firemoose827

I'm aware of that one. But it's a waste of air and only last so long... Looking for a more permanent way

This has nothing to do with them not having experience, this is just them being stupid.
You do not need to be a mechanic to understand that your car has a flat tire, but if you do not know how to fix it you might need one.

Firemoose,
Fire Commissioner elections are coming up in December. Get a candidate to run and back him. You need to start change somewhere. December 10th is a good day to start the process..

GAW6, excellent post. I wanted to clarify something; I hope my comments did not offend anyone, they were simply made in haste with a lot of anger towords a few of our commissioners who are seemingly trying to turn our department into a business. They get mad when we dont turn a profit....and seem to not care that we have equipment needs. We have an ambulance that Im amazed even starts any more, and engine that failed pump test three times and they still throw money into it and hope it works, an old rescue truck held together with bondo and duct tape, a number of sets of gear about to go over the 10 year mark, a bunch of SCBA bottles that will need to be replaced soon...they just dont want to spend money where it is needed and complain about it. We cant provide the service we need to without this equipment but we cant explain that to some of these members because they have no emergency services experience, and its frustrating.
I am glad to see you work well with your board and that you understand these issues at least, members like you would be a welcome sight, its just some of the people I have to deal with that bothers me. Hope I did not offend anyone.
Stay Safe

GAW6, excellent post. I wanted to clarify something; I hope my comments did not offend anyone, they were simply made in haste with a lot of anger towords a few of our commissioners who are seemingly trying to turn our department into a business. They get mad when we dont turn a profit....and seem to not care that we have equipment needs. We have an ambulance that Im amazed even starts any more, and engine that failed pump test three times and they still throw money into it and hope it works, an old rescue truck held together with bondo and duct tape, a number of sets of gear about to go over the 10 year mark, a bunch of SCBA bottles that will need to be replaced soon...they just dont want to spend money where it is needed and complain about it. We cant provide the service we need to without this equipment but we cant explain that to some of these members because they have no emergency services experience, and its frustrating.
I am glad to see you work well with your board and that you understand these issues at least, members like you would be a welcome sight, its just some of the people I have to deal with that bothers me. Hope I did not offend anyone.
Stay Safe

Sometimes having people that are not FF is better than having a guy with preconceived ideas or who thinks they know better than the chief. In cases where the commish is not an FF, they should be advised by the chief of department who should be the subject matter expert on the fire service.
The board should consider the needs of the department and the demands of the taxpayers and choose the best course of action with both in mind.

As a "civilian" fire commissioner, I feel I must respond to this post. Although I have 25 years experience in emergency services, I am not a firefighter and know nothing regarding trucks or firefighting. I rely heavily on my fellow commissioners who are firefighters/Ex-Chiefs/Ex-FDNY.
You are probably asking, "what purpose do you serve then"? In my position on the Board, I handle the insurance and I am the LOSAP Administrator. As a former Treasurer of the District, I also help out with the fiscal responsibilities.
As said previously, we not only have to answer to the tax payers, we have to answer to NYS. We have an outside professional audit done every year which is forwarded to the State Comptroller's office.
To have a Board the consists of all "civilians" would be ridiculous. I know of a neighboring District that has a majority of "civilians" on their Board and they have been spending more money on "consultants" than anything else. The "consultants" should be your experienced members, not some "white collar" person who knows nothing about the fire service.
I am very glad that I have four very experienced members of our department sitting beside me.

My district uses these guys.
Reliant Fire Hose Testing
67 Lake Road
Salisbury Mills, NY 12577Phone: (845) 784-6391 We have never had a problem with them, and we have been using them for several years. I dont know how far they wil travel for 5 lengths though...

The Taurus isnt any better either. I own a Taurus and drive one at work too, cant fit in either of them and my back KILLS me when I drive them.

Great post cap. This was the best response here hands down and I agree with you. I would love to see the day we all move forward and help each other instead of this crap back and forth all the time and never getting anywhere.
Its sad to admit but our leadership in my area is not the best (dept chiefs and line officers, the county coordinators are all great). Our "voting" for officers is more of a popularity contest then placing the right candidate in the position for reasons of training and experience, and its sad. Thats why a lot of departments fail though, the leadership is not what its supposed to be. I see it often, you ahve a group of well trained volunteers that show up and do what they can, but because the "leader" has no proper experience they end up looking bad. Who gets the blame? The department as a whole when it should be the leader.

