JetPhoto

While a recent business trip to the sunny shores of Florida found this at Palm Beach State College training center. Nice sun roof.

To Poughkeepsie Police Officer John Falcone's family, friends and the Brothers and Sisters of the Poughkeepsie Police Department; we here at EMTBravo, hundreds of fellow police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel all grieve with you for the tragic and senseless loss you have suffered.
Most of us did not know John personally, but we now know who he was because of his actions; his willingness to go into harms way, do his duty, and heroically carry out his final call.
He will never be forgotten by us.
When a tragedy like this happens, when a man such as Officer Falcone is taken from this world in the line of duty, our hearts are broken with yours, we stand at attention and salute him and all of you, and offer you all our deepest condolences and respect.
He reminded all New Yorkers, and all fellow Americans, what it means to be a Police Officer. An innocent three year old girl will live her life thanks to the courageous and selfless last actions of a hero.
Officer John Falcone, No Greater Love....Rest in Peace and thank you.

Phot of PO Falcone, courtesy of the Poughkeepsie Journal.
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Olympia Engine Company #3 1911

Olympia Engine Company #3 January 1916
Notice the 2 story exposure #4 in 1911, but only 1 story in 1916. Also look at the unusual windows at the roofline of that exposure.
Love the flower pots in the windows.

And they finished the race!!
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/two-running-austin-medics-help-save-marathoner-1254132.html?cxtype=ynews_rss

Today, I saw this in operation on top of a mixed-use, multiple story commercial office building. In Austin, a large number of businesses are installing solar and wind devices on their roofs or property for "green power" and alternative energy.
I am in no way against this, and I find it important that alternative energy sources are used. However, this is the first time I've seen this type of device, and wished to share it here as it can be a hazard to firefighters during rooftop operations or while laddering the building.
http://www.buildingturbines.com
(Video and photo by me, Seth Granville, 2-14-11)

In all actuality commercial buildings, in this case a Business Occupancy (State Farm Insurance no less! per Google maps) quite often are allowed to have a single means of egress depending on occupant load, and that number can easily rise significantly with a sprinkler system. This being from NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code. In the case of this building, if the occupant load does not exceed 30 persons and the travel distance to the exit is less than 100 feet, they meet the allowance for a single exit. Or is the building is sprinklered and is a single tenant space with a travel distance of less than 100 ft, they can have an unlimited number of occupants.

Push the cop car (that will probably be in front ) down the hill and stand on the roof.

Most rope rescues (technical rescue) involve more equipment, including belays and more solid anchor systems. These rescues take more time to set up and complete. In many cases the victim is stuck and part of the rescue involves freeing or lifting them. Rappelling is a common skill. Generally these involve more advanced training and lots of scenarios to gain experience.
Fire Ground rope rescue general has only a few minutes to get in position, set up and perform, before the victim jumps. In addition the crew generally brings the equipment along with its normal truck gear, so they are very limited in what can be carried. Minimal anchors (often made with a haligan, ladders or even firefighters), generally no belays, lowering is prefered to rappelling as it keeps the rescuers arms free. This training is much more basic and requires lots of practice to be able to perform quickly without hesitation or much time to consider set up.

Some pockets must have been lined building that. A commercial building with no emergency exits? Looks like they get some good flood waters under there too
Bing Maps Birds Eye View
Now looking at the size of the roof it would be very tricky to send the ladder over the roof for rapeling....in smoke and possible flames. There are also some windows on the northwest side of the building that hay help
This would definitely need to be preplanned and practiced.

SOP is for the engine to stop with the back of the rig parallel to the entrance to the fire building, the men then stretch 1 3/4" or 2 1/2" into the building depending on the size and nature of the fire. The chauffeur then drives to the hydrant and connects or if this is not possible (because a truck blocked him out) he can be supplied or stretch 3 1/2" back to a previous hydrant. FDNY uses dead lays, nothing is preconnected, it is up to the control man to determine how much hose is needed, pull it, break the line, give it to the chauffeur and provide the chauffeur with the details of the stretch. The high rise packs are for use in high rise buildings with standpipe systems. These standpipe systems are supplied by either a gravity tank on the roof or a main fed pump, all of these systems can also be supplemented by an engine streching 3 1/2" hose to the siamese connection.

