Stench60

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Posts posted by Stench60

  2. Posted

    I wanted to wait until the series of articles was finished before I made any type of comment upon them. I am glad that I did.

    First let me state that I have been in the fire service for a very long time and I have seen some absolutely insane things in my day, but nothing in my experience compares to the absolutely ridiculous spending that takes place on the “Island”. The amounts of money that are available to these districts are mind boggling to me, and I have seen a lot of waste in both my fire service experiences and in my day to day work experiences. There is simply no way you can justify to me the amount of money that Coram, or some of these other districts, have spent on their houses or on other expenses.

    Now, to be honest, there is a slight amount of jealousy on my part. I’ve been to some of these houses for meetings and worked with firefighters from the island on state and regional issues and have had the way things “work” explained to me on several occasions. However it still astonishes me how they do it. It must be wonderful to be able to walk in to a board of commissioners and state that we need XYZ, and then be told OK, just go out and get XYZ and damn the price. My engine company is sitting in a firehouse constructed when Roosevelt (Theodore) was president and has not had any significant work performed since then unless paid for by the federal government. This includes the kitchen that was last renovated during another Roosevelt Administration (Franklin) by the WPA. Please understand that this is not a joke, for the first time since its construction in 1906 we are actually seeing improvements being made and paid for by our village after a years long fight.( It is a credit to our current chiefs that this work is finally beginning) To see what goes on in the districts of Long Island when we have had periods when we had to “ conserve “ resources ( including toilet paper)is, and I hate to use the word again, astonishing .

    This is probably because I am from a municipal fire department that not only must report to a village board but must also compete for its share of the tax pie with everything else that the village provides from the Police to the Library. This leads to a great deal of economy when you have not only the village board watching every penny but every other department jockeying for a finite amount of money and putting pressure on you to justify every expense. You cannot justify those chrome rims just because so and so got them, you have to have clear, cogent arguments for your requests and if you don’t have them, someone will be there to point that out. The funny thing is, if you read the articles, the newspaper points out that the municipally run departments (Cities and Villages) are actually the fiscally best run departments. The whole thing screams for some type of reform for the fire district system. The interesting part of the whole series is that we “upstaters” , as we’re called on the island, in Westchester are being held up as paragons of fiscal restraint and prudence. And to be perfectly frank, we are much more restrained than they have been, but let’s use this series as a warning not to let ourselves become gluttons and end up on the front page of our “Local Paper”.

    That being said ; I believe the other problem facing the fire service on the Island ,and nationally, is the burnout factor caused by EMS. It’s my opinion that the volunteer fire service is healthy but that the time has come for the fire service to step back from the provision of EMS services and to place them in a separate setting. As one FF/EMT stated to me recently, he can go to the average fire call and be back in 20 minutes, but EMS even with only something minor or an RMA takes at least an hour if not more. An occasional working fire, yes you can justify being gone from work for that hour plus. But an hour plus on a regular basis for the EMS just doesn’t work if you still want to provide for yourself and your family.

    Lastly, because it’s getting rather past my time to turn in, I have to state that the men and women that I have met and worked with on the island, from Members of the County Fire Commission to the various county and regional associations, down to the most junior Johnny in the sink scrubbing pans, have been some of the most caring, dedicated and knowledgeable fire personnel I have ever had the pleasure to know.

  4. Posted

    The Port Chester Fire Department and Liveburntraining.com

    Through the Generosity of

    Doral Arrowwood of Westchester Conference Center and Resort

    Present a Benefit Seminar for

    The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

    Saturday November 12, 2005

    9am – 3pm

    Operational Tactics for Garden Apartment and Townhouse Fires

    Chief Robert Moran Englewood NJ FD & FF. John Lewis Passaic NJ FD

    Thermal Imaging for the Fire Service

    By SAFE-IR

    Dollar Stores and Self Storage Warehouse Fires

    Lt. Joe Berry L-42 FDNY Ret. Dept. of Homeland Security

    Development of FDNY Personnel Safety System

    Captain Mike Hayes FDNY

    Admission is $30.00 for Pre-Registration -

    To Pre-Register E-Mail

    Seminar@liveburntraining.com[font=Optima

    Seminar@liveburntraining.Com

    Admission is $40.00 the day of the seminar - Coffee and Lunch included

    Produced by: Ray McCormack Lt. Engine 69 FDNY

    Each attendee will receive a Free Raffle ticket for a chance to win a donated prize.

    Directions to Arrowwood Conference Resort (914) 939-5500

    From N.J, L.I. & NYC – Take Hutchinson River Pkwy. North to Exit 28-left onto Lincoln Ave.

    at 2nd. Light make right onto Anderson Hill Road. Arrowwood is ½ mile on left.

    From CN. Northern NY – Take I-684 South to Exit 2. left off exit ramp continue straight to airport entrance make 2nd left onto Rye Lake Ave. At light make right onto King St (Rt120) Go 2 miles to light make right onto Anderson Hill Road pass condominiums, Arrowwood is next right.

