nydude2473

Brotherhood without borders.
 
Photo: Contributed to FireRescue1
 

 

You got to remember that the County Police have many different functions. Not every guy assigned to the Marine Unit is strictly on the Marine Unit. He might be out patrolling the Hutch or out in Cortlandt Manor. Yes, with all the equipment and funding they get you wonder what their actual capabilities are. But, they are out there doing what they can at this time. Nothing wrong with that at all. Also, there is nothing wrong with contacting another agency that has specific units doing this 24/7. The NYPD SCUBA, Harbor, and Aviation Units are doing these tasks around the clock, whether it be in training or on actual calls. They also have the equipment available to them that some agencies don't. Guys assigned to those units are specifically assigned. So, it's not like they are pulling a guy out of the 44 or from Midtown South to come get on a boat or chopper. Not to mention, it builds many different connections for different municipalities, and when you're in need, it really makes the difference having those connections. And like Morningjoe mentioned, the only really capable unit that I know of that can perform these tasks in the County effectively is Yorktown Heights FD Water Rescue Unit. They were out there that morning capable of getting guys in the water and doing a side sonar scan.  And honestly, nothing wrong at all with a volunteer agency taking that initiative to be a great unit like that. I give them a lot of credit for what they got going on up there. But, you also got to remember the basics and what is behind all of this. You need commercial divers and salvage teams to get that tug out. That's not a task that a law enforcement or fire-rescue agency would conduct. Also, the initial minutes were crucial and the Tarrytown Fire Department did a great job getting out there as fast as they did and performing at the level that they did. Technology aside, it goes back to training and having the equipment available to enact a rescue effort, and those things were present that day by the first responding agencies.  

You got to remember that the County Police have many different functions. Not every guy assigned to the Marine Unit is strictly on the Marine Unit. He might be out patrolling the Hutch or out in Cortlandt Manor. Yes, with all the equipment and funding they get you wonder what their actual capabilities are. But, they are out there doing what they can at this time. Nothing wrong with that at all. Also, there is nothing wrong with contacting another agency that has specific units doing this 24/7. The NYPD SCUBA, Harbor, and Aviation Units are doing these tasks around the clock, whether it be in training or on actual calls. They also have the equipment available to them that some agencies don't. Guys assigned to those units are specifically assigned. So, it's not like they are pulling a guy out of the 44 or from Midtown South to come get on a boat or chopper. Not to mention, it builds many different connections for different municipalities, and when you're in need, it really makes the difference having those connections. And like Morningjoe mentioned, the only really capable unit that I know of that can perform these tasks in the County effectively is Yorktown Heights FD Water Rescue Unit. They were out there that morning capable of getting guys in the water and doing a side sonar scan.  And honestly, nothing wrong at all with a volunteer agency taking that initiative to be a great unit like that. I give them a lot of credit for what they got going on up there. But, you also got to remember the basics and what is behind all of this. You need commercial divers and salvage teams to get that tug out. That's not a task that a law enforcement or fire-rescue agency would conduct. Also, the initial minutes were crucial and the Tarrytown Fire Department did a great job getting out there as fast as they did and performing at the level that they did. Technology aside, it goes back to training and having the equipment available to enact a rescue effort, and those things were present that day by the first responding agencies.  

You got to remember that the County Police have many different functions. Not every guy assigned to the Marine Unit is strictly on the Marine Unit. He might be out patrolling the Hutch or out in Cortlandt Manor. Yes, with all the equipment and funding they get you wonder what their actual capabilities are. But, they are out there doing what they can at this time. Nothing wrong with that at all. Also, there is nothing wrong with contacting another agency that has specific units doing this 24/7. The NYPD SCUBA, Harbor, and Aviation Units are doing these tasks around the clock, whether it be in training or on actual calls. They also have the equipment available to them that some agencies don't. Guys assigned to those units are specifically assigned. So, it's not like they are pulling a guy out of the 44 or from Midtown South to come get on a boat or chopper. Not to mention, it builds many different connections for different municipalities, and when you're in need, it really makes the difference having those connections. And like Morningjoe mentioned, the only really capable unit that I know of that can perform these tasks in the County effectively is Yorktown Heights FD Water Rescue Unit. They were out there that morning capable of getting guys in the water and doing a side sonar scan.  And honestly, nothing wrong at all with a volunteer agency taking that initiative to be a great unit like that. I give them a lot of credit for what they got going on up there. But, you also got to remember the basics and what is behind all of this. You need commercial divers and salvage teams to get that tug out. That's not a task that a law enforcement or fire-rescue agency would conduct. Also, the initial minutes were crucial and the Tarrytown Fire Department did a great job getting out there as fast as they did and performing at the level that they did. Technology aside, it goes back to training and having the equipment available to enact a rescue effort, and those things were present that day by the first responding agencies.  

