Fireman488

We can mandate whatever training we want as the "minimum," but what a department does for it's members after that is what truly separates the "men from the boys."
There's departments that take your FF1 and consider it "enough." That's wrong no matter how you slice it.
Training + experience = good firefighters. We all know "that guy" who has taken every class, but rarely shows up on calls and when they do, you wish they didn't.

Glad to see there will be a Westchester County Convention again. Unfortunately, be prepared for all the negative comments about parades and social events.......

Comparing NYC to Westchester is like apples to oranges. In NYC, companies can move from one borough to another. In Westchester, it's usually a neighboring department moving over - sometimes only a mile or two.
Here in Westchester, the majority of relocates usually move over to another district, where they generally don't go anywhere else or on any runs in that district they're covering, with some exceptions. Sometimes, resources get relocated that aren't even usually in that district... but I'll digress. And sometimes units that are relocated aren't even moved up to the scene of a working fire, while others are called from several towns away and PASS THE ONES COVERING! Again, I won't elaborate.
Being requested to cover another district while they operate at an incident or multiple incidents is a PRECAUTION. It's moving things around and getting them closer in the event something else happens or additional help is needed at a pre-existing event. It is NOT an emergency. If you are driving from your quarters to someone else's and you get sent to that scene or to another call in their district, you can easily throw a switch and light it up.
Some of us have districts that are larger or spread out uniquely, requiring 10-15 minute responses. Should we turn out lights and siren on to get back to quarters in case another call may happen on the other end of the district?
When you send an apparatus out for repair, do you always have an apparatus to cover that unit? For example, if your department has only one Tanker, do you have a Mutual Aid Tanker come sit in your fire station until it returns? Do you drive back from the repair shop lights and siren because there might be a fire it needs to go to? I doubt it.
I'm sure I won't make friends here and will offend some of you, but let's be realistic. Going from one firehouse to sit at another firehouse isn't an emergency.
Chief Benz - you're 100% right that an accident can happen anytime, and we ALL know that we'll usually be the ones getting the s*** end of the incident. But - to me and me only - relocating to someone's firehouse is not an emergency and not worth me risking an accident.
As for the Greenville incident - I call bullshit and feel there is some other issue / underlying agenda here. Hopefully this incident passes, no wrong-doing is cited and Greenville gets the money the need and deserve.

When did you take up comedy, Chief?

This will actually eliminate some of the candidates that should not even be accepted into the departments. Some departments are so desperate that they will accept anyone with a pulse and that does not help with the mission.

Did you bother to read the article before making your snide comment? Why is it that someone always has to try and turn a positive into a negative?

Lt. Andy Fredericks, FDNY, Memorial Seminar & Exhibits



Hosted by the Elmsford Fire Department



Saturday, February 7, 2015



Registration, refreshments and exhibits begin at 7:30 AM



Program: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM



"Vehicle Extrication 1-2-3"



Presented by

Ron Moore, Training Chief (ret.)

McKinney, Texas Fire Department

www.universityofextrication.com



Proceeds donated to

Lt. Andy Fredericks Scholarship Fund

Lt. Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Fund

Burncare Everywhere www.burncarefoundation.org

New York Firemen's Home, Hudson, NY www.fasny.com



Pre-registration: $35 At the door: $40

www.regonline.com/seminar15



Westchester Marriott Hotel

670 White Plains Road (Route 119), Tarrytown, NY 10591



For overnight accommodations, please call Marriott Hotel reservations @ 800 882-1042.

Ask for the Elmsford Fire Dept seminar rate.



For additional information, please contact:

Syd Henry @ 914 490-1981 or shenry@elmsfordfd.com

Joe Dorio @ 914 536-2235 or jdorio@elmsfordfd.com



Website: www.elmsfordfd.com/seminar



Chief Moore's book: "Vehicle Extrication 1-2-3"

will be on sale in the vendor hall.

