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Are those black?!

FACT: This is not the place for everyone to get on a soap box and preach how we need more training. We can save that for another thread. NYS states that the following training is the "minimal recommended training for an interior firefighter." Prior to 8/1/02: Firefighting Essentials and Initial Fire Attack Between 8/1/02 and 12/31/05: Basic Firefighter and Intermediate Firefighter Training After 12/31/05: Firefighter I and Firefighter Survival My question to anyone that knows this is this: At what point in time was this the decided upon minimum requirements? If, for example, OFPC implemented this on 1/1/06 - does that mean everyone before that date is technically "grandfathered" or do they have to go and take the classes they may need? For example, if a member took Essentials in 1985 and Survival in 2001, do they need to take something equal or greater to Initial Fire Attack to remain "Interior?" And lastly, what do you do about those that just "need" Initial Fire Attack or Intermediate Firefighter that is no longer offered? Thanks for the input.

I'm still on the fence about everything folding into one agency. 1. With the increase in activity, would they expand their communications staffing? 2. With a growing amount of units on the radio, would there be issues with units in one part of the county stepping on others? Perhaps splitting the county into two radio frequencies (north/south or road units/other units) might alleviate this? 3. Someone from WCPD can answer this since I don't know for sure, but I routinely hear units from other areas covering other units - specifically I seem to hear a lot of "Sam 1" going to the Town of Ossining. If the nearest cop is 10+ minutes away, how is that beneficial? On the up side of all of it - it's like others said. More promotional potential, more to do, specialized teams and cost savings to all. Just keep painting the cars blue and white... it's grown on me and looks awesome!

Painting flames down the side? Nice!

This may be a dumb question, and is in no way a dig at anyone... What is the point of the volunteer companies within the five boroughs? I know little about NYC, so I apologize for being so naive.

I'm hoping at least one of you can help me here. Our Fire Department has been dispatched by 60 Control for over three years. Last year, we requested a separate phone number for fire alarms and other fire department business that would forward directly to our dispatchers at 60 Control. Sadly, our police department has convinced our village administrators that it is necessary for all of our calls to first go to them, so they can be notified, and then notify 60 Control to dispatch us. As you can imagine, I (and most others) feel this is doing nothing more than delaying notification to us. As many of you know, I work at 60 Control, and prior to that I worked other dispatch centers as well. I know that most fire departments have their own telephone numbers for their own purposes and so do the police. Our village, around the time E911 came into Westchester, stopped giving out our old phone number and told everyone to call one number for FD/PD/EMS (which at the time made perfect sense). What I am looking for is this: 1. I am told there exists a NYS law that requires fire alarm companies to first notify the fire department before making any contact to the premise, keyholders, etc. I can't find it. 2. What, if any, NFPA standards are out there pertaining to response times, dispatch centers, etc. that would help my cause. (NFPA 1221?) 3. What, if any, impact does delaying our notification have on ISO ratings? I appreciate everyone's assistance and hope someone has the answers I am looking for. Apparently the common sense approach I have that sending a fire alarm to the police first is as dumb as sending a burglar alarm to the fire department first isn't a convincing enough approach. Thanking you all in advance.

Plow or no plow, I really dig this rig. I'll take two!

Anoter question for all... I am told that there is a NYS law requiring alarm companies to first notify the fire department BEFORE calling the premise and/or keyholders. If this is true, does anyone know the specific law and where I could find it? Thanks.

Just wondering what municipalities have any kind of code / ordinance / law pertaining to Knox Boxes. I know of some, just wondering who has something and whether it is enforced. Also curious to know how hard it was for fire departments to push the use of these. Thanks.

Wouldn't planning ahead (pre-planning), knowing your district, knowing your own resources and having knowledge of available Mutual Aid resources be the grounds for calling or not calling in more help? Let me try to explain this better... I know my own district fairly well. I know where we have hydrants, where we don't, where I can send units to find water. I know (just by growing up in my town and driving around it) what areas have new construction, which are illegal multi-families with probable ballong construction and exposure issues. I know that certain streets are barely wide enough for our rigs to pass on a normal day and which are impassable when we get snow. If I get dispatched to a structure fire in our district, the wheels in the ol' noodle start spinning. Based on my information from dispatch, updates from the PD, the location, the time of day, the weather and a few more things - I know whether we need more help right away or if it's something that should be manageable with our usual first alarm resources. If it's in a building that presents itself to be more complex to us or if we encounter exposure issues or some other gifts from Mr. Murphy, then I know I can call for resources to the scene to stage. But, to be humble and honest, if you give me a "bread and butter" private dwelling fire in one of the capes or ranch homes we have in town - I don't think I'm going to need more to the scene then we already get on a first alarm. In some cases over the years I have called an extra Engine or a Truck to fire scenes because I needed manpower or I wanted to be proactive and have them there in case things went south. But I don't think I'm going to start calling stuff to the scene to stand around if the potential of putting them to use is minimal. Fire away.... but that's my opinion.

