked for in terms of manning and qualifications?

Here we go....

Before you knock the unions ( who keep pushing for increased training and manpower) about blocking Home Rule why not lobby for one standard for all firefighters in the state, paid or volunteer. That would include new firefighters, in service training for all firefighters, response times, manning on apparatus, promoting officers on qualifications not on election results. Not to mention mandatory retirement age so we don't have a rig responding with 3 or4 70 year old men on it with a 19 year old lieutenant because that was all that was around.

westchester info

Gone way too soon...
RIP Captain Rose
Thoughts and prayers are with his brother and sister firefighters, family and friends.

Date: 12-28-15
Time: 0910hrs
Location: Tarrytown Rd/Robertson Ave
District: White Plains
Weather: 38F, clear
Units: White Plains FD Engine 66, Tower Ladder 6, Rescue 88, Car 2512 (I/C), Transcare A-1, White Plains PD, WPPD ESU Truck 1
Writer: x635

Description: MVA w/ entrapment Click Here For Photos
09:12hrs Engine 66, Tower Ladder 6 on scene, 1 car MVA, 1 victim significantly entrapped, tools going to work
09:29hrs Patient extricated, in care of EMS

Remember this?

How much progress have we made in the past 6.5 years?
http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2009WP/2009graphics/firereport.pdf

The Mayor of mt vernon figured out a way to save money. Instead of putting money into his fire budget he uses other town's or city's fire budget. He's ahead of his time and he thanks all.

Not a firehouse but I love the custom airbrushed windows at AAA Emergency Supply, North White Plains NY. Share some pics of your firehouse decorated for the holidays on this thread

nothing changes till people will first admit there is a problem!

Pelham and Pelham Manor got called to fill Mount Vernon last night, and they are severely understaffed as well. It's not really these departments faults that they are understaffed, but the fact they are understaffed and leave their districts to cover another understaffed district is mind boggling.

Last night, Eastchester took the manpower from Engine 31 and placed them on Tower Ladder 17 to respond to the fire scene in Mount Vernon.
Why is a department that is already understaffed, stripping an entire section of town of coverage to send to another understaffed department? I wouldn't want to live on Garth Rd and need a Tower Ladder.

City Of Orange, NJ
Ladder 1
2015 Ferrara Inferno 100'

How many dispatchers are needed to staff the Fieldcom for a response to an incident? Are all dispatchers trained to drive and operate the unit?

If a department requests it, will it respond? What is the timeframe to get it on a scene?

You know, when I see the country about to go to a 20 TRILLION dollar debt ceiling and taxes keep going up and up, its hard to understand how any department can have less than industry standard staffing. Really, where does all the money go?
I had to kill some time on Saturday so I stopped at a County fire station. 1 Engine, 1 Tanker, 1 Brush Truck and 1 Ambulance.........2 firefighters. The next nearest station is not manned at all. The paid are supplemented by volunteers. By the way, pay down here (Rural Georgia) is about $11-$14 dollars per hour.
And, if you're fortunate enough to get a grant, when the grant money is gone, so are your extra firefighters.
With the notable exception of our major cities, are our first responders really capable of handing what's coming?