highwaybuff

I just think we should use every opportunity and medium available to continually get the word out to the public that when they make donations to their local volunteer fire department anywhere in New York State, the monies donated VERY RARELY IF AT ALL are used for firefighting apparatus or equipment, or legitimate training expenses, but rather these monies, contributed by hardworking taxpayers who have already contributed toward fire department budgets thought taxation, these monies donated, are used for PARTIES, and trinkets.
Whenever I discuss this with people in my community, they are almost always quite shocked to learn this. What a shame...

Gee, ya saying that the "company" isn't dedicated to firefighting?! What a sad statement this is that a motivated guy has to create a "company...dedicated to firefighting" to get the job done. Who's running this show?? I can see who's ruining it!

From reading the Patch sounds like it was more than hear say as an administrative judge found fault and a member was suspended. It also sounds like one of Irvington's best is trying to do just that: go about his job safely but he is not being allowed to cuz he wont join a social club. What a shame that a guy who wants to help people is being blocked. What's wrong with this picture?

Great post! It's comforting to know that there are people in the olunteer fire service such as yourself who have their priorities right and are willing to speak up about how horribly wrong and deceitful the system can be to unknowing taxpayers who make donations, thinking they are going to legitimate fire protection assets, training, etc., and have no idea that these monies in fact go to parties, parades, and nonsense.

Nicoli's decisions have left his home community with 1 less life-saver. For those of you that don't know, he has been awarded numerous life saving awards as well as a congressional level award from Congresswoman Dr. Nan Hayworth last month. It is unfortunate that internal FD politics have resulted in his decision to no longer be a firefighter.
I don't think my own community as a whole is aware of the separation between the the company and the district functions, as mirrored in one of the comments above. I certainly did not understand this for several years after becoming a FF/EMT.
When we hold fundraising events such as a "boot drive", we get dressed in our PPE and hold out fire boots for motorists to donate money to our cause.... "OUR CAUSE?" Unless they have a personal connection to the FD, I doubt that any significant percentage of the donators understand that this $ is NOT going towards training, equipment or operational readiness. This is straight up false advertising. And I am personally sickened by it. I've told my friends and family that donated money annually to the fire dept through the companies annual fund drive, to stop.
I have witnessed repeatedly over the years, tens of thousands of dollars getting spent by my company on parades, annual dinners, installation dinners, christmas parties, etc... And simultaneously get turned down for much needed equipment and stonewalled on training funds by the fire commission. Although these are two separate entities, there seems to be something very very wrong with this. I did not join the FD to drink beer either. I did not join to go to parades.
Ask yourselves: are you going through more cans of ZEP and tubs of turtle wax than saw blades and saw fuel? Our pride should not come from how shiney and clean our trucks are, but rather how dirty and trashed our gear is from having training with it so much. I believe that if we prioritize the trophies that go in a glass case over what we actually signed up to do, we are more likely to end up in a pine box.

Nick didn't "bail out": he resigned from the "company" which is actually a social services and benevolent organization. At the time he was told by the village that he could do so. After seeking additional legal opinions, however, the village later rescinded its original opinion and he was told that he would have to rejoin the social services organization to remain an active firefighter, and that is where the dispute took off. Nick has been afforded the opportunity to rejoin the "company" but Nick has refused to do so as it against his principles and he sees the company as a source of much of the hostility directed towards him.
Nick is an outstanding firefighter and has been an incredible asset to the community. He is well known to all of the instructors in our region thanks to his dedication to training and mastering all aspects of firefighting. And yes, he is also very principled and refuses to compromise those principles. While I do not always agree with Nick, I have enormous respect for him. It is a shame that this has transpired and I hope that resolution will take place.
This law cited requiring members of a village fire department to also be members of a non-firematic social services organization calling thmselves a fire company is most unfortunate, and it is archaic. 150 years ago there were legit reasons to force firefighters be members of a company. But in this day and age where you have a municipal fire department and the company is no more than a social services entity (as is the case in Irvington, where the company has ZERO fire or emergency services role), this needs to be changed. I hope that perhaps this situation will prove to be a positive catalyst and that it will push lawmakers to reexamine obsolete and meaningless laws like this one.

