SteveOFD

Having no horse in this race my take on this is purely that of someone on the outside looking in. That said first off I compliment Mr. Kavalev for standing up for what he believes and not abandoning his principles in the face of their unpopularity, but in the next breath I must chastise him for resigning. No matter how much pressue is exerted from outside ultimately change can only happen from within. By quitting Mr. K has greatly reduced the chances of that change taking place. I hope for the sake of him and the IFD an equitable solution is found, but if not he must take responsibility for his decision to resign and accept the consequences of that action.
Best of luck to all involved
Just an added thought:
We would all do well to remember that when we choose to join an organization like a volunteer Fire Dept or Company we are joining them as they are. We, of our our free will, decide to enter into a relationship with an existing entity and it's members, warts and all. We may not like everyone, how they do things or aspects of the organization, but we chose to join them, not the other way around. It is unrealistic and in fact the height of self absorbtion to believe that an organization, possibly one that's been in existence for a hundred or more years, must change to suit us just because we decided to grace them with our presence, no matter how much of a "stand up guy" we are or how screwed up they may be. It is only after we have earned our place that we can look to change that which is to become that which, in our minds, it can become. And this happens only through the avenues that exist within that organization. For a desire for change to take root and it to come about requires that we show a high degree of perseverance, dedication, patience, knowledge and experience that draws others within our organizations to our cause and gains support for that change. In the end, to be a part of the solution we must first and foremost be a part of the organization...the very same one we chose to join.

I find it interesting how every post generally turns into a Paid vs. Volunteer issue or a Fire vs. Police issue. As a former NYS Fire Instructor who has trained many volunteers and a former director of the Westchester Career Fire Academy who has trained many career firefighters, there are many excellent and dedicated career and volunteer firefighters as there are many not so excellent career and volunteer firefighters. You are always going to have individuals who are going to play the system (career and volunteer), using it to their advantage, and getting everything out of it for themselves that they can. This is a fact of life and it’s not changing anytime soon.

Let’s all wake up, the fire really doesn’t care if you are paid or volunteer, it’s not going to say “lets take it easy on them, they are volunteers”. It is paramount that all firefighter’s career and volunteer keep current skills and training. The same applies to the poor victim trapped in a fire or motor vehicle, do you really think they care what the patch on your sleeve states, FD, PD, paid or volunteer!

Everyone’s time would be better spent working together, FD, PD, paid and volunteer, for the common good and betterment of emergencies services, rather then bickering over who is better or who’s doing who’s job.

This is one of the sorriest excuses for a document I have ever seen. All it does is "recommend." Yes, NY is a home rule state, but it does Require 229 hours of training for career firefighters under their document Administrative Standards for Firefighters. Where's the "home rule" in that? I believe the State could require a lot but just chooses not to. Even the 229 hours is minimal. Responsible fire departments are giving their probies somewhere in the range of 400 hours before they hit the street. Along with that, the required 100 hrs per annum cannot scratch the surface of the things they should be training on annually.
Where was home rule when the state mandated PASS devices and personal escape systems? The state jumped right over home rule when enough people demanded these items, and the state can do it in regards to training. All you have to do is get together and make a stink to enough stste legislators.
The argument for "home rule" and "recommendations instead of requirements" over the years has usually been something along the lines of "If we force too much training on firefighters, we will lose volunteers." Well, how would you rather lose them, because you require too much training, or would you rather carry them out in stokes baskets and put their name on that ever growing stone monument in Albany. (By the way, that monument sits in front of the place where they only "recommended" training. Ironic, isn't it?) This is not a salvo aimed at volunteers, either. The vols that see the need for training will stay.
I spent almost 35 years on the fire department and I cannot remember a time when I didn't want more skills and knowledge. Even in retirement, I am still learning. The Authority Having Jurisdiction should be within yourself. You should be begging your department for more training and knowledge.
How would you feel if you were personally responsible for losing a guy because you chose not to train on whatever killed your fellow firefighter? You have to live with that for the rest of your life?
Never let a man say that his training let him down.