One would think so. Our Village Manager was sending a letter to all alarm permit holders telling them the number to call is the PD #.

I just wanted to give credit to the IC and the dispatchers at 44 Control for handling the explosion in West Haverstraw the other day. This audio is good listening for everyone on both sides of the radio. Here's to a quick & full recovery to the two brothers injured.

All too often you can hear PASS alarms going off at fire scenes. And way too often, people ignore them. I know that I always make a point to locate a PASS alarm and ensure it's not a distress. This also applies to the guys on our FAST. We've been to plenty of Mutual Aid jobs where PASS alarms are sounding because air packs were dropped outside and not reset, or due to a pack malfunction. In one case, a new firefighter had an activated PASS while he was pulling ceiling and went about his work. We send three guys inside and told him, and he looked around slightly confused. His brothers tried to reset it, only to find it was malfunctioning. They took the pack outside, down the street and shoved it in a rig compartment to try and silence it. Upkeep is an important issue. In our department, all SCBA issues are relayed to our SCBA Maintenance Officer who maintains all of our air packs. If he can't fix it, it's pulled out of service and sent in for repairs. Everyone should be in the habit of shaking their asses when they hear the pre-alarm, whether it's their pack or not. This will cut down the number of unneeded PASS activations.

Does anyone know if NFPA 72 would have any pertinent information for my cause? Thanks...

Yawn.... more paid vs. volunteer crap. It's the gift that keeps on giving, Clark...

The "Battalions" are Mutual Aid Coordinators. They are dispatched anytime Mutual Aid is sent (fire incidents), not including Dual Responses. They're also dispatched whenever a DES resource, such as C&O, Haz-Mat, TRT, etc. is requested to an incident. They are also liaisons to the departments in their area, holding periodic meetings & drills. Battalion 10: Croton, Montrose, Montrose VA, Buchanan, Verplanck, Peekskill & Indian Point Fire Brigade Battalion 11: Valhalla, Hawthorne, Pleasantville, Thornwood, Grasslands Fire Brigade Battalion 12: Sleepy Hollow, Pocantico Hills, Archville, Briarcliff, Ossining Battalion 13: Croton Falls, Somers, Goldens Bridge, South Salem, Pound Ridge, Vista Battalion 14: Hastings, Hartsdale, Fairview, Elmsford, Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Irvington Battalion 15: Port Chester/Rye Brook, Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck Town, Mamaroneck Village, Larchmont Battalion 16: Mount Kisco, Bedford, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Armonk, Katonah, Banksville Battalion 17: Yorktown, Millwood, Mohegan, Continental Village, IBM Yorktown Battalion 18: Yonkers, New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Mount Vernon, Eastchester, Greenville Battalion 19: North White Plains, Purchase, Scarsdale, West Harrison, White Plains, County Airport They're a good asset at incidents to act as your go-to person so the IC can focus on the scene itself.

In this scenario, are we carrying/assisting the victim out along an exterior wall? Does this wall have windows that we can make our exit from? Keeping low, and I do mean LOW, may offer you enough air to make your escape. Also, can we retreat into a room, close a door and await the calvary?

Bread & Yoga?!

Um... are these Turbodrafts still in that closet? I'll start the bidding at $500 each...

I agree Tom. I hope - really, really hope - this isn't true.

I know it's that time of the year again where many Fire Departments and Ambulance Corps. have a changing of the guard. Just curious who is moving up this year. (I like putting a name to the voice on the radio...)

Not that it's a huge deal, but it was brought to my attention that the times of our units to this fire in Ossining in the Incident Alert were off. We were dispatched at 11:58, and 2081, E119 w/ the FAST was on the road at 12:02. We know how people like to take the IA info as gospel, and wanted to make sure everyone is aware of the correct times. Thanks. John Munson Chief of Department Croton FD

I noticed in one of the articles about this fire that these folks had their home burn down in 1981 too. That's terrible. One question I have - is that a metal roof? Be safe there guys, I'm sure everything is turning to ice by now.

Really? Nobody changed? I noticed some familiar voices in different cars today and some new voices as well. Good luck to the new 2012 Officers out there - whomever you are.

Per the 60 Control CAD: Croton FD - 447. Croton EMS - 810.