I know I will get crucified for saying this - but here goes.
As a long-time member of the forums, and as someone who generally doesn't hold back my opinions, I have frequently found myself on the receiving end of what I call "over-moderation."
My recent banishment from here came on the heels of a thread I started, begging people not to hijack the thread or turn it into the all-too-common paid vs. volunteer debate. Almost immediately after starting the topic, some chose to go the route I didn't want it to go, I became irritated (some call it pissed off) and fired off. When I went back and forth with someone openly about this, I got banned (I don't know if he did or not, but that's not the point). I then sent a message to the Moderators both here and on my Facebook page with some choice phrases. I spent a few months banned from here, but as you can see, I am back (for now).
Putting aside my personal opinions of certain people running these forums, I still enjoy them for the most part and honestly feel they are an invaluable tool to all of us - provided we use them the right way. I know I've given Seth my word that I will try harder to brush certain things off and not engage in some of my previous behaviors, but I know I'll probably slip up again. I am a very, VERY opinionated person, passionate about what we do with a fairly decent amount of experience and training to support what I say. I've seen friends and family hurt or worse doing this stuff and can only hope that some of the things we talk about on public forums like these will make all of us smarter and more cognizant of the dangers we face.
Another thing to consider...
As others have said in the past, sometimes we just need to put our "big boy pants" on and develop a thicker skin for the criticisms and advice of others. Nobody is perfect, especially me, and we all make mistakes. As members of the emergency service community we're one big family - like it or not - and even though we may constantly fight about things, we still (usually) can pull together when the chips are down. We go through a lot of bad things together and a lot of good too - but we need to put certain stuff off to the side and keep the forums on track to do what they're meant to do, help us all do our jobs better and safer, and to stick with one another when we need it most.
The fire service is a great part of our country's culture and I am so very glad to be a part of it. I've made countless friends doing it, and even more so from just this forum. I know that we all think our own way of doing things is always better than the other guys, but it isn't always the case and coming to online resources like this with an open mind can (and does) help all of us.
Last thought...
In this month's Fire Engineering there's an article on fire department social media policies. I think every Chief, Commissioner and Officer should take the time to read it and understand it. I know I learned a few things reading it which will change certain feces I occasionally spew from my mouth and on to my keyboard!
Thanks for posting this George!

At a condo fire, members operating on the roof. Be sure and full screen the video as the news helicopter actually caught video of the member falling through the roof.
http://www.kgw.com/n...-151802715.html

Justice was swift and all appeals have been denied.
Hopefully the troopers/officers are ok

At approx 2220hrs on 5/14/12, NYSP and DCSO responded to a reported Burglary In Progress/Home Invasion. One of the initial arriving NYSP entered the residence, encountered one suspect with a sawed off rifle who assaulted the Trooper WITH the rifle.
Suspect became human Swiss Cheese and pronounced dead on the scene. Four other suspects caught after a manhunt, arrested, and arraigned.
Good riddance, God bless the responding officers, glad they are all ok. I am proud to work and know many of the members of those agencies that responded.
http://www.poughkeep...psieJournal.com
http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/top_stories/584299/trooper-fatally-shoots-armed-person-while-responding-to-burglary-in-progress/

Date: 5/14/12
Time: 22:20
Location: Hettinger Ln c/s Smith Rd
Frequency: Multiple
Units Operating: NYSP, Dutchess County Sheriff, Village of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County Medical Examiner, LaGrange FD
Weather Conditions: 60 Dark, Light Rain
Description Of Incident: Home Invasion
Reporters: JETPHOTO
http://www.poughkeep...psieJournal.com
http://hudsonvalley....-home-invasion/
http://www.midhudson...ot1-15May12.htm

