calhobs

Legally, in CT the senior Fire Officer has command of any emergency. The exception being if there is a terrorism nexus, in which the FBI runs the show.
That being said, if the initial IC doesn't set up a Unified Command, he or she is setting themselves up for failure.

This is the internet. I would not put to much trust in what people put on a profile.
Even if they post a name, how do you know it is true. The most important, and telling information, comes from the fact that after a few postings, most people can tell if the poster is the real deal, or just an azz hat.

Interesting, I don't put much stock in as many people who post there names to just as many who don't post there names, I also find just as many sh!t stirrers from both sides. But that's the way I see it just as you see it your way.

And that's happened more times then I care to remember...

I kind of subscribe to a couple lines of thoughts on this matter.
1) If I'm not posting offensive comments or causing problems, then my actual identity is largely irrelevant for others to assess the validity of my comments.
2) My comments are my own and not specifically reflective of my department, with the exception of explaining how we operate. So, knowing specifically where I work is largely irrelevant.
3) If a person really, really wants to know specifically who I am, they can always ask.
4) What's the guarantee to other forum members that the information I might list in a profile/signature is the truth?

Remember that when you take your department car to the NYS Chief's Show at Turning Stone Casino. And you guys are worried about a commissioner's car at Woodbury Commons.

Looking at your post above and going to your profile all we see is that you're a male from Yonkers, so what's your beef if you're not even doing what you've stated above?

I've been doing this EMS thing for over 20 years now. I've worked in busy, nasty urban areas, sleepy rural areas and pretty much everything in between. The poster who claims that we need to be armed, and he'd put someone down who was gonna hurt him...wow. Just, wow. With a mindset like that, EMS is NOT for you, pal. If you showed up to work with me, and started with that attitude, I'd drop you off at the next corner and wish you well.
I am a STRONG supporter of the 2nd amendment, and I want no part of having to carry weapons at work. Have I been in fights? Yup. Hairy situations? A few. But looking back, they were mostly avoidable and walking away (or running for that matter) will get you out of trouble you probably never should have been part of in the first place.
Quite frankly, you scare me more than the EDP's do. Put down an EDP? Beacuse they threatened your life? Do you know how many times in a busy urban area EMT's get threatened each year? We both can't count that high.
A few other points: Concealed carry won't stop an assault. They dont know you have it, so it's not a deterent.
Additionally, cops carry a number of tools to repsond to threats of force, or force. They have rules of engagement, force must be met with force. They don't just draw down and waste every person that threatens them. Please, please rethink your approach to EMS.

Nope
Nope

Back in the day when I worked NYC the PD would ALWAYS say "Put a rush on the bus centrel" no matter what the call, either it was bad and the didn't want to watch with thier hands in thier pockets or it was utter nonsence and they didn't want to stand around with thier hands in thier pockets. Expecting us to put it in warp speed in order to get there....as if. I would , same as now, just aknowledge the message and continue as I was.

Seeing this great job done by the Mail Man using a garden hose, reminds me of something we use to do back "in the day" . We use to carry a 25ft length of garden hose rolled tight and strapped, with a nozzle on one end and a universal fitting on the other, this fitting looked like a chrome Venus fly trap with an adjustable rubber mouth that could fit over most household facets, sinks or bath tubs. The purpose of this was to hold a fire until the line got up to you or if you arrived without an engine.
It sort of went the way of the Buffalo, however I still thought it was a good idea. Might have problems now with the elaborate decorative facets. Also, with these new expandable garden hoses seen on TV this concept might return

Yessir, we used to use them for incineratiors and each incinerator closet had a sink. Incinerators are what went away, replaced by compactors, and the sinks followed shortly thereafter. As for the Venus fly trap attachment, I know exactly what it looks like but I haven't seen one in years. Try Bed Bath and Beyond.
When I was a kid, we had one of those universal fly traps hanging in the bathroom (yes, only one bathroom). I believe it was New York State Law that kids under 12, when done with their shower, were required to hook up the Venus device and wash down the tub.

Due to the Federal Shut Down. FEMA has cancelled all storms.

Really? It wouldn't have escalated if the victim was carrying a gun? You're saying that he would have felt more confident and secure against the 200 peaceful, law abiding citizens that were trying to gently get him to slow down for his own safety? Of course they wouldn't have guns themselves - not a single one of them had a prior, right? I'm not going to argue the gun rights issue, but I think the idea that a solitary person might be safer against a gang of any substantial size because they are carrying is ludicrous and can certainly increase the risk of and severity of any injuries sustained and/or dished out.

Yeah, put it all in your bag.

Things must be pretty quite around EMTBRAVO land to throw that hand granade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you count all the illegal apartments in Sleepy Hollow, the population sign on the show would be correct.