This is not text book, the engine is facing the wrong way, forcing the men to stretch around the rig, the truck and engine are nosed into one another, if the engine chauffeur had a bad hydrant he is now screwed and either has to back stretch 3 1/2" by hand to another hydrant or be supplied, and as far as the few guys you see RUNNING, slow down, act like you've done this before, can't help anyone if you break your back slipping on ice. Aside from that, good aerial placement, and this really isn't a long stretch at all, 5 lengths maybe 6 for good luck. Every stretch is harder without that fifth man though, 2nd due engine comes into play huge here, especially with the hassle of stretching around the rig.

I keep hearin' about this storm, but looking up the waterway, I still don't see nuthin' and the temperature keeps on arisin'...79... (Sorry you asked for photos... )

Congratulations. New EMT's deserve a point. It's only the beginning. Certification is the piece of paper that lets you turn lessons into a craft. Never stop learning and never stop asking questions. Keep an open heart and an open mind. Best wishes on the beginning of a spectacular experience. Make us proud.

thanks for the help all...got them today and yes i passed!!!
thanks again
Ken

At least confer with the PD on scene before doing anything non-emergent to a vehicle involved in an accident (I'm not talking about extrication, I'm talking about things like cutting battery cables). If there is a serious injury or death and the possibility of an accident investigation cutting the battery cables may result in the loss of evidence and/or a difficulty in accessing evidence (computers, lights, vehicle settings, etc. More often than not you don't have to do anything to the vehicle especially if the victims are out.
Cutting battery cables does not eliminate hazards from the battery - an overheating battery (at least in aviation batteries) can still explode even if disconnected. A damaged battery can still leak acid even if disconnected.
Many of the things powered by electricity have their own capacitors so the hazard from them is not eliminated by cutting battery cables. Airbags are one such thing.
Another good thing to confer with PD about is whether or not it is appropriate to put speedi-dry down. If they're doing an AI, they may prefer to have the tow service do it so the scene is "undisturbed" for investigative purposes.
Again, all I'm saying is talk with your peers who have a job to do too. If we can help each other out, we should make the effort.

Winona Lake, town of Newburgh
1/30/11
about 16:45
9 Lancer Dr
2nd alarm house fire with firefighter injuries. Firefighters transported to St Lukes

And while Winona Lake and Orange Lake were operating at this fire, the stand by companies, Goodwill FD and Plattekill FD, were dispatched for a 2nd fire, reported kitchen fire on 17K. Goodwill arrived on scene first and made a quick knock down while Plattekill hit the hydrant (Yeah I know that sounds funny, Plattekill at a Hydrant)and did some vent work.

Winona Lake, town of Newburgh
1/30/11
about 16:45
9 Lancer Dr
2nd alarm house fire with firefighter injuries. Firefighters transported to St Lukes

"Why can't we all just get along?"
-Rodney King

I took this shot of the City of Poughkeepsie this past August from the Hudson River Walkway...... It was taken at dusk just before the walkway closes (Which BTW, also happens to be the optimal time for photography) and I almost didn't finish it... I had a few minutes to go and then I had a less that pleasurable encounter with a NYSPP officer who apparently was having an off day :angry: ......... They put in and make a big deal about all this LED energy efficient lighting and yet the walkway closes at dusk.....Go figure...
I have printed this out on my printer at a size of 24" high by 120" wide and it is highly detailed...... I have a friend who has as a 24" H x ~80" W version and his kids had it framed for him as a Christmas gift.... It now occupies his living room and it looks gorgeous..... I have many other landscape panoramas that I have done and my intent is to try to sell these as a means to pay some of my photography expenses...... Doing the fire photography has put me in the hole as far as expenses go and hopefully I can use photos such as this to offset some of my expenses.....
If you have yet to go to the walkway, you should do it...... It really is a great place to go .....

The East Fishkill Fire Department responded to this structure fire on Fairview Road on the evening of Monday January 17, 2011. Upon their arrival, they had fire throughout the small residential structure and quickly knocked down the same..... East Fishkill was assisted at the scene by the Village of Fishkills FAST team.....

Firefighters arrived to find fire throughout the small structure.....

A EFFD fire policeman stands guard next to a downed live electrical wire that fell from the structure....

Firefighters work to vent the snow covered roof....

A side shot of the scene......

Watter opp's......

