JAD622

Simply put, NY is a home rule state. So when you say fire, whoever the chief is gets to decide who gets to play. Until this changes, nothing is ever going to change. We can all disect this job til we are blue in the face, but until then, we all know that nothing is going to change.
It nothing against anyone, its a simple product of our state and the way its run and governed. Consolidation would be great and benificial, but until it happens nothing is going to change.
If your the chief, pick any department and have them dispatched. Hopefully they show up with enough people that know what they are doing. If not, ill call another department nd put you to work anyway.
We all know the system is flawed. Its not going to change. How bout we start talking about how to actually try and consolidate instead of asking why four departments went to a job instead of one?
End result, the fire went out. One department, 20 departments, doesn't matter. Everyone went home at the end of the tour, that's what matters. Chiefs and their fiefdoms, not going to change until someone has the balls to stand up and say its BS and then actually do something about it.
End of story/rant.

Here's the problem I have with this arguement. Most departments don't have any issue calling for more and more resources as the fire continues to progress. What I am arguing is that they should have the help there earlier.
An example I think of is a chief waited to call a second alarm. He ran out of resources and the fire grew to 4 or 5 alarms. If the second alarm had been called quickly he would have hand the resources there when needed and it is easily concievable that the fire would have been controled with the second alarm assignment.
Shortly after I was promoted a senior deputy chief stopped by to see me and he wanted to lend a little advice about being an acting battalion chief. His advice was if your considering a second alarm "give it" and listen to the voice in the back of your head. On a side note it is an excellent thing for senior chiefs to visit new officers and express their confidence.

I will happily be the first to trounce.
If you have no reserve and a truck finds extension on the floor above or the cockloft of the adjacent building who stretches the next line?
When a victim is discovered and that seach team leaves the building with the victim who continues the search?
When the nozzle teams recieves burns who takes over their line?
These are all things that happen at fires frequently enough that we should be prepared to address. If you have no reserves I know the answer you end up using the FAST. In which case you have no one available if someone really gets into trouble. Oh and your breaking the law.
If you have reserves in the street behind you all you have to do is look at your clip board see who's up next turn to them and put them to work. Once the fire is under control you can use them for relief or release them. They might actually learn something from just standing there observing.
Call all the help you need and a little more. It's easy to tell from the IA's most departments around here play catch up.
Don't worry about what they say on EMT Bravo worry about the safety of your members and the public you serve.

Just to shed some light on this event ( I was there on the first alarm assignment)the resources supplied by FDNY were a result of their own Commanders actions. PMFD Chief called for foam right at the start of this job from FDMV, FDNR and then YFD. NYC received multiple 911 calls from nearby Bronx resident's who heard and saw the explosions and the Bronx CO sent their own assignment to the scene.The PMFD Chief did not waste any time in his decisions and all of the FDNY resources listed were sent by request of Division 7 Chief on the scene.ALL units worked very well together throughout the operation to bring about a successful conclusion with no serious injuries to any members or civilians.Hope this clears things up.

Just to shed some light on this event ( I was there on the first alarm assignment)the resources supplied by FDNY were a result of their own Commanders actions. PMFD Chief called for foam right at the start of this job from FDMV, FDNR and then YFD. NYC received multiple 911 calls from nearby Bronx resident's who heard and saw the explosions and the Bronx CO sent their own assignment to the scene.The PMFD Chief did not waste any time in his decisions and all of the FDNY resources listed were sent by request of Division 7 Chief on the scene.ALL units worked very well together throughout the operation to bring about a successful conclusion with no serious injuries to any members or civilians.Hope this clears things up.

Just to shed some light on this event ( I was there on the first alarm assignment)the resources supplied by FDNY were a result of their own Commanders actions. PMFD Chief called for foam right at the start of this job from FDMV, FDNR and then YFD. NYC received multiple 911 calls from nearby Bronx resident's who heard and saw the explosions and the Bronx CO sent their own assignment to the scene.The PMFD Chief did not waste any time in his decisions and all of the FDNY resources listed were sent by request of Division 7 Chief on the scene.ALL units worked very well together throughout the operation to bring about a successful conclusion with no serious injuries to any members or civilians.Hope this clears things up.

Just to shed some light on this event ( I was there on the first alarm assignment)the resources supplied by FDNY were a result of their own Commanders actions. PMFD Chief called for foam right at the start of this job from FDMV, FDNR and then YFD. NYC received multiple 911 calls from nearby Bronx resident's who heard and saw the explosions and the Bronx CO sent their own assignment to the scene.The PMFD Chief did not waste any time in his decisions and all of the FDNY resources listed were sent by request of Division 7 Chief on the scene.ALL units worked very well together throughout the operation to bring about a successful conclusion with no serious injuries to any members or civilians.Hope this clears things up.