I disagree Chris, respectfully. I think it is very important that we continue to take opportunities when available to educate the public concerning the fact that monies which are donated to volunteer fire departments rarely, if ever, are used for purchase of firefighting equipment, or for training, or such purposes, but rather the monies people donate to volunteer fire departments are used for parties, extravagant dinners, vacations and excursions, etc.
Also, it is important to continue to emphasize that although there are lots of dedicated volunteer firefighters, such as Nick, who want to do the right thing in regard to being trained, prepared, and ACCOUNTABLE, there are many other volunteer firefighters who take advantage of the system, collect pensions and other perks,use the firehouses as a social club, and who have extremely little legitimate training, are unable to provide the service they claim they provide, and are basically accountable to no one.

I'm a member of IFD with 20 plus years and at this point if I did not have to remain a member of the company to remain in the Department I would have already left. I can already hear the company officers saying then leave. I was Chief when this incident took place. That should identify me! First I will Apoligize to Nyq for how he was treated and say I wish I could have done more for you as Chief. At least the Village waited until I was out of office to ask you to resign. It's is actually interesting how you co-existed for almost a year and a half after you resigned from the company and remained with the Department with no issues. If the company did not decide to go non profit (or make it legal) Nyq would probably still be active in the department.Why is the company opening up additional corporations now? I also will say I'm embarrassed at the way the Company states they investigated? they agreed to let the villages investigate as one company officer stated. The Company is a separate entity(With separate company officers) occupying space in a village building should they not have an obloigation(legal) to investigate all claims of misconduct, sexual harrasment etc are they exempt from EEO laws? I took this complaint to the village after I discussed it with a Village trustee who was in attendance at the meeting when Nyq made his claim (I arrived at this meeting late from work however I did hear the tape from the meeting it was disgraceful) and was told if I did not bring the complaint to the village he would have to.I was critized by some of the membership even though as a elected village official I had a legal obligation to bring these claims forward maybe the company needs additional EEO training. I know after this incident we had a couple of hours I'm not sure it's enough. At least the Village's investigation was completed almost over a year and a half later. I think we in the all volunteer services know know how hard it is to find and retain good volunteers or even get our current members to respond as much as they are need. When the Village was trying to find the law that eliminated Nyq from the from the company I made a suggestion to the village administrator and one member of the current board that would have kept these issues in house I hope they and the other board members will do all they can to help find a solution to retain all the volunteers it can. If not I see it as a huge disservice to the Village residents. To the Current Chiefs especially Chief. Ruffler and Assistant Chief DePaoli I will apoligize now for any issues I will cause with this post. I will also thank you both for giving me 110 percent as my assistant Chiefs and only hope that once this is resolved I can continue to serve you and the village residents. As many of the posts state there a many quailfied firefighters in the IFD. Why should it not do eveything it can to retain and recruit all additional members.

In addition to what Remember585 stated there is a lot wrong with this list:
Briarcliff Manor FD 453.2000 does not repeat 46.26
Eastchester FD 453.6750 does not repeat 46.26
Mohegan Lake FD 453.6500 does not repeat 46.26
Peekskill FD neither 453.2250 or 453.8750 repeat 46.26
Port Chester FD 453.3375 not licensed for this frequency
Pound Ridge FD neither 453.3500 or 453.9750 repeat 46.26
For correct information see the database at http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=1884.

In addition to what Remember585 stated there is a lot wrong with this list:
Briarcliff Manor FD 453.2000 does not repeat 46.26
Eastchester FD 453.6750 does not repeat 46.26
Mohegan Lake FD 453.6500 does not repeat 46.26
Peekskill FD neither 453.2250 or 453.8750 repeat 46.26
Port Chester FD 453.3375 not licensed for this frequency
Pound Ridge FD neither 453.3500 or 453.9750 repeat 46.26
For correct information see the database at http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=1884.

