201/65

Anyone ever come across an outrigger that lifts off the ground during aerial operations? We have a 98 Pierce 100' rear mount tower ladder. The unit has 4 outriggers and the right rear stabilizer foot lifts up and disengages all aerial controls anytime the ladder is brought to the left. To re-engage controls you must switch back to stabilizer mode, drop the foot down to the ground again and then switch back to aerial mode.
The unit has been to our shop and been back to Pierce where the engineers deemed it "normal" based on the age and wear and tear of the vehicle and stated it was the suspension shifting. We have tried it in various situations and have jacked the truck up high enough to eliminate the suspension (in the rear) from the scenario completely. I can hardly believe this is normal.
ps - At 100 feet in the air it's scary moment when the ladder jerks to a stop and the truck teeters back and forth on 3 outriggers.

This fight has been going on for at least 20 years. I can remember as a young buck when they were first establishing the 911 system, people realized that the numbering system was both random and really stunk. There were several proposed new systems, all of which were met by senseless arguments. They ranged from "who is going to renumber our vehicles" to "my department number from the state has a leading zero, what are we going to do with that" (not really a senseless argument, since it causes havoc in many computer systems) to "we're department 36, we don't want to change our number for the county" to "we've been doing it this way for X years, why change". Well, as usual, politics being what they were, we've gone 20 years and no improvement in the system.
The first solution to this "problem" is having command officers familiar with the capabilities of their neighboring departments. Nothing will ever be perfect for the mutual alarm assignments as you can cross battalion, county, and even state lines but you should know what your neighboring departments' equipment for the first few alarms. For example, my department was dispatched mutual aid to a bordering department with a FAST team several years ago and, at the time, our FAST team's response was with our rescue. We were instructed by command (via county, a whole different communications issue) to hit the hydrant at the corner of street A and B. I was absolutely appalled that the command officer of a bordering department didn't know that (1) our rescue was coming with our FAST and (2) the only pump on our rescue was a portable pump.
Once the poor training of command officers is dealt with, the poor information availability at county needs to be dealt with accordingly. Trying to make a standard list of equipment that has to be announced with every transmission to county is just making life more difficult for everyone and it will never deal with every special request. Get back to the basics: engine, tanker, ladder, tower ladder, rescue, utility, boat, misc. (add in squad or light rescue if it really meets your fancy). If you need a specific resource as command and you are beyond the area that you know, that's fine. "KEE-315, 36 Control, Orange 911, I need the next available heavy rescue, high volume engine, high volume hose vehicle, etc. etc." The CAD system should be able to have qualifiers on each piece of apparatus and allow the 911 center to dispatch the closest available unit to meet command's needs (that's if they listened to me because I failed to wait to be acknowledged). That's where your additional information is placed, not on some radio identifier.
Departments also need to get over the whole "my department number is whatever follows the 360xx in the state system". The state system is not a perfect fit for your department's radio ID, nor was it designed to be. For example, Ulster County did not eliminate trailing zeros in their system, which is a communications nightmare. For example, is "Car Eighty Three" the third officer of New Paltz Rescue or the first officer of Mobile Life? Changing the radio identifier to "80 dash three" to eliminate this confusion was a patch, not a fix. It's only good until the first person forgets, then you have confusion. The Dutchess system starts at 31 and has no trailing zero companies, thus eliminating that confusion.
Learn from the past mistakes or things that don't work quite right in other neighboring systems and come up with something that makes sense for Orange County. Put aside politics and petty gripes and get the knowledgable people in our county together at a table and let them hammer out a system that is truly beneficial for fire response. While they're at it, maybe they should look into an avenue for common communication between fire and EMS. The OC911 center is so concerned about the traffic coming through their radios, why am I always tying up 2 dispatchers and 2 frequencies to transfer information between fire and EMS? There are a lot of good ideas roaming around the county system, they just seem to all be off on different tangents.

I'd still suggest that they be trained to the EMT-Basic level if for no other reason then the likelihood of injuries to their associates. Whether it be fireground, during training, or whatever the environment, having the extra knowledge could prove beneficial.

