FirNaTine

really?? nr REFUSES to go and MV REFUSES to come here. As my boss used to say, "don't let the truth get in the way of a good story".

Never stopped them before plus same argument can be said for all other Depts that went M/A!

White Plains? Greenville? Isn't MT Vernon right next door?Makes no sense

Wax on, wax off!

I think the concern about Mutual Aide is less about the frequency of use, or the lopsided nature of M/A (requesting more than responding) than it is about being properly prepared for most incidents.
If Mount Vernon requests M/A twice as often, so-be-it. Maybe they've had a rash of large multi-alarm fires. (This is all hypothetical) That to me doesn't seem like the issue. The real issue rests in whether or not a Fire Department can handle the routine fires without constantly calling outside agencies. If an urban, city fire department can't handle an "All-Hands" or even 2nd alarm fire, without outside help....they're understaffed.
Mutual Aide should be reserved for extenuating circumstances. Multiple serious fires in remote locations, simultaneously or an unusual and extensive multi-alarm fire. Everyday operations or (i hate this term) "routine" fires should be able to be handled by that municipality. The members of FDMV (and any dept.) deserve to be properly staffed.
I'll also note that the # of apparatus responding isn't even remotely as important as the # of personnel. How many engines to you typically need to supply handlines at a private dwelling fire? Probably 1, but we'll say 2, just in case. Ladders? 2 trucks is probably sufficient to provide roof access and a second means of egress. It's the personnel carried by later arriving apparatus that is important, not the vehicles themselves. We'd all like to see more companies and more men, but I'll take more men and fewer companies if forced to choose.....

There are many large non fire proof multiple dwellings in our area, built between the world wars, without exterior fire escapes, the trick is getting from your flat to the protected stairway under fire conditions which can get pretty snotty,
Reading the article, is this for safety or beauty.??? On the plus side many fire escapes are being held on to the structure with bolts over a hundred years old and poor up keep of rail, treads and drop ladders make for dangerous situations,
On the other hand they have been our friend, evacuating tenants, searching units, venting ,stretching lines. getting the roof and plain old firefighting so list me as perplexed.

And let's not forget "Toxic" Hiring/ Promoting Practices within some Fire Departments! They both are a recipe for Disaster within the Fire Service as well as any Profession!

Toxic leaders who have political connection are the worst especially when they use that power to go backwards and not forward

Next applicants will want rides and wake up calls for the test like FDNY is doing! Oh wait CT Depts. don't lower the Bar for applicants. Good for them!

Next applicants will want rides and wake up calls for the test like FDNY is doing! Oh wait CT Depts. don't lower the Bar for applicants. Good for them!

I have to ask, why this discussion about a term? is it for dispatch, or what? a pin job is a pin job, some are harder, some take more time, some pop a door go home. I cant see having this discussion except after about 10 beers lol

For example, corrupt Mayors dictating to FD who they should hire, court systems dictating who should get promoted, Chiefs promoting their "in crowd" or to fit their agenga, etc etc. While those who are truly deserving try and try again yet attempts are futile due to the same toxic leadership who know they can get away with it. As opposed to leaders who stand up for a fair hiring practice and make it clearly know and transparent to their subordinates...

And let's not forget "Toxic" Hiring/ Promoting Practices within some Fire Departments! They both are a recipe for Disaster within the Fire Service as well as any Profession!

Just asking, not looking for trouble........If Yonkers is fully committed to an alarm and needs station coverage, I understand that New Rochelle may have 'extra' units to spare, but why wouldn't they call FDNY rather than
Greenville and Eastchester which have less 'extra' units.
Barry?

I would apply again and start from the bottom if they agreed to time me with a calendar on the agility

True, but there's no guarantee on how fit that 19 year old will be in 15 years. There's a sufficient number of firefighters that are or were fit enough to work until mandatory retirement at 65 (in some states) that an employer can't legitimately reject an applicant (if fit enough currently) because he/she might not be fit enough to reach full retirement eligibility, especially when you already have no age restrictions for the position.

It does not matter. Age was not part of the job description so it has to be disregarded by law. And, realistically, these days there are an awful lot of very healthy and active people in their sixties who are fully able to perform as well as they did in their forties. I am one of them. Conversely, there are a bunch of mid-forties to mid-fifties paid men in terrible shape in departments all over the country.
I'd also want to see the job description before arguing this point any further. A lot of departments like this hire "paid drivers" or similar titles rather than full firefighters even though they're required to be certified. Since it is possible that the job description may not have required full firefighter physical ability, until we know for sure, debating that point isn't accurate or productive.
Interesting point for everyone, the plaintiff was among the top five on the list, but they hired none of them, picking someone lower down on the list. NYS Civil Service law generally requires hiring from the top three on the list. Sounds to me like they shot themselves in the foot several times over.

He should be hired immediately! s*** Ive seen 50 yr old guys run frigging circles around younger guys who want to do nothing but sit and play with their laptops all friggin day and then complain when they have to mop the floor! Some of them are lucky if they can even throw a 24' up by themselves! Age to me doesn't mean s*** anymore on our Job! If he's in good enough shape to do the Job and is willing to, which he seems to be by Volunteering to do it then give it to him! WTF!

He should be hired immediately! s*** Ive seen 50 yr old guys run frigging circles around younger guys who want to do nothing but sit and play with their laptops all friggin day and then complain when they have to mop the floor! Some of them are lucky if they can even throw a 24' up by themselves! Age to me doesn't mean s*** anymore on our Job! If he's in good enough shape to do the Job and is willing to, which he seems to be by Volunteering to do it then give it to him! WTF!

Long winded tail nothing! We (guys on the job in the last decade + need to hear your stories). This is a key training example in the Wind Driven Fire discussion. Thanks for sharing.

Another important tool that needs to go in the bag is a 20degree elbow it's not always needed but sometimes it is, without it you will suffer from a kink in which this is a low pressure system to begin with, kinks are no good (one 90 degree kink can cost you 16-20 GPM)
Guys have talked about hose a little bit when looking at hose specs. Take in account the couplings pull out force they are different from one to the next. This is important for two reasons all the times you hose test which I believe is too much pressure to begin with NFPA should take it down a notch?. but also you don't want couplings pulling apart in the middle of a hose stretch up the side of a building or a hose stretch in a well.

macaulay culkin job ? Heard a lot of stories about this job from the brothers in my house. Would love to hear more stories from retired guys

Good lesson on flushing the standpipe before hooking up, at a fire when this wasn't done, saw a Hostess Tweekie wrapper cause havoc at a standpipe operation

And then praying the MPO hooks up to the red siamese and not the green one! LOL!

Another good reason to avoid using fog nozzles for standpipe operations is the fact that even after flushing the standpipe (prior to connecting the attack line to it) there will still be rust and sediment present. These contaminants will clog the fog nozzle creating a loss of GPM's or even a complete loss of water from the nozzle. Debris must be fairly substantial to occlude a 1 1/8" smooth tip ( although I've seen many unusual items that have caused problems even with the smoothbore tip over the years.)