2015 Seminar flyer.pdf

I think it's impractical to think officers will not attempt evacuations when first arriving at fires but I stand by my opinion that having them use elevators is not worth the risk. If they have the keys and want to bring the elevators down to the lobby that's a great idea since it will have them there for the first arriving companies and prevent occupants from using them and being trapped. The problem with having cops in elevators before FD arrival is 1. They are taking away an elevator that the FD will need and 2. Even in fireman service an elevator is still not safe. They are a necessary evil and we use them in a calculated manner. Firefighters who take elevators always have SCBA and forcible entry tools. If elevator car malfunctions and goes to or above the fire floor the firefighters can don SCBA. If the car stalls the firefighters can attempt to self extricate with their tools. And if the car fails to respond to commands prying open the doors stops the car. This is not some overly cautious rant I'm basing this on the experience of the FDNY and personally being at fires where elevators operated erratically.

FAST should be part of FF1

Dave is an outstanding fire instructor, perhaps one of the best & most knowledgeable in our area (which is a big statement given how much talent we have in this region).

Reminder that this event is TOMMOROW!

No Syd, THANK YOU and the EFD for yet another outstanding program!

Thanks to all who attended our 14th annual seminar, making it another tremendous success!!!
I think all will agree that Captain Bill Gustin did a terrific job in presenting his case for the need of "Intelligent Firefighting."
Thank you for your continued support!!!
Syd Henry
Elmsford FD
Seminar Committee

Thanks to all who attended our 14th annual seminar, making it another tremendous success!!!
I think all will agree that Captain Bill Gustin did a terrific job in presenting his case for the need of "Intelligent Firefighting."
Thank you for your continued support!!!
Syd Henry
Elmsford FD
Seminar Committee

Thanks to all who attended our 14th annual seminar, making it another tremendous success!!!
I think all will agree that Captain Bill Gustin did a terrific job in presenting his case for the need of "Intelligent Firefighting."
Thank you for your continued support!!!
Syd Henry
Elmsford FD
Seminar Committee

Check out this NFPA section regarding redundancy of notification.
Horns & pagers.pdf

Check out this NFPA section regarding redundancy of notification.
Horns & pagers.pdf

Why is this in the Law Enforcement section?
First of all, I totally agree in required training for Officers. We recently implemented requirements for our officers, which followed the recommendations of OFPC (DHSES, whatever they are now) and/or NYSAFC (I forget who). We added some other stuff. In order to be flexible to the masses, we had to let former officers be allowed to hold positions again for another two years to give guys time to meet the new requirements, provided the past officer isn't moving up, in which case they must meet the new requirements.
Second, and I swear by this - it doesn't matter what classes or training someone has. If the guy/gal hasn't been around long enough to earn their peers' respect on and off the fireground - they don't belong in the ranks. Experience, training, attendance above that of the minimum, common sense and a mindset of doing the greater good for their company/department are the attributes of a good officer.
Third, you can have someone who either does or does not have a lot of training run your department into the ground. We have suffered quite a few poor Chiefs and poor Company Officers over the years, and I am sure we'll make those mistakes again. (Hopefully I am wrong) You can have a Chief who does nothing at all for two years, followed by one that does a ton and changes things for the good for two, then have another flapjack come in and set you all back in time again for two years. Realistically, term limits should be looked at and if the majority is content with their leadership - why change it because it is someone else's turn? If a guy is in say, 5 years, and the majority has had their fill of him, VOTE HIM OUT. It isn't rocket science to me, but I am part of the minority.
Westchester-area Career Officers generally get FDNY's FLIP school, right? Man I would give my left nut for that kind of program. The officer courses offered to the rest of us don't tell you how to handle your calls - they just tell you how to avoid getting sued and show you ways to earn your members' respect (which is fine, but where the f*** is the REAL TRAINNG?!?!)
I think there are plenty of people in this county - paid and volunteer - that could put together an amazing officer program for both sides of the fence which would cover your soup to nuts. Then, and only then, could any of us really feel "trained & prepared."
/rant

I'm a volunteer firefighter and a union Dpw worker also in the village I grew up in. Our mayor and trustees allow dpw workers to respond to alarms during working hours and it has benefited residents numerous times. The board understands that we are still providing a service to the residents and have always supported our response. I personally think you should use discretion and not abuse the privilege. If the call ends you return to work, if you are working on something important at work you don't respond to every smell and bell, but when there is a serious incident there are not many DPW jobs that take priority.

