antiquefirelt

Unless its changed lately, Boston allows its firefighters to choose what they wear on their lower extremities. I believe the choices are: bunker pants and boots, uniform pants and 3/4 boots or uniform pants and uniform boots. This is evidentally an open ended trial period to determine the safety issues. For awhile BFD wore full bunkers and then saw an increase in heat related injuries and decided to test the issue inhouse. I'm not sure I agree, but I see the issue and would note that Chicago has yet to wear bunker pants. As for the helmets: leather New Yorkers are still pretty standard but I'll bet the "old" you're referring to is the helmet fronts that are made locally to Boston and look old when they're new. The Boston jakes do a hell of a job, but they're still a little behind in some ways, but you'll have to prove it by them. Hell, last time i was there, we saw guys standing in the open rear jump seat areas leaning out to see where they were going ona run!. As the new fully enclosed cabs take over I guess they'll have to sit down?

I'm pretty sure ADA requirements say all new public buildings with more than one story must have an elevator. I know of a few new stations that had to have them to meet ADA, even though the eleveator serviced non-public spaces. Where I am, not NY, the State Fire Marshal's Office must approve all building plans for those that met certain criteria, and they look for ADA compliance. ADA is a federal thing, BTW, no state to state loosening of the rules (they can make them tighter). So in our area no plans recieve approval without ADA compliance. This includes ramps, bathroom turnaround distances, wheelchair useable sinks, elevators and more. Of course ADA is enforced through a "complaint " based system. Basically you're all set untila complaint is registers. But, look out then because there's little mercy for those who ignored the rights and requirements for handicapped persons.

I'm pretty sure ADA requirements say all new public buildings with more than one story must have an elevator. I know of a few new stations that had to have them to meet ADA, even though the eleveator serviced non-public spaces. Where I am, not NY, the State Fire Marshal's Office must approve all building plans for those that met certain criteria, and they look for ADA compliance. ADA is a federal thing, BTW, no state to state loosening of the rules (they can make them tighter). So in our area no plans recieve approval without ADA compliance. This includes ramps, bathroom turnaround distances, wheelchair useable sinks, elevators and more. Of course ADA is enforced through a "complaint " based system. Basically you're all set untila complaint is registers. But, look out then because there's little mercy for those who ignored the rights and requirements for handicapped persons.

Which reminds them which way the stream selector needs to be turned prior to entry.  It still surprises me when I assist with drills or teach advanced firefighter courses how many firefighters still do not know which way to turn the selector when asked, or forget to even turn the selector, check the stream and bleed out the air prior to entering the structure or fire room.

←

Nozzle pattern selection: Right is RIGHT and Left for Lobster!!

with a fog nozzle, if you  are pulling memebrs out of a building and going defensive, a fog is a beeter "cover nozzle"  due to is versable  stream selection, giveing the firefighter extra coverage.  Sorry about that I should have been more clear.

←

This is a huge myth! Why would you want to flow fog into a structure to cover a retreat? The cool air sucking in around the nozzle gives you a false sense of security. As was stated previously: GPM, GPM, GPM. Nothing else stops advancing fire. In fact a fog nozzle created a negative pressure vortex directly in its center which actually can draw fire toward the nozzle. (seen clearly in LPG training). Fog is better for hydraulic vents, and "capturing" 3-D fires, but thats about it. Oh yeah, they're better at eating up budgets too!

While not in your area, we too runa two tag system. One goes on an "Onscene" board on each apparatus and the second goes on a traffic cone placed outside the point of entry. Getting the cone palced initiallly is the real problem for us. We now also carry oversized tags with a small metal loop and a drwstring to attach to door knobs or other things at the point of entry in case the cone was not brought up. Upon arrival of the Safety Officer he begins tracking all tags and has the option of collecting them (single or 2 nearby points of entry) or leaving them and monitoring personnel to ensure compliance. The hardest part is making everyone tag up on every call: training, AFA's, car fires, etc. We must tag in everytime to make sure we'll do it when it counts. As for M/A Co.s we require that they maintain their own accountability and that only Qualified interior firefighters respond (minus the driver/operator).

Is there any way to tun off the OTJNY copyright when posting here where photos are secure. Honestly it looks like some great shots, but they're painful to look at with the Banner across the middle. Anyway, I'm just wondering is we can enjoy them more without someone "stealing" them?