Based on what I have seen over the years vacationing there, you can knock on any firehouse door in that area and see a handful of guys in the station - during the same time this fire occurred.
I agree with others that it wouldn't have mattered because of the wind, construction, and cause of the fire. What stopped that blaze was the enormous trench created by excavators and the fire line created. Could it have been established sooner and closer to the heart of the blaze - who knows. Point is, even if SHFD was out the door with paid or volunteer crews on dispatch, they were behind the eight-ball before the first 911 call even came in.
If anything can be blamed it would be years of salt water, sea air and Sandy.

Being a former volunteer firefighter and a career firefighter for the last 23 years (an officer for the last 15), here is my take on it:
Being career does not make you any better than being volunteer. I know some volunteer departments in my old hometown (Dutchess County NY) where everyone is well certified and competent, and they show up very rapidly when the tones go off. Heck, some of those guys are better trained than the people I currently work with.
It all has to do with the following and applies to both volunteer and career departments:
Leadership -- if the department's leadership does not make sure that there is a means to get their membership trained and encourages it, the department will never be functional.
Membership -- if you can't get enough people to adequately staff the vehicles when called, then the department will not be functional.
Political Support -- if you can't get the support of your commissioners or supervising governmental entity, the department will not be functional.
Fire Prevention -- if the department or municipality doesn't take fire prevention seriously and does not have a good inspection program in place where property owners are held accountable, there will be fire safety issues.
I've seen terrible volunteer departments and I've seen terrible career departments. I've also seen great career departments and volunteer departments that would put most career departments to shame. I really don't think it has anything to do with volunteer vs. career as a whole, but the specific area in NJ.
I've seen many departments here in Florida go from volunteer to career and shut down/disband firehouses completely so they could pay the staff of 2 firefighters on an engine for each of the other stations covering a larger area. Yes, you have 100% assurance a unit will respond immediately, but you have less units and longer response times in those areas where the fire stations were shut down.
This is just my 2 cents.

The fact of the matter is both services will always have those who sparr with one another for whatever the reason; let the rest of us focus on getting the job done while the others poke at each other with pike poles.

There is a benefit to having a quick response, fire spreads rapidly...no argument there. That being said it seems that a more aggressive fire prevention program could of prevented the fire in the first place.

Valid point, particularly with the loss of tax revinue from the fire (& potential loss in tourism) and the lawsuits that may come from the lost properties against the municipality for failing to replace the salt water damaged electricals under the boardwalk. A clear violation of standards and it appears the cause of the fire.

And how are the full time, career departments going to be paid for? Citizens in Jersey, as elsewhere, are struggling under the local tax burdens as it is. What would the implementation of a paid department do to the property taxes that are already among the highest in the country?
There is no arguing the benefits of having a paid department, just how to pay for it.

I am looking for a decent deneral purpose TIC. Im not looking for "TV broadcast" abilities, or 200 different colors on the screen breaking down temperatures into 1/10th of a degree for hazmat spills.
I just want a basic, bombproof and reasonably priced TIC for general firefighting use.. I am checking out the Scott Eagle Attack currently.
Any suggestions/info?

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.

I may have started this topic but lets not forget I am also a Moderator. Lets keep the personal jabs out of the discussion and let each other share their opinions and beliefs, this is un-professional to say the least and these type of personal attacks have no merrit either in this discussion or this site. No more personal insults or warnings will go out.
Please carry on the informative part of this discussion and keep personal insults out of it. Thank you.

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?

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.

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.

Staff Sgt. Todd J. "T.J." Lobraico Jr. 105th Airlift Wing of the New York ANG
Killed last week while fighting the war on terror was brought home today. He arrived at Stewart Air Base where a ceremony was held and then he was escorted to New Fairfield Ct where he will be laid to rest. Along his trip from the airport down Rt 17K to Route 300 to I-84 he was proudly honored by many Fire, Police, & EMS agencies along the way.
I stood with my department and with the following fire departments that were at the Toll Plaza, Beacon, Beekman, Castle Point, Chelsea, Dover, Dutchess Junction, Fishkill, Glenham, Hughsonville, New Hamburg, Roosevelt, Beacon Vol. Amb. town of Fishkill police, village of Wappinger Falls PD, NYSP.
It was an honor to do so and it was nice to hear of the other departments that did the same.

Yes it is veering off so why don't you PM me everbodygoes with the "facts" of which you speak, I'm sure your observations will be most enlightening.
That said, this is a great topic that illustrates the state of Brotherhood in the fire service today, thanks Brian for starting it. Hopefully members will continue to chime in with their views and experiences..

I may have started this topic but lets not forget I am also a Moderator. Lets keep the personal jabs out of the discussion and let each other share their opinions and beliefs, this is un-professional to say the least and these type of personal attacks have no merrit either in this discussion or this site. No more personal insults or warnings will go out.
Please carry on the informative part of this discussion and keep personal insults out of it. Thank you.