Date: May 10, 2012
Time: 17:43
Location: Baxtertown Rd & Stonykill Rd
Frequency: 453.900, 453.925, 453.800, 453.050, 155.415, 462.125, Fishkill Police Trunk
Units Operating: Rombout 62-2, 62-12, 62-55, Mobile Life 258, 261, Fishkill 42-13, Chelsea 35-52, Fishkill Police 605, 601, NYSP 2K11, Lifenet Air 2
Weather Conditions: Cool 58, Mostly Cloudy
Description Of Incident: Initial reports of an overturned auto with multiple entrapments
Reporters: JETPHOTO
17:43 Units dispatched, Fishkill PD 605, 611 responding
17:44 Mobile Life 258 responding
17:46 Rombout 62-12, 62-55 & NYSP 2K11 responding
911 reports multiple callers reporting several different scenarios
17:48 Mobile Life 258 on the scene “3 cars 1 overturned into the woods & a pedestrian struck, multiple patients”
17:52 Rombout command request a medevac launch & 2nd ambulance to the scene, Mobile Life 261 responding
17:55 Command request village of Fishkill to Rombout St.1 to set up landing zone, Chelsea to Baxtertown Rd & Baxtertown Rd Ext. to close the road.
17:57 Mobile Life 261 on the scene, Chelsea & Fishkill dispatched, Chelsea 35-52 responding. 911 reports Air 2 will be responding, 6 minute flight time and lift off time for ETA
18:00 Fishkill 42-13 responding
18:01 Chelsea @ intersection closing the road
18:03 Fishkill @ landing zone
18:06 Mobile Life 258 en-route to landing zone
18:08 Lifenet Air 2 responding
18:11 Mobile Life 258 arriving @ landing zone
18:14 Mobile Life 261 obtained RMA’s en-route to Landing Zone to assist
18:17 Lifenet Air 2 arriving
18:29 Lifenet en-route to Westchester Medical Center, Fishkill 42:13 in service
18:44 mobile Life 258 in Service
19:05 Rombout command advises vehicles removed, Chelsea & Rombout in service.
*Edit - Removed extra lines and duplicate info

The Troopers were the first to arrive. Yes, the police often respond to emergencies in the rural parts of the state. This being a Friday afternoon, just before Christmas in a sparsely populated town with a well hidden from road/view structure the fire had a lot of headway before it was discovered. The person who discovered the fire actually drove to the volunteer firehouse to report it, found no one there and used the emergency phone to notify 911. The fire department was finally called, and almost immediately called 3 more departments under mutual aid for assistance. There is not a career fire department within sight of southern Columbia County. Troopers arrived initially and updated 911. The fire department did eventually show up with an engine, a tanker and a rescue each with a driver. With the limited manpower and some more enroute from neighboring departments with extended ETA's, the IC asked the Troopers for assistance to try to keep the fire from extending to the other portion of the house. The Troopers, 3/4 who are volunteer firefighters with chief officer experience and training obliged with permission from their supervisor. When enough fire personnel arrived, the Troopers were relieved and re-assumed their law enforcement roles.
Maybe not the best situation, but it happened, happened safely and they did do some good. Let's face it, this fire was the biggest thing going on in Columbia County at the time and the 2 speeders that got away on the Taconic during the time the Troopers were manning the hoseline will be caught next time.
As someone who takes a lot of fire pics in the Greene & Columbia areas I see the cooperation between law, fire and rescue squads all the time. You look up here at fire scenes and say "What the ....??" and I look at operations in the "Metro" areas and just scratch my head.
And Truck12345 seriously? Bill the FD for the Troopers time?? Maybe we should send bills to the NYSP every time we have to sit at a wire down on a STATE road and wait for NiMo or CH?? Maybe the next time we need the Troopers to help close a road so we can lay supply line across the street, maybe they won't be there.
I'm proud and happy that these Troopers were able to help and were not so disgruntled and screwed up that they just looked crosseyed at the Chief and said "Sorry dude. Not my job."