Members,
Bury the hatchet.
Career vs. Volunteer. Police vs. Firefighters.
It's disgusting. Our jobs, volunteers or career, police officers or firefighters we are in it to serve the public. It's not always a perfect world, and there is always going to be politics, disagreements, etc. However, we all should be looking at it like this. How can we work TOGETHER to improve things in this moment of time?
It's NOT about us, it's about the public who depends on us to serve and protect them with the highest level of service possible. If, you, gosh forbid, got into a car accident and were pinned and in needed medical attention ASAP, wouldn't you want someone to get you out of there as soon as possible? We all drive through volunteer and career districts in the course of our days. Would it matter to you who responded at that moment? If you're complaining about the training of volunteers, do something about it. Sign up as an instructor. Figure out how you can help. And vice versa. It could be you that needs them.
If you're a volunteer, who cares what career firefighters think of your agency? If you're confident in the service you provide, there should be no reason to have to "defend" yourselves. There are issues between the two, but if you really look at it, a lot of the problems are very similar. We bellyache about volunteer daytime staffing. However, there are career departments that dont have any better staffing anytime. Can we all put aside egos to work together to solve the problems?
As far as Cops vs Firefighters, we work together and depend on one another. When we have a possibly violent situation, Fire and EMS stage, and Cops go in and risk their lives to make sure it is safe for firefighters and EMS to go in. They have our back. If that cop, gosh forbid, is to get shot, that Cop depends on Firefighters and EMS to save their lives. We have their back.
Those of us who are truly in it to help fellow citizens are sick of it. Open your ears, and learn from one another. You may just learn something simply by listening.
There can be respectful and producitve discussions regarding the issues, but by trashing one another, we only create anonymosity and more problems. This site will NOT tolerate it, and the staff is working on a specific set of rules and action/solution plans to address these threads, members, and posts.
My opinion represents my guiding views as the founder of this site and the Executive Director. I have many other administrative duties as well to keep this site online. I typically don't get involved with the various daily thread, post, or member issues which are handled independently by the staff, which takes a tremendous stressfull burden off my shoulders and are the reason why the site is still online..
The staff of this site volunteer their time to work together as a team to run this site, on a 24/7 basis.. I have full trust in them, and are an excellent team who have a tremendous workload which many members don't see or appreciate. Our staff consists of carefully handpicked active or retired Police Officers, Career and Volunteer Firefighters and EMS personel, Emergency Communications staff, EOC personel, and many other backgrounds. They understand and can relate to all the members and situations.They have accomplished many great things, and this site wouldn't be what it is without them.
Don't waste their time by making them have to "referee". And how can you accomplish this? Respect on another, and bury the hatchet already.
Seth G.
seth@emtbravo.com

Normally, coming up out of the front bumper on the Officer's side is an intake, with the discharge coming up out of the bumper on the Driver's side. According to this article http://www.seagrave.com/images/FireRescue%20Mag_FDNY_Nov%2008.pdf FDNY added an additional intake in the front of the bumper.

But instead of having Engines carrying extraction tools have the Truck carry them.
Also i think fast teams should be trucks not engines. Just in my opinion.

If you're suggesting that a possible fire in a 5+ story building shouldn't get at least 3 engines and 2 trucks, I'd have to say you're missing the point. Unless it's an unoccupied commercial (and how many of them are commercial, they're almost all residential), you're going to need every bit of that manpower to fight any kind of fire and do searches, ventilation, etc. At best, 3&2 will get you 20 guys if they're all fully staffed with qualified FF.
How many guys get used on an initial attack on the 3rd floor of a 5 story walk-up like the old apartment buildings and "brownstone" style buildings all over the Hudson Valley? I'm guessing there aren't alot of extra bodies.
Now throw in people on the fire escapes or in need of actual rescue by ladder and you're out of personnel with full rigs.
As wraftery said, we have to stop playing catch-up and start getting ahead!

