ptwatson

I live in Somers. I am an FD member. I own my home. I pay about $10,000 in property taxes a year. About $500 are fire and EMS taxes (it says "fire and EMS" on my tax bill).
My home is made out of wood and there are no hydrants in my immediate neighborhood, though a recent water project put one in about 1800 feet away. At age 45 I have never had a fire in my home. I have never been in a structure that caught fire. (other than going as a fireman) No one in my family (brother, sister, mom, dad) has either. I have never met anyone that has been rescued from a fire. I have absolutely no expectation that under currant conditions a fire in my home would be extinguished in a manor that would save anything of value. We in Somers do not use the F.I.T. devices that allow 1 man to knock down a fire.
I do not want anyone risking their lives to save my house. It is insured. I have no ability to pay yearly taxes to fund a crew of firemen that may or may not be available (due to calls) to come and successfully/unsuccessfully save my home. I am told that the "loaded cost" of 1 fireman is about $140,000 per year (salary, pension, workers comp, OT for vacation/training, days off, sick time etc) So a small ( 4 guys- gotta have 2 in 2 out, right?)crew will cost me about 1/2 million dollars a year. Our Somers Town Budget is about $11 million dollars/year. The SFD budget is about 2.8 million, though they have managed to save over 4 million in various special accounts. (I have heard of tax and spend, but the SFD taxes and puts it in the bank!) So $500,000 every year in costs for the small daytime crew represent about a 20% increase in spending for the District. That is about $250,000 PER FIRE for the roughly 2 working fires we average a year. Yes it will be sad if my home burns. Even sadder if I and/or my family is home when it does. I have 7 smoke detectors ($7 each) and about as many extinguishers. For $500,000, I will step out the window into fresh air, walk across the kitchen bump-out roof, and jump the 9 feet, hopefully into deep soft snow (most fires are in winter). Since I am a 10 minute firetruck drive from the main station, I would probably have to do that anyway.
I am really sorry. I would love to see everyone get a great job as a paid fireman. I would love to have a standing army of highly trained and well equipped first responders in our four stations staffing 2 ladders, 5 engines a heavy rescue and a tanker. May as well throw in the scuba truck and ATV thingy too. I simply don't have the money it would cost to do that. As the "buyer" in this transaction, I am afraid I can't afford it. I will be careful to not overload any wires. I will keep the chimney clean. I will hope for the best. At 45 years old, I will be moving into assisted living in another 30 years or so. Hopefully I'll make it, house intact, then they can hire as many firemen as they want.

First, this simulator was purchased using proceeds from Grant money, not the Department's operating budget. Second, the County Police Academy does already have one of these simulators, but it is not always readily available. Third, Police Officers will be more apt to use this piece of equipment when it is readily available for their use at their Headquarters, instead of having to attempt to schedule availability for the Police Academy's FATS Simulator. The more Police Officers who utilize this training resource leads to a group of higher trained, higher skilled, combat conditioned Police Officers who possess a sharper set of "split-second" decision making capabilities then Police Officers who do not take advantage of this training resource that has been made available to them. Plus I applaud Tuckahoe Police Department for making this training tool available to the surrounding agencies, far from the fiefdom syndrome that you suggest in your post. If you ask me, grant money spent very wisely on an invaluable training tool.
Approximate Manpower by Department(info obtained from internet searches):
Tuckahoe: 24
Bronxville: 23
Eastchester: 51
Pelham: 28
Approximate total of 126 Officers

That's correct, WC-DES manages the Westchester County Animal Response Team (WesCART). They are a active volunteer group that "responds to emergencies that require animal rescue, evacuation, veterinary disaster care, and the sheltering of pets during a major disaster. WesCART is active in educating the public concerning disaster preparedness and pets." In English, when a disaster strikes and the need for pet sheltering or care arises, this group is the one to call. Since pets are not allowed into shelters, there really is a huge need for a specialized group like this to provide care for animals during disasters. I know for a fact that my local CERT has WesCART as their POC if a client arrives with pets and they can't find anywhere else to put them. At the Fire Training Center there is a WesCART trailer with their equipment. Check out the Facebook Page to see pictures of them in action. I don't really know much more about them because I am not a member, just a supporter.

For anyone who is interested, they are having a meeting tomorrow:
WesCART General Membership Meeting
Date: 9/22/2011
Time: 7 PM
Room #3
Location: Westchester County DES
4 Dana Rd. Valhalla NY 10595
Parking for The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services is located in the visitor lot at 35 Walker Road. Please park in the upper lot and proceed down the stairs to the rear entrance of the building.

If anyone looking for more information they can contact them at the links below:
http://emergencyserv...l-response-team, http://www.westchest...ems/WesCART.htm, http://www.facebook....180390625335395.