I wish I had the time this evening to get on my soap box about duplication of apparatus in Westchester County and the need for a system that gave departments the ability to specialize in certain services rather than providing every service poorly. I just don't understand why the rest of America gets it and the NYC metro area doesn't.... Let one municipality deliver great rescue services and the next provide great truck company operations... So many places I can go with this. Time doesn't permit
With regard to Rescue Trucks.... Don't mistake a rescue truck for a rescue company...

Link to Incident Alert
Poughkeepsie Journal Article
Poughkeepsie Journal Photo Gallery



http://youtu.be/w6oDU2r7J5Q

Date: August 1, 2011
Time: 09:50ish
Location: 74 Fitzgerald Ct. x Rt. 17M
Frequency: OC Fire Disp., OC F1, OC F2, & Monroe UHF FG
Units Operating: Monroe Stations 1, 1a, 2, & 3, Woodbury Truck 504, Washngtonville FAST, South Blooming Grove E-587, Chester E-911, Greenwood Lake E-620, Tuxedo E-574, Salisbury Mills E-560, Monroe VAC 413 & 414F, Mobile Life ALS 286 & 295, Warwick VAC 202 & 204
Units Standing By: Chester T-917 & Cornall E-400 --> Monroe Sta. 1, Warwick E-634 --> Monroe Sta. 3, Vails Gate E-481. --> Highland Mills (Woodbury), New Hampton E-722 --> Chester Sta. 1, West Milford (NJ) E-4 --> Greenwood Lake FH, Maybrook E-218 --> Salisbury Mills Sta. 1, Campbell Hall Ta-904 & Montgomery E-223 --> Washingtonville FH
Coordinators/FI's: 36-15, 36-101, 36-103, 36-109, & EMS 1
Weather Conditions: Hot & Humid
Description Of Incident: Working Fire in a multiple family wood frame, fire in 2 of 10 units
Reporters:
Writer: 201/65
10 Min Check: Cmd reports heavy fire from the rear of a multiple family wood frame, multiple apartments involved, multiple lines in operation, fire not under control. Also advises multiple pts for EMS to evaluate
20 Min Check: Cmd reports same status as last, add an ALS ambulance, move up 2 engines and back fill off the 3rd
30 Min Check: Same status, 3 engines to stage for relief purposes
40 Min Check: Didn't catch it
50 Min Check: Still active fire, contained to 1 section because of the fire wall
Move 2 engines up from staging (911 & 620), keep apparatus and tools on 17M, manpower only needed
60 Min Check: Fire contained to 2 end units of 10 units in building, operations but not the fire are under control
70 Min Check: Fire knocked down & under control, overhaul in progress
80 Min Check: Units still operating, operations are status quo, requesting add'l FI, 36-103 required rehab
EMS requesting add'l rehab supplies & misting fans to the scene
90 Min Check: Units still operating, no change
12:05hrs: Cmd reports fire under control, awaiting an excavator at this time
12:30hrs: Staging terminated, starting to release m/a
12:44hrs: EMS reports 1 pt being txp ALS to Arden Hill, Mobile Life 286 enroute as ALS replacement

