Res30cue

While I see where you are coming from, I think its a little shallow to use these examples on such a grand scale. Sure every department has its "issues" but the majority in the system do not have the ones stated above. A couple of members here have some quotes in their signatures I find very true, "Over prepare, then go with the flow" and "When the time to perform arrives, the time to prepare has passed" unfortunately in today's world we have to be ready for whatever, I'm not saying in a paranoid way expect the big one its coming! But preparing never hurts.
- Just My .02

And they didn't even have enough time to do that.

People died, young kid/adults died. To sit here and have a discussion about, ventilation and whether or not what those good samaritans was right/wrong, good or bad goes beyond words. Those people did what ANY of us in emergency services would do, HELP. Isn't that why we are all in this anyway ? To help people ? You can't fault someone for just trying to help to lives. To even attempt to go into a burning building with out any gear takes more balls than I could ever have, and those people should be given a pat on the back just for trying to get in there to save those people. This discussion makes me sick and im just as guilty to engage in this, nonsense. RIP to the young lives that were lost in this tragic incident.

Howdy all! I am a paramedic/RN. Been a paramedic for 24 years and a RN for 20. I've worked full time and part-time and volunteered as a paramedic all those years. Fought some fire, too, but my main interest in the fire service is rescue and caring for trapped patients. I'm currently with a small volunteer/part-paid agency in southwest Ohio. I work as a critical care nurse in central Ohio. Additional interest is in disaster medicine and preparedness. I am a Medical Specialist (on leave) with FEMA Ohio Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1. I'm also a FEMA instructor for US&R medical topics. I've been with OH TF-1 since the summer of 2000. I've lurked here for some time, admiring how some of your departments do things. I hope to learn lots more and apply that to my practice, my department, and share that learning with my peers and students. Thank you for inviting me in and please stay safe so each and every one of you gets to come home with things are done.

and for the light hearted...

Annnnd that about sums it up. How can you be a Chief with that attitude? If I were a member of this department I would be FURIOUS with him for saying something like that.

Another fine job by the dispatchers at 60-Control throughout the incident.

Purchase FD 524 no EMS

After a long 4 1/2 year battle the 2nd circuit ruled yesterday against me, the findings of the court basically say that because of lack of proof they would not rule in my favor. I know the truth, promotions were stopped by the request of the Vulcan Society and senior Black officers of the FDMV. The decision of my attorney to go for a summary judgement was because of the NH20 decision from our highest court. They stated that you can't hold back a list of white firefighters in fear of litagation alone. In my case the City Attorney at the time on federal EEOC forms stated that she didn't want to promote in fear of a lawsuit from the Vulcans. 3 days after the promotion was stopped the Vulcans very own attorney withdrew the complaint claiming that the review of the decree showed that there was no violation if the promotions of 2 white firefighters went ahead. The City Attorney did nothing but ignore the Vulcans Attorney and ordered the civil service commission to terminate the list even though it had 2 weeks to go before termination date. Facts are facts and we will go on knowing the truth and who was involved in this case.That same very attorney is now a city court judge and I pray that she doesn't rule on the bench because of race.
I have to say that I am proud that I stood up and fought this case,even though the results were not in my favor I realize that throughout the country racism is strong in the fire service, against white and black,females,asians,hispanics etc. The brotherhood that I am very proud to be a member of certainly has some issues. I will continue to serve the citizens of Mount Vernon to the best of my ability something that I swore that I would do. There is no other career that I would want to do. I also want to take this time to thank everyone for the donations,words of encouragement and just the support that I have recieved. Its been a long haul but well worth itThe world is round and someday those who were responsible for this mess will realize that.Again, thank you and be safe! FF Joseph J Carroll FDMV

Last winter, Town of Ulster PD were dispatched to a subject trying to go into the frozen Hudson River with his jetski, and ended up getting stuck on the ice. One LEO on scene called for the FD to assist, and when clearing the scene, the LEO said "subject nominated for a Darwin Award, back in service"