    Join Us For A Dynamic Day Of Training!

  5. Posted

    Whew, were to begin? Let me preface my comments with the fact that no terrorist or terrorist organisation would waste any time or effort attempting to bring down or damage the Kensico Dam. The amount of explosives it would require would be simply unmanageable and not worth the effort. Anyone who is actually interested in the subject should read about the RAFs' Dambusters and the mission to destroy the Ruhr Valley Dams during WWII.

    As to whether Westchester is "ready" to handle a terrotist attack, it all depends on what happens. We are much more likely to see incidents like the London and Madrid bombings then we are to seeing someone flying a plane into Indian Point( another ludcrious suggestion). The work of the fire service at a London type incident would be minimal while the Police/EMS sector would handle the overwhelming majority of the incident. Admittedly, if the target was a fuel tanker etc. we would have a much larger role to play but that is only if "fire or Chemical" were a large part of the equation, and a role we are already prepared to carry out through our regular training and duties.

    We endanger ourselves by trying to prepare for every single eventuallity instead of the most likely incidents. Or as a wise old Gunny once told me, you try and prepare for everything and you'll end up being ready for nothing.

  6. Posted

    I've got serious gripe, that I really need to get off my chest, with the coverage of fire service news here in the county. To be totally frank the coverage given by both the Journal News and News 12 is atrocious.

    A case in point is the recent fire in Mamaroneck, a small blurb a few days later and nothing else. I only use this as one small example and it was a fire for Gods' sake. Speaking of God, it seems that in order for either news outlet to cover something positive that your department does you would need a direct command from the throne for them to even consider, much less actually cover your event.

    To be perfectly honest when I see them giving more press to events outside the county in the "local" section. I truly wonder why I bother reading the thing except for the obituaries. As to news 12, if your looking for coverage anywhere outside the Yonkers or the Yorktown areas, your in serious trouble.

    I'd write quite a bit more but I do have to go back to work, I just hope that someone from these "news" outlets reads this forum.

  7. Posted

    I thought if you covered more than one municipality then you had to be a fire district?  If true, then since Port Chester covers Rye Brook as well as Port Chester 24/7, wouldnt they have to be a Fire District and not a Village Fire Dept.?

    Port Chester covers Rye Brook under a 5 year fire service contract. There is nothing in state law to prevent a village from contracting out its' fire service or conversely from contracting for fire protection, as long as it has the agreement of the majority of the members of the department.

  8. Posted

    A few things for further clarification,

    1) Engine 58- Emergency 1

    Engine 59- Emergency 2

    Rescue 40- Fire Patrol & Rescue, Co., No.1

    2) There are no department owned antiques.

    3) We are a village fire department, not a fire district.

    4) Port Chester provides 24 hour/ year round protection to the village of Rye Brook, the Rye Brook FD operates from 7am to 7pm daily and is under the command of the chief officers of the Port Chester FD at all times.

    Hope this helps

  9. Posted

    Ladder 49,

    You,along with all other volunteer firefighters, are more than welcome to join the Westchester County Volunteer Firemen's Association and attend meetings. There, you will hear reports from all the various groups ,committees,boards etc. on which all the various facets of the fire service participate together and work towards common goals. I think you would be shocked to find out how often the various departments and countywide groups meet together.

    For information on the next meeting, just see the current issue of the Westchester Volunteer for the time and place you're more than welcome to attend.

  10. Posted

    This has been gone over before in previous threads so I won't belabor everyone with prior comments I've made other than to say that no " junior member " should be taking a training slot when a full member is available to fill the seat.

  12. Posted

    Port Chester actually has 5 stations. While headquarters may seem to be a three company house, it actually only houses Harry Howard and Reliance along with one of the emergency trucks.

    Fire Patrol & Rescue is in fact a separate firehouse even if it is next door. The county was probably not told of this when the map was made up to show all the stations.

  14. Posted

    The site on Summit Ave. is not a repeater. It is a transmitter for the new county radio system and will cover a large portion of the sound shore. The new location is due to the closing of United Hospital and the loss of the roof of the main building as a transmitter site. See the county web-site for further updates on the new system.

  19. Posted

    [The Port Chester Fire Department

    And Doral Arrowwood of Westchester Conference Resort

    Proudly Present a Benefit Fire Operations and Tactics Seminar

    For The Families of the Seven F.D.N.Y. Firefighters Injured and Killed on 1/23/05

    Care of the “U.F.A. Heroes Fund”

    Saturday April 30, 2005

    9am – 3pm

    -Our Featured Speakers-

    Mike Lombardo

    Capt. Rescue 1 Buffalo F.D.

    Truck Company Operations Private Dwellings

    Tim Klett

    Lt. Engine 88 F.D.N.Y.