And there's no Starbucks in the hollow either

Show starts with a Lieutenant and a "Sheriff" (who wears captain's bars) working on patrol in what is supposed to be a large city, yet they know people like it's a small town, and then say they are part of WCPD and are supervised by a captain? that kinda threw it off for me. As for the actors, it felt like they were kinda neutral/uninteresting, and once they started adding the whole second spirit/ 4 horse men of the apocalypse thing, it just started to seem kinda cheesy, like most of today's modern "horror", the only problem is they left out the skimpily dressed girls. I predict it won't make it past this season, unless there are some drastic changes

Please look at this image, I have used it before and feel its time to use it again, this is how I feel about the matter simply stated; Brotherhood MEANS Brotherhood, no parameters or exceptions, I feel egos have gotten in the way of brotherhood and true family.
Stay Safe all.

Here is where I do not agree with some of you guys...this is a bit wrong on all levels. If you are career in a combination department and you feel "threatened" by the volunteers that might "take your job away" there is more issues there then you know. If I was a volunteer in a career combination department I would not be trying to take anyones job. I would have my resume in for when there are openings from retirement or someone moving out of the area, but I would never try to back-stab a brother who is already being paid for the job. I am still going to be volunteer and have tremendous pride in being able to respond to calls and help where I can, but would never step on the toes of the career crew, or back-stab them in any way. If this is happening; SHAME on those members.
But on the other hand; SHAME on those career guys simply for thinking that just because a volunteer shows up, they are taking the "fork" out of your mouths. They are showing up to help you, back you up and make sure you all go home at the end of the shift so you CAN pick up that fork with your family. We should alll WORK TOGETHER, dont you think??? This thinking is all wrong and I am not trying to hurt anyones feelings here either, but those of us volunteers that take pride in our training and pride in our ability to help others only want to help; both the people we serve and our career brothers/sisters who are severely under-staffed and under-funded. I for one dont want to see any ONE career firefighter have to do EVERYTHING alone, I want to help, I want to make sure they dont get hurt, not back-stab them.
Maybe I am wrong in this line of thinking and i know there are those scum out there trying to take your job from you, everyone wants to be career firefighter and support their families doing a job they LOVE, but it shouldnt divide us...shouldnt it?

The brotherhood is still there. However social media outlets where guys can go and cry about mundane immature stuff that should be kept in house and worked out has ruined a lot of it.
And - no disrespect to this website - places like this where everyone climbs on to their high horses and points fingers PUBLICLY instead of manning up and shooting a brother a private message, calling them or dropping in to their firehouse to talk to them man to man has ruined a lot of what we all used to know.
I appreciate the things I have learned here and on other websites. I have made great friends and taken what I picked up here and put it to good use. However, there has been more drama for me and my department because of sites like this, Facebook and Myspace when it was still around. I have been accused of doing things I didn't. My department and members of it have been falsely or inaccurately implicated in things they didn't do. Friendships and professional relationships with neighboring departments have been tested, strained or ruined when someone sees/hears something and reacts to it before knowing the facts.
We live in the information age. Everyone can hide behind a keyboard and be an expert on everything. They can call someone out for something with little to no facts, denouncing them to their easily impressionable audience.
Let this be a lesson to all of you up and coming members of the fire service - WORK YOUR PROBLEMS OUT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF YOUR FIREHOUSE! If you can't say something to someone face to face, DON'T SAY IT!
And to be "politically correct," we're not a brotherhood anymore. Many females have joined our ranks and proven to be exceptional parts of our department families. I like to say that the fire department is a family, and like the families we've been born into, we don't always agree, we don't even always like each other, but at the end of the day - we are (or should be) there for one another when the chips are down.
I'm done. Thanks for listening.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that I am not always liked, and often say things that offend people. It comes with a deep sense of pride in what I do and the department I am proud to be a part of. But, at the end of the day, I can sleep knowing I do what is best for my people and what's in the best interest of keeping our department going strong for years to come.

You know this is quite simple when you come right down to it. Brotherhood is really just remembering to follow a few core tenets:
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Remember we're here to serve so put others above yourself
The wants and needs of the many outweigh the wants and needs of the few...or the one.
Everyone has a place to serve and all service is valuable and important even if only in small amounts.
I am who and what I am in the fire service because of those who came before me and those who serve with me.
WE are the fire service, I am only one very small part of it.

My kids are all grown now, but when they were younger and before cell phones, I always told them that if for any reason they were in trouble and needed help, go the nearest fire station and tell them that their dad is a fireman and they would help them. I would hope that fire fighters today with young kids still have that feeling.

Brotherhood can take on a number of different aspects. Yes without doubt firefighters talking and doing firefighting activities is surely a big part of it, but how about a few others like:
When a member or spouse/ family member of a member is sick long term or gets deployed their fellow members help them out with things like,
*shopping
*yard work
*house cleaning
*babysitting or...
*How about actually taking 15 minutes out of our busy schedules to visit the guy/gal in the hospital
*or if need be a little financial support for the members family to help get them through and...
maybe even something as simple as an ear if it's needed
Here's a good one too - Treating the members you don't like as well as the ones you do...a little respect goes a long way
I think you get the idea