To any reported structure fires (my observations)...
Larchmont: 2 Engines (E35, E34), 1 Ladder (TL7), 1 Rescue (R1) + Paid Chief. The paid apparatus have 1 FF per rig.
Town of Mamaroneck: 2 Engines (E51, E37/36), 1 Ladder (L19), 1 Rescue (R6) + Volunteer Chiefs. Paid apparatus (1 Engine, Ladder, Rescue) have 1 FF per rig.
Village of Mamaroneck: 4 Engines (E38,E40, E41, E42), 1 Ladders (TL20) and 1 Utilty (U9) + volunteer chiefs
Harrison: 3 Engines (E13,E10, E12), 1 Ladder (TL24), 1 Rescue (R19)+ volunteer chiefs. Paid apparatus (1 engine, 1 Ladder) have 1 or 2 FF's per rig
Bedford Hills (Hydrant District): 2 Engines (E199, E198), 1 Ladder (TL57), 1 Rescue (R10) + volunteer chiefs
Bedford Hills (Non-Hydrant District): 2 Engines (E199, E198), 1 Ladder (TL57), 1 Tanker (T5), 1 Rescue (R10) + volunteer chiefs
Mt Kisco: 2 Engines, 1 Ladder (TL14), 1 Rescue (R31) + volunteer chiefs
Fairview: 2 Engines, 1 Ladder (L1), 1 Rescue(R3) + paid chiefs
Purchase: 2 Engines (E238, 240), 1 Ladder (TL53), 1 rescue (R30) + volunteer chiefs
Yorktown (Hydrants): 2/3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Rescue, BHFD or PFD FAST + volunteer chiefs
Yorktown (non-hydrants): 2/3 Engines, 1 Ladder (if able), 1 Tanker, 1 Rescue, BHFD or PFD FAST + volunteer chiefs
Yorktown FD has a cool mapping feature on their website which states their Mutual aid alarm assignments, based on past fires. Check it out here.

Firemen throughout Ocean County New Jersey put together a convoy of firetrucks to reach out to 11 year old Kyle McGetrick, an honorary Barnegat fd member, who is at the end of his 7 year battle with cancer.
http://barnegat.patch.com/articles/a-convoy-for-kyle-firefighters-rally-for-barnegat-boy-with-cancer

It all depends on the situation presented at the time. Our district is almost 37 square miles big, so expecting everyone to show up to the firehouse to respond is not only pointless, it would delay our response, especially since we only have 2 stations (insurance co audits actually recommended 5 stations). Anyways, a majority of the time we have guys hanging around the main firehouse, enough to get 2 pieces on the road with 2 or 3 guys on the rigs each. Sometimes there are full apparatus, and sometimes we're rolling driver only. Right now, it's just the nature of the beast and we're actively trying to address that problem.
People in the rigs will get assignments as we ride to the scene, and prioritize each function depending on the staffing level. People who arrive on scene in their POV will meet with the IC and get their assignment from there.
If I'm responding driver only, there are about 1000 things going through my mind on what needs to be done when I arrive. If I have a crew with me, the guy sitting in the right seat makes all those decisions, and I know that as the MPO, I'll be operating the pump, flaking out line, securing a water source, throwing ladders, basically any function on the outside that needs to be accomplished if we arrive with minimum manpower.
I wont hide behind a smoke screen and say that manpower is great 100% of the time. Just like every other department (even if you refuse to admit it) we're dealt with a crappy hand sometimes. It's how you overcome those obstacles in the first 10 seconds, prioritize what needs to be done first and effectively accomplish those tasks in a short time period.

