nydude2473

It is a pathetic shame that these members have to operate using old and damaged equipment. The United States gives billions away to foreign countries many like Iran who have no use for us yet fire departments have to beg or compete for grants to get funding. And the same goes for EMS many VAC's operate with old equipment. I

I think it's great that they have those rigs at the ready, hopefully they are going to be placed at the specific EMS stations that have the Rescue Medics. Yes, the rigs are a bit overwhelming, but with some of the incidents happening these days and the amount of time "on station" with these calls, I don't see what's wrong with packing a little more than a little less. 

I agree with the rescue medics 100% but just not the way they are utilized. I believe there are 2 in the area where I work, I run in with one all the time so it's a busy unit. If both of those units are tied up, the next rescue unit is coming from out of borough. I think they should be used just like a rescue unit, major incidents. Send them to every 10-75, you be amazed at how may man undes there are throughout the city. Plus your pin jobs, water incidents and any other major event. 

NYPD now has a 2 year waiting list.  10 years ago you got in, in 2 months.  About 16 years ago Mayor Guiliani had the state change the law on NYPD lateral transfers.  Used to be if you were NYPD and wanted to work out east or north simply go to that department and submit your resume no need to take the towns and villages test.  Now of course you do.  NYPD was losing so many cops to the suburbs they had to do something so they did.  And now recently NYPD pushed the state to pass the law getting reimbursement from towns taking cops with 5years or less.  So to answer your question of better shot? not really.  Getting a job in the towns and villages is like getting the golden ticket in wildly Wonka. 

And again today Yonkers FD Battalions are running around like crazy to legit jobs....Battalion 3 had to be placed into service.  Yonkers also had to use an Engine Company (312) as Safety at a fire scene because Battalion 1 was on another job and couldn't free up. A Safety or Battalion 3 could have solved this and kept an Engine in service.

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to photograph the fleet of the Shepherdstown, West Virginia FD. A very special thanks to Chief Morgan and his firefighters for their assistance in getting these shots.

Shepherdstown, WV is located in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, located on the Potomac River about 1 hour outside of Washington, DC. It borders Maryland.

The Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department is the oldest in the state, founded in the 1700's, along with Shepherdstown. Their first due consists of a dense downtown main street, and dense area of houses built in the 1700's and 1800's. The district also includes a major university, hundreds of acres of Revolutionary War battlefields, and agricultural properties. They also provide EMS.

They raise all their own money for capital expenditures, such as apparatus purchases, via community fundraising, such as bingo, game dinners, and their famous apple butter.

They are a very proud, and progressive department. They are an all-volunteer department, with 7 live in members. The only career person is the Paramedic provided by the County to them.

THE FIRE DISTRICT MAP/COVERAGE AREA: http://www.jeffersoncountywv.org/home/showdocument?id=43

Their website is: http://www.shepherdstownfiredepartment.com/index.html

Engine 3 is a 2013 Pierce Velocity 2000/750

Rescue Engine 3 is a 2007 Pierce Dash 2000GPM/850 Gal/30 Foam

Truck 3 is a 1997 Pierce Arrow 75' 1500/500

Tanker 3 is a 2000 Mack RD/Semo 2000/3100

Brush 3 is a 2003 Ford F-450 4x4 200/150

EMS-3 is a 2005 Dodge Durango equipped for ALS response

Ambulance 3 is a 2007 Ford F-450 4x4/Medtec, which is being replaced in March 2016 with a Dodge/PL Custom

Ambulance 3-1 is a 2007 Ford F-450 4x4/PL Custom, which is being replaced in March 2016 with a Dodge/PL Custom

Duty 3 is a 1995 Chevrolet Suburban assigned to the Duty Officer as a take home vehicle when on duty

Here are some of the photos I got, hope you enjoy.

Unbelievable.
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/investigations/2016/02/14/convicted-firefighter-pension/80079816/

It has not been posted yet. They will be giving a test in 2016. It will probably be posted some time after March. 

For those that don't know. I have some sort of flu that's more or less made moving my muscles and joints immensely painful, and I've been battling that for the last week, and just yesterday started battling an 102 degree fevers. However, the one thing I hade couldn't get out of  scheduled for months was to get this website upgraded, and I was mucking my way through it via several naps.
 
