EmsFirePolice

I don't know how I feel about this.  On one hand, you gain a few extra personnel in those small communities to come to the rescue, but on the other you have responders that are tipsy and are slightly impaired.  Granted, the majority of people (especially in Europe) have no ill-effect from one or two adult beverages, but there are a few people who react much differently to alcohol.  One person can be absolutely fine where another can be a bit lightheaded, or in some instances, drunk off of two drinks.
 
Then again, this isn't too dissimilar to our accepted practices here in the States.  Many departments, and I'm talking about those smaller communities, allow their members to have one or two and still respond.  It allows the departments to gain a few extra bodies whereas they wouldn't if they had a zero tolerance policy.

I think its legit, except for the .50 typo.  That's drinking into a coma range.  Betting its suppose to be .05.  Remember Ireland a year or two back tried to or raised the DWI levels in rural areas.

I could be wrong but this is already a series it's called "COPS".  and plenty of others have been done.   People either support or us or they don't.  No TV show will change opinions.  And even the ones that support cops don't understand and until you work the streets you never will.  

About a month ago, Detroit was being pounded by heavy rains. I put them on Broadcastify to listen in. They were running trees down, wires down and cars stuck in the flooding underpasses. I looked on the Internet for Detroit Fire to get an idea of what they run. What I found is astounding. Detroit is the arson capital of the world! It's almost like "The Bronx is Burning" back in the '70's & 80's. In a nutshell they have about 5,000 Working Fires or greater each year (that's about 13 a day). That's more than FDNY!! I couldn't believe it. Granted many of their fires are already burned buildings, but I've been listening the last month and they get their share of occupied structure fires & commercial fires. I am not exaggerating when I say that if turn on Broadcastify and listen in, there is either a Working Fire in progress, just ending, or one being dispatched. It's continuous. If this interests you, then read on.
 
The city has 28 Engines, 13 Ladders, 6 Squads, and 8 Battalion Chiefs. Within the city limits the cities of Hamtramck & Highland Park reside. These are two very small cities, both surrounded by Detroit and each is only about 2 square miles. Each city runs an engine and a ladder. They work in conjunction with Detroit and are even dispatched by Detroit. So adding in those two cities, Detroit is covered by 30 Engines, 15 Ladders, 6 Squads & 8 Battalions. I have NO idea how they have so many fires with such a relatively small department. In addition to the structure fires they have daily car fires, dumpster fires and also run first responder on medical calls. I am not sure what their mutual aid agreement is with surrounding cities. The firefighters in Detroit must go to work and expect to be working their whole shift on a daily basis. I'm just guessing but I assume they must rotate people from the quieter companies to the busier companies to keep them fresh. It sounds like everyday would be the equivalent of playing a football game. Again, only a guess, but the average Detroit firefighter probably lasts 20 years and then is completely broken-down and has to retire.
 
I like what they have for radio communications. They have fire dispatch on one frequency and then 8 fireground channels. They assign them by which chief is assigned first due to the box. If Battalion 4 is assigned, they assign Fireground 4. If there is another fire in Battalion 4's area, they just assign a fireground channel to whichever chief is coming in. "Companies responding to Main & Elm switch to Fireground 8 for Battalion 8."  In just a month I've heard numerous Working Fires going on at the same time.
 
There response, from what I can figure out is as follows:
Box Alarm 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Squad, 1 Battalion
Commercial Box Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, 2 Squads, 2 Battalions
2nd Alarm: 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Squad, 1 Battalion (If it came is as a Box Alarm and they go to a 2nd it sounds like they round out the Commercial Box assignment along with the 2nd Alarm assignment.)
 
Their manning appears to be 4 on an Engine, Ladder, and Squad; however, all those units will drop to 3. So on any given shift Squad 1 may have 4 and Squad 2 may have 3. When they sign on location they'll declared their PAR. "Engine 9 on location, PAR 4." Here's what I don't understand, about 50 percent of the time a unit will sign off and say PAR 3 plus 1 or PAR 2 plus 1 or it may just be PAR 3 or PAR 4. So I don't think it's the number of firefighters plus the officer. All I can think of is that it must be Probies on the rig, which means about 20% of the department must be probies. The whole thing is just mind-boggling and I really can't wrap my brain around it. At busy times they must have 3 or 4 Workers at a time!
 
I'm sure many have heard about Devil's Night in Detroit (Oct. 30th). At one point they were averaging 80 structure fires on that night. I believe last year it was cut down to about 40. Well, Devil's Night is fast approaching and I will be sure to listen in. God Bless the Detroit firefighters and stay safe!