2236hrs- Phone alarm for fire on Hart Island. Units responding onto City Island.
2347hrs- 10-75 transmitted for unk. type fire on the island.
2250hrs- Marine 1 and Marine 6 S/C. Unk. type fire visible on Hart Island. Units to respond in to Fordham St X King Ave at the ferry dock.
2252hrs- B-15 req. Marine 6 to pick up members (25) minute ETA.
2253hrs- B-15 S/C NYPD Harbor. Div. 7 concurs and requests a channel to communicate on. Corrections Dept. rpts island is unoccupied. R-3 rpts they will contact NYPD Harbor on TAC Channel 'U.'
2254hrs- Marine 1 has (90) minute eta, Marine 1A will be (45) minutes.
2255hrs- Div. 7 S/C Air Recon. B-15 req. Marine 1 to respond with Marine 1A with shorter ETA.
2258hrs- Div. 7 S/C Field Communications Satellite Engine. S/C E-46.
2303hrs- Marine 6 is at Throgs Neck with a (10) minute ETA.
2306hrs- Div. 7 S/C BFU. Advised it will come from Queens. S/C BFU-6/E-321. Air Recon is grounded due to weather.
2312hrs- Div. 7 rpts (1) Engine, (1) Truck, B-15 over to the island on Marine 6. NYPD Harbor with a (20) minute ETA. Marine 1A enroute with a (45) minute ETA. Fireboat 343 will be responding with E-24/L-5/B-2 with a (90) minute ETA.
2322hrs- Div. 7 rpts Marine 6 enroute with co's to the island ATT. R-3 and Squad is also on board and will be FAST.
2324hrs- Div. 7 transmitting the All-Hands.
2333hrs- E-70/L53/R-3/Sq-61 are on the island, rpts 2-story 30X40 structure is on fire.
2335hrs- Marine 1A is on location. Req. to approach from east side of the island. Div. 7 also req. comfirmation that the larger fireboat is enroute. B-2 rpts (1) hour ETA.
2340hrs- Div. 7 rpts Rescue and Squad are being returned and L-50 will go on the island as FAST. Marine 1 (Fireboat 343) will be the water source on arrival.
2350hrs- Div. 7 rpts Marine 6 has water on the fire.
0009hrs- B-15 releasing Marine 1A.
0010hrs- Div. 7 rpts fire K/D by Marine 6. BFU will be sent over on arrival. Marine 1 and 1A can go 10-8.
0023hrs- Div. 7 rpts P/W/H. DOT ferry is transporting BFU/E-321 over to the island.
Luckily Hart Island is still used by DOC an has ferry access. Through out the sound there are many islands with abandoned structures. I've been on a few and all had plenty of evidence of people still illegally using them. Do any depts have plans and have practiced accessing them or have they been written off as too dangerous and to let any fires burn themselves out?

In the early 70's back in my original dept., the chief appointed a good friend of mine who was under the "minimum height requirement of 5'8" in bare feet". When a member of the [comic] common council questioned the appointment, the chief responded that in all of his years of service, he has yet to see a guy fight a fire in his bare feet. The appointment stood and made good reading in the local gossip sheet.

For professionals its all usually done at the start of the tour. For volunteers it is usually done at the chief's discretion. I find that it is much more beneficial for everyone for people who show up to look at what is occurring and to either make suggestions or to do a quick size up before taking an assignment. Obviously getting the line in place and securing water and VES should be paramount but when you have to deal with people who might not be good at ladders or not as aggressive as others it becomes an issue. Probably the hardest thing for a volunteer commander is dealing with what you 'got' when things are to be done. Of course the same problems may occur in a career setting but generally they are not as prevalent.
Seniority above all should take precedent. Doing this for 18 years has taught me a lot, but above all, doing things safely is the most important, if you see someone doing something stupid, like taking the bottom of a window instead of the top, say something, it doesn't happen often but glass will slide down that hook and cut you open, how do I know? I saw it happen! Everything in this job is the way it is cause it has happened to someone else, and unfortunately the amount of unknowns is still so numerous its scary to think about.
Stay Safe!

I read this thread yesterday and have been following the discussion for a day and now feel compelled to add my opinion. It is disappointing that a member of this site asks a simple question about the status of a piece of apparatus which has been placed out of service due to fire and the automatic responses that are generated turn immediately to why does this department need this truck?
The funny thing is that rarely are the one’s questioning the needs of (fill in the blank) Fire Department, at all associated with that department – so how would you know what their communities specific needs are?
As example, I wouldn’t question why one department – of which I have no affiliation with or knowledge of their needs - has 3 ladder trucks even though they are surrounded by departments with ladder trucks on every side of their community – because it’s not my place to. If that department has determined that is what they need to do their job, I trust that their leadership has made an educated decision and that they are not just stroking their egos.
Ironically, it’s double edged sword here as well; a northern department is questioned why so much mutual aid is needed at a house fire, but another department that is self-sufficient is accused of wasting tax payer dollars and questioned why they need this truck or that truck instead of using more mutual aid. It doesn’t make sense; it’s ludicrous.
There was an interesting article on here lately about the fire service and its changing nature; how departments are being asked to respond to new situations and different types of emergencies all the time. Proper response to these new challenges often requires newer tools, gear and equipment to effectively mitigate these hazards; which in turn often means purchasing a newer and larger truck to carry this equipment and get the job done.
So - why does this town need this truck? Because their membership and commissioners and potentially their insurance agency have determined it is necessary for their district and their firefighters to do their job effectively.
This, of course, is not the first time that others who think they know what is best for everyone else interject their own beliefs or who knows maybe even their envy at some other departments rolling stock and I’m sure it won’t be the last – but still it’s disappointing; it is one of the reasons I seldom participate on this site any longer.
Periodically someone on this site will post something about making this site what we want it to be – a place where positive discussion can take place and where people can learn. But that doesn’t happen; the forcing of agendas continues. Then there is the occasional thread that asks why member participation is down on this site and I think to myself in response to that question, I can’t imagine why someone would feel compelled to post something here when others with agendas, or egos, or envy, or whatever pick apart every detail of every call, decision and comment made. It really is disappointing.