Date: August 1, 2011
Time: 09:50ish
Location: 74 Fitzgerald Ct. x Rt. 17M
Frequency: OC Fire Disp., OC F1, OC F2, & Monroe UHF FG
Units Operating: Monroe Stations 1, 1a, 2, & 3, Woodbury Truck 504, Washngtonville FAST, South Blooming Grove E-587, Chester E-911, Greenwood Lake E-620, Tuxedo E-574, Salisbury Mills E-560, Monroe VAC 413 & 414F, Mobile Life ALS 286 & 295, Warwick VAC 202 & 204
Units Standing By: Chester T-917 & Cornall E-400 --> Monroe Sta. 1, Warwick E-634 --> Monroe Sta. 3, Vails Gate E-481. --> Highland Mills (Woodbury), New Hampton E-722 --> Chester Sta. 1, West Milford (NJ) E-4 --> Greenwood Lake FH, Maybrook E-218 --> Salisbury Mills Sta. 1, Campbell Hall Ta-904 & Montgomery E-223 --> Washingtonville FH
Coordinators/FI's: 36-15, 36-101, 36-103, 36-109, & EMS 1
Weather Conditions: Hot & Humid
Description Of Incident: Working Fire in a multiple family wood frame, fire in 2 of 10 units
Reporters:
Writer: 201/65
10 Min Check: Cmd reports heavy fire from the rear of a multiple family wood frame, multiple apartments involved, multiple lines in operation, fire not under control. Also advises multiple pts for EMS to evaluate
20 Min Check: Cmd reports same status as last, add an ALS ambulance, move up 2 engines and back fill off the 3rd
30 Min Check: Same status, 3 engines to stage for relief purposes
40 Min Check: Didn't catch it
50 Min Check: Still active fire, contained to 1 section because of the fire wall
Move 2 engines up from staging (911 & 620), keep apparatus and tools on 17M, manpower only needed
60 Min Check: Fire contained to 2 end units of 10 units in building, operations but not the fire are under control
70 Min Check: Fire knocked down & under control, overhaul in progress
80 Min Check: Units still operating, operations are status quo, requesting add'l FI, 36-103 required rehab
EMS requesting add'l rehab supplies & misting fans to the scene
90 Min Check: Units still operating, no change
12:05hrs: Cmd reports fire under control, awaiting an excavator at this time
12:30hrs: Staging terminated, starting to release m/a
12:44hrs: EMS reports 1 pt being txp ALS to Arden Hill, Mobile Life 286 enroute as ALS replacement

1987 Chevy/Swab
Purchased from the Walden Fire District, Orange County, who bought it used from Park Ridge, NJ in 1996.

** Photo courtesy www.OCNYFire.com **

Date: 5-31-11
Time: 1708hrs
Location: In Wappingers Creek, Behind 10 Willowbrook Heights
Frequency: 453.900 (Dispatch Ch. 1); 453.925 (Response Ch. 2); 453.800 (Command Ch. 3), 460.20 (AFD F/G 48)
Units Operating: Arlington (32-1, -5, -9, -52, -68, -72, -73, -87); Lagrange 47-55; New Hackensack 52-55; Hughsonville 45-62 & boat (45-98)
Weather Conditions: Sunny and hot
Description Of Incident: Male possible drowning in the Wappingers Creek behind 10 Willowbrook Hgts, behind the Vassar Mini Mart
Reporters:
Writer: xfirefighter484x
1710hrs - 32-52 responding, caller will meed the FD by the creek on Willowbrook Hgts, states the male was swept downstream.
1711hrs - Lagrange responding with 1 technician, Arlington reports 2 technicians onboard.
1712hrs - Caller reports can no longer see the victim, was probably swept downstream.
1713hrs - DC911 contacting 32-9, do you want to have Lagrange switch to FG 5/6, 32-9 reports Lagrange should have AFD F/G, have all units switch to AFD Ch. 48
1714hrs - Per 32-72, have a member on scene reporting the victim was possibly washed downstream to Jackson Rd, -72 is on scene Willowbrook heights checking the area
1717hrs - 2nd Dispatch for 32-73, 32-73 Responding
1719hrs - Per 32-9 on F/G 48, request NKFD be dispatched to assist with checking the creek as well
1725hrs - DC911 to New Hackensack, requested with your rescue and manpower, to assist with a possible drowning, requested to report to Jackson Rd near Citation Drive, near the bridge by the District line
1727hrs - 52-55 responding
1735hrs - Arlington command at Jackson Rd, request Hughsonville dispatched to the scene with their kodiac boat, equipment staging at the Stanley Still Park on Jackson Rd
1736hrs - DC911 dispatching Hughsonville
1737hrs - Hughsonville 45-62 with boat is responding
1738hrs - (unknown unit on Arlington F/G) Victim located underwater
1739hrs - Arlington command reporting victim located, have Hughsonville respond Code 1
1746hrs - Per Arlington Command, request notification of (unknown, radio cut out), DC911 acknowledged
1749hrs - DC911 to Arlington Command, be advised St. Francis was notified
1752hrs - 45-62 to Arlington Command, on scene staged at Stanley Still park
1753hrs - Arlington 32-72 & -87 enroute to SFH, ALS one with CPR in progress
1753hrs - Hughsonville back in service, Arlington 32-73 back in service
1754hrs - Arlington Command to DC911, area has been checked for any other possible victims, nothing found, also witnesses only report one victim known of
1804hrs - New Hackensack 52-55 back in service