ok I will try one more time, the pics show 4 cops 3 on a 2 1/2 " and 1 supervising. It also looks like no one is in danger, and the operation is defensive.
1. When the pd was dispatched was it for a particular pd function per their sop's or did they just buff the call?
2. if it was to perform pd duties who is now doing those?
3. If they were not needed to do their job go back in service, or did more pd have to show up to fulfill those duties while they were on the line.
4. I keep hearing about helping the pd when / if they are being attacked of course no question, again no one is in danger here
5. A little math defensive operation with the 2.5" line. tft flowing approx 250 gals per minute plus 4 anybodys (pd, fd, dpw etc) or place a master stream into operation with the same 2.5" line and flow a min of 500 gals with a 3/8" tip and leave one member there to supervise that operation and you just freed up 3 people.
I am not bashing cops I am wondering why so many of the members on here feel it is ok to put anybody at anytime on a fire scene just because you need help. Thats what radio's are for, push the button and call for more help.
I keep reading about rural depts and lack of manpower so basically someone went thru a lot of training to become a "firefighter" and now that there is an incident anybody with 2 legs and 2 arms is put to work. Something doesnt seem right in that situation.

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I was simply re-stating what one of my local outlets reported in a quicky TV news story. And a 'Paramedic Rescue' down here is the equivalent of a 'Paramedic Ambulance' up there, not to be confused with something like FDNY Rescue 3. And why are you getting so worked up about it? I made the post as to the relevance of how municipal budgets are affecting the emergency services everywhere and I did not think that much more in depth reporting and fact checking was necessary to establish that municipal services continue to be affected by budget shortfalls.
So when somebody tells you how the economy is recovering, think about these recent incidents of cut backs, lay-offs and re-assignments that are continuing to be implemented due to our local, regional and national economy.
On tonights news, the Vero Beach Police are eliminating a vacant Assistant Chief's position and demoting three Lieuts to Sergeants, three Sergeants to Corporal and
the three Corporals to patrol officers, all with corresponding pay adjustments and all to save...............$190,000.00 per year. That's how bad some of the municipal budgets are down here that they would go to such measures to save $190K. St. Lucie made similar adjustments previously.
This move is not without resistance and the point has been made that anticipated OT will offset the savings. But perhaps someone with more time can fact check this as I don't have the time to conduct in person interviews with all the parties that have made statement through the public media outlets.

Passed on to me from the "sights of FDIC."
It's time we start hitting the gym and not the fast food guys. Cutting out soda, replacing it with water, and sugars/fatty foods for fruits and vegetables will contribute to significant weight loss even without working out. Adding a training regiment of light duty, walks/jogs around a track, or even a stair climb/ decent in your own firehouse/home, will significantly improve your health.
I was always a fit guy, but recently I saw myself starting to get overweight. Went from 5'8" at 155 lbs, and about 10-12% body fat, to 173 with about 16-18% body fat. I immediately stopped eating and drinking crap, and lost almost 10lbs without working out in a month.
Time to get with the program guys. It's totally doable, and everyone should be jumping on this train. If not for you, how about your family.