We are a small career department and we are involved in the community on multiple fronts - Department, Union and Personal.
On the department level, we provide fire safety/prevention education to the community. This consists of annual visits to the schools to talk to the kids, fire extinguisher training, fire safety talks for businesses and assisting with fire drills in certain facilities. We also have a fire safety trailer that we take to various community events during the year. We also do pre-arranged station tours and welcome walk-in visits. We also do fire safety inspections for all private dwellings when a change of ownership takes place to ensure they are up to code. We also do commercial fire inspections, both at change of ownership, during the construction/renovation process and to satisfy annual requirements for some occupancies.
We also participate in various ceremonies and parades in conjunction with holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Flag Day, Christmas, etc. We participate in local National Night Out events. We patrol the city along with the PD and EMS during trick or treating.
On the Union Local level, we do charitable fundraising for various organizations. This year we did the annual Boot Drive for MDA, held what we hope will be an annual Kickball Tournament to benefit a local organization that helps kids with special needs, we have a drop off container for aluminum cans for recycle whose proceeds go to a local burn center foundation and we sell specially designed pink t-shirts for Breast Cancer Awareness, the proceeds go to a local foundation that assists breast cancer patients.
We sponsor a little league baseball team and help sponsor a softball league for kids with special needs. We purchase ads in programs for some of the local sports teams, school plays, etc. We donate money to other local charitable organizations. We just completed a coloring contest in the elementary schools in conjunction with fire prevention month in which we awarded a new bicycle and helmet to one girl and one boy in each school.
We help sponsor our local parades and helped sponsor the fireworks display at one our biggest annual community events. We participate in an annual Christmas tree decorating contest. We are also involved in the local political scene - attending Council meetings, endorsing candidates.
On a personal level, most of us live in our city and are involved in the same things other residents are. Some of our guys coach our little league team. Some of our guys coach other teams in the community. We have guys that work the polls on election day. We have guys that donate time to various organizations/churches.
There's probably more, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head right now.

328 Union Avenue, New Rochelle, NY - vehicle fire in the driveway of a mult-dwelling. Fire was encroaching on the structure until NRFD knocked it down successfully.

