turk182

Here We Go Again,turned into paid/volley issue again. :angry: Nobody wins. Because you cannot change things in your town or how you operate on this forum. All this ever does is give the people who run this forum a headache. Just my two cent.

This is about as far from a volley/paid thing as is possible. Both sides are on the same page. I completely understand the vols. desire to operate the ladder it is one of the fun things we get to do. At the same time I think and hope the vols. understand my desire for them to respond to the fire and not stand by with a truck that may very well not be needed. While neither may agree 100% with the other we are non the less on the same page. It is not a prefect system but at least we know what we have. For me this was solely about someone from another department coming on here and saying things that are less then the truthful.

Seeing how this is now its own topic I will chime in on it. Rye's Ladder 26 is a spare ladder not solely volunteer rig. In the past when Rye has had a spare ladder it was manned by the career staff when the front line was out of service, and the volunteers/ career would man it for fire duty. When I say fire duty I mean multiple alarm fires within Rye and Mutual Aid calls for standby(calls for mutual aid to the scene of the fire have also been front line piece of equipment either engine or ladder). There are currently some members who are training to become qualified on Ladder 26, they are being trained by someone who claims to have been qualified "at the factory" which is not something Seagrave does. To the best of my knowledge this person has not been designated as a qualified driver by the Board of Wardens. I do not mean to imply that this person is not capable of driving/operating it, he just lacks the endorsement of the Board(to the best of my knowledge).

Investigate that issue further.

I do not need to investigate this further, as that I am part of the City of Rye Fire Department and get my info first hand.

I personally know thre qualified driver of Ladder 26 who is training 3 to 4 other drivers at this time. They go out usually every Sunday. This rig will be staffed by volunteers when enough members get qualified. It is good to see the members of Rye getting more active now that both houses have finished construction and the volunteers have their own rigs again.

Some of this I have mentioned above. As for the rest here we go. There has been discussion for years about staffing some of the equipment with volunteers to date that is all it is talk. How do you know what the members in Rye are doing you are not a member. There is a small group of active members in the ladder company and I do give them a lot of credit. For my 2 cents I would much rather see these guys respond to the call were the manpower is desperately needed rather then go and standby and or respond with the 2nd due ladder. The men are needed far more then the truck.

if ladder 26 is a spare... then what is the point of doing driver training on it. if ladder 25 is out of service the career man will be driving it, correct? i see a difference in opinion of what the exact purpose is of this second ladder. i believe that volunteers should have the ability to respond in as the second due ladder in certain situations (ie multiple calls in district, M/A, special call). i agree that you need the membership prior to being able to put the truck into service, but it should be explored.

where is 242steve on this one???

Calling it a spare maybe a matter of symentics but that is the term we use. When the volunteers do become qualified they will be able to drive just like they did in the past. 242steve always seems to miss the good stuff

Big difference between driving it and operating it......I hate to burst your bubble but.....It's not rocket science to "fly the stick", this is a small wheel base rig, no pump on it, with a pre piped water way...no big deal it should be very user friendly.

On another note the volunteers cant take an engine and ladder not manned by the paid guys to an alarm?

It may not be rocket science but it is not like driving your car to the store either. You are dealing with a top heavy vehicle which creates a different approach to driving. How about emergency operation in the case of mechenical break down, short jacking the truck, safety overrides, and any other issue that may arise.

They are qualifying to drive and operate the rig. It will respond to as a second ladder to all schools and large structures when a list is completed. This info came directly from a Warden of the department. You can say whatever you want, but the vollies are getting active and people will just have to deal with it.

Again there has been talk about responding additional apparatus for sometime know, to date that is all it has been. You can and do say whatever you want, but the fact is while there are some active members they in no way amount to what they did "in the day". I give the active guys lots of credit they carry a big burden on their shoulders and do the very best with what they have. A handful of guys does not provide for sufficent manpower to man two pieces of equipment.

The volunteers when qualified will operate this truck no doubt. We will all have to wait and see how things end up.