You got to remember that the County Police have many different functions. Not every guy assigned to the Marine Unit is strictly on the Marine Unit. He might be out patrolling the Hutch or out in Cortlandt Manor. Yes, with all the equipment and funding they get you wonder what their actual capabilities are. But, they are out there doing what they can at this time. Nothing wrong with that at all. Also, there is nothing wrong with contacting another agency that has specific units doing this 24/7. The NYPD SCUBA, Harbor, and Aviation Units are doing these tasks around the clock, whether it be in training or on actual calls. They also have the equipment available to them that some agencies don't. Guys assigned to those units are specifically assigned. So, it's not like they are pulling a guy out of the 44 or from Midtown South to come get on a boat or chopper. Not to mention, it builds many different connections for different municipalities, and when you're in need, it really makes the difference having those connections. And like Morningjoe mentioned, the only really capable unit that I know of that can perform these tasks in the County effectively is Yorktown Heights FD Water Rescue Unit. They were out there that morning capable of getting guys in the water and doing a side sonar scan.  And honestly, nothing wrong at all with a volunteer agency taking that initiative to be a great unit like that. I give them a lot of credit for what they got going on up there. But, you also got to remember the basics and what is behind all of this. You need commercial divers and salvage teams to get that tug out. That's not a task that a law enforcement or fire-rescue agency would conduct. Also, the initial minutes were crucial and the Tarrytown Fire Department did a great job getting out there as fast as they did and performing at the level that they did. Technology aside, it goes back to training and having the equipment available to enact a rescue effort, and those things were present that day by the first responding agencies.  

You got to remember that the County Police have many different functions. Not every guy assigned to the Marine Unit is strictly on the Marine Unit. He might be out patrolling the Hutch or out in Cortlandt Manor. Yes, with all the equipment and funding they get you wonder what their actual capabilities are. But, they are out there doing what they can at this time. Nothing wrong with that at all. Also, there is nothing wrong with contacting another agency that has specific units doing this 24/7. The NYPD SCUBA, Harbor, and Aviation Units are doing these tasks around the clock, whether it be in training or on actual calls. They also have the equipment available to them that some agencies don't. Guys assigned to those units are specifically assigned. So, it's not like they are pulling a guy out of the 44 or from Midtown South to come get on a boat or chopper. Not to mention, it builds many different connections for different municipalities, and when you're in need, it really makes the difference having those connections. And like Morningjoe mentioned, the only really capable unit that I know of that can perform these tasks in the County effectively is Yorktown Heights FD Water Rescue Unit. They were out there that morning capable of getting guys in the water and doing a side sonar scan.  And honestly, nothing wrong at all with a volunteer agency taking that initiative to be a great unit like that. I give them a lot of credit for what they got going on up there. But, you also got to remember the basics and what is behind all of this. You need commercial divers and salvage teams to get that tug out. That's not a task that a law enforcement or fire-rescue agency would conduct. Also, the initial minutes were crucial and the Tarrytown Fire Department did a great job getting out there as fast as they did and performing at the level that they did. Technology aside, it goes back to training and having the equipment available to enact a rescue effort, and those things were present that day by the first responding agencies.  

Wow! How will the officers be selected? Will they attend NYPD or Yonkers Motorcycle school? Sounds awesome, but will they really be used to patrol or respond much at all?

Yorktown FD, which was called and utilized with their water rescue team, used their side scan sonar to try and locate the tug
 
https://www.facebook.com/yorktownfire/ can't link the story, but it's their 2nd post down

My father was a LT in the FDNY and worked on this boat for years. He loved his time working with guys at marine 1. He passed away from illness he got while working at the trade center site. I think he would be happy about the fate of this boat! 

No, the Field Comm was not on scene for the Tug Accident. However, the WCPD Mobile Command was on scene eventually. 

The problems they found seem to fit every department in Westchester.

 
 
You seem bitter. 

CFR is practical in many situations, such as for police officers & firefighters. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't FDNY have CFRs on the apparatus that run to medical calls? 