There you have it; democracy in action.  Perhaps a much scaled down version can be presented to the public down the road.

As I have friends in the NFD, I had heard that they adopted a stray dog that they found tied to a fire hydrant. 
NFD previously had another dog, Barney, who passed away a couple of years ago. Barney could always be found in the front seat of the rig.
I commend the men of NFD for taking this dog in and giving him the life he deserves! Nice job guys!
 
http://www.pupjournal.com/these-firefighters-didnt-care-one-lick-about-pit-bull-myths-when-they-adopted-this-stray-dog/

Anyone remember these guys from "Howe And Howe Tech" on the Discovery Channel a few years back?
 
It's.....what is the word.....interesting I guess.....that it carries 2000 gallons of water and is so top heavy.
 
http://www.4x4firetruck.com/
 

The Maybrook Fire District has placed twin 2016 Chevrolet Tahoes in-service as Cars 1 & 2. Former Car 1, a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe has been re-assigned to Car 3. Former Car 2, a Ford F-250 SD pick-up has been re-assigned to U213 and will respond as a light duty rescue unit, while the former Car 3, a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban has been retired. Former R213 will be re-assigned to function as a fire police unit, while M217 will be re-assigned as a department personnel transport unit.
 
Photo of new Car 1 courtesy of Chief Charles D. Woznick

 
Are you on the job?

Date: 10/19/2016
 Time: 19:36
 Location: 1 Southfield Ave (Between Selleck St & Homestead Ave)
 District: SFD 2 Channel: Ground 1 Weather: 71, Clear
 Units: 1st Alarm:      E2, E5, E4, E6 (RIT), T2, R1, U4 (IC),          Working Fire: U6 (Safety), FM105, FM111,          2nd Alarm:     E3, T3          3rd Alarm:     E1, T1, C1 (Chief of Department), C2 (Assistant Chief), C11 (Assistant Chief of Volunteers), FM101 (Chief Fire Marshal)          Special Call:   E9          Callback:       E12, U5 (Deputy Chief)          Relocated:    E7 (Station 1), E8 (Station 3)          SEMS:           M5, M3, M901 (Supervisor)          SPD:             1B31, 1A42, 1E34, 2C292, 1C30, 2A24, 3B33, 8D77 (Shift Commander), 8S3 (Sergeant)          VFD's            E34 (Glenbrook), E41, T45 (Belltown), E52 (Springdale), E64, T67, R66, K68 (Turn of River) all staffed in quarters due to incident.
 Writer: AFS1970 *** At time of this call SFD Station 3 (2nd due) & Station 1 (3rd due) were at other incidents. ***
 Description: Multiple calls, conflicting between exterior brush fire and condominium fire. Possible exterior fire extending into building. E2 arriving in area reported visible fire in building. Once on scene E2 confirmed working fire and transmitted 2nd alarm due to exposures. U4 arrived and assumed command, transmitting the 3rd alarm shortly there after.   At 20:10 U4 gave the MARC update of fire on all three floors of a 20 x 40 foot condominium, fire darkening down, Probable will hold.   Fire under control at 20:26, U4 expects to free up 3rd alarm companies shortly.   E12 was sent to assist with picking up hose and equipment. M3 was sent late into the incident for an injured civilian. Edited 5 minutes ago by AFS1970

Date: 10/17/2016
Time:18:00
Location: 15 Carolyn DR.
District:
Battalion: Car 17
Channel:
Weather:
Units: Continental Village 14-1-1/14-1-2/14-1-3/14-2-1/14-2-2/14-6-1/14-4-1/14-3-1/14-3-2,Garrison 14-4-1/14-4-2,Buchanan Car 2552/Utility 12
Peekskill  VFD Car 2341/2343/Rescue 134 Peekskill VAC Ambulance 75-B1/75-B3/Rehab Unit 7506 County  Car 17 Town Of Cortlandt Fire Investigator
Writer:  

Description:

Strange & tragic incident.
 
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffny-pally-uconn-student-killed-by-fire-department-suv/

Here's the official response:
 
 

Does anyone know how this will be deployed?  Brush unit, source pumper, line engine, etc etc?

 
http://northsalem.dailyvoice.com/events/north-salem-ambulance-corps-needs-new-volunteers/685130/

This is why the bikes are popular in Texas and California.
 
 
http://www.thehour.com/news/article/Norwalk-police-retire-Harleys-for-lighter-cooler-9964446.php#photo-11408960

Awesome to see this. A member asked a simple question out of pure curiosity and another member answered, in detail, with no BS.
I like seeing posts like this. 
Also like that FDs still use box systems, but that's another story.

