chris

Thank you to both of you. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. We expect to be very busy with the Rehab Unit and look forward to helping out.

Pleasantville vac rehab unit deserves alot of credit they did a great job. Thanks ..

I was at work so didn't respond to this job but since the door has been opened I'll step through. Some bullet point comments on Seth's post.
First and foremost, everyone went home some minor injuries, smoke inhalation aside. The two brothers in Bridgeport were not so lucky yesterday.
Above, pre-plans and response policies were questioned and referred to as "antiquated" in Westchester. I do not know how Briarcliff operates, but I can tell you that many volunteer and career departments alike in Westchester have detailed greater alarm response policies in the CAD at 60 control and are often executed automatically without any radio transmissions necessary. In addition to that, the county "battalion cars" act as the resource officer at jobs, taking pressure off of the IC. I do not know all of the battalions personally but I will tell you two I do know bring to the table plenty of experience to know when to "suggest" to IC's when to request additional resources.
I am quite sure this fire could have been run differently, as every single fire is different and different IC's will not run the same
fire the same way. It is quite possible that had this job had occurred in another district it would have sounded more "professional" on the air. Maybe some unknown department that sounds great on the air loses the entire structure, maybe not? How u sound on the air means dick when u have someone trapped above the fire and everyone is looking at you to make a decision.
Most volunteer rescue companies in Westchester were born from fire police. Just because a particular company carries certain tools does
not mean that their membership is as specialized as their toolbox.
FAST in the weather conditions yesterday needed to be properly relieved. A good proactive FAST is doing more than anyone realizes, just being bunkered up and ready to roll on a day like yesterday is taxing on the body. If after rehab the IC chooses to use the relieved FAST for overhaul or salvage rather than request additional resources, I don't see an issue. I see it done often.
Radio discipline is a issue everywhere. And I do mean everywhere, ever hear tapes of ground ops channels from highly regarded paid
departments where maydays are stepped all over due to poor radio discipline?
The fire service is reactive by nature, if if Black Friday had never occurred PSS systems would not be an NFPA standard today. Each member from the to the IC down to the probie has to take a personal inventory after each job and ask him/herself how they can be better and safer next time.
I think in a forum such as this positivity is key. Every member can learn something from every run...
Stay Safe and Hydrate...

Date: 4/10/10
Time: 22:16
Location: 63 Bramblebrook Road
Frequencies: Fire 14 / 46.52 / Fireground 3
Ardsley FD Units Operating: 2011, 2012, 2013, E164, E165, L50
Irvington FD Units: 2202, 2203, R49 (FAST)
Dobbs Ferry FD Units: 2092, 2093, E47, TL23
Hastings FD Units: 2183, E44
Elmsford FD Units: 2111, L55 (FAST)
WCDES Units: Car 2, Battalion 11
Weather Conditions: Cool, clear
Description Of Incident: Fully involved 25' x 75' 2 1/2 story structure fire.
Reporters: Remember585
Writer: Remember585
22:16 - Ardsley dispatched for a car fire in the garage.
22:20 - 2011, 2012 on location, Command requesting 10-75 assignment.
22:21 - L50, E164 responding. Irvington FAST, ASVAC & Battalion 11 dispatched.
22:23 - L50, E164 on location, L50 take the front, E164 stretch in from the hydrant. Bat 11 responding.
22:24 - Command requesting additional 1 & 1 to scene, 1 Engine to his HQ.
22:26 - Dobbs Ferry E47 & TL23 dispatched to the scene. 2091, 2092 responding.
22:27 - E165 responding. R49 (FAST) responding. 2203 responding. Command reports house is fully involved, requesting DFFD E47 to get a 3rd handline in to operation. Access issues for aerials.
22:28 - Command requesting a 2nd Alarm. Requesting a Hastings Engine to the scene.
22:31 - TL23 responding.
22:32 - 2183 responding. Elmsford FAST dispatched.
22:33 - Command reports 3 L/S/O - "Doubtful will hold."
22:34 - R49 on location. 2111, L55 responding.
22:36 - TL23 on location. Command requesting Con Ed Electric & Gas to the scene. (Possible gas line rupture in building).
22:40 - Command requesting status of Con Ed Gas - notified, responding, no ETA per 60 Control.
22:41 - 2184, E44 responding. 60 Control updating Command that Con Ed Gas has an eta of 20. Command says "they have to expedite or they're going to lose the entire building."
22:42 - Tarrytown 2462, E80 relocating to Ardsley HQ.
22:45 - Command requesting L55 to assist with ventillation on roof and 2nd floor.
22:49 - E44 & L55 on location.
22:52 - E80 & 2462 out at Ardsley FD.
22:54 - C&O Zone 3 dispatched.
22:56 - Command reports fire is knocked down, units checking for extension, still doubtful.

wow dude, totally cruel.... of course he will be able to, there are 2 steps...
sorry Jodi.....lol

Does this mean they can turn away illegal alliens and arrest them and send them to there homeland so the people that pay the taxes can use the hospital ? It seems that there is no good reason to be a good citizen anymore, the more honest you are the more it costs you. When will it stop ?