So, I'm just was laying down, about to fall asleep, when, one of my best buffy friends called me. He said the truck was done, and looked awesome. I couldn't just sit here and wait any longer, I've been waiting for this truck to come out of the Greenburgh Central Garage Heavy Duty Body Shop. Everything mechanical, body, electrical including radios, etc has been done via the Town Garage. And they did a fantastic job on this pierce that will bring Greenburgh SOD to new levels. So, being this is literally 2 blocks from my house, I bundled up, walked like a stick amn, and even vomited a couple of times so I can get this shot for EMTBravo
 
Greenburgh PD has acquired this from NYPD surplus, it's a 2003 Mack MR/Saulsbury Ex-Truck 5. It will replace their current 1988 International/Hackney that was converted from it's previous life as a Poland Springs delivery truck for the Technical Rescue team, and/or be used to carry SWAT equipment.
 
Best wishes to all the officers in Greenburgh SOD who's lives will be made easier by this truck.
 
This truck is a prime example of what municipal cooperation can do, Special Thanks to msm232, Bob Errico , and the body shop guys for the shotperation can do, Special Thanks to msm232, Bob Errico , and the body shop guys for the shot
 
 

What's demo day all about? I've heard about it and have seen pictures...I'm very interested in what goes on at the event.

Members,
It's time to kick EMTBravo up a notch.
For the past few months, I've been working on the backend of the site to prepare it for the next generation of software. At first, I hated the new software, because the current software is something I was used to, it worked, and I don't like change. But the more I learned about it, the more I liked it. It will provide a better and easier experience for me running the site, and more importantly, it will provide a better user experience for members using the site (including mobile device options). It will also allow us to add some new features in the future that will help bring EMTBravo.com to the next level.
We've been using this software, which is highly customized for EMTBravo, for over 12 years now, and have upgraded to every version. This makes it difficult, because with every new version we upgrade to, the customizations have to be upgraded as well, which I spend hours coding myself or have to contract out for. Also to note, EMTBravo is hosted on it's own dedicated server.
What this means for you:
-EMTBravo may be offline for a few hours tomorrow afternoon (Thursday) into early Friday morning while the transition is made. I will work as fast as I can to minimize this downtime.
-When EMTBravo is back online, some features may be temporarily unavailable, and there may be some "bugs". We will keep an open line of communication with members to ensure all bugs are worked out and members can get assistance in using the new site.
-It will look very similar to the site now, and the learning curve should be minimal. You will, however, have tons of options to customize how you use and view the site.
-The new EMTBravo site will be "Responsive", which means you can use the site via computer, tablet, mobile device, and smart TV and it will look and function the same on all devices. For example, you will be able to use the site on your mobile device just as you would on your PC, including posting.
-Ultimately, a better EMTBravo.com
We will provide updates on this process as needed. Please check our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/emtbravo for updates while we are offline.
Thank you for your patience during this upgrade.
Seth Granville AKA "x635" AKA "EMTBravo"
Founder And Administrator, EMTBravo.com
Email: seth@EMTBravo.com

With our SAFER grant, we routinely had four and sometimes five guys on our rigs. The difference was pretty dramatic. We went from one guy stretching the first line to two or three. Our current minimum is three on a rig. Trying to get better manning is something they were trying to achieve long before I got here.
We cover 3 square miles and a population of 30,000+. More than half of the population is below the poverty line. Median income is around $23,000. Out of 7,000 buildings, 980 are vacant.
We routinely apply for and utilize grant money for everything we can.

The City of Newburgh Firefighters are to be commended for their dedication to their jobs as firefighters. Those firefighters must deal with the cards that are dealt them. Of course every firefighter of that city would want more manning. I am sure they all fully understand how manning can have a very serious effect on both the civilians lives they are to protect as well as their own safety. Excluding any property damage. It is the first few minutes in any fire that have the most effect on it's outcome.
I Salute the City of Newburgh Firefighters for the job they do.
Thank you for your dedicated service to the citizens of Newburgh.
Just today is an article that was posted in the NY Daily News on how important the addition of the FIFTH Firefighter to several Engine Cos is. It points out that now this will enable them to get that water on the fire TWICE as fast as before. I realize that Newburgh is not about to put a fifth firefighter on their engine companies. But it does point out how manning plays such an important part when fighting a fire. Here is that article.
www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-fdny-companies-add-firefighter-article-1.2526155

Yonkers FD has 4 more Ferrara Ultra Pumpers on order (thru Neville Fire Apparatus), to replace 4 of the aging ALF Pumpers currently in service (not exactly sure, but most likely Engines 308, 306, 312, and 310), along with 1 additional Ferrara Inferno 85' Mid Mount Tower Ladder (to replace the current 2008 ALF Mid-Mount Tower Ladder 75) and 1 New Ferrara Inferno 100' Rear Mount Ladder Truck (to replace the current 2007 HME/Smeal 100' Rearmount Ladder 74)

http://m.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-fdny-companies-add-firefighter-article-1.2526155