    Engine Operations Private Dwellings

    Bob Pressler

    Lt. F.D.N.Y. Retired

    Strip Malls and Store Fires

    Admission is $35.00 for Pre-Registration - $40.00 the day of the seminar

    Complimentary Coffee and Lunch included

    To Pre-Register E-Mail LiveBurnTraining@Aol.Com

    Include your Name, Dept. and number of guests

    Produced by: Ray McCormack Lt. Engine 69 F.D.N.Y.

    Each attendee will receive a Free Raffle ticket for a chance to win a donated prize.

    Directions to Arrowwood Conference Resort (914) 939-5500

    From N.J, L.I. & NYC – Take Hutchinson River Pkwy. North to Exit 28-left onto Lincoln Ave.

    at 2nd. Light make right onto Anderson Hill Road. Arrowwood is ½ mile on left.

    From CN. Northern NY – Take I-684 South to Exit 2. left off exit ramp continue straight to airport entrance make 2nd left onto Rye Lake Ave. At light make right onto King St (Rt120) Go 2 miles to light make right onto Anderson Hill Road pass condominiums, Arrowwood is next right.

    Join Us For A Dynamic Day Of Training!

  21. Posted

    I have absolutely no problem with this cartoon. It makes a very valid point. Due to the actions of a few knuckleheads, every image of the fire service is now marred.

    As to accepting a greater and greater amount of (bad/ awful/ rude/ incomprehensible) behavior in our current culture, the late Sen. Moynihan had a term for it; defining deviancy down. I honestly believe in this theory and each day I see greater and greater proof of the truth in his ideas. What was considered completely unacceptable even 5-10 years ago is now the norm and completely acceptable and emulated. It's truly frightening.

    As we watch the continued "downward spiral" of society, even on this board, it has to cause one to sit back and wonder when and what will be the pinprick that bursts the bubble and brings the whole system down around our ears.

  22. Posted

    Where in the world do these rumours get started?

    Greenwich Hospital IS NOT buying United solely or in conjunction with anyone else. United is now in bankruptcy proceedings, any deals to save the institution have to be made in conjunction with a judge and all the hospital's creditors.

    Keep another thing in mind, the longer the hospital remains open the larger the debt load to be paid off or assumed by anyone else. Greenwich is not going to deplete their endowment ( $100million +) simply to keep people from seeking care. If these people have wanted to seek care at anytime up to now no matter what their economic or legal status it had to be provided by GH. Oh yeah, another reason; United, a Union Shop..... Greenwich, NON- UNION.

    x635.... To answer about protesting the closure. There are people and groups protesting the closure but I honestly believe most people realise that we are better off without the place. The facility hasn't been maintained for years, the level of care has not been up to snuff for years, the board/administration has lied to the community for years ( see the million dollars in donations for the new emergency room and where they went) and as much of an asset as it has been over the years it has also been an even greater drain on village services. People don't realise the amount of property that the hospital corporation actually owns in the village and doesn't pay taxes on, this severely hurts the village tax base ( espcially considering the insane tax breaks given to the new development in the village) . Hell, they've even defaulted on the small property taxes they were supposed to pay last year ( driving up evryone else's village, sewage and school tax).

    As to not paying, well why was the maternity ward closed? At the end, 2 out of 3 births were unpaid for and uncollectable. You can't run a hospital like that and expect to survive.

    With Greenwich 4 miles up the Post Rd. and White Plains a few miles across 287, I honestly believe the village is very well served even without United. ( my home in Port Chester is actually closer to Greenwich Hosp. than United any way).

  23. Posted

    A few more points on this subject.

    Apparatus needs to inform dispatch that they are back in quarters and off the air ( 10-40) especially in departments with more than one house or departments that use a remote dispatch ( county control). If the dispatcher can't physically see the rig bag in quarters how is he supposed to know that the rig is back in quarters safely or is still on the air?

    Each piece of equipment should call back in service from an incident separately. Just because an "IC" declares that all units are up doesn't make it so. With a message such as this a unit could then be dispatched to another incident when they are picking up half their hose bed (and before anyone comments, yes I've seen it happen) or with no available air-packs for interior firefighting or no tank water.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again renumbering with all these new designators is asinine. Should the mess with the ladders and rescues be straightened out? YES! But as for the rest, KISS, keep it simple stupid! The less a driver or officer has to remember and say the better. People have problems now can you imagine if they have to remember and say 22-25-32-1? Can the county change the numbers? Sure they can, they tell you flat out these are only radio identifiers and don't use them as anything else because they can be changed.

    I firmly believe the new trunked radio system with it’s' talk groups will solve 95% of the problems we are discussing.

  24. Posted

    Texas/ Hubba Hubba..... only at 3am with the package on, the only time a reasonably sane person would even consider it, believe me, I know.

    Pizza.... In its day Johnnies in Mount Vernon but then they moved to their present location and it's not the same flavor wise, current top honors have to go to Sals' Pizzeria in Mamaroneck.