Valid points. I would just ask you to consider those situations where anonimity is out of self-preservation. I am perfectly willing to put my name and affiliation on my profile, but when you see what happens to some of the posters on here, it just isn't worth it.
1) My posts reflect my personal opinions and not those of my department. They (my officers and my department members)don't need to feel responsible or defend me for what I say, no matter how stupid it might be.
2) There is far too much stereotyping on here, and to identify your affiliation just invites comments that are sometimes infantile and irrelevant. Paid vs. volly, how many pieces of equipment you have vs. someone else, oh, you can't get out until second dispatch, etc. I've seen all of these comments/topics on here, and none of them were deserved. The first time someone threw one of those my way, I would respond, and Seth or one of the moderators would have to ban me from the site, etc. Why create work for them, and aggravation for myself? I'm just saying that a blank profile doesn't mean someone's hiding.
As to QTIP and the rest, you're right. There are a few someones on here who I firmly believe say things just to stir the pot, and if you call them on it, you get the innocent "who me" followed by the infamous "QTIP". Annoying yes, but it's a free country.
If you or anyone else is really interested in who I am or what my affiliation is, PM me and I will be happy to share.

Yes, there are alot of people hiding behind things like lol, jk, and the very vacant left side of the screen where it says: where you are from, real name, etc. People have alot to say when they are anonymous and I don't care who you are or where you are from or if you are paid or volly or a cop or whatever, who cares, the one thing in life is that you are you, and if you can't admit it, it might suck to be you.
This is a simple view of mine not aimed at anyone personally just everyone in general no excuses, not never.

From Lohud.com
2 girls charged with arson in St. Patrick's Day blaze in Ossining
This kind of pisses me off. The brothers from Ossining made their usual aggressive push into this home, and reported to us that the floor was partially burnt through in the 2nd level bedroom. What if one of the OFD guys went thru? Give these two a--holes the stiffest penalty possible!

Yes, there are alot of people hiding behind things like lol, jk, and the very vacant left side of the screen where it says: where you are from, real name, etc. People have alot to say when they are anonymous and I don't care who you are or where you are from or if you are paid or volly or a cop or whatever, who cares, the one thing in life is that you are you, and if you can't admit it, it might suck to be you.
This is a simple view of mine not aimed at anyone personally just everyone in general no excuses, not never.

Your post was true, people just need to realize that the world isn't cut and dry about groups of people, pick anything at all, - firefighting, baseball, politics, no matter what it is, there are good and bad people within the organization. It is just opinon that a group as a hole has to be better than another group. paid vs volly, republican vs democrat, federal vs small town, AAA vs the majors, all the issues are the same they are just on a different scale. You always have your best in each group but at the same time you have the others .
Very few comments on here can be kept from the ( career vs volly ) arguement.
Don't look at it as a weapon cause its not. Its how "some" people show there support or disaproval on a post. Its also how "some" people try to get under other people's skin. And most of all don't forget everything in life is not always positive.
There was a comment on here once or twice, can't remember who said it first... and I do not have express written concent to say it, so I will quote it and it goes for both Career and Volly "QTIP" . Have fun and learn something on here but dont let it ruin one minute of your day.

Being an Engine man ( and tanker dude )and my years, all the tricks of the trade for roof ops, are not at my finger tips.... One thing I learned today with the Auto Body Shop job we had, bring a shovel up on the roof with you to ventilate... We had about 15 inches of snow and slush on this flat roof, and trying to cut was not going to work until the snow was cleared out of an area to be cut... Clean a larger then needed as it makes it safer to work on asphalt instead of compacked snow...

Who cares what mottos rigs have on them. If the people riding that apparatus are proud of what it says on it, then so be it. Why get upset? I can understand if it is derogatory or otherwise inappropriate, but this isn't.
I hear people on the radio all day making announcements and dispatching calls - do I get offended? Nope. I could care less. To be a professional requires experience, education and a reassuring presence, not a paycheck.
PS - you can slap whatever VOLUNTEER logo you want on your rigs, most people don't read them anyway. Some have no idea what they're getting when they call 911. A prime example was about a year ago, we responded to A VILLAGE BOARD MEMBER'S HOUSE and she asked, "Are all these trucks ours?" Why yes, moron, they are, and two more are sitting in quarters because they weren't dispatched on this call.