Box 6-6 Full Department Response
Box 1-1-2 South End of Village E97 E100 L41 R14
Box 1-1-3 North End of Village E96 E99 TL42 R14
Box 1-1-4 East End of  Village E98 E101 TL42 R14
Box 1-1-1-1 Center of  Village E97 E98 E99 L41 R14
Box 2-1-3 North End of Town of Ossining E96 E97 E99 TL42
Box 2-1-4 East End of Town of Ossining E97 E98 E101 TL42
Box 5 L41 or TL 42
Box 7-1 R14 & E96
Box 7-2 R14 & E97
Box 7-3 R14 & E98
Box 7-4 R14 & E99
Box 7-5 R14 & E100
Box 7-6 R14 & E101
Box 7-7 R14
Box 8-1 E96
Box 8-2 E97
Box 8-3 E98
Box 8-4 E99
Box 8-5 E100
Box 8-6 E101
 
 

What always bugged me about News 12 was that they're supposed to be the "local" news source, but they wouldn't cover as many stories as they could.  They simply record a 30 minute spot and rerun it for hours, then do an update spot and rerun it for hours, repeat!  There's so many more stories that people could have payed attention to, say if News 12 did a 2 hour spot and reran it 2 or 3 times before doing an update.  BUT, now that there will no longer be a specific local news channel, even more stories will go to the wayside.

That's not a 2016 model.  That's at least 5 years old.

 
I like the folks at 60 control.  They're just like you and me.  the only difference is that they are not at the scene.  They have to put together a picture of what's going on through your words, and piece together the information of what's going on.  It's a difficult and thankless job, and I'm glad they're there to do it!
 
Praise to thee, dispatchers.  Your are the ones that are sh@t upon when things are going sour, but you are the ones that can get us the sh!t we need when the tough gets going!  Keep up the good work!

Some departments still refer to the driver as a chauffeur or an engineer though neither is driving a limo or a train.  No need to be insulted, its just terminology.  The people you want to know the difference, do.

Here's a pic of Fort Lee Tower 2 doing a repel demonstration yesterday. 1994 Simon Duplex LTI 100 foot rear mount Tower (as  a side note this unit just placed back in service after 7 month repair job)

I think FDNY also considered fire assist rescue team,until they realized it would be F.A.R.T......

"The truth is, the public is completely responsible for the high number of calls that the fire department responds to. "
 
The real truth is not just in the public.  Yes, the public is becoming more reliant on 911 services to assist them to see a doctor, but another statement from the article shows the other side of the story, too:
 
"Her doctor told her to call 911 for a ride to the emergency room; he didn’t have any appointments until later in the week. "
 
Is this really what doctors are advising their patients to do?  I understand in some extreme occasions where someone is extremely sick, such as a 60 y/o female with bronchitis, where 911 service is possibly necessary, But, how many doctors are telling their patients to just call 911?  And, before I get ostracized for this question, I am completely aware of the medical services shortage when it comes to doctors and nurses (my girlfriend is a RN and she is called into work on almost every day she has off).
 
"When 911 is called for rides to the emergency room, resources are squandered, urgent care for those who truly need it is delayed, and myths about firefighters padding their numbers responding to little old ladies who just need a ride to the ER are born. "
 
Let's break this down into two parts.  The first, which is already evident to us, is the squandering of resources.  If doctors and nurses are already short-handed, what would make any medical professional think that there are enough ambulances to assist with day to day medical issues?  Doctors know that 911 EMS services are also short-handed, so why would they compromise the 911 services in the same way that their own practices are compromised?  Calling 911 for a non life-threatening issue seems to be the way of the game these days, and it's getting a little out of hand.  Then again, I'm sure the insurance companies love it!
 
The other part from the above quote is the padding of numbers.  Why would there ever be a myth that FDs "pad" response numbers?  I thought we had the common goal as EMS and the Police to save lives?  Or am I wrong on some weird political agenda?  I'm glad the writer (Michael Morse) mentions that sometimes an EMS trained engine is more than often closer than an ambulance, and that interventions can begin well before a transport is available.  This comes hardy as we are in a time, as stated above, 911 ambulances can be scarce and we need responders on scene "applying band-aids" to the problem to secure the best chances for survival.
 
*sigh* I'm more than sure I could keep ranting on about this, but I'll leave it at here for now.