I'll try to explain the system in a nutshell but it's going to be a pretty big shell, and it's definitely nuts.
NYC 911 was located for years in 1 Police Plaza in lower Manhattan. In the mid-1990's they were kicked out and moved to downtown Brooklyn, Metrotech. They have 2 basic functions, call taker and radio dispatcher. Depending on the time of day they can have 60-80 call takers working at once. They also have over 2 dozen radio positions that operate on a 24 hour basis. Between 911 operators, radio dispatchers, relief personnel, supervisors and other uniforms there are about 200 people on duty at a time. Their civil service title is Police Communications Technician: http://www.nyc.gov/h...1202013000.pdf. Their CADS is custom written and they call it SPRINT.
NYC*EMS (as it was known before the hostile takeover) was located in Maspeth, Queens, until the late 1990's. A sinkhole formed under their building forcing them to move out in a hurry. For a while they operated from a double-wide trailer in their parking lot before they too were moved into Metrotech, 2 blocks from 911. Their dispatchers and call receiving operators are EMTs (http://www.nyc.gov/h...01202004000.pdf) and their supervisors (lieutenants and captains) are medics (http://www.nyc.gov/h...00808501000.pdf). Their CADS is also custom written but I don't know if it has a name.
FDNY had (past tense) 5 central offices, one to each borough prior to 2003. Most of you probably know the history but the basic stuff is here: http://www.fdnewyork.com/article.asp.
Also in the late 1990's the fire department (now fully taken over by NYC*EMS) decided to decentralize the EMS dispatching facility and put them in the 5 FDNY central offices.
Then came 9/11, Mayor billionaire and his scheme to integrate the entire operation, all 3 services , into 1 operation, 1 job title, 1 agency outside of FDNY and NYPD. His grand scheme was to create 2 new facilities, PSAC's, put half the city in each one.
We're about half way there now in PSAC 1. Look for a completely new system to be in place in the next 3 to 10 years depending on how long they can delay the construction of PSAC 2 and the creation of the next CADS that can do all 3 jobs. (We're already in the selection phase and the scuttlebutt says it's just a formality, they're going with Intergraph because NYPD already contracted with them.)
You can glean more information by using your favorite search engine and entering the phrase NYC ECTP.
The current system looks like this: Bronx and Queens fire dispatch are still located in their respective FDNY central offices. The Bronx CO was remodeled so it can handle Manhattan fire dispatch should we have to evacuate PSAC 1. Similarly, Queens was remodeled to handle Brooklyn and Staten Island.
The rest of the entire operation, 911, EMS and Brooklyn-Manhattan-SI fire dispatch are in PSAC 1.
The flow of a 911 call hasn't changed much. Under the old system, if the caller reported a police matter, the police operator handled the call and sent it to their dispatcher.
If the caller reported a medical emergency, the police operator interrogated the caller to ascertain the basics of the medical emergency, then patched the call to the EMS dispatch office for triage and ambulance dispatch. If the caller reported a fire, NYPD patched the call, before asking any questions, to the Fire Department central office of the borough in which the call originated.
Under the new scheme that is not fully implemented yet, there will be no transfer of the call. The 911 operator will ascertain the location, perform medical triage and provide pre-arrival instructions for EMS and fire, then route the info to the respective dispatcher.
I will not comment publicly about the new scheme because I have nothing positive to say about it. 'nuff said?
So... how's that for a nutshell?
Frank Raffa
Supv. Dispatcher, FDNY
Borough of Brooklyn
www.FDNewYork.com

Thanks SFRD18 for giving my my 1,000th Rep point. I am particularly pleased that it occured in:
"New Rochelle Avoids Firefighter Layoffs"
It could not have been in a better catagory
Seth I demand a raise.....At least 25%
Thank you to the others who have also contributed.

Dont agree at all... Sorry but Rye brook FD is a great accet to the Village Of Rye Brook residents and very helpful when thier is a fire call in rye brook and rigs are coming from downtown pc. Just think if thier is a fire in mid afternoon and rigs have to come from downtown pc with all the schools getting out and traffic on the road its safer and better that rye brook has a fd........ Also i would be careful what u say thier are rye brook fd personell on here just sayin.

Date: 10/3/11
Time: 17:329
Location: 1479 Maiden Lane
Frequency: 46.26 Fire 17
Units Operating: Yorktown FD, Millwood FD (mutual aid tanker & engine), Battalion 10, Lake Mohegan FD (FASTeam), Continental Village FD (mutual aid tanker), Croton FD (mutual aid tanker & engine), Katonah FD (mutual aid tanker), Somers FD (mutual aid utility & tanker) Buchanan FD (mutual aid utility) Con Ed Emergency Gas/Electric, C&O Zone 4
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Description Of Incident: Residential House Fire: caller stated fire through the roof and could hear windows "popping." Fire Units on location confirmed heavy fire through the roof.
Reporters: Res30cue peterose313 BigBuff
Writer: voltage1256

Hello -
We've made slight changes to our website. Please take a look. The site is completely designed, developed and maintained internally by company members.
http://www.wiccopefireco.org
There might be some errors and things out of place. If something looks like it shouldn't be like that or if you encounter errors, please let us know. There also may be slight issues when using Firefox under certain resolutions.
Thanks! Happy Holidays,
WFC WebTeam