Heheheh I love this site, the simplest thread can take an ugly turn. Poor guy just wanted to post about a rig with a different saying he thought was unique is all...and you get a post like this. Oh well. We get it your anti Volunteer, dont try so hard....by the way any logo or saying on your carrer rig...like "No Fear" or some other ridiculos saying. Anyway be safe all.

pro·fes·sion·al   /prəˈfɛʃənl/ Show Spelled[pruh-fesh-uh-nl] Show IPA
–adjective
1.following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder
noun
11.a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional.
What a ridiculous motto. Makes no sense according to the definition. I think Ive seen this also on Yorktown's chief car once.

#1 I agree with you, but there has to be a leash on routine. Shooting from the hip shouldn't be the norm.
#2 Yes, but there is always another "why" ready and waiting. And don't get me wrong when the norm isn't, then you think outside of the box.
#4 You can never be to careful.

BTW- just for the recored, there was a public meeting to discuss the purchase of this truck and how it would be financed at the fire house last month. It was posted on the community channel and in the paper. Nobody showed up.

Two tag system. Tag has Rockland FD on one side, your name on the other.
First tag is placed on either the apparatus you ride in on or for off duty and call members coming to second alarm+ incidents, they tag the attack engine or tower ladder. This tag shows you're on the fireground. If your on a hydrant engine, your tag is there.
Second tag is placed on a traffic cone at the point of entry to the building. This cone is placed by either the first in officer or the Safety Officer if the cone had not been placed (slight hole in the system. If you enter any door without a cone, you have a third tag which is larger, Orange and says "TAG IN" on it. It features a loop of cord and a draw-tite on one end and a metal key loop on the other. This allows it to be hung on door knobs, ladders, porch railings, etc and leaves the metal key loop to clip onto.
We've found the key to making it work, is doing it all the time. Alarms, MVA's, you name it, we need to tag the truck and place the cone if going inside. Without doing it routinely, we fail to do it when it's real! I must admit, this is one of our biggest weaknesses.
This system replaced a common one I see, which is after a fireground catastrophe, you send a member back to the station to see who's gear is one the wall, and figure they're likely OK!

BUT!!!, he can only wear it in Millwood...

Not to be the wet blanket, but it doesn't look like L4 got a very good spot to me? Looks like it's well off the incoming corner and the pics look as if the aerial wasn't able to place the FFer's where they needed to be to effect any real vent? Maybe there's some time missing in the pics where the aerial went closer to the ridge and the vent is part of what's burning in later shots?I'm not saying it wasn't a good job, and the ground laddering is a refreshing sight, but I'm skeptical on the aerial. No good deed goes unpunished. Sorry, I'm an ordained minister in the Church of the Painful Truth.

First..if they are requiring it...its about time. I've been doing them for nearly 10 years now on all chest pain patients and anyone with an abnormal heart rythms.
Chris:
What the difference is per agency depends on what monitor the unit carries. Most of what I've seen all agencies have switched to monitors that have 12 lead capability. With the LifePak 12 being from what I have seen the most popular in this area. With that said, basically things for the most part stay the same with the LP-12 having 4 connectors (limb leads) for the electrodes which allows you to get the most views with just those 4 connected. What 3 you want to view on the screen is up to the agency's policy or user preference, I most often keep my intial 3 as leads II, III and aVf which is just fancy for what "views" of the electrical activity of an area of the heart. With a 12 lead I have another adjunct which has 6 additional cables or "leads" which I then put on the patient in the same form as you would getting a 12 lead EKG at a doctors office or ER and that device connects to the same section the limb leads combine into 1 cable. A push of a button and my LP 12 goes through its 12 lead process and prints out the results. It also gives some recommendations for what it has read, but these should only be used as a guide to the provider as a good paramedic knows what to look for and how to read them. It doesn't take all that much more additional time if the medic is good at managing their scene time, assessment and care and gives a good initial view of what the underlying rhythm was prior to the admin of medications which can cause changes prior to arriving at the ED. 12 leads are the standard of care in most systems in the U.S. Well proactive ones anyway.
If this isn't clear enough, hook up with me next time we're teaching together and we'll discuss it more.