Do we really have to start the union rhetoric and paid/volunteer nonsense here again?

This isn't a union issue. There's no local being subverted by volunteers in Spring Valley. This is a volunteer FD.

If you think that every volunteer FD should be replaced by a paid, career FD, that's your opinion and you're entitled to that opinion. Start a thread to that effect.

Good argument for FAST being part of FF1

I agree Syd and Andy, but with the inclusion of Firefighter II also.The bottom line is that FF I is not adequate on its own for combat-ready interior firefighters. There should be no difference in training for career and volunteer, nor requirements to operate as interior or on a FAST unit. FF I, FF II, Survival, and FAST should all be minimum requirements here as they are in other jurisdictions.

I agree Andy.
FF I, survival and FAST all in one.

Lt. Andy Fredericks, FDNY, Memorial Seminar & Exhibits

Hosted by the Elmsford Fire Department

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Registration, refreshments & exhibits begin at 7:30 AM
Program: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

“Intelligent Firefighting”

Presented by
Captain Bill Gustin
Miami-Dade Fire Department

Proceeds donated to
Lt. Andrew Fredericks Scholarship Fund
Lt. Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Fund
Burn Care Everywhere www.burncarefoundation.org
Firemen’s Home, Hudson, N.Y. www.fasny.com

Pre-registration: $35, at the door: $40
www.regonline.com/seminar14

Westchester Marriott Hotel
670 White Plains Road (Route 119), Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591

For overnight accommodations, please call Marriott Hotel reservations
@ (800) 882-1042
and ask for the Elmsford Fire Department seminar rate.

For additional information, please contact:
Syd Henry at shenry@elmsfordfd.com or (914) 490-1981
Joe Dorio at jdorio@elmsfordfd.com or (914) 536-2235

Website: www.elmsfordfd.com/seminar


See attached flyer

2014 Seminar flyer.pdf

Lt. Andy Fredericks, FDNY, Memorial Seminar & Exhibits

Hosted by the Elmsford Fire Department

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Registration, refreshments & exhibits begin at 7:30 AM
Program: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

“Intelligent Firefighting”

Presented by
Captain Bill Gustin
Miami-Dade Fire Department

Proceeds donated to
Lt. Andrew Fredericks Scholarship Fund
Lt. Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Fund
Burn Care Everywhere www.burncarefoundation.org
Firemen’s Home, Hudson, N.Y. www.fasny.com

Pre-registration: $35, at the door: $40
www.regonline.com/seminar14

Westchester Marriott Hotel
670 White Plains Road (Route 119), Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591

For overnight accommodations, please call Marriott Hotel reservations
@ (800) 882-1042
and ask for the Elmsford Fire Department seminar rate.

For additional information, please contact:
Syd Henry at shenry@elmsfordfd.com or (914) 490-1981
Joe Dorio at jdorio@elmsfordfd.com or (914) 536-2235

Website: www.elmsfordfd.com/seminar


See attached flyer

2014 Seminar flyer.pdf

Lt. Andy Fredericks, FDNY, Memorial Seminar & Exhibits

Hosted by the Elmsford Fire Department

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Registration, refreshments & exhibits begin at 7:30 AM
Program: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

“Intelligent Firefighting”

Presented by
Captain Bill Gustin
Miami-Dade Fire Department

Proceeds donated to
Lt. Andrew Fredericks Scholarship Fund
Lt. Tyler Rush Memorial Scholarship Fund
Burn Care Everywhere www.burncarefoundation.org
Firemen’s Home, Hudson, N.Y. www.fasny.com

Pre-registration: $35, at the door: $40
www.regonline.com/seminar14

Westchester Marriott Hotel
670 White Plains Road (Route 119), Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591

For overnight accommodations, please call Marriott Hotel reservations
@ (800) 882-1042
and ask for the Elmsford Fire Department seminar rate.

For additional information, please contact:
Syd Henry at shenry@elmsfordfd.com or (914) 490-1981
Joe Dorio at jdorio@elmsfordfd.com or (914) 536-2235

Website: www.elmsfordfd.com/seminar


See attached flyer

2014 Seminar flyer.pdf