Just to shed some light on this event ( I was there on the first alarm assignment)the resources supplied by FDNY were a result of their own Commanders actions. PMFD Chief called for foam right at the start of this job from FDMV, FDNR and then YFD. NYC received multiple 911 calls from nearby Bronx resident's who heard and saw the explosions and the Bronx CO sent their own assignment to the scene.The PMFD Chief did not waste any time in his decisions and all of the FDNY resources listed were sent by request of Division 7 Chief on the scene.ALL units worked very well together throughout the operation to bring about a successful conclusion with no serious injuries to any members or civilians.Hope this clears things up.

Kudos to the City Administration and the Fire Department for making such a commitment to improving the Fire Department during a time when most Departments are being cut severely! Best of luck to the Brothers of FDMV!!

Kudos to the City Administration and the Fire Department for making such a commitment to improving the Fire Department during a time when most Departments are being cut severely! Best of luck to the Brothers of FDMV!!

Kudos to the City Administration and the Fire Department for making such a commitment to improving the Fire Department during a time when most Departments are being cut severely! Best of luck to the Brothers of FDMV!!

As long as Politicians control the fire service, there is little hope for our future. They are capitalizing on an unfortunate set of circumstances of which they are a BIG contributor to! (the financial meltdown of this Country’s economy) and are using this opportunity to come after us FULL THROTTLE. As anyone of reasonable intelligence should know, Politicians along with this Country’s greedy Bankers and Corporate Pirates have run this Country’s economy in the dirt and now need someone (or Something) to blame it all on!
Since almost every working American is suffering financially right now, they are easily swayed into believing that Career Firefighters and Police are the cause of all their financial woes. Most people throughout the course of their lives rarely call upon our services and many are fortunate enough to never experience the tragedy of a fire, first hand. With that, it’s not hard for some sharp tongue Politician’s along with the corporate controlled newspapers to discredit Cops and Firemen almost daily.
It’s no secret that Professional Services cost money. It’s been that way for a long time. It’s no secret that SOME have abused the system as well. Dishonesty and corruption live in every walk of life. If the dishonesty and corruption of Politicians were revealed in full to the American people, the sheer stench alone will kill us all! Their one distinct advantage is they control the Media and have the ability to influence the masses with their “Spin” of the facts. As distorted as the wish to make them! We are always defending ourselves to a tainted audience!
With all that is going on, some Volunteer organizations have seized this opportunity to align themselves with these Politicians (i.e. SVFD) to capitalize on a unique opportunity to position themselves as the answer to everyone’s financial problems. This is a powerful combination to those who do not have the depth of knowledge about the services they receive and the history of this ongoing issue. They only know what they are told in the newspapers which from what I have read, is alarmingly vague.
In a recent post, FFPCogs writes; “It may come to pass that this will be an epic failure.” Should that be the case, who will shoulder the blame? Of course no one responsible will be anywhere to be found! So who pays the price if this fails? All those who have been misled all along! Not a legacy I would want to be attached to!
………….and so it goes on.

As long as Politicians control the fire service, there is little hope for our future. They are capitalizing on an unfortunate set of circumstances of which they are a BIG contributor to! (the financial meltdown of this Country’s economy) and are using this opportunity to come after us FULL THROTTLE. As anyone of reasonable intelligence should know, Politicians along with this Country’s greedy Bankers and Corporate Pirates have run this Country’s economy in the dirt and now need someone (or Something) to blame it all on!
Since almost every working American is suffering financially right now, they are easily swayed into believing that Career Firefighters and Police are the cause of all their financial woes. Most people throughout the course of their lives rarely call upon our services and many are fortunate enough to never experience the tragedy of a fire, first hand. With that, it’s not hard for some sharp tongue Politician’s along with the corporate controlled newspapers to discredit Cops and Firemen almost daily.
It’s no secret that Professional Services cost money. It’s been that way for a long time. It’s no secret that SOME have abused the system as well. Dishonesty and corruption live in every walk of life. If the dishonesty and corruption of Politicians were revealed in full to the American people, the sheer stench alone will kill us all! Their one distinct advantage is they control the Media and have the ability to influence the masses with their “Spin” of the facts. As distorted as the wish to make them! We are always defending ourselves to a tainted audience!
With all that is going on, some Volunteer organizations have seized this opportunity to align themselves with these Politicians (i.e. SVFD) to capitalize on a unique opportunity to position themselves as the answer to everyone’s financial problems. This is a powerful combination to those who do not have the depth of knowledge about the services they receive and the history of this ongoing issue. They only know what they are told in the newspapers which from what I have read, is alarmingly vague.
In a recent post, FFPCogs writes; “It may come to pass that this will be an epic failure.” Should that be the case, who will shoulder the blame? Of course no one responsible will be anywhere to be found! So who pays the price if this fails? All those who have been misled all along! Not a legacy I would want to be attached to!
………….and so it goes on.

