fdalumnus

They can call Port Chester  volunteers they have over 300 !

I once approached the chief of an upstate NY fire dept about starting such a program. Their firehouse then had sufficient room for attendees. His response was, "We don't need none of you a&%#@!* college f&%$@#* !!! At the time, I was already a qualified pump operator in my home volunteer fd. Wish I had a buck for every time their siren went off and I would go to buff and wait,and wait,and wait for them to respond. Given the national trend, I'm sure they're still short handed. A case of LOSE/LOSE unfortunately.

I once approached the chief of an upstate NY fire dept about starting such a program. Their firehouse then had sufficient room for attendees. His response was, "We don't need none of you a&%#@!* college f&%$@#* !!! At the time, I was already a qualified pump operator in my home volunteer fd. Wish I had a buck for every time their siren went off and I would go to buff and wait,and wait,and wait for them to respond. Given the national trend, I'm sure they're still short handed. A case of LOSE/LOSE unfortunately.

 
I don't think this is your typical VIP visit. I think this is unprecedented. And I think this is the first time a President comes with such a large family, and has an iconic building that still houses his wife and child (which complicates things even more). The costs need to be reimbursed, as it's not the NYC's taxpayers responsibly to fund protection of the President, his family, and his 50 story building with his name plastered all over it in midtown Manhattan. The whole circumstance is a terrorists wet dream.  This is a national responsibility to protect the President, and it's not fair to NYC's taxpayers. We're talking hundreds of millions of dollars here over 4 years if not more, considering a President is guarded by Secret Service for life.
 
Although I'm not sure that the Fire and EMS resources have to be there.
 
 
This was reported by several news outlets.

Who is responsible for the cost of supplying, and resupplying the foam? NYS?

So to summarize,
 
the municipalities choose to hire ot vs staffing increases to save money on benefits and these guys made upwards of 300k working overtime shifts at a rate that the municipality agreed on in a contract that they signed
 
they made money for shifts they worked
 
what's the problem?

think it's done. shame.
 
brookfield won't even let anybody take stuff off like lights, emergency lighting, etc. 
probably a liability issue with non-workers in the work area.

To answer 61MackBR1...and anybody else.....IT"S YONKERS...nothing is easy...nothing is simple...everything is a problem...in my opinion the administration is waiting to get the right price for the School st location,the building will not be torn down, it may be converted to residential/commercial... let's wait and see.......this is my OPINION based on years of observation of Yonkers politics...other opinions welcome 

I drove that engine for 10 years and it was great. Still can't believe the village couldn't get more for it, it's a shame and I think they got it for even under 4200. The thing was still in very good shape, too bad it couldn't go to somewhere that could use it. REST EASY ENG42INE! Sad to see it go to scrap metal.

 Done gone good by , Can of soup soon to bad  could have used it in upstate New York
 

 
Just a taxpayer (Frost025) of Port Chester wondering why the politicians say there's no money for career staff, but plenty of money for a new rig ? Is the current R40 that worn out or beat up ? Just wondering.

 
Just a taxpayer (Frost025) of Port Chester wondering why the politicians say there's no money for career staff, but plenty of money for a new rig ? Is the current R40 that worn out or beat up ? Just wondering.

 
Just a taxpayer (Frost025) of Port Chester wondering why the politicians say there's no money for career staff, but plenty of money for a new rig ? Is the current R40 that worn out or beat up ? Just wondering.

There is no doubt in my mind that housing costs are NUMBER ONE.  There are many realities here, many that have set in in the Tri-state area.  Everyone, even people buying the million dollar home, is working harder and longer.  Many households have two working parents.  How about time spent commuting?  Thats getting longer too.
 
I haven't volunteered in a few years.  One day, I could find myself living in a place where I could volunteer again, but the reality is....I probably won't.  Why?  Because I have to work a second job, or I stay home with my child on days off while my wife is at work.  After work, well, that's the time we get to spend together, not much time left for drill, meetings, ect.  I'll have an hour, hour and half drive home from work...not looking to spend more time away from home.
 