I don't (ever) post because I often feel like I have nothing to add. I have no experience other than as family. My grandfather was FDNY. My brothers were volunteers in Dutchess County.
But I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you. As a family member, I understand the sacrifices you make, the training you make time for and the time you are away from your families, friends and other activities so you can serve your community in the most amazing way I can think of.
I salute your bravery, your commitment and your expertise. Our communities are better places because you live, work and volunteer here.
Consider this a long distance hug from a very grateful community member.
-Heather

That's Reverend Miello. Retired MVPD Detective. Got a son on the job, and he and his wife are the most ardent supporters of the EFD Brothers out there. GOD BLESS THEM.

Horrible senerio you would be faced with. I wonder if the high winds and the large amount of rain would supress the fire enough that it would not spread or would it be the reverse and the wind helps it jump. With those high winds I would think you would be limited in some of your resourses. I would think that you would not put a stick or a bucket up in the exteme high winds. Also, would your water stream be hampered by the wind and a good percentage if it just blow away? Another thing I think of if it's an interior attack would the wind put the crews at a greater danger in that a window could blow out at any moment thus possibly pushing the fire back on them? It would be an incredibly hard job and the IC would need to think outside the box.

I have many models including most of the Diamond Plate's. I hade a feeling things were not right when they did not release a new Diamond plate in over two years. I agree that a Towel Ladder and a Rescue as welll would have been cool in the Diamond Plate series. I thought that they should have contunued with the firehouses as well! Also when they had massive problems with the second Philly SQURT you got an idea that things were not well in Code 3 land. I agree that all the FDNY rigs were becoming very repiticious though they had some wicked cool rigs like the Super Pumper system. Not looking forward to the jacked prices pepole will sell Code 3 on E-bay.

By saying Officer Hess is "far" from a hero you are implying (in the impersonal world of Internet chat) that he did something wrong.
So... Tell me sir, what would you do if someone ran you down and you were lucky enough to end up on the hood of the car and not under it and your sole means of neutralizing your life safety situation happened to be your firearm.......? Are you saying that you wouldn't pull the trigger?
Officer Hess is a hero because he chose a job that requires him to protect people like you and I every day. Officer Hess didn't jump on that car like Bo and Luke Duke but rather he was struck by the driver who was intoxicated and leaving the scene of an incident that Officer Hess was called to as part of his sworn duty to respond.

P.O. Hess was engaging an armed advesary, DJ henry was armed with a 2 ton vehicle and was using it as a weapon against officer Hess. PO Hess thankfully put down the threat but was severly injured in the process having his knee cap pushed up into his thigh.
P.O. Hess saved countless lives that night by putting himself in harms way instead of letting a highly intoxicated driver drive through a crowded parking lot. P.O. Hess acted heroically and selflessly. He is a hero in my book and is deserving of a lot more than a medal.

If you wore your cover like that in the military I am just about certain there would be some sort of charges brought against you. Since the FD is a para military institution and the FD uniform is modeled after those of the Navy maybe it should be the same with charges. It's so disrespectful to wear it like that. Its not a grungy old baseball cap on a hot summer day as you mow the lawn. It's the a symbol that you are a firefighter and it should be worn with respect and distinction or dont wear it at all and stand on the side walk as a spectator.

If you wore your cover like that in the military I am just about certain there would be some sort of charges brought against you. Since the FD is a para military institution and the FD uniform is modeled after those of the Navy maybe it should be the same with charges. It's so disrespectful to wear it like that. Its not a grungy old baseball cap on a hot summer day as you mow the lawn. It's the a symbol that you are a firefighter and it should be worn with respect and distinction or dont wear it at all and stand on the side walk as a spectator.

If you wore your cover like that in the military I am just about certain there would be some sort of charges brought against you. Since the FD is a para military institution and the FD uniform is modeled after those of the Navy maybe it should be the same with charges. It's so disrespectful to wear it like that. Its not a grungy old baseball cap on a hot summer day as you mow the lawn. It's the a symbol that you are a firefighter and it should be worn with respect and distinction or dont wear it at all and stand on the side walk as a spectator.

I had the chance to attend a parade this past Saturday with my family, as my Wife and Son were marching in the band they belong too. MY department did not march, so I was able to watch...however, I had our 3 year old daughter with me, so most of my attention was with her...lol
I am NO Bill Johnson, nor do I have a great camera...just a point and shoot...but any picture is better than no picture.
BUT FIRST - A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.
NO matter how cool you think you look, wearing your bell cap backwards is DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR UNIFORM, YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THE FIRE SERVICE AS A WHOLE.
For the life of me, I can NOT figure out why people do this!?
These are JUST the guys I saw before the parade...there were TONS MORE like this afterwards at the food tent...
(Disclaimer; YES, I am a dick, YES it bothers me THAT much, and NO, I had nothing better to do)

The lowering of a FDNY EMS Ambulance into the museum.

The lowering of FDNY Ladder 3 into the museum.