Date: 4/14/12
Time: 13:15 hours
Location: Van Nest Ave x Holland Ave
Description Of Incident: Heavy fire in a 3-story frame on arrival extended to exposures 2, 2A, 4, and 4A. Partial collapse resulting in multiple maydays and missing MOS.
Reporter: ryang
Additional Info:
Van Nest, the Bronx, NY, 4/14/12
Address: 726 Van Nest Ave between Holland and Hunt Aves
13:14 hours
Phone Box 3217 - Report of fire in a multiple dwelling
Engs 90, 45, 97
TL41, TL58
Battalion 20
13:15 hours
Now receiving multiple calls
Squad 61 (4th due Engine)
Rescue 3
10-75-3217 - 13:15 hours
E64*
L47 (FAST Truck)
Battalion 18
Division 7
*Squad 61 now going in as a Squad
13:17 hours
Battalion 20: We're delayed responding from the other end of our district, start out an extra engine and truck based on the volume of smoke.
E96, TL54 S/C
2-2-3217 - 13:19 hours
TL41: Transmit a 2nd Alarm, we've got a fire on the exposure 2 side.
Engs 88, 46, 48
E72 w/ Satellite 2
L38
Battalion 3 (Safety Officer)
Battalion 27 (Resource Unit Leader)
Rescue, Safety Battalions
Tactical Support 1
FieldCom 1, Command Tactical Unit
RAC3
13:20 hours
BC20: we have 2 3-story frames going, k.
13:25 hours
Tactical Support 1 is OOS, Tactical Support 2 assigned
13:30 hours
The staging area is Morris Park Ave and White Plains Rd
13:38 hours - Duration 26 minutes
DC7: 3217, we have heavy fire in a 3-story brownstone-type 25x50. Exposure 1 is a street, exposure 2 is a similar attached, 3 is a rear yard, 4 is a 3-story frame separated by an alley. We have fire in exposure 4, we have fire in the cockloft, we have 4 lines stretched in operation, and we are Doubtful.
13:39 hours
Car 4C (AC Ronald Spadafora, Chief of Logistics) is responding.
3-3-3217 - 13:40 hours
DC7: 3217, make it a 3rd alarm, we have fire in 3 buildings.
Engs 82, 94, 50, 66
L27, L56
Battalion 17
Battalion 19 (Staging Manager)
Battalion 33 (Air-Recon Chief)
Mask Service Unit
10-66-3217 (Automatic 4th Alarm) - 13:55 hours
DC7: 10-66, we have 3 Maydays given, 1 has been accounted for, we're still looking for the other 2, we've had a partial collapse between the fire building and exposure 4.
Engs 75, 89, 79
E73 (CFRD Engine)
E262 w/ IMT Unit
E233 w/ Mobile Command 1
L32, TL50, L37
L42 (SOC Support Truck) w/ Collapse Rescue 3
L116 w/ Collapse Rescue 4
Battalion 26 (FAST Group Supervisor)
Battalion 15 (Firefighter Locator Officer)
Battalion 10 (Planning Sections Chief)
HazMat Battalion
Division 6
Squad 41, Squad 1 w/ TRV
Rescue 4
SOC Compressor, SOC Logistics, SOC Dewatering
Car 1B (Commissioner's Liaison)
Car 23D (Press Duty Car)
Car 12 (DAC Stephen Raynis, Chief of Safety and Inspectional Services)
Car 4 (Chief of Fire Operations Robert Sweeney)
13:59 hours
Battalion 15: Box 3217, do we have EMS on the scene?
Bronx advises that EMS is on scene.
14:03 hours - Duration 51 min
FieldCom: Progress Report for Box 3217, Division 7 reports: all 3 Maydays have been accounted for and removed from the building. 1 additional member has been injured and also has been removed from the building. Going to an exterior operation, Doubtful Will Hold.
14:03 hours
Fallback Step III has been implemented in The Bronx.
14:06 hours
FC: Have all units responding on the 10-66 report to the staging area, by orders of Division 7.
14:10 hours
Car 1E (Commissioner's Liaison) is responding
14:15 hours - Duration 1 hour 3 minutes
FC: Progress Report for your 4th Alarm Box 3217, at the address 730 Van Nest Ave, at this time Car 4C, AC Spadafora, reports: fire originated in a 3-story nonfireproof, started on 1st floor and communicated to the 2 and 3rd floors, and communicated to exposures 2 and 4. At this time rollcall is being conducted, the Maydays are accounted for. Operating with 2 tower ladder and multiple handlines, fire is darkening down, fire is Doubtful Will Hold.
14:17 hours
FC requests a mixer-off message.
14:23 hours Duration 1 hour 11 minutes
DC7: 4th Alarm, by orders of AC Spadafora, we have heavy fire in exposure 4A, outside wall. All units being removed, we're going to remain Doubtful.
14:25 hours
Car 14 (Chief Fire Marshal Robert Byrnes) is responding
14:27 hours
Car 36B (Department Chaplain) is responding
Car 33 (Duty Medical Officer) is 10-84
14:32 hours - Duration 1 hour 21 minutes
FC: By orders of Car 4C, AC Spadafora, make notification for Buildings and OEM to respond to the scene forthwith. Progress report for the 4th Alarm Box 3217, at the address 730 Van Nest Ave, at this time Car 4C, AC Spadafora, reports: we have fire in the top floor of exposure 4A which is a 2-story frame corner building. At this time going to an exterior operation on the original fire building, exposure 4 and exposure 4A. We have a handline stretched and operating into exposure 2. Searches delayed due to structural stability, fire is Doubtful Will Hold
14:33 hours
Car 16D (Communications) is responding
14:34 hours
FC: Additional info on the last progress report for the 4th, all units are being pulled from the interior and going to exterior operations.
14:45 hours - Duration 1 hour 34 minutes
FC: Progress Report for your 4th Alarm Box 3217, at the address 730 Van Nest Ave, at this time Car 4C, AC Spadafora, reports: we have gone to an exterior operation on all buildings involved, we have 3 tower ladders set up and operating, all units are out of the fire buildings, searches delayed due to heavy volume of fire and structural stability, fire is Doubtful Will Hold.
14:54 hours - Duration 1 hour 42 minutes
FC: Progress Report for your 4th Alarm Box 3217, at the address 730 Van Nest Ave, Chief of Operations Sweeney reports: we have a collapse of the original fire building and partial collapse of exposure 4A. We have fire in the original fire building, exposure 2, exposure 2A, exposure 4, and exposure 4A. At this time we have 3 handlines stretched in operation, 3 tower ladders setup, and he's placing the fire Probably Will Hold
15:08 hours - Duration 1 hour 56 minutes
FC: Progress Report for your 4th Alarm Box 3217, we have a corrected address for the original fire building of 726 Van Nest Ave, Chief of Operations Sweeney reports: continuing to operate with 3 tower ladders and 3 handlines stretched, this is an exterior operation, Fire Marshals are on scene checking with neighbors to see if any occupants are unaccounted for. Fire remains Probably Will Hold. Also as per Chief Sweeney, Air-Recon is going 10-8.
15:24 hours - Duration 2 hour 12 minutes
FC: Progress Report for your 4th Alarm Box 3217, at the address 726 Van Nest Ave, Chief of Operations Sweeney reports: still have fire in the main fire building and exposures 2 and 4. This remains an exterior operation and will be an extended operation. Main body of fire is knocked down, companies still continuing to knock down pockets, he places the fire Under Control.
Relocations:
Engines: 74/38, 306/45, 67/50, 297/64, 22/75, 259/79, 92/88, 80/94, 62/97
Ladders: 26/27, 151/37, 19/38, 51/41, 160/50, 144/54
Battalions: 11/17, 52/18, 49/27, 50/??