Compare what the response to this fire is Newburgh WAS to what it would be in New York City.
Or in westchester. Or in your town.
My town would have about as many members on the working fire as they do on the second alarm. Why is that? Why is minimal staffing ok? Newburgh is a union department. Why don't the members push for more resources to be called in.
We know how many people it takes to fight a fire effectively. Why in any jurisdiction to we allow this level of response to continue?

Is this seriously an article about a car fire ?

From "The Secret List" by Billy G www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

Maybe instead of waving NFPA 1710 and 1720 in front of the mayor and the council, maybe we should get them to watch something like this. Tell them "this could be their house". Tell them mutual aid may take awhile and see if they think it might be a little more important to have more manning arriving quickly.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=piofZLySsNc

The options are endless on how to solve this problem that not only Rye is having, but also other departments in the county, as was stated before. However, my feeling is that even though we want to retain membership and boost the rolls for career guys, it all starts with these administrations that are in control of these municipalities. It all starts at city hall and without some kind of grassroots effort across the board, none of this is ever going to change. Also, this culture has to change among politicians and emergency services, where they think that first responders are expendable and that they don't need the resources or staffing and that they need to suck it up. This is how people get killed and how lawsuits are formed. If more time was spent worrying about safety and security and infrastructure and not making "Main Street" look better with more trees and latte shops, things would be in much better shape, but then we would be living in a utopia and that ain't going to happen any time soon.

The options are endless on how to solve this problem that not only Rye is having, but also other departments in the county, as was stated before. However, my feeling is that even though we want to retain membership and boost the rolls for career guys, it all starts with these administrations that are in control of these municipalities. It all starts at city hall and without some kind of grassroots effort across the board, none of this is ever going to change. Also, this culture has to change among politicians and emergency services, where they think that first responders are expendable and that they don't need the resources or staffing and that they need to suck it up. This is how people get killed and how lawsuits are formed. If more time was spent worrying about safety and security and infrastructure and not making "Main Street" look better with more trees and latte shops, things would be in much better shape, but then we would be living in a utopia and that ain't going to happen any time soon.

Thanks Lt. for the numbers. I wish more members here would have the knowledge in hand before they go off. Clearly there is a staffing issue not just in Rye but throughout the County and the State. I see it in my own department as well. Part of the "problem" is the dependency on Mutual Aid meaning many local governments have come to use it to bail out their own understaffed departments as if other cities, towns and villages resources are theirs to use at will to supplement their shortcomings. In my district we utilize it frequently and it works. Most towns here are "working class" and most departments are all-volunteer though several have career staff as well and they respond to requests for mutual aid whenever called. Many say consolidation into all-career departments is the only and inevitable answer. I am on the fence and see that position as viable but not inevitable. Perhaps Rye needs more career staff BUT perhaps they need to step up their recruitment and retention efforts on the volunteer side as well. Hopefully it won't take a tragedy before both sides of the issue are explored. I'll strap my helmet on and hunker down now. Be safe everyone.

First, I appreciate you taking the time to provide the numbers.
Second, my intention was not to offend any body. My point was that you cannot guarantee a large number of volunteers for every call (trust me, I'm a volunteer, too, and I speak from experience) to supplement a small paid staff. And, since volunteers have to work other jobs to earn livable wages, you can't guarantee that enough of them will be around for every call. This is where having an aggressive recruitment AND retention program works. Get them in and keep them in.
Third, if you think I'm belittling the paid staff in your fire house...I'm not. You assumed that I meant that the paid staff IS paid drivers rather than what I ACTUALLY meant: They get the apparatus to the scene. At no point did I ever mention that they just sit at the pump, sit on the turntable, or just hang out in the driver seat. I know that plenty of departments with small staffs utilize their drivers for on-scene operations (some supplemented by volunteers, some without). It's just the way it is around southern Westchester...hell, even around the country!

That's absolutely scary! So they have 3 career guys and rely on the Volunteers who are barely existent, as it sounds from reading these posts. That sounds like the right equation for a bad event to happen. I know these cities, towns, and villages hate giving money to emergency services but this is absolutely ridiculous. Why does it always have to be till someone gets severely hurt or killed for someone to do anything.