On a side note if I offended any active member from Rye I apoligize it was not my intention. It just bothers me when a has been comes on and flaps his gums like he knows it all. Stick with Port Chester where you are a member and leave Rye to Rye.

Might be my end but it does not seem to be working checked with safari and firefox neither one works

Rye always had a paid driver and waited for a tillerman. In 2001 ,with the purchase of a rearmount, they dont have to wait anymore. Ladder 26 is a volunteer rig.

Ladder 26 is a SPARE Ladder. Currently there are no volunteers qualified to drive it so I do not see how it can be called a volunteer truck.

I thought that hose threads for the fire service were universal throughout the United States.......There was an conflagration in Baltimore I think that brought that standardization right?

Hose threads may be standard in some places but not around here. Not sure how it works but for example I know Mamaroneck, Rye, Port Chester all have different threads. Rye uses NY corp thread which I believe is the same as FDNY, we were able to hit a hydrant on 9/11

Does anyone now if NYPD is starting another class. I know the just graduated a class around Christmas but I also heard rumor of a new class starting maybe as soon as next week.

How does anyone know what the unions would or would not do. I could say the exact same thing about the volunteers. I see it as the volunteers having far more to lose then any union. All those little chieftons (sp) stand to lose a lot of control and that is their biggest fear. Even in the smallest combo depts. the career end remains para military and could easily fall in line with changes. Can the same be said about "all" volunteer depts. I just do not see them doing well with someone telling them what to do. I am sure there would be exceptions on both sides but who really stands to lose more.

The whole mutual aid system still amazes me. For years, Rye and Port Chester had a strong system in place for each other. Then personalities conflicted and it all went to hell. Take last nights fire in Rye for example. I am not in any way trying to offend the companies that responded and provided assistance to this incident. Port Chester has 5 engines 2 ladders, and a heavy rescue that are available and respond fully staffed. I know that we wont send all of the volunteer companies, but this is what we have. Why would Rye call for help from such distances as West Harrison or the Town of Mamaroneck when help is just 5 minutes away? The decisions from some people just amaze me.

Not to start or continue anything but West Harrison was called as the FAST (which to the best of my knowledge Port Chester does not have). Town of Mamaroneck was called for their cascade. That aside personalities certainly play a part in the choice of who is called, in some cases it my or may not be justified.

City of Rye 1150 in 2007 and starting 2008 out on the right (or is it the wrong ) foot

Rye sends two engines (191,192), one ladder(25) and one utility(39) to all residental and comercial alarms.

One engine (191 or 192) to brush, trash, and CO calls.

One engine (191 or 192) to MVA/car fire if not on 95 or 287.

One engine (191), one ladder (25), two utilities(39,49) to MVA/car fire on 95 or 287.

One ladder (25) to lockouts.

CORRECTION

In Rye structure calls (automatic or other) 2 engines, ladder, utility. (sometimes dispatched as full department response)

Mva/ Mvf one engine, one ladder, utilities

All other calls one engine and ladder

The ladder responds to all calls for that little bit more manpower

Who commissioned the current study ? Is it another Westchester 2000? Will this thing have legs; is it the start of something real? Sorry to keep asking questions it is a great idea. Lower Westchester needs something. I wish more departments would or could be involved but you have to start somewhere. I wonder if Larchmont will get in on it now that they have a career chief. Interesting how no combination depts. with volunteer chiefs seem to be involved. Goes to what most everybody seems to be saying nobody wants to give up their little kingdoms, it is a shame they cannot put that aside and see what would be good for all.

there is a study being conducted right now to consolidate 9 depts in lower westchester. IF it ever were to become a reality, it would increase personal responding in the 4 minute time frame, and the 8 minute time frame NFPA suggests. The way i see things, and this is my opinion only, Most of Westchester County Vol Depts are such a smokescreen, that something has to be done. The patch on your apparatus says FIRE DEPT, yet when a fire occurs, 5 -10 depts are called to put it out. I understand the need for an outside FAST, but for your bread and butter 2 1/2 story frame, to tie up that many resourses, then it is time to look at the reality of the fire service you are supposed to be providing your taxpayers. If it does require 5-10 depts to field a team safely, then CONSOLIDATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION

Which 9 departments ? Who is doing the study? Did the 9 departments being studied choose to be studied? Is there more info on this somewhere ? Thanks

i had to use firefox to get .net to open could not get .com to work at all

Here is the deal Steve242 hit the nail on the head. Monday was hose testing day, and guess what ALOT of the hose failed. If you look at the green and blue hose some of it is 3 inch some of it is 2 1/2 inch. Spare hose is at a bit of a premium so what ever there was is what went on for now(hopefully ) The moral being two things: 1. Test your hose often. 2. Don't wait to the end of the year to do testing when there is no money left in the budget to replace what you lose.

How is this for a interesting hose bed. Would anyone care to guess what happened here ?

Very festive for the holiday season

Rye FD (Career) just finished today Swift Water I. Life Guard Systems taught us. Really can not say enough about the instructors, great guys, even better teachers. If anyboby has a interest in these classes you really should contact them and book a date they are busy guys, with very few open dates. We are hoping to do part 2 in November. Hopefully below are a few pics. from today.http://emtbravo.net/style_images/darkness/folder_mime_types/gif.gifhttp://emtbravo.net/style_images/darkness/folder_mime_types/gif.gifhttp://emtbravo.net/style_images/darkness/folder_mime_types/gif.gif

Date:08/21/07

Time:1442

Location: 1051 Boston Post Rd, City of Rye, City Hall

Frequency: 46.260 Fire Ground 3

Units Operating: Engine 191, Engine 192, Ladder 25, Car 2422, Car 2424, Car 2425

Description Of Incident: Fire in Generator Room lower level of City Hall Fire Reported by Employees of Building

Writer: turk182

1442 hrs smoke reported basement and first floor of City Hall

1445 hrs Engine 191, 192, Ladder 25 on scene

1446 hrs Ladder 25 reports smoke showing from 1st floor

???? hrs One line stretched into building

???? hrs fire uncontol

1553 hrs All units clear

http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/story.ph...p;source=tabbox

DANBURY – The city is negotiating for an acre of land next to the Fire Department headquarters on New Street that could one day help the department expand.

"It’s a no-brainer for me," Fire Chief Geoffrey Herald said. "Our building is beginning to show its age."

The Common Council agreed Aug. 7 to negotiate for the 1.16 acres of land on New Street. AT&T owns the land, which sits behind the AT&T building at the corner of New Street and West Street.

Negotiations have just started and no one will discuss the price this early in the process, Boughton said.

The fire headquarters on New Street opened in 1969, and Herald said it was designed to meet the needs of a late-1960s department. He said a lot has changed in firefighting since then.

Also, the department has more pieces of equipment today than it had in 1969.

The department stores much of its equipment on lawns near the headquarters, and some is stored in a hanger at Danbury Municipal Airport.

On one side of headquarters, next to the parking lot, is a utility trailer holding equipment for trench rescues. Next to that is a trailer holding the department’s wilderness four-wheel vehicle, used to drive people into the woods or to a distant pond to rescue someone. Next in line is a new hazardous materials truck.

"We’ve only had it a few weeks and we don’t have a spot for it," Herald said.

Behind the building is a former Danbury High School portable classroom the department uses for storage. On the other side of the building is another storage pod and an assistant chief’s van.

The interior of fire headquarters is cramped, too. Next to the boilers in the boiler room is weightlifting equipment. Next to that are a washer and dryer. Next to that is an ice machine.

The crowding doesn’t mean the department will get a new building in the next year or two.

"What we’ll have to do is look at the department’s future expansion needs," Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said.

In the meantime, the city can use the land next to fire headquarters to maintain and store fire department equipment, Boughton said.

The city renovated Engine 25 in 2006 after roughly 30 years of cramped conditions at the King Street Volunteer Fire Department.

The paid department will open a new fire station, Engine 26, in September to cover the city’s west side.

