tglass59

maybe tglass59 is a little incensed that there is no o/t to cover the loss of manpower

WPFD currently runs with 8 companies - (5) Engines Companies - 65,66,67,70,71. (2) Truck Companies - 32 is a Stick and Tower Ladder 6. (1) Rescue Company 88. Ladder 34 (the 9th Company) is BROWNED out due to budget cuts. WPFD went from 170 men to 150 men when the economy went south. L34 is staffed when the manpower allows. WPFD rides with 3 men per company, when manpower allows they put a 4th man L32, TL6, and R88.
Current staffing is: 8 Companies x 3 per Co.= 24 men + Car 2512 (which is the Deputy Chief and the Aide) 2 men= 26 men per tour. (If/when L34 is in service that would add 3 men to the total, it would be 29)
I LOVE HOW ALL THE EXPERTS CAN COMMENT ON THINGS THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT!!!!

Consolidation is a separate issue. In the broader picture, it's key. However, it doesn't address the fact that NRFD units are understaffed and forced to operate short-handed. Consolidated or not, the 5 engines and 3 ladders protecting that area need the proper staffing and supervision.

Have New Rochelle consolidate with who ??? Pelham ? Larchmont ? Scarsdale? How would New Rochelle get additional manpower by consolidating ?? New Rochelle needs to get the New Rochelle City Counsel agree to fund a minimum number of firefighters per shift. Back in the 1980's there were 31 firefighters per shift
5 engines X 4 firefighters = 20
3 ladders. X 3 firefighters = 9
D C and his aid = 2
_______
31 Total
NRFD needs to go back to this level of manning plus 1 additional firefighter on each ladder and 2 firefighters to man to rescue every shift. NRFD needs to be funded for a minimum of 36 firefighters per shift,

It's 95 degrees out and guess what? Mt. Vernon has a fire right up the street from the closed fire house. SHOCKER! I feel for you brothers.

Does make sense,they don't have enough men to fight their own fires how can they send men out of the city.....

This is why NFPA 1901 requires AED's on all apparatus even if you do not provide EMS 1st Response. This is why all firefighters should have CPR and even CFR or EMT as a minimum.

Well guys after 43 years as a Port Chester Firefighter [ 18 years very active volunteer working at DPW then getting the dream job getting paid to do what I love to do this is my last day. It didn't end the way I wanted it too but away I go . I was fortunate to catch the war years when we went out every day for a job worked side by side with many dept.'s and made a lot of life long friends on mutual aid. I saw a lot of death and sorrow [ Gulliver's 24 DOA Stouffer's 26 DOA 9/11 world trade center ] and saved a few along the way but my greatest call was closing a large window [ life savers building ] for a 84 year old lady who was freezing because her window was open and she needed help. The next day she baked a apple pie for me and my partner. So I say good bye to it all and hope that I left a small mark somewhere. To my 2 sons that are following or trying to follow in my foot step's keep up the good work in this most rewarding profession . Good luck to the guy's that are left on my job and hope that thing's get better for you and the people we were sworn to protect.
Angelo Sposta [ Retired Local #1971 ]

Its not based on call volume. Its based on can they cover the calls period. And ISO does not look at the number of calls, just the average number of responders on a response. And the count 1 career guy as equal to 3 volunteers

While that's the MINIMUM legal requirement in NYS for career, for the last 28 years we have exceeded that by 2 1/2 times and now 3 times

Their are plenty of parking garages, to many drivers feel they should not have to pay for parking and these "spaces" have no meters.

Talk about a misleading headline! Nowhere in the article is there ANY evidence of "rampant misuse of sick time" yet it IS mentioned SEVERAL times in the article that the concern was mainly about swapping of shifts. Commissioner Finn made it clear to us that his main goal with this pilot program, scheduled to run until the middle of August 2015, was to ensure crew continuity. Prior to the start of the program you had guys doing straight tours (10/14 off, 10/14 3 off), first day back (14 off, 10/24 4 off) & 24's (24 on 48 off, 24 on 96 off). This is designed to eliminate the variances. Swaps are still allowed, only now you cannot owe more than 70 hours or else your ability to swap will be halted until you go below that threshold. I've already swapped two of my 24's this month due to family obligations, I've also paid the tours back so I'm at 0 as far as owing hours. Since sick time will still be taken in either 10 or 14 hour increments, I'm not sure how there will be any reduction in the "rampant misuse of sick time". The Globe does NOT like us as has written MANY negative articles about us. As always, consider the source.
And we DO go to work & not abuse the s*** out of the system. Do some research before you cast aspersions!