That can absolutely happen today in Westchester. If your dept establishes that as their dispatch policy with 60, then that is what they will get. I've seen some good ones, but none address the chief pile that usually results.
Say my FD, the world renowned and well respected Mt Crumpit FD responds with 2 engines, ladder, rescue and 3 chiefs. Upon transmission of the 10-75 signal 60 would automatically add whatever I previously arranged to have added. In this case its 2 engines, fast w/ chief, and a ladder. 60 is so reasonable you can even establish different dispatch protocols for different parts of town. No hydrants out in Bumm Ridge, they'll be happy to assign a tanker task force as soon as the fire is confirmed if that is what we ask for..
The hardest change would be getting depts to stop picking and choosing their favorite neighbors. We get it that Nantasket FD lets you use their training center and Kartroo throws a sweet parade, but Whoville is closest so lets use them.
Now the heads up dispatcher listening to the radio traffic from the fire hears that this fire is really cooking. They can start looking at who is next up if it goes to a second alarm. That way if Gwark Island, the first due second alarm engine catches a fire (its rare, but multiple incidents do occasionally occur) the dispatcher can line up whom ever they'll need and quickly turn out these depts when the call inevitably comes in.
The county has spent a good chunk of change upgrading 60 over the years and the dispatchers are from what I understand very well trained. Might as well use the service we're paying for.

As I read the IA about the 4th alarm with maydays in the Bronx yesterday (thanks ryang), I am confronted with strong concerns and reservations about how that would happen anywhere in the suburbs. This is not a paid/volunteer issue. This is a major incident response issue because no matter what your pay status, we've cultivated a recipe for failure in this region with absolutely no standardization, abysmal leadership/management training programs and experience levels, and no means to effectively coordinate the response.
Some are probably already cracking their knuckles and gearing up for a keyboard battle but before you do, take a deep breath and let me finish my thought.
Yesterday in the Bronx, a fire in ordinary buildings that we have all over our suburbs, resulted in the initial response of more than 40 "interior" (and I hate that distinction but more on that later) firefighters (4 E, 1 S, 3 L, 1 BC, S/C 1/1, plus 10-75 response). How many of our departments can honestly say we can put that many qualified, trained, and equipped FF on the road in the first three minutes?
Within five minutes, the 2nd alarm results in another TWO DOZEN fully equipped FF responding. All from the same agency, with the same training, SOP's, equipment, and leadership. Wow, who can beat that?
SIXTY-FIVE fully qualifed FF in five minutes with an appropriate span of control and properly trained supervisors for each resource. Imagine that?
I'm sure that some will argue that you don't need 65 FF for a job like that and they can do it in their agency with far fewer resources but my point is wouldn't it be nice to know that you have that many qualified guys at your disposal in a staging area a few blocks away and not 20 minutes and a dozen dispatches later?
Now, the other shoe drops. With all those resources already on scene and operating. With several highly experienced and qualified chiefs running the show, there's a collapse and multiple maydays.
What would you do as the IC?
What would you do as the attack officer supervising the missing FF?
Do you have training for that scenario?
Do you have a pre-plan for that?
Are there SOP's for the actions of everyone on the fireground when it does happen (and regrettably it will happen)?
In the Bronx, it resulted in the response of another SEVENTY-FIVE firefighters/company officers with at least another half dozen very experienced chief officers and support resources up the wazoo.
All this was coordinated by the County communications center (FDNY Bronx Radio). It wasn't the local police desk trying to coordinate all the requests from the field while answering the switchboard and trying to dispatch seventy different resources. It wasn't a dozen different PSAP's all doing it their own way. It was part of a plan! (Some will undoubtedly argue that it isn't a good plan or it is overkill or whatever but my point is there is a plan and a standardized response!).
The chief officers that handled this fire probably have at least 12-15 years of experience as an officer backed up and supported by alot of training, drills and exercises. (FDNY has one of the elaborate exercise programs I've ever seen).
What do we have?
What do we require of our officers?
How do we get them the experience they need for this type of incident?
How experienced are they?
Are there any SOP's so dispatch knows what to do when the mayday is transmitted?
The FDNY response and resources is without question unique but how would we handle this kind of response? In a simple 3 story frame house fire that spread to similar exposures. This wasn't a high-rise. This wasn't a big factory. This was a row of buildings like almost any town in the Hudson Valley, Fairfield, or north Jersey.
It's time to stop the petty bickering and organize. If we won't consolidate we should at least agree on training, equipment, and response policies so when the other shoe drops on you there's a fighting chance for the trapped members!!!
It's 2012. The time for 90+ different dispatch points in Westchester is long gone We need a single coordinated 911 center for police fire and EMS in every county with properly trained professional 911 call-takers and dispatchers doing their jobs.
Put the ego and attitide and bravado aside and start lobbying for what is best for not just now but the future!

