learndabasics

Thank you to Brothers from White Plains L-33 for their assistance this AM in Hempstead.

Stay Safe.

To the Brothers from Depts with funny names to the North ----------- all of us from Nassau want to extend a simple but heart felt

THANK YOU!

It definitely was interesting to hear Yonkers L-78 & the Battalion covering Hempstead while we were operating at fire the other morning.

Please Stay Safe.

As I approach my 24 yr anniversary with FDMV I honestly feel that manning will be the same issue well after I retire, fire Chiefs/union leaders in the past and present know that we are well understaffed. Politics as usual here. Does the dept reduce the apparatus from 4 engines,3 trucks, Res 1(in and out of service) down to 2 engines,1 truck and man the rigs with 3 or 4 firefighters and an officer to properly man the rigs? Last year I was individually assigned to eng 4 on the west side and many times we ran with 3 firefighters and an officer. What a difference 1 additional member made on that rig. Because of staffing during peak vacation time it was reduced to a 2 man eng co. and it was the same old story. Great department with politicians ruling the helm!

Congrats on your 24 years of service.

Not too familiar with Mt Vernon FD.

Engines & Trucks staffed with 2 FF's - is the Chauffeur included in the 2? Meaning you actually only have 1 FF to perform all the duties required of an assigned Eng or Truck Co? If this is the case I can only hope the Mt Vernon brothers adjust their tactics to ensure they remain safe and get home to their families at the end of their shift because it's obvious the Politicians could care less about you and your loved ones.

Please Stay Safe.

This fire was aggressively fought by volunteer members of Hempstead along with surrounding volunteer departments. The Garden City paid members did not respond as alluded to earlier. The ages of FF’s operating interior, roof and performing VES probably ranged from their 20’s to 50’s all with varied experience levels with the more experienced members providing guidance and leadership on the fire floors. The younger members have been trained to FF-1 level and beyond via the Nassau County Fire Academy. Hempstead also has its own internal fire training school for probationary members and is run by highly qualified and experienced FF’s. Hempstead’s Co’s do drill on Engine & Truck operations in these types of occupancies as do some of its neighboring depts. The drills cover tactics & operations ranging from water supply, hose stretching, standpipe ops, forcible entry, VES, ventilation, laddering, roof ops, life saving-roof rope operations, etc. Fires in occupied multiple dwellings are not an uncommon occurrence in Hempstead. The Village of Hempstead probably most closely resembles the City of Mt Vernon with regard to structural types, ethnic diversity, economic diversity and population density. Hempstead does not have any formal recruiting program with Hofstra University. The career backgrounds of the membership run the gamut from private, public and emergency services employment.

The first post of this thread stated that LCS/Master Stream appliances were used at this fire which is untrue. The fire was fought completely with interior handlines supplied from standpipe outlets.

The operations went fairly well at this job, however there is always the need and room for personal & operational improvement via drilling/training. Only a fool would walk away from this job or any other for that matter without critiquing themselves, their company, department and looking for ways to improve.

Hempstead FD is probably not that much different from many of yours.

Stay Safe.