We specifically are replacing our straight stick with a tower for this reason (among many). The prevelance of trusses and lightweight construction have basically got us thinking that in the next 20 years roof ventilation will become much more dangerous as the number of liller roofs are built. Venting from a tower bucket is the safest way thus far. I like the shape charges the ESU guys have for doors, but they won't let us try it!

The "Class K Fire" kills me! What happened, they invented a Kitchen exitinguishing agent so that you don't have powder everywhere and suddenly that chages teh class of fire itself? What a joke.

Does Brewster, or anyone else who uses these reel trucks, drive over the hose when reloading (not on the hose!) or back up the whole time (risk of backing accident).? Also, what about some sort of small tank with a spray rig for cleaning?

That Probobly was the most moving Hour of TV i have ever watched.

←

Ditto! I can't think of a show that made me feel happier for someone or a family. Of course I realize that Sears and Olive Garden do these things for the publicity, but I know that I think more of them because of this. They've done a great thing here for the Arena's, and therefore our fire service family. I know I'll feel good about giving them my patronage.

Looks good to me. My only comment is this. There's nothing worse than rollingin knocking down the fire, safely and quickly, and then spending 20 minutes looking like a Monkey F***ing a Football trying to open the hood! After the release mechanism/cable is gone or can't be pulled (not just in the passenger compartment) I recommend just going with a saw. I've seen great firefighters spend 15-20 miutes bending, banging, and prying to get into a hood. Now the public that was cheering after theknock down is lauging at the Keystone FD being outsmarted by a Yugo! 15 seconds and a V-cut, hood's open .

We just ordered our first on our new tower. After seeing a few in D.C. I was sold on them. From 5-6 blocks away in full sunlight, its the only thing you see. This may be an eye catching thing vs. the lumens or other science behind light. As for safety, ours will stop spinning when the brake is set or truck is in N. Not sure if that's standard but it makes alot of sense. For now, until the cops freak out on us it will be red, white and green.

From the Firehouse employment section, regarding Cities with upper age requirements:

You must also be younger than age 32 as of May 15, 2006, to be appointed as a Firefighter in the following civil service municipalities:

Acushnet, Arlington, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Canton, Chelmsford, Dracut, Easthampton, Easton, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Hudson, Ipswich, Leominster, Malden, Mansfield, Marblehead, Methuen, Milford, Newton, North Andover, North Attleboro, Norton, Norwood, Stoneham, Ware, Watertown, Wellesley, Westfield, West Springfield, and Wilmington.

You must be younger than age 32 as of June 10, 2006, to be appointed as a Firefighter in the following civil service municipalities:

Andover, Belmont, Boston, Bourne, Dedham, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Holbrook, Natick, Shrewsbury, Swampscott, Taunton, Westwood, Winchester, and Worcester.

Check our website for the most current listing.

There is no upper age limit for appointment in the following civil service municipalities:

Abington, Agawam, Amesbury, Athol, Attleboro, Beverly, Brockton, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Danvers, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Gloucester, Greenfield, Holyoke, Hopedale, Hull, Lawrence, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Marlborough, Marshfield, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Nahant, Needham, New Bedford, Newburyport, North Adams, North Reading, Peabody, Pittsfield, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Saugus, Scituate, Somerville, Springfield, Stoughton, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Waltham, Weymouth, Whitman, Winthrop, and Woburn.

In perfect timing Firehouse this month has a legal article about the DC court ruling and/or injunction on the "grooming" standard.

Let me clear some of this up: I personally think a No Beards Policy has merit. I find they rarely look professional in a uniform, but thats my opinion. The cops in our City got the right to wear them just to piss off their old Chief. It worked but they look stupid! As for the seal: If the fit test doesn't test for a "good seal" than what good is it? Don't tell OSHA or the BLS or else we'll have to go through a 5 hour test procedure under all expected conditions. It won't always work given the enviroment we operate in, beard or not. As far as letting contaminants in: if they get in - check your SCBA because it is working correctly if anything gets in. If you lose a seal the big concern is losing precious air! Does your dept. policy speak to how often you must shave? On my shift one guy probably will never have to shave in his life, another needs to shave every 4-5 hours to be "clean shaven". How about our long droopy mustaches that we pride ourselves on? Most grow into the seal area. Again, personally, I don't like them, but I'm frequently accused of forcing my opinions into the work rules. You know like uniforms ought to be uniform, looking and acting professional are part of your job, etc.