It's not an issue unless they make it one.

Who really cares what sex someone is? If that person can do the job they all better keep back and stay quiet. Then again "fire house politics" always says someone can do the job better.

1) Engine 10-1997 Spartan/Boise Mobile Equipment 1500/500
2) Engine 2-2005 American LaFrance 1500/500
3) Remarked rig-2005 American LaFrance 1500/500 former Engine 7 now OCFA Engine 77

Spoken like a true Firemen. This is not a game. I am sure the dances and dinners and pancake breakfasts are great but we are here to protect the community. I wish you good luck and keep on learning.

I vol. for the community and the experience. What "perks" are you talking about?The last meeting i went to for free food was... never. I go to drills, thats it. None of the dance bs or any of that.To me its a job, not a social gathering.

This conversation is nice and is full of lots of speculation, but it is just that... So why not try to get some factual answers as to what the plan actually is?
As I am not a commissioner, I will not comment either in favor of or against their project, but my suggestions is that if any of the members of this website have questions the best action would be to attend the Pubic Board of Fire Commissioners Meetings next tuesday night at station 2 and ask your questions in person or write a letter to the Yorktown Heights Board of Fire Commissioners and ask all of your questions. Go to the source and maybe we can understand what their thought process is.

Pictures from this morning's job in Norwalk.