Date: May 31, 2011
Time: Approx 0735hrs
Location: Dutchess Plaza 1582 U.S. Rte 9, x E. Main St. & New Hackensack Rd.
Frequency: Dispatch 1, Response 2, Command 3, & Fire Ground 29
Units Operating: Wappingers 68-11 & 12, New Hamburg 53-11, 13, & 45, Village of Fishkill 42-13, Hughsonville 45-46 & 55, New Hackensack 52-31, Dutchess Co Fire Investigators, Mobile Life Medic 293, & SORT 3
Relocations: New Hackensack 52-13 --> WF Sta. 1, Arlington 32-15 --> WF Sta. 2, Chelsea 35-12 --> New Hamburg Sta. 1, & La Grange 47-13 --> New Hamburg Sta. 2
Weather Conditions: Warm & Sunny
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a commercial strip
Reporters:
Writer: 201/65
Approx 50 minutes into the incident Wappingers Command reported fire knocked down.

Date: May 31, 2011
Time: Approx 0735hrs
Location: Dutchess Plaza 1582 U.S. Rte 9, x E. Main St. & New Hackensack Rd.
Frequency: Dispatch 1, Response 2, Command 3, & Fire Ground 29
Units Operating: Wappingers 68-11 & 12, New Hamburg 53-11, 13, & 45, Village of Fishkill 42-13, Hughsonville 45-46 & 55, New Hackensack 52-31, Dutchess Co Fire Investigators, Mobile Life Medic 293, & SORT 3
Relocations: New Hackensack 52-13 --> WF Sta. 1, Arlington 32-15 --> WF Sta. 2, Chelsea 35-12 --> New Hamburg Sta. 1, & La Grange 47-13 --> New Hamburg Sta. 2
Weather Conditions: Warm & Sunny
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a commercial strip
Reporters:
Writer: 201/65
Approx 50 minutes into the incident Wappingers Command reported fire knocked down.

Date: May 31, 2011
Time: Approx 0735hrs
Location: Dutchess Plaza 1582 U.S. Rte 9, x E. Main St. & New Hackensack Rd.
Frequency: Dispatch 1, Response 2, Command 3, & Fire Ground 29
Units Operating: Wappingers 68-11 & 12, New Hamburg 53-11, 13, & 45, Village of Fishkill 42-13, Hughsonville 45-46 & 55, New Hackensack 52-31, Dutchess Co Fire Investigators, Mobile Life Medic 293, & SORT 3
Relocations: New Hackensack 52-13 --> WF Sta. 1, Arlington 32-15 --> WF Sta. 2, Chelsea 35-12 --> New Hamburg Sta. 1, & La Grange 47-13 --> New Hamburg Sta. 2
Weather Conditions: Warm & Sunny
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a commercial strip
Reporters:
Writer: 201/65
Approx 50 minutes into the incident Wappingers Command reported fire knocked down.

Date: May 31, 2011
Time: Approx 0735hrs
Location: Dutchess Plaza 1582 U.S. Rte 9, x E. Main St. & New Hackensack Rd.
Frequency: Dispatch 1, Response 2, Command 3, & Fire Ground 29
Units Operating: Wappingers 68-11 & 12, New Hamburg 53-11, 13, & 45, Village of Fishkill 42-13, Hughsonville 45-46 & 55, New Hackensack 52-31, Dutchess Co Fire Investigators, Mobile Life Medic 293, & SORT 3
Relocations: New Hackensack 52-13 --> WF Sta. 1, Arlington 32-15 --> WF Sta. 2, Chelsea 35-12 --> New Hamburg Sta. 1, & La Grange 47-13 --> New Hamburg Sta. 2
Weather Conditions: Warm & Sunny
Description Of Incident: Working fire in a commercial strip
Reporters:
Writer: 201/65
Approx 50 minutes into the incident Wappingers Command reported fire knocked down.