I'll start by saying none of our personnel have any form of a beard other than 2-3 days growth (how about this?) But as the quoted from the Respiratory Standard: no facial hair that interferes with the SCBA mask seal. If you pass a fit test with a beard, haven't you proven that your beard doesn't interfere? As for teh test vs. the real deal: the test is done under negative pressure so the chance of a leak is much greater. When wearing the SCBA your mask is slightly pressurized pushing any contaminants away from any break in the seal. Also, if we are doing teh fit test correctly you should work the seal with movements and talking to try and dislodge it. No it ain't perfect but if we keep forcing volunteers to do things we're going to run out. As for career personnel, look as DCFD last year or so for a case of religous beliefs and beards. The career guys whose beliefs require beards can keep them and be interior firefighters.

One has to wonder how the Peirce mid-mounts will work out. They have the largest jack spread of all MM's yet they bought them foir one of the most compact city's in the nation. The E-One jack system is superior to anyone's, just the rest of the truck is questionable.

Where are you getting a National Firefighter 1 or 2? The only standard is NFPA and to my fairly educated knowledge there is no such thing as Nationally Certified as a firefighter. That being said, there could be ARFF stuff and there defineately is national registry EMS levels. Many states may have reciprocity with other states, but there is no nationally recognized curriculum that certifies you anywhere in the country. This is an initiative of many NFA staff and fire service leaders nationwide. Their theory is to have a national certification like Docotrs, Lawyers and EMT's so we can become a true "Profession". See Fire Chief or Firehouse article by Denis Oneal the superintedant of the NFA.

As EWAC said the type of aerial device has no bearing, it is that you have the requisite number of aerials, they carry the ISO equipment list, you've certified them each year. There are way more pitfalls that most of us need to overcome. Satffing, response time, water supply (this kills us), dispatch systems (another issue in our area) and training. Many departments think that by having automatic aid they get full credit for their neighbors equipment- this is not true. TYou can get partial credit with well documented quarterley combined training and proper response times. But as we found when we used a mutaul aid companies ladder while ours was OOS, they did 75% of their calls in our city and could lose partial credit as it is their only truck co. Shared resources must still allow for adequate coverage in the owners municpality most of the time. I don't remeber the exact numbers, I'll see ehat I can dig up.

But you will be deficient in points if you do not have a ladder and they think you should.

I meant having a stick or tower. You are right, you definetly need an aerial in almost all cases.

←

Yeah, sorry I didn't :what ladder you use".

Coat:

Leatherman tool(clipped outside)

latex gloves

hose strap

wire cutters

utility knife

mini flashlight

Big Ed Rechargeable light (clipped outside)

spare radio battery

waterproof hydrant list (location, psi, flow)

safety glasses

Pants:

40' webbing

40' 3/8" military rope

extrication gloves

folding knife (clipped outside)

Radio strap:

radio

cellphone

How does the White Plains system work? 3 days on, 2 off, 2 days and 4 off? Which are days and which are nights? You don't work 3 full 24 hr days ina row do you?

We work the 10/14 with 4 Platoons (Shifts), it was stated by one of our Officers that if we went to a 24hr shift system, that we would only need 3 Platoons to work the 24hr Shifts, freeing up 1 Platoon of Firefighters.

←

This will cause a reduction of 25% of your career forces! You'll be working 24 on 48 off as we are where I am. Our station did 2500+ runs (including medicals) last year. Its not so bad but a 4 shift system of 24 hrs would be much better. The dept.s that I know that have switched from 10/14's to 24 hrs. work a shift like this: 24 on 24 off, 24 on 5 days off. If your dept. was to go to this and make you be available as part time (retained) during some of you off time, it would be better than switching to a 3 shift system. The three shift system averages 56 hr weeks vs. the 42 hr week with four shifts. Here in the States there are not many places that force you to be a part time firefighter on you "days off", becuase they'd have to pay you overtime per the Federal Fair Labor Standars Act. It has actually been used to force firefighter to not volunteer in many areas.

How about a brief synopsis of these two awesome peices? Pump, tank, hose capacities, hydraulic tools, generators. You know the important stuff. They look great but I'd like to know more about the functionality as we're just starting our specs for a rescue pumper and R47 looks like what we're thinking.