I think volunteering is great in some communities.  I think it's a storied and proud institution, but in many places, it's days are numbered (or they should be).  Entirely necessary training requierments have become more and more onorous.  attendance in some places is dropping.  Smaller dept.s are calling for Mx aide every single time there is a fire.
 
What's the answer?  Consolidation.  Use the dedicated volunteer force more efficiently, let them handle a larger call volume and coverage area.  Supplement that force with a reasonable career organization and spread them out as well.  This all sounds familiar....like something a certain captain put out years ago.....I gues we're all still looking out for our little kingdoms and lot the greater good.

This is a big issue where I live. Even rent for a crappy, rathole apartment is too high and pushes the younger members out of the community.

My old department had an activity requirement not a time requirement. It seems to have worked well for quite some time, although I am not sure if it is still in place. You got 1 point for each call, drill or meeting. You needed 50 points to stay an active member. The bulk of the department was between 75-100 every year. There were a few heavy hitters with over 200 and a few who struggled to make 50, but all in all it worked.
 
As for recruiting, I have said it before and will say it again. Too many Chiefs give what I call the Psych Out speech. They bemoan the lack of members and then go on to list all the reasons people don't join. I strongly believe this has the effect of making anyone who is trying to decide if they want to volunteer and psyching them out to the point where they just don't bother. How about listing all the reasons people do volunteer, instead.
 
One of the department's in Stamford did a nice piece several years ago, a small card with profiles of 3 members. They picked a local business owner, an electrician working for a construction contractor & a corporate VP of a local company. I don't know how successful it was but it showed a diverse group of volunteers.
 
Then all we have to work out is how to stop chasing new members away, which seems to be the biggest problem.
 

 
I think this is one of the more significant reasons for loss of volunteers, especially in the more affluent communities. The median home price in Pleasantville is over $500K, Briarcliff Manor is over $700K, in Chappaqua and Katonah it is over $800K.  So you lose the younger members who followed their childhood desire or their parents/family into the service because at some point most need to move on. Those who are moving into town and buying homes of these values aren't necessarily inclined to become volunteer firefighters.
 
You just have to listen to the scanner to know that, especially day time, many of the volunteer departments are lucky to get one piece of apparatus on the road and it is usually inadequately staffed.  Sooner or later many of these departments will be forced to go combination.  In some of the more rural departments, the lack of volunteers will undoubtedly affect response times as fewer members to make up a crew need to travel further to make the apparatus.
 
Fifteen years ago when my nephews came into the service as our families fourth generation of volunteers I said they would probably be the last.  I believe I will be correct in that prediction.

Once again politics rears it ugly head.
 
The hiring of the chief's son,IMO, should be celebrated, The fire service has a always been a family. Sounds like the chief ruffled a few feathers, so this is the payback.

Once again politics rears it ugly head.
 
The hiring of the chief's son,IMO, should be celebrated, The fire service has a always been a family. Sounds like the chief ruffled a few feathers, so this is the payback.

Once again politics rears it ugly head.
 
The hiring of the chief's son,IMO, should be celebrated, The fire service has a always been a family. Sounds like the chief ruffled a few feathers, so this is the payback.

Legacy is the strength of the Fire Service

Once again politics rears it ugly head.
 
The hiring of the chief's son,IMO, should be celebrated, The fire service has a always been a family. Sounds like the chief ruffled a few feathers, so this is the payback.

Once again politics rears it ugly head.
 
The hiring of the chief's son,IMO, should be celebrated, The fire service has a always been a family. Sounds like the chief ruffled a few feathers, so this is the payback.

 
The pin is there for delivery of the apparatus and taking it for maintenance not for responding to an emergency. Without a tillerman, all the advantages of a TDA are lost.

That's a great video showing how pre-planning your area before purchasing a rig is always a great idea. I think that while great, most departments don't have the man power to operate the tiller. In Westchester, most are lucky to get one guy on the rig. Does the Officer drive the front or the back? It sucks to bring up staffing but its the hard truth when it comes to these apparatus.