Viper

But I thought M/A was the answer? Especially when guys come back on OT of an undermanned and ill equipped Dept. to help their neighboring struggling "Brothers" out next door who have been fighting the same issue for yrs. That's all Ive ever heard from my fellow Union Brothers, "Hey we're there for you guys just give us a call." LMAO! The chickens are coming home to roost!!! Gotta love the "Union Solidarity!" It's all bullshit fellows!

So some of you know I've moved down to Virginia for a new job, and I've started volunteering with Company 27 in Prince George's County, MD. I just wanted to share an "interesting" rescue we had yesterday. Probably not a big deal to a lot of the more experienced people on here, but for me, as someone very inexperienced in technical rescue, I thought it might be worth sharing.
Engine 829 (Silver Hills), Rescue-Engine 827 (Morningside), Medic 829, Ambulance 829, Battalion Chief 883 and the Southern EMS Duty Officer were dispatched to the 3400 block of Curtis drive for a reported PIA with entrapment. E829 was first due and confirmed that a minivan had driven into a guard shack and that the security guard was pinned under the van. RE-827 arrived as the first due special service. Rescue Squad 842 was also requested as part of the County Technical Rescue Team.
Our initial plan (not being able to see the scene) was to use a Hurst spreader plate to lift the car off the guard and drag him out (this worked for the company a few months ago when a PGPD Officer was trapped under a car on the highway.) Upon arriving we realized the security guard was not completely pinned by the car, an air conditioning unit and filing cabinet had created a small void space that held the car up and protected him from being completely crushed. We also realized we had no room to use the spreaders and our plan became to turn the windows into doors on the "B" and "D" sides of the shack (assuming the van entered in side "A") and then use airbags to lift the vehicle off the patient and let the medics drag him out of the "C" side that was non-load bearing. RS442 arrived and shored the "D" side with the Rescue-42 jack system, and then ultimately it was decided to use another Rescue-42 jack to lift the car off the patient. Patient transported with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Again, for those of you more well versed in technical rescue, this is probably a pretty minor incident, but for for it was a pretty interesting experience and a good intro to how things are done in PG County. Despite all the company rivalry that's present down here, when things like this happen everyone (career, volunteer, PD, different companies, etc) all worked and communicated extremely well together. The way it should be.
Some photos from the scene:
(Note: All photos are from the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department and/or the Prince George's County Police PIO's social media pages)
View from the D-Side

View from the C-Side

View of the void space created by the A/C unit and the filing cabinet.

NBC Washington: Security Guard Rescued After Van Plows into Booth

Well, rather than taking the 'ripped apart' road, maybe it can be used for constructive criticism that may benefit all concerned at future incidents. Emphasis on the constructive.

I notice when 60 Control dispatches Squad 15, they say it extending the word, sounds like they are saying Squuuuaaaad. One of the Facebook Incident pages even types it like that when they have a job.
Is there anything behind that? Otherwise, it's kind of immature and unprofessional. I doubt 60 Control would do it intentionally, as the entire county can hear this and would wonder, like me, why it's said the way it is. And Greenville FD is very professional and I doubt they would intentionally tolerate that either.

Excellent article about a rookie firefighter in FDNY.



http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/22/nyregion/rookie-new-york-firefighter-faces-first-test.html?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=2

You forgot to mention that he is a NAVY veteran. Who rescued someone on Memorial Day. Coincidence? I think not.
Also recently received the Chesapeake VA Outstanding Citizen of the Year award.

You forgot to mention that he is a NAVY veteran. Who rescued someone on Memorial Day. Coincidence? I think not.
Also recently received the Chesapeake VA Outstanding Citizen of the Year award.

You forgot to mention that he is a NAVY veteran. Who rescued someone on Memorial Day. Coincidence? I think not.
Also recently received the Chesapeake VA Outstanding Citizen of the Year award.

You forgot to mention that he is a NAVY veteran. Who rescued someone on Memorial Day. Coincidence? I think not.
Also recently received the Chesapeake VA Outstanding Citizen of the Year award.

It's kind of ironic that Fairview has a LARGE Jewish Community Temple right down the street from Station 2, and the separate Hebrew Hospital Home campus on the other side of the district, which donated their former Rescue 3. Wonder what they think?
I also find it lame that the Chief had to read a letter to apologize while in a face-to-face apology with the Town Supervisor? Really, he couldn't have come up with something more genuine?
Let's also not forget the age-discrimination lawsuit brought against them last week.
Man Sues Fairview Over Age Discrmintation
Or the fact they want to create a new "Executive Assistant Chief" position for $135,000 a year in order to "groom" the Chiefs replacement, one of which is the son of the District's longtime secretary and companion to the late Chief Mauro.
Fairview fire commissioner sounds alarm on proposed $135G executive position

Here's an article that does a good job explaining the need from the people who think that they need a new firehouse and more firefighters to cut response times and increase manpower.
http://www.greenwich-post.com/23002/fire-station-presents-station-and-staffing-initiative/
And the reasons why the town's others oppose it:
http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Fire-staff-among-BET-s-hot-topics-5250114.php

If that is true, Hudson Valley Fire Equipment is going to be having a very nice Christmas, with all the others orders announced.

If that is true, Hudson Valley Fire Equipment is going to be having a very nice Christmas, with all the others orders announced.

E186 and E188 were both tandem axle engine with 2000 gallon booster and E188 did have a rear, manually operated dump valve retro'd after delivery. However, Tanker 16 did not replace E186 as a one for one replacement.
Engine 186 served multiple purposes but was a first due engine from Granite Springs Fire House. Amongst other things, it had a full compliment of engine company equiptment. It was no different than the other Oren's purchased in the same era (E180, E185) other than the fact it had a 2000 gal booster tank.
Tanker 16 was purchased to serve as a tanker to compliment the existing fleet. If memory serves me correctly it has a 3000 gallon tank, three dump valves capable of being operated from the cab and a 1500 gallon GPM pump. The higher capacity pump was installed so it could take the place of a pumper if needed. Other equiptment it was fitted when put in service was 2 SCBA's, indian tanks, portable pond and possiblly a portable pump. When put in service it was stationed at Lincolndale Fire House.
At the time the tanker delivered the intention was to (in time) put engines with 1000 gallon booster tanks in Granite Springs and Amawalk. About the same time E186 was remove from front line serve and E185 (with the smaller 1000 gallon booster tank) was put in Granite Springs. The reason for this was 1) the tanker as an additionally water source and 2) not long before there was a large water main installed, adding an addtional and reliable water source to the Granite Springs area.