Its a commercial area, with no residential for a few blocks. If you look at this map the boat ramp is just south of Gully's.

Try this:
Simply say, "Like a good neighbor, WCDES is there!" on 46.26. Poof, the units show up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I79Jmgb8nyw

Delivered
GSO #8016 - Napanoch Fire District
Napanoch, NY
Custom Pumper
KME Predator MFD w/ 22" Raised Roof Cab
Detroit Series 60, 515 HP Engine
Allison 4000 EVS Transmission
Hale QMAX, 1500 GPM Single Stage Pump
1,500 Gallon Poly Water Tank w/ 20 Gallon Foam Cell
163" Flatback Body w/ 12 GA Stainless Steel Body
Onan 15kw Mobile PTO/HYD Generator
Akron 3126 Foam System
398" OAL/ 217" WB/ 121" OAH
ASA Voyager DUal Camera
Whelen Warning Lights
Two (2) Hannay 120v. Electric Cord Reels
NS Vertical 240v. Optimum Light Tower
** All information & pictures courtesy KME website.

Delivered
GSO #8016 - Napanoch Fire District
Napanoch, NY
Custom Pumper
KME Predator MFD w/ 22" Raised Roof Cab
Detroit Series 60, 515 HP Engine
Allison 4000 EVS Transmission
Hale QMAX, 1500 GPM Single Stage Pump
1,500 Gallon Poly Water Tank w/ 20 Gallon Foam Cell
163" Flatback Body w/ 12 GA Stainless Steel Body
Onan 15kw Mobile PTO/HYD Generator
Akron 3126 Foam System
398" OAL/ 217" WB/ 121" OAH
ASA Voyager DUal Camera
Whelen Warning Lights
Two (2) Hannay 120v. Electric Cord Reels
NS Vertical 240v. Optimum Light Tower
** All information & pictures courtesy KME website.

Not sure if this is the rig you are talking about, but they just recieved a new tanker(904) this past year.
http://www.ustanker.com/Deliveries/Delivery/Default.aspx?OrderId=79

This apparatus was delivered in 2010.
Photos are available at http://www.plcustom.com/recentdeliveries/gallery.aspx?galleryid=283&year=&archive=0&template=rescue1 .

State Fire administrator has authority to create additional teams
NYC = NYTF-1
Capital District Team = NYTF-2
They have not designated any additional teams because they claim they do not have the resources ($$$$$)to validate any others at this time.
The Career Chief's have a template which utililzes over 9 dept's - The Yonkers team as well as the Squads from other career dep'ts.
Yonkers recently deployed over 50 personnel with a squad from Greenville (for a total of just under 60) to the Buffalo area for operation Vigiant Guard for a 4 day exercise. Outside of the 2 teams mentioned above there were no other NY resources there that were even close to our capabiltiy.
Why do I point this out - it is becasue of the politics on the County and state level of pandering to every little group out there that wants to be a State team. The state knows if they acknowledge any additional groups it would create a "me too" effect and they would not want to stir up that hornets nest state wide.
The career depts in Westchester have trained, have a "real" track record and the resources to be designated a state team - It has always been my contention that these other teams are a drain on the system and create unneccessary duplication and competion for the limited resources available ($$$$$)
All the nice tales of training twice a month and having been activated (????) all sound nice but we all know the the truth - but no one wants to hear it or say it
But it all boils down to they don't want to hurt any ones feelings by telling them they are not needed or especially never going to be capable of measuring up to what they say they can be.
"The Emperor has no clothes", Don't upset the apple cart - that is the underlying message
Maybe the new C/E Rob Astorino if he is really concerned about cutting ($$$$$$) will realize that the County Hazmat & Tech Rescue team would be nice to have but are really a waste of resources that are already provided through other dept's - they all want to talk about sharing resources but they certainly don't want to offend anybody. Especially all of of the volunteer (aka voters) team members and fire fighters.
So go ahead and bang my post with the negative rep points - the more attention that is brought to it maybe the truth will finally surface - and that is all I have to say about that!