The Hudson River has been a jurisdictional pissing match for fire departments for years. Police patrols of the river were slim to none up until 2-3 years ago, for the most part.
For what it's worth, the river is a large body of water that is well traveled by all kinds of vessels. The rules/laws of the river are probably not fully understood / enforced by local police departments, and because of this, IMHO, it should be left to WCPD and/or NYSP to patrol (on our side). For each smaller municipality, such as my own, to pay officers OT to patrol the local water, which for us is mostly off of Croton Point, ergo technically WCPD's area if you think about it, is a waste. Let local PD handle their roadways and, like us, if they have smaller bodies of water requiring patrol, then do it. I'm all for diligent enforcement and prevention, but a line has to be drawn.
For the fire side of things on the Hudson... 9 out of 10 calls we all get dispatched to could be handled by a police agency. Stalled boats, sailboats with mechanical problems, etc. are nothing more than a disabled vehicle and unless it is in a precarious location, then let PD boats handle them. Save the local FD vessels for fires and rescue calls. Service calls are getting 3,4, 5 or more agencies now which is an enormous waste.
I don't understand why every call on the Hudson River requires the response of three fire department boats, WCPD, usually Rockland Sheriffs and/or FD boats from Rockland - we're sending more stuff then is needed the majority of the time. And in addition to all of the stuff on the river, you have to figure at least 3-4 emergency vehicles are driving to their local docks lights and sirens for non-emergencies.
It's a recipe for disaster that needs evaluating.

Attached are a few more recent deliveries and a few others caught in good locations

Here are some photos taken by Gus Stretz and myself of new apparatus deliveries received in Westchester County.

abaduck - Mike Ross, he doesn't hide is name, is, for the record, a registered Republican, more libertarian than anything else. Certainly not a liberal. He didn't respond earlier because he's spent the day at the FTC doing rescue tech, and joined in the good-natured banter involving one of the other students, an LEO.
He's so anti-police that he was in the in the middle of joining the police, as a volunteer cop in the UK, before that was cut short by our moving to the USA. He's given serious thought to joining the volunteer PSEF here in Westchester, but has back-burnered that due to too many other commitments.
Yes, sometimes I debate - I have questions and opinions about police actions on occasions. About the only time I think I could be said to have been out of line was the recent thread on the Philly open carry guy, and enough LEOs here told me how and why I was wrong I manned up, said OK I was wrong, and apologised.
All I wanted to do was update people on what was happening; a lot of people discussed this case, and a story on the latest developments caught my eye. I often end up reading something and someplace down the line it's 'I wonder what happened about X? How did that play out?'
That's all there was to it. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and JJB531, I respectfully think you're out of line here.
Mike

Marine and Aviation Unit Demo:







County Police new design:





This caught my eye:

That’s it. You can find all of the photos I took here. Hope you enjoyed them.

Today (6/10/2011) was Fleet Demo Day at Playland. Here are some of my pictures. If you enjoy my photos please comment of give me a rep, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Is this chief kidding with this nonsense ? These are pice of s*** MS-13 gang members who were threatening to assault the officers, etc... they deserved a lot more than a few f*** you's. This is another example of political correctness gone awry. Chief Bratton said a few weeks ago that he firmly believes that the number of officer related deaths are up this year because cops are weary about people with cameras and are holding back during their encounters with the public and are therefore giving up the upper hand. In this case you have cops who did the right thing and refused to give up the upper hand and now they get called to the carpet for it. What a joke.
This is another example of a boss forgetting where he came from

Seriously dude!?! You need someone else to tell you that it's NOT okay for you to have a teenage boy fondle your junk? So if your town didn't provide you with that "training" you'd have no idea that this is wrong? Your way of thinking (find someone else to blame/failure to accept responsibility) is exactly what's wrong with this country.

Good work Pete,
I think Eng. 4 & 5 had black boat tops added
Bull

I posted this photo because I believe this method of construction has implications to firefighters. Many methods of construction are adept at holding up the load under normal circumstances. I beams are very strong and are widely used in buildings. (And they are usually enclosed in a protection membrane or coated with a fire retardant.)
The method of construction in this picture has obviously worked for many years and probably will hold the load under normal circumstances. That said, I find concern that during a fire, the unprotected steel could cause collapse to the building it supports. A fire in the building to the left or an auto fire underneath could easily cause failure of the I beam. Firefighters responding at night in the building to the left might not immediately see that the building to the right is held up by steel which is being heated up.
Recently at a fire in Yonkers, a cockloft fire heated an I beam and pushed out a parapet wall, narrowly missing some firefighters. Steel elongates once heated. "Heated to 1000 deg. F, a steel member will expand 9 1/2 inches over 100 ft. of length...at temperatures above 1000 deg. F,...steel starts to soften and fail, depending upon load." (* p.272)
*All serious firefighters should read "Building Construction for the Fire Service" by Francis Brannigan. Chapter 7, titled "Steel Construction" is particularly relevant to this discussion. Be safe.