While this isn't a rescue pumper, the difference shouldn't be so dramatic. Tools and all this was 347k from the same manufacturer, it's not fancy but it certainly gets the job done.

That is plain crazy. Every single tool, accessory, etc better be included.... Literally... Radios, portables, TIC, tough book, ball and a s s tickler...

DID I READ THAT CORRECT $709,821 FOR A RESCUE PUMPER?

At times they will put a police officer who's a EMT or medic in the bus for a tour. They will be doing police work as well as EMS. I get a kick seeing the ambulance at a traffic stop on Central Ave.

Wow, you guys have run short staffed for so long you have not got a clue what proper staffing is. And I am not talking about this latest crisis. 75 firefighters lets see how short you really are........
To staff 4 engines (you mentioned 3, but don't you run 4), 2 ladders and a command unit to meet the minimum standards to respond to a 2,000 sq ft. single family house without a basement requires a minimum of 26 firefighters per shift. That 12 more than you currently run.
That gives you 3 firefighters and 1 officer on EVERY RIG.
To maintain 26 per shift you need 104 firefighters plus the additional members who are assigned to staff (training, codes, chief, etc.) you also need to cover contractual overtime which means each member would work an additional 20% or you need to go to 5.2 FTE's to staff your rigs, which would bring the total dept size to 135 (plus staff).
You are fighting for table scraps when you really need a steak diner. And you seem willing to accept the scraps.
And while you think you can handle a room & content fire under the "normal" staffing, you are cutting way too many corners and putting yourselves and the citizens at risk.
Now I can guarantee you will never see the numbers you should have. In fact I predicted 6 years ago that most of the career depts. were going to see staffing reductions and that we could either consolidate or each dept would suffer. I figured that we were spending the same amount of money to staff rigs with one or two as a consolidated dept would spend with 4 on a rig.
22 firefighters & officers on a response was what I proposed, and the response from almost everyone is we do not want that.
Now every one of the depts. is either fighting to survive (and I'm sorry but those that run with less than OSHA requires are not surviving) or has already faced the reductions (and more are coming).
Go read the NIST study's on staffing. They proved that fewer better staffed rigs do a better job than lots of understaffed ones do. They actually proved that 2 + 2 = 3
when 2 firefighter engines team up with another 2 firefighter engine, they are only as effective as a 3 firefighter engine and the standard says 4 minimum.

They've got a 75ft Quint and are surrounded by a ocean of tower ladders.

Dinosaur, I guess you are not a veteran! This man gave up 6 years of his life for his country and his home town. He does deserve more!

As an "Upstate guy" my commute was shorter and closer to the City than any of the 45 FDNY Lt's in my class (total 60, with 15 "up staters"). Most drove 45 min to an hour each way from as far as Orange County. I'd roll out of bed and be at the rock in under 15.

What is sad, that few are pointing out is passing unqualified probies (in addition to the disservice to the dept & the citizens) is the risk to the probie is increased. If something happens to this person, it maybe because they were handed a job, that they were not qualified for.

Congrats to Deputy Chief J.T. Nichols on being appointed and sworn in yesterday as the youngest Deputy Chief in White Plains FD history!
Deputy Chief Nichols, who is 34 years old, joined the department in 2001. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2007.
Lieutenant David Baylock, a 20 year WPFD veteran, was promoted to replace Nichols.

That was the third fire for group 4 in their 24 SHIFT. GREAT WORK BY THE MEN IN GROUP 4 AND WPFD.

Engine 65 was sent also. maybe who did the IA didnt hear it. They always send 2 and 1. that was the 3rd working fire for white plains fd in that 24 hour shift. GREAT WORK FROM THE GUYS IN GROUP 4 AND WPFD

while that sounds very noble, we all need to pay our bills. As was told to me more that once by a 20 yr vet from DFD, who has been forced down in rank twice, "I have been to all the fires I need to see, when will somebody show me some money for what we do " They haven't had a raise in about 10 yrs and have taken a 10% pay cut along the way. They are in a real bad place right now, and it isn't like you can just go anywhere to start over. Not a lot of FD hiring right now. I see it coming to a city, town, village near you very soon.
2 yrs ago they came to NY, got demoted, Last year got demoted again, this year maybe loose their pension. I think they may stop coming to ny.