Vehicle fires 101? The very second that video started the first thing that pops to mind is: significant downward slope and you don't anticipate a flow of fuel? This might hurt.
When I first red this in the hard copy magazine I was dismayed by the feeble justification for not donning PPE for any alarm:"Fire crews typically will not don turnout gear on such “nuisance” calls as, more often than not, the alarm company calls back with a disregard."
While the article shows the one Capt. wouldn't accept a lackadaisical attitude, it sort of shows that the "rest" of the department and it's admin do. Maybe it's a little difficult to find fault with crews dressing down, when the admin drops alarm calls to single engine non-emergency responses.
"The South Bend, IN, Fire Department, in the interest of preventing potential injuries and fatalities that are risked by sending multiple rigs from several stations with full lights and sirens, decided to change the response policy several years ago to send only the nearest pump company, without their lights and sirens."
These guys are starting way behind the "8 ball" with a poorly staffed (like so many of us) single engine responding to an activated fire alarm, to then have to gear up on arrival is amateur in my view. Anyway, good for Capt. Severeid who despite what appears to be everyone else accepting mediocrity, required his crew to perform professionally on every call.
It's foolish at best that some people are totally surprised and caught off guard when they are called out for a fire alarm and actually find a fire.

From The Journal News legal section March 28, 2012 two separate notices:
"The Croton Falls Fire District...is selling a 1987 Ford F350 Brush Truck at a minimum bid of $7,000...Bid opening will be April 23, 2012 at 7:00PM."
And
"...Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Croton Falls Fire District expend...not to exceed Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) for the purchase of a 1988 Hahn LTI Fire Truck, from the Village of Ardsley, NY."

From The Journal News legal section March 28, 2012 two separate notices:
"The Croton Falls Fire District...is selling a 1987 Ford F350 Brush Truck at a minimum bid of $7,000...Bid opening will be April 23, 2012 at 7:00PM."
And
"...Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Croton Falls Fire District expend...not to exceed Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) for the purchase of a 1988 Hahn LTI Fire Truck, from the Village of Ardsley, NY."

In my opinion, As a Volly Chief Officer not wearing your gear is excusable... It is extremely important to be setting the example for your subordinates. I am sure If that engine pulled up and the lone firefighter, with the driver, jumped off the rig in street clothes it would not be tolerated so why is the Chief, who actually performing firefighting activities standing their in street clothes. I always wear my gear at calls because I expect everyone else to, it's as simple as that.
If you are no wearing your gear you are just an educated bystander.

Ball busting is large part of every day life in the firehouse. Most days things that are said and done would likely shock many people who don't work in places where the bond between employees is actually far more than just that. That being said, anytime the jokes are so pointed that you know they're hurtful to the person or you're saying/doing things to inflict pain then it's gone too far. I've seen it happen with a couple of guys hammering each other back and forth until one's a little pissed and goes to far. Also, it's one thing to joke with the person, but when you're whispering it in the corner and talking about whatever the issue is without the person present, likely it's no longer joking.
This topic may be what I consider one of the hardest parts of those is a supervisory role. The PC stuff hadn't really come to our FD before I started and we've long busted stones on a daily basis. We also were all male and totally devoid of any ethnicity and nearly devoid of any strong religious beliefs. A lot has changed, we've had homosexual firefighters, guys that weren't lily white like the rest of us, and about 10% are women, and at least a few pretty religious guys. So in a short few years things changed while many guys tried not to recognize we had to change too. No one wants to constantly be telling people to shut up or watch what they say. On the other hand not stopping these behaviors before they get out of hand is the job of any officer. To somewhat maintain a balance you must know the audience and ensure your crew knows as well what is tolerated and when. Is this the HR answer? No. And likely it opens up some liability, but the "right" answer is nearly impossible to achieve in this type of environment and is likely somewhat counter-productive. Busting stones and practical jokes are the signs of happy crews who have bonded well. A crew that remains silent and sits on their hands during idle time is just a group of individuals doing the same job.

