Flashpoint

NY*Pres sent this out to it's EMS employees:

With the giant increase in gas and assist Con Ed calls over the past few years,  I think Con-Ed be responsible for purchasing and maintaining gas meters for departments, or providing grants for departments to do so. Am I wrong?

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MOUNT VERNON - The city will send 11 recruits to the fire academy next month even though there's only enough money in the 2016 budget for six.

Mayor Richard Thomas said understaffing in the Fire Department requires dipping into the city's reserve funds for the approximately $300,000 needed for the additional firefighters.

Article: http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/mount-vernon/2016/02/18/mount-vernon-firefighters/80521808/

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ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday backed calls to shut down the notorious Rikers Island jail complex and replace it with a more modern facility.

In an interview with NY1, Cuomo said the design of the major New York City complex -- a series of 10 jails that can hold up to 15,000 inmates -- is outdated and unsafe.

"We should close down Rikers and build a new state of the art jail that is just safer for the guards and for the inmates," Cuomo said.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2016/02/16/cuomo-shut-down-replace-rikers-island/80449136/

Very intense audio. One of the firefighters fell through the floor, and others became trapped in the basement.

WOODROW, Staten Island — Five firefighters were injured Monday night battling a three-alarm house fire in Staten Island, officials said.
The fire broke out about 9 p.m. in the basement of a home at 1053 Sinclair Ave., in the Woodrow section of the borough. It quickly escalated to a third alarm.

The firefighters called "mayday" from inside the building. They were rescued and are being treated by EMS. One of the firefighters was seriously burned when he fell through the floor.

AUDIO (Credit: Matthew Wegner)

Two FDNY crews were dispatched to Commissioner Daniel Nigro’s Queens home in the aftermath of the blizzard — just to clear a patch of snow that was blocking his path to the street, The Post has learned.

http://nypost.com/2016/01/26/fdny-commissioner-made-citys-bravest-clear-snow-from-his-home/

Nice work!

Hudson Valley Police Radios Being Jammed by Unknown Source

Police say the Hudson Valley is in a dangerous situation because of someone transmitting over frequencies that are supposed to be used by first responders.

According to Time Warner News, Orange County first responders have reported receiving messages over their walkie talkies that are originating from an unknown source. While the interference has been reported by Orange County authorities, surrounding communities could also be affected if the mystery broadcaster moves or increases the power of their signal.

Read More: Hudson Valley Police Radios Being Jammed by Unknown Source

A mother's loss drives the discussion over possible

improvements to fire hoses.

http://www.nfpa.org/newsandpublications/nfpa-journal/2016/january-february-2016/columns/first-responder

So after EVERY type of fire you're supposed to wash your turnout gear, take a shower, wash your uniform, and do all that stuff.

Yes. Reread the article to see WHY.

I've noticed New Rochelle hasn't been called into Mount Vernon for any of their recent fires. They've instead, with the exception of Yonkers, called for fellow understaffed departments recently such as Pelham, Pelham Manor, Eastchester, and White Plains. Greenville has the manpower, but also hasn't been getting called either.

January 8, 2016, Contact: Press Office (518) 474-4015

DiNapoli: Former Wallkill Fire District Chair Sentence in $240,000 Theft

Former Wallkill Fire District board chair Michael Denardo was sentenced today in Ulster County Court for stealing nearly $240,000 from the district, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced.

“This was a shameful crime of someone sworn to protect the public,” DiNapoli said. “It is also a warning to fire district officials throughout New York: Always safeguard your assets with checks and balances. I thank District Attorney Carnright for bringing Mr. Denardo to justice and helping us recoup the stolen funds.”

Michael Denardo, 39, of Wallkill, was sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison and pay $239,622 restitution. His three-year scam was initially revealed in an audit and investigation by DiNapoli’s office, which found that Denardo convinced the treasurer to give him blank checks and another board member to sign them. He deposited the checks, laundered the money through his wife's account and submitted fake bills to the district.