The roofs open.....

With their "new" quint in the background, EFFD Firefighter Savino changes the bottles on firefighters Conti and Birkler...... I have made several prints of this on my printer that are
24"H x 50"W and they look pretty sharp...........

The La Grange Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Miller Hill Drive on the bitter cold evening of January 17,2011. Firefighters arrived to find an active fire with fire venting from an exterior wall in a large two story residence..... A second alarm was requested which brought in additional tankers from Beekman and East Fishkill as well as East Fishkills FAST team..... Firefighters made quick work of the fire and clearly held the damage to a minimum.....

Walk up shot...... Wow, this was a big house.....

La Grange Deputy Chief Barry Ward runs the incident from his vehicle as two State Troopers leave the scene after helping firefighters with a what I believe was an uncooperative individual.......

Firefighters had fire from the side of the structure at two points upon their arrival.....

La Grange career firefighter Zittel overhauls the exterior wall.....

East Fishkill firefighters check for extension in the garage......

EFFD FAST team member Jeff Savino watches over the structure....

La Grange Deputy Chief Barry Ward calling the shots.....

Water opp's out at the street......

La Grange 47-32.... One of two new 3000 gallon tankers that La Grange recently took delivery of......

La Grange firefighters assembled for this quick group shot.....

Date: 1/29/2011
Time: approx: 1600 hrs
Location: Summit Rd., Portland, CT.
Frequency:
Units Operating:Portland - Full assignment from the department
Middletown - 3 engines, 1 ladder , 1 BC
East Hampton - 2 engines, 1 ladder, 2 tankers
Glastonbury
Haddam Neck - 1 Tanker
East Haddam - 1 Engine
Marlborough - 1 Engine
Westfield FD - 1 Engine Tanker
Middlesex Paramedics - 2 medic units
Hunters Ambulance
Tanker Strike force requested
Weather Conditions: Cold, snow on the ground
Description Of Incident: Backhoe clearing snow from property damaged propane tank, FD response and subsequent explosion of tank reported. Two firefighters injured in explosion. Unsure if BLEVE. Structure fire. FURTHER: Apparently the first unit pulled up and the tank let go as they were checking for occupants. Two firefighters were injured with one receiving burns to the face and was transported to Hartford Hospital, and may be transferred to Bridgeport Hospital's burn unit sometime tonight.
Reporters: additional info-IzzyEng4
Writer: efdcapt115, IzzyEng4
WTNH link to the incident: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/middlesex_cty/propane-explosion-in-portland
http://www.ustream.t...medium=12330442

It appears that most of the PD - FD highway incidents involve Troopers, and they are trained far away from the situation you list above. I have witnessed a couple of incidents over the past 25 years and we have been able to resolve them (in one case by leaving the trooper to fight the car fire) or after the incident by advising the NYS Thruway Authority to never call us again as we will not respond on their road if the Troopers (that they contract & pay for) are going to put our personnel in grave danger. When we have done this the response has always been we please continue, we will take care of it. And that tends to last for the next 5-10 years.
The # of incidents that we respond to on the highways is very small and of those, many do not require total closing of the road and most of the we clear in under to minutes. The # of AI's will dramatically increase if we dont properly safe guard our personnel.
This week I was at the FDSOA conference (Fire Dept. Safety Officers Association) and this topic was discused at length. What was interesting is that NIOSH investigators showed us federal documents that responders, including L.E. have died failing to block traffic. Then a a lawyer who is nationally well know for municipal liability cases shoed us how he would go after the FD Officer, the FD & the municipality who failed to follow these safety concepts and the LEO and his/her agency. He also said to please contact him if this happens as its a slam dunk (and he needs a new pool).
The reason its funded (along with the HV transportaion center) is failing to keep traffic moving increases air polution and the state will lose billions in federal aid if they fail to deal with it.
This is very true. Now lets look at this on a local issue. The I-95 toll at New Rochelle collects $45,000 per hour (average as of a few years ago). We have suggested a number of fire safety upgrades including water supplies to the tool plaza. The costs would have been covered with just a few hours of tools, but since we asked the tolls have been closed for 2-3x that time because of truck fires that we did not have enough water to deal with. It would have been paid for in a few years, but would last for 50+ years. What would the cost to the NYS-TA be if a fire damages the road (particularly a bridge)?