As long as Politicians control the fire service, there is little hope for our future. They are capitalizing on an unfortunate set of circumstances of which they are a BIG contributor to! (the financial meltdown of this Country’s economy) and are using this opportunity to come after us FULL THROTTLE. As anyone of reasonable intelligence should know, Politicians along with this Country’s greedy Bankers and Corporate Pirates have run this Country’s economy in the dirt and now need someone (or Something) to blame it all on!
Since almost every working American is suffering financially right now, they are easily swayed into believing that Career Firefighters and Police are the cause of all their financial woes. Most people throughout the course of their lives rarely call upon our services and many are fortunate enough to never experience the tragedy of a fire, first hand. With that, it’s not hard for some sharp tongue Politician’s along with the corporate controlled newspapers to discredit Cops and Firemen almost daily.
It’s no secret that Professional Services cost money. It’s been that way for a long time. It’s no secret that SOME have abused the system as well. Dishonesty and corruption live in every walk of life. If the dishonesty and corruption of Politicians were revealed in full to the American people, the sheer stench alone will kill us all! Their one distinct advantage is they control the Media and have the ability to influence the masses with their “Spin” of the facts. As distorted as the wish to make them! We are always defending ourselves to a tainted audience!
With all that is going on, some Volunteer organizations have seized this opportunity to align themselves with these Politicians (i.e. SVFD) to capitalize on a unique opportunity to position themselves as the answer to everyone’s financial problems. This is a powerful combination to those who do not have the depth of knowledge about the services they receive and the history of this ongoing issue. They only know what they are told in the newspapers which from what I have read, is alarmingly vague.
In a recent post, FFPCogs writes; “It may come to pass that this will be an epic failure.” Should that be the case, who will shoulder the blame? Of course no one responsible will be anywhere to be found! So who pays the price if this fails? All those who have been misled all along! Not a legacy I would want to be attached to!
………….and so it goes on.

Really? Are you serious?! You actually can't close ONE company without a problem. Get a couple of multiples going and you end up with companies all over the city being relocated and running like mad! As for the CFR engine program....let me start with this: I HATE EMS! I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT! That's why I'm a fireman and not an EMT/Medic. That being said, it is an extremely effective lifesaving tool. Your B.S. line that it doesn't work deprives the rest of your statements of credibility! To be blunt, it makes you seem as though you might be going through life with your eyes closed. We've performed CPR more times than I can count, for several cycles of the AED until the first EMS unit arrived. I've worked with crews that had pre-hospital saves, though fewer than those that passed. How worth while is it to have 4 extra guys to rotate in on compressions during an arrest? Do you really think the two BLS members are enough while ALS is tubing and pushing meds? IT AIN'T! We've been on traumas and car accidents with serious injury and had victims packaged and ready to be stuck in a bus the moment (sometimes 10+ minutes later) they arrive. To a lesser degree of importance, we've sat with people in minor pain, for 20 minutes waiting for a bus. Not miracle work, but I'm sure it's nice for that person to have the comfort of first responders on scene.
I don't like EMS work, but that doesn't change the fact that countless lives are saved (or at least made more comfortable) every year by the speedy response of a CFR engine.
The FDNY can't spare a single engine or ladder company. Not one. They might not be busy all the time, but they're needed when it counts. If running EMS helps justify they're existence to those who don't understand how the fire service works, then I'm all for it. The CFR engine program saves lives, both at EMS and by keeping more companies open and available when fires break out.

Finally Justice for FDNY 343, NYPD, Port Authority and nearly 3000 Americans! Thank you to our Amazing Military Men and Women! God Bless America!

Finally Justice for FDNY 343, NYPD, Port Authority and nearly 3000 Americans! Thank you to our Amazing Military Men and Women! God Bless America!

Is this a dig? If so, it's not particularly constructive... In fact, there is nothing funny about it, but it raises a real concern.
This is not to call into question the dedication of a particular organization's firemen, nor their professionalism and drive. Really, it doesn't need to be discussed in relation to ANY particular fire department. What an MCI such as this might highlight is a need for an MCI response plan that includes multiple agencies......or some kind of consolidation to form a larger agency with the means and necessity for more equipment.
I did not respond to this box yesterday, but I was at work and listening. There were an incredible amount of units on the scene to mitigate this disaster. Rescues 3 and 4 operated including, at least Collapse Rescue 3. That's 12 firemen, on top of an entire first alarm assignment. 39 pairs of hands. Add to that a few chief's and their aides, plus ESU and a FAST truck (Which sounds like a good idea to me when you have members working in a large, unstable and overturned bus). Top that off with 10+ EMS units, FDNY RAC 4 with temp. morgue set-up and Haz-Mat 1 to manage the fuel containment. That was all within the first few minutes. Many more followed. I'm sure you can up the tally with a great deal of DOT and Police units.
All of these resources and they had their hands full. These are people used to working together with a great deal of equipment at their disposal. More equipment than most Westchester Dept's. (outside of the bigger cities, Yonkers, NR, ect) have. So, what do you do? Who calls for what units and equipment? This seems like a perfect example of a need to utilize some kind of automatic response matrix with multiple F.D., P.D. and EMS agencies with a predetermined I.C. to maintain organization.
Clearly, and thankfully, this is an oddball event and no one knows exactly what to expect or how to perfectly handle each incident. However, it would be a good idea to consider what MIGHT be needed so that the proper personnel and apparatus are alerted quickly.