3 simple rules to follow,
1. If you are going to dish it out, then you better be able to take it in return.
2. Before you dish it out, ask yourself how you would feel if the shoe was on the other foot.
3. When someone tells you to stop, stop, it is no longer busting chops but now harassment.

I really can NOT disagree with you or anybody else on this. My point is that, in my opinion, we all just had clean fun at everybody's expense. Now to explain that, I guess is pretty diffucult to anybody who wasn't apart of it. Actually, I think it was GOOD FOR MORAL. Now try to figure that one out. There were certain subjects that were NEVER discussed. Family was one. Race and religion was another. No one ever had to have "Thick Skin" for that, because it was never an issue or even thought about. There was actually a Great amount of respect for each other, although in the firehouse it would sometimes seem to be almost that of a battle zone. And when we went out the door, those guys that had just acted like little kids in a Day Care, gave a service that was second to none.
I still keep in touch with many of my retired and active brothers, many who now live throughout this country. I certainly recieved my share, of a good Verbal Beating. In fact we all did. Speaking for myself, I'm glad I was a part of it from 1975 to 2004. Of course things started to change near the end. Instead of giving the old Verbal Beating in front of Everybody, I noticed there was more talking behind each others back.
So no longer is "thick skin" an unwritten requirement. Nobody takes a verbal beating at the kitchen table anymore. The verbal beating they take is behind closed doors, where an individual can't even try to defend themselves. At least I had a chance to speak my piece when the time came.
So today, we only speak of what is politically correct at that kitchen table. There is no need to have "Thick Skin". I guess if you happen to get a few strange looks during the day, it was your turn to get that Verbal Beating, "BEHIND CLOSED DOORS".

Being a volunteer firefighter with only 4 years I have been the victim of a lot of ball busting. It is alright to kid around with people. But I feel there is a very fine and thin line between kidding around and just offending people. For example I feel it is alright to joke around with the way a guy might look, dress or act. But it is just wrong once you start offending the person's personal life, and certain things that are out of control. Also busting chops doesn't work on everyone. In firehouses there are unwritten rules that you know who you can mess around with and who you can't. If your a younger guy you really can't bust a senior man's chops, that's for the other senior men to do. Some people can take all the chop busting in the world, and some people can't take any of it. It all depends on what person you come across, or what kind of mood they are in that day

Careful those are future town councilors!
Joking aside, if you don't think the lay public has running commentary like this on a daily basis, you're kidding yourself, they expect a top notch professional response in 30 seconds to "huge fires" like this. Just looking professional in the eyes of the public actually can hide the inadequacies of the system and at least not damage your reputation. While we may know the VFD guy in the t-shirt had nothing to work with and no gear, clearly his actions and catching the fire on his phone didn't instill much confidence.
The reality is that perception = reality to the public. Lesson learned here? Like playing golf, sometimes it isn't about winning or losing, it's how you look doing it.

This firefighter is disgusting. I don't know or care who he is, but what "Brother" would attempt to get ahead off the backs of his fellow "Brothers" who actually studied for the examination?
If you're dumb as rocks taking tests but an excellent firefighter, it's still wrong. The process is based on the ability to take a test, not firefighting knowledge, experience, or skill. (which I think it should be based on). But it is the way it is, and he should have prepared better.
At the very least, this firefighter should be demoted and his salary should be docked until he pays back all the extra money he earned under the Captain rank. I hate to see anyone lose their pension, and I don't know where he is in his career, but he should be fired, unless those kinds of morals and ethics are acceptable to the people he answers to.
And if the person he cheated off of was knowingly involved, they should face discipline as well.
If the list is voided, I know I'd be suing this guy!

In 1939, the residents voted to build a new fire house. The new building was built on the property immediatley adjacent to the older firehouse.

This photo was taken in the early 1950's. Greenville(Westchester) HQ's was built in 1940 on Central Ave in the Edgemont section of Greenburgh NY.