I still believe that RIT should be part of FF1. Few if any departments have the luxury of a dedicated RIT that is always available. Everyone needs to be able to be basically competent at Firefighter Safety & Firefighter Removal. 
 
A few years ago when I left the Fire Service, the CT state fire academy was offering a 2 day Basic & a 2 day advanced RIT course, as well as a 1 day Mayday / Self rescue class. I took all of three and they were great classes. While you could put those together into a 40 hour class, I think that is probably not going to fly as part of a recruit class. However if you did maybe 8 on RIT, 8 on Self Rescue, and then incorporated those into other evolutions as you trained, then I think we could get everyone on the same page.
 
Existing members need to be refreshed on these skills and that includes Chief's. Yes the chances of a Chief being on a RIT are rare except in the smallest of departments, but how many places in our area will roll a mutual aid FAST with a chief officers as wither the driver or officer? Look at the IA's on this site, almost everyone sends a car as part of the RIT/FAST assignment. That tells me there is a need for that officer to have a clear understanding of what will be involved, how long it will take and what other resources may be needed just to remove one firefighter. Reminding a chief of his roots is never a bad thing.

I think this is a good idea, for no other reason that a chief officer needs to be aware of this type of situation in order to effectively manage this type of incident. Granted LAFD is large enough, that the chief of department will probably not be the IC at all but the most major of incidents, but it is good to have an understanding of Mayday / RIT issues that comes from somewhere other than a textbook or a classroom.
 
I know chief's that were chiefs already when RIT became a regular thing. They have never done any training like this in a live setting. These are also the chiefs that most often reassign "those guys just standing around" to other duties. I have to think it is because they lack the basic concept. It seems like LAFD is taking a step in the right direction to accomplish this.

 
While I agree with you on this, there's no better leader than the one that gets out there and does the same training as everyone else.  Yes, the chief needs to worry about those meetings, the safety issues, the rig maintenance, etc.  But, every once in a while, a great leader needs to get out there and show that he/she still has the skills and can still do the job.  This is partly because the chief still needs to know how to do the ob, especially in a day and age where science is proving different fireground conditions, equipment is becoming more integrated and innovative, and just to keep the skills up in general.  A great leader needs to be just as reliable on the fireground as followers.

The other thing that is great about this is the chief is showing that he hasn't left the workers in the dust.  He hasn't forgotten about them and the work that they do.  A lot of career chiefs just settle into their offices and never go back into the line of duty.  But, if you go out there and show the front line personnel that you can still do the job, you earn their respect 1,000 times over.  The firefighters know that you can still do what they do, and that you haven't become just a political desk jockey.
 
The fire service needs leaders, not bosses with bright white coats and helmets.  Lead by example, lead with courage!

According to the state DOH website CFR classes are 48-60 hours, EMT is 150-190. I'd say "waste of time" is pretty subjective. It really depends on what this person intends to do with it. 

 
As well run an operation as Empress Ambulance is and has been, it would a make perfect sense to have NRFD bring back Ambulance Service/EMS Support within the fold of the New Rochelle Fire Department. As was mentioned before, Ambulances covering the City of New Rochelle have been quartered in Station 1 and Station 3 for decades. Look at the possibility of by having EMS directly under the NRFD, could allow NRFD EMS/Ambulance Personnel, to be able to utilize NRFD Rescue 4, when needed, without having to take Ladder 11 out of service.
 
My hope, as well, was that cities like New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, White Plains and even, yes, the City of Yonkers, to eventually bring EMS Services into the cities Fire Department Fold. Word is that the New Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon was looking at the possibility of running EMS Services thru the FDMV. Now with open discussions about NRFD taking on EMS Services, and who knows what Commissioner David Chong might be thinking on the same front, well who knows what the possibilities are.
 
Maybe Barry can add his thoughts and comments to this subject

I am guessing but for ANY fire service to take on the ambulance service for a city involves a lot of behind the scene work.
 
This new duty would also have to be negotiated with the city and firefighters bargaining unit as it is a change in working conditions. Would additional firefighter/emts have to be hired ? Do the current firehouses have the room to house these ambulances ? How many go into service on a shift and who covers the city if those ambulances are tied up on calls ?
 
The fire service is the perfect place to run an ambulance service. The firehouse is manned 24 hours a day, the members are trained to deal with emergency situations, and fire stations are placed throughout the city.  Can it be done ? Of course it can. But not just overnight.