"I thank the Comptroller and his staff for their diligent work on this case," District Attorney Holley Carnright said. “Comptroller DiNapoli is a valued partner in our efforts to combat fraud crimes in Ulster County.”

Denardo pleaded guilty in September to grand larceny in the third degree, a class D felony, and three counts of criminal tax fraud in the fifth degree, a misdemeanor.

The Comptroller’s audit concluded that Denardo could not have committed his crimes if the fire district board enforced proper controls. DiNapoli recommended that the district:

• Audit all claims before authorizing payment, which is required by state law;
• Prohibit the distribution or signing of blank checks; and
• Seek reimbursement of the missing funds.

In response, district officials agreed with the audit findings and submitted a 14-point corrective action plan to the Comptroller’s office. The plan calls for:

• Proper documentation before payment of all bills, credit card charges, and other disbursements;
• Monthly audits of bank statements;
• Signatures on all checks by the treasurer and one of two authorized commissioners; and
• An annual work session to audit all disbursements after the close of the fiscal year.

The fire district’s full response and Comptroller findings are in the final audit, which can be viewed here: http://osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/firedists/2016/wallkill.pdf.

Since taking office in 2007, DiNapoli has committed to fighting public corruption and encourages the public to help fight fraud and abuse. New Yorkers can report allegations of fraud involving taxpayer money by calling the toll-free Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, by filing a complaint online at investigations@osc.state.ny.us, or by mailing a complaint to: Office of the State Comptroller, Division of Investigations, 14th Floor, 110 State St., Albany, NY 12236.

Review prior cases at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/investigations/index.htm.

Both the Commissioner and Lieutenant were suspended.

http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/columnists/phil-reisman/2016/01/07/fire-commissioner-yonkers-suspended/78378598/

YONKERS - Eleven firefighters were injured battling a house fire in the city Wednesday night.
About 40 firefighters responded to a small, two-story home on Morsemere Avenue around 7 p.m

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2016/01/07/yonkers-firefighters-injured/78412660/

If I'm not mistaken, the Tower Ladder is getting up there in age. Are or were there any plans to replace it, and has this issue changed that?

The best and largest fire department in the world just put out a GARBAGE TRUCK FIRE without even having SCBA's on their back, just yesterday!

Photo from: http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2015/12/garbage_truck_fire_at_west_bri.html

The article is subscriber only, but Federal Authorities supposedly uncovered the money missing during the Mahopac probe.

http://www.putnamcountycourier.com/news/2015-12-31/Front_Page/Up_in_Smoke_1_Million_Missing_from_Patterson_Fire_.html

And an 11.5% retroactive raise over 7 years, plus adding the 5th man to Engine companies that Bloomberg cut a few years back.

Any information on Fire Department arrangements?

Way too close to home. RIP to this solider and those that also made the ultimate sacrifice with him.

Correct, not every municipality participates in the annual examinations. When an eligibility list runs out (usually in 4 years) or to keep the pool of eligible candidates active, a municipality will order an exam offering.

Gotcha. Thanks. I misread. I thought they were giving the Westchester County test again.

For those municipalities that have ordered a new exam for 2016, the exam should be held on March 19, 2016.

Ordered a new exam?

Congress reaches agreement on $1.1 trillion spending bill to include reauthorization of Zadroga bill

Lawmakers also said the package would include the reauthorization and expansion of aid for emergency workers suffering from ailments related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/16/us/politics/congress-9-11-emergency-workers-zadroga-act.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=1

At least from the drawing, it looks very similar to what they have now,

It seems like Hawthorne goes to 226 Linda Ave (Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Residential Treatment Center) numerous times a day, for commercial alarms and mostly minor EMS calls. This has got to be taxing on their resources, yet not a tax paying property.

How do you prevent volunteer burnout with someplace like this? I would not want to be getting up at 3 in the morning every night for several nights in a row for the same repetitive bull.