The driveway is long, windy and uphill. Luckily E118 had their chains on, because even though the driveway was plowed to fit a car, the width of the apparatus was larger, so the tires were digging in the snow to climb the hill. E118 stopped about 700' up the driveway and stretched their lines (rougly 200 - 300' each) to the fire building. One line went on to the roof of the large garage to hit the 2nd floor, the other to the front door. The fire appeared to have started on the first floor and went up the stairwell to the second floor. The first floor had holes just inside the front door, the stairs were almost gone, the second floor was fully involved and the roof was gone on my arrival. To add to it, there was a BBQ grill on the garage roof, which was used like a patio area, and one of the tanks let go on my arrival, thus why I said the fire was gas fed. It wasn't until we knocked down the bulk of the fire that I realized what it actually was.
All of the hydrants in the area were buried in snow, which had to be dug out. To add to things, the pressure was so low (the tanks are below this location and it's the end of the system) that we couldn't rely on our 5" LDH so 3" had to be used. I called for our "Tanker Task Force" to bring more water, which greatly assisted us by way of nursing. The first two lines made a big impact using just tank water, and the established water supplies aided in the overall extinguishment of this fire. While the water supply was being worked on, tank water from the Engines was used. We used between 50 - 75 gallons of foam to ensure all was extinguished as well at the end. Even though we had over 40 members on scene, plus another 30 or so from Mutual Aid, we were behind on this fire before we even got called. We heard from people that this fire was visible on the Tappan Zee Bridge, and many Mutual Aid units (and our own) saw it from miles away because of where it was located. I saw it from a distance and gave the "10-75."
Unfortunately, the family dog perished.
Units on scene:
Croton FD: 2082, E118, E119, E120, TL44, T10 (R18 OOS)
Ossining FD: 2332, 2334, E98, U51 FAST
Buchanan FD: 2551, 2553, U12 CASCADE
Millwood FD: 2252, T15
Yorktown FD: T14
Continental Village FD: 2131, 2133, T11
Croton EMS: 5513, 55B2
Cortlandt VAC: 88B3
Ossining EMS: 36M1, 7405
Pleasantville VAC: Rehab Unit
WCDES: Battalion 10, EMS 11, C&O Zone 4
Relocated to Croton Station 3: Montrose E123, Briarcliff TL40
And yeah, I said "Castle looking structure." I wasn't sure how else to describe it...
I tried attaching a Bing image, but I'm having no luck...

OK, if the " CHP " is in command of all Highway incidents, then so be it.... FD, EMS, need to meet with the CHPD, after the call with the top brass and iron out just what each divisions needs and wants in place prior to performing on a highway....
The Battalion Chief should have the right to say, in order to have my men operate at this type of scene, we require " X " lanes shut down, so that we are safe. They can go back and forth and come to sone agreeable solution...
There is always another side to each disagreement, and the CHP has to keep traffic moving, as the FD needs to realize what happens when it is not flowing...
My hat is bigger then yours !!

Thanks Capt. - being my first time on roof venting, Mark and I did our best... I will say, with the 16 inches of snow, plus the maybe ..... 6 inches of slush and water, finding the roof was tough. I was really afraid of a collapse with the snow load and a fire weakening the structural members... The sight of smoke coming up behind the base flashings and under the copper counter flashing was wild, never thought I would see that...
Nor did I think I would see a 12x14 walk in wood shed up there ( with a gas grill, snow blower and other odds and ends ) 3 plastic garbage cans loaded with ice and water, over growth of bushes coming onto the roof, by.... 4 foot, plus spare propane bottles...
Building departments needs to look into this type of storage, I am sure the building was not designed to carry those loads up there......

Chris,
We got hit pretty hard here and during the height of the storm there were very few plows on the road. We have two vehicles outfitted with plows that were busy responding to alarms so apparatus and ambulances could get to the incident locations.
From the onset of the storm to now we have recieved approx. 75-80 alarms. Also, we were extremely busy getting the elderly and invalids to shelter. We sustained heavy tree damage and most of the town was out of power and still is.
Our Town E.O.C. was open however it was basically a center for fire department operations and we did have communications with the PD.
We recieved a request from the Dutchess EOC for the snowmobile to transport water and blankets to stranded motorists and check the welfare of the occupants, also to transport them to a shelter. We responded within 15 minutes to the request along other neighboring departments.
There was no Unified Command to my knowledge with the exception of the communications between the fire departments. The Thruway Authority and NYS Police requested our assistance and were the authority over the incident. We did have contact with some units on scene but no command structure to my knowledge.
By the time we received the request the Thruway Authority had already started to redirect motorists through turn arounds to the eastbound side and off the highway. We were prepared to transport stranded motorists to a warming center at our HQ's until shelter was established. Most refused to leave their vehicles and the Troopers were not forcing the issue.
The storm severly taxed our resources and the resources of our area. We had members in stations from Thursday afternoon until Saturday evening when we sent as many as we could home and returned to stations Sunday morning.
Given the scope of the storm and the damage it caused I do believe we did as much as we possibly could and if there was a true medical emergency we would have made every attempt to get access to the patient. Just an example we had to remove one resident in a rowboat with a few guys acting as reindeer because nothing could get to where he was located. I am thankful for the dedication of our department members and their willingness to rise above the obstacles they face.
If you have further questions feel free to PM me
Scott Post