I have said this about firefighter training also. While the hours have increased, which is generally positive, there has been little done to creatively fit the classes to a busy Volunteer's schedule. When I took my first EMT class 21 years ago (feels old to type that) the class was two nights a week with a few Saturdays. My FF1 & FF2 had similar schedules. More often than not they are planned around the departments regular drill night.
 
Now I have taken classes that were on Sunday mornings and provided food in the cost of the class. I have been in classes that were held once a week, which obviously takes longer to complete, but those have been the exception not the rule. If a topic can be done with a single instructor, could the class be taught multiple times with different students coming together for practicals and tests? I don't know the answer but decreasing the hours is probably not it.
 
The last things I will say is that we have to stop talking publicly about how big a burden it is before we talk internally about a solution. I can't prove it but have long felt that inadvertently we are psyching out potential new members by telling them how impossible it is before they even ask.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/stranger-pays-1000-electric-bill-teen-muscular-dystrophy/story?id=37223094&nwltr=abcn_fb Follow link, click and read and share your thoughts. Difficult to put in words how generous people of our profession can be to others falling on hard times.

The Bureau of EMS was notified late Friday afternoon that the Trustee handling the TransCare EMS bankruptcy  ordered Transcare Hudson Valley to cease operations and to pull their units from service in Putnam.  The Bureau was immediately authorized by County Executive MaryEllen Odell to Implement its contingency plan. This evening we are transitioning the County ALS FlyCar system from TransCare to EMSTAR. Fortunately most of the TransCare staff have accepted positions with EMSTAR.  Due to the last minute notice we were only able to initially activate 3 EMSTAR Flycars to replace the four TransCare Units. We are hopeful we can have the fourth ALS Unit and a BLS Unit in service at some point this weekend or early next week. This has been a trying time for the TransCare staff and Bureau staff as well. We will do everything in our power to maintain an ALS system that continues to assure the health and safety of all our residents. Please be patient with us as we move forward with our new ALS provider. Thank you.  Commissioner Sutton

You  guys   see  this  story  about  the  resident  who  hides  a hydrant  behind  a fence  cause   from  the looks of it , he likes  to park one  car in  that  spot .................Then he  has a fire.......  
 
http://www.chicagofirewire.com/fire-videos/video-you-will-want-to-see-what-this-family-did-to-their-fire-hydrant-in-their-yard-indianapolis-firefighters-could-not-find-it/

Just want to hit a few things in this post. 1. I'm not too sure that NY Pres and Northwell are going to make that push to put busses up in the county for very small hospitals. These hospitals already have ambulance service from WEMS. The only time you see NY Pres or Northwell up here is if they are doing an inter-facility transfer...Like Hudson Valley to Pres in the City. I know WEMS already provides a great service to these hospitals and honestly it takes that burden off the bigger hospitals, since they don't do that many transfers with the little hospitals to begin with. But, that can always change in time. 2. It's great and all that Mayor Thomas has high hopes that one day they can have the FD provide EMS service in the Vern. However, like it was mentioned previously, no way in the world that is happening any time soon. The damn city council is fighting the mayor just to add 11 more guys. Maybe one day, but definitely not in the foreseeable future. The Vern has to really get its act together before it can even think of doing anything else besides basic firefighting. 3. Transcare had a huge role in 911 EMS in the Bronx. If I'm not mistaken, they had most of the hospital contracts. From sources I have and reading around, they were already starting to lose those hospitals to other private EMS companies such as SeniorCare and Citywide. This definitely hits hard for the Bronx, especially since they are already struggling right now with EMS calls as it is. 4. It's definitely going to be interesting to see what happens in these municipalities when it comes to an EMS provider. I know the remaining 3 big cities in the county are going to have to stick with Empress for now, but I wouldn't be surprised if eventually they turn to the FDNY style route of having their own "city" EMS. Only time will tell. Also with this, does this mean FDNY is going to hire more EMTs and Medics. I know they have been trying to make the push lately with putting more classes through and trying to attempt this new "flycar" program. But, I feel like now they have no choice but to pick up the slack that Transcare has left. They might feel like now these private EMS companies aren't as reliable and might just try to make that push for a complete FDNY EMS takeover in certain locations. Who knows, just some thoughts and comments I wanted to rattle off. Like I said before, only time will tell!

The Empress contract with White Plains in temporary for the moment as per the Director of Public Safety.