Although this entire event is surely tragic, I feel that the most horrific aspect of this tragedy is that this "mental case" shot an innocent 9 year old girl to death in cold blood and the news focuses largely on the Congresswoman as the majority of the story. Not to say "any" life is more important than any other, it just shows how slanted the media can be with stories of tragedies like this. Just my .02cents.

Although this entire event is surely tragic, I feel that the most horrific aspect of this tragedy is that this "mental case" shot an innocent 9 year old girl to death in cold blood and the news focuses largely on the Congresswoman as the majority of the story. Not to say "any" life is more important than any other, it just shows how slanted the media can be with stories of tragedies like this. Just my .02cents.

Although this entire event is surely tragic, I feel that the most horrific aspect of this tragedy is that this "mental case" shot an innocent 9 year old girl to death in cold blood and the news focuses largely on the Congresswoman as the majority of the story. Not to say "any" life is more important than any other, it just shows how slanted the media can be with stories of tragedies like this. Just my .02cents.

Although this entire event is surely tragic, I feel that the most horrific aspect of this tragedy is that this "mental case" shot an innocent 9 year old girl to death in cold blood and the news focuses largely on the Congresswoman as the majority of the story. Not to say "any" life is more important than any other, it just shows how slanted the media can be with stories of tragedies like this. Just my .02cents.

Maybe they are Dave Matthews Fans!!

Maybe they are Dave Matthews Fans!!

I'm picking this thread up, I don't know what was removed according to Chris, but I'd like to pipe in here. If there is "chatter" of a firehouse closing (I haven't heard about anything like that in Yonkers myself, except here in this thread) then let's please not be offering up thoughts like this one. To reduce the idea of a fire station closing to the simple idea of one being architecturally superior in your opinion, is quite insensitive to the idea that there might be firefighters, human beings and good ones at that imo, whose jobs could be jeapordized as a result.
I've followed your postings in the Stamford thread, you seem to have lined up with this FPCoggs fella, so you might be expressing your talking points that you believe in regarding the Stamford situation, but try not to let it bleed over into Westchester County.
Everybody is facing challenging financial situations right now. Municipalities are doing things, they are making cuts, they have laid people off; the fire service and the police departments are always first on the target list when the times get tough. It received little attention here when a post showed the tax collection revenue breakdown for Westchester County. The school budgets are incredible. Well over 50 percent of every tax dollar collected in Westchester goes to schools. 2 percent goes to fire districts. Cities break down from their own budgets. The percentages are different, but the attacks are always the same.
The gains that professional firefighters and cops have made over the decades are impressive. We and the generations before us, fought and went to courts and built our jobs into respectable careers. Naturally, when the economy goes down, and it always eventually goes down, just like it always eventually goes up, the "civil servant" comes into the headlights when things go down, and governments run their budgets down. The politicians, and their supporting casts of political appointees protect themselves by pointing a finger at cops and firemen who they just sat across a table from and negotiated a contract a few years ago. Everything was rosy for the economy, the plans were large, etc. And then the pile on begins. People are outraged by their tax bills on their homes in Westchester. Fair enough, but come up with smart solutions. Emergency services should be DEAD LAST on the target list for politicians. But, people forget. Their memories are short. They forget about 9/11, they forget about the homegrown terrorists who are spreading all over the country planning to do harm on our citizens again.
But, complacency on the part of the general public eventually leads them to point the finger at the firehouse. The disgruntled guy down the street who got screwed out of his job by the greedy corporation he worked for, who sent his job overseas to Bangladesh, he's usually the first guy complaining about the cops and firemen. Then there's the envious, the ones who couldn't make it, couldn't score well enough, whatever. You can count on a percentage of those guys to be loudmouth whiners about civil servants, complaining about taxes, etc. Then there's the "monnied" amongst us. Suprising how the richest, the elite, wind up holding most of the political seats. Nah, I'm not saying they "buy" their positions of power.
It's funny though how so many times, a firefighter local ends up sitting down across the bargaining table from the well heeled crowd. The "elected." Laughing out loud.
Okay, so that's my soap-box entry, good luck YFD, keep safe out there.