"It’s advisable for the city to at least negotiate for this land," Tom Saadi, Democratic Caucus leader of the common council, said about the AT& T property.

"If we don’t do this, 20 years from now when we’re talking about expanding the department, we’ll be kicking ourselves for doing nothing. We can find a municipal purpose for this land downtown."

They have not said who the possible tenants may be. When they were pitching the project to the town they claimed they were planning on going after higher end retailers . There are also plans for another shopping center south of this one. Route 7 is on its way to become the Central Ave. of Ct.

Another shopping center with office space as well. Some where around 100,000 square feet I believe.

Update

http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/story.ph...p;source=tabbox

And here's an oddball one- do you staff more firefighters so that the rotation and work can be spread out over multiple guys, with each one getting enough time to rest and rehydrate?

We have had this conversation with the Chiefs nothing every came of it though. It is standard practice to bring in extra manpower for winter stroms why not summer heat ?

Here is a little more info.

Jul 13 2007 11:15 AM

Council debates need for new ambulance barn

By Nanci G. Hutson

STAFF WRITER

The debate over funding a new ambulance barn in New Milford is continuing in another two weeks.

At least three New Milford Town Council members want information that a volunteer ambulance service is likely to exist for at least another decade before asking voters to spend $3.7 million to build a new barn on 3.2 acres of the town-owned former Century Brass mill site off Housatonic Avenue.

The issue is expected to be addressed again at the council's July 23 meeting.

After a lengthy discussion Monday night about the merits of a new building, four council members voted to send the proposal to the Board of Finance for bonding approval and then to a Town Meeting in August.

But the charter requires that five of the nine council members approve.

With three opposed and members Pete Bass and Peter Mullen absent, the council did not have the five necessary votes.

Mayor Pat Murphy said voting on the matter in two weeks will allow time for the ambulance facility committee to supply the information the dissenting council members wanted.

She said that it would also give the town's bond counsel time to draft the required bonding resolution for the council to approve.

Council members John Lillis, Pat Sherry and Theresa Volinski all voted against sending it forward until written analysis provides more reasons why the facility is needed.

In asking voters to spend that amount of money, Mr. Lillis said, he believes it is imperative they have confidence that the town will continue to have a "sustainable" volunteer ambulance company for the foreseeable future.

Council member Ray O'Brien, a member of the ambulance facility committee, said he believes that the ambulance service has proven it is sustainable.

"If we do nothing, the sustainability will be seriously eroded, and that would be a serious disservice to New Milford," Mr. O'Brien said.

All agreed a paid ambulance service would cost far more than what the nonprofit organization is asking for with a new building.

Council members who favored moving the project forward immediately argued that even if the town ends up with a paid ambulance service at some point, the facility will still be necessary.

Mr. Lillis countered that he simply wants whatever firm data can be obtained to show residents that it is a needed and responsible purchase.

For more than two years, the New Milford Community Volunteer Ambulance Corp. has been considering the most affordable options to serve the needs of the ambulance service, which has some 60 volunteers.

The building the volunteer organization has occupied since 1971, on the corner of Young's Field Road just north of the town recycling center, is too cramped to allow required training and adequate storage of ambulances and other equipment.

Last year ambulance volunteers answered some 1,500 calls.

The proposed 10,000-square-foot facility would have room for three ambulances, as well as a large training room.

The Planning Commission has endorsed the project.

Ambulance volunteer and facility committee chairman Jack Oxton said he believes a new facility will prove an even bigger attraction.

Council member Robert Guendelsberger said he is concerned with the price, but he supports the ambulance corps' efforts.

"It just seems the right thing to do," Mr. Guendelsberger said.

They should buy old Rye Ladder 26 we used to let Port Chester borrow it. Better yet wait until the new one comes in (real soon) and borrow the old one a 2001 it's in better shape then that Maxim

Isn' t the Port Authority going to take over Stewart? What will happen to these guys then? Do they stay State employees or become PA employees? From the way it sounds they may be better of working for the Port Authority.