x152

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Posts posted by x152

  1. Posted

    Well the apparatus accidents in PG shouldn't be looked at as if theres more, cause if your dept ran the same amount of calls, you too would be prone to more accidents.. No driver is perfect and there will always be accidents.. Its not only driver error sometimes, its the idiots on the road who dont care.. I've  seen people have complete disregard for responding units and do what they want and not care.. And those are the ones who complain that it took the fire dept or the ambulance too long to get there..

    AS - I think we already addressed the number of runs vs. likelihood discussion earlier in the thread. The higher number of calls does increase the exposure to the public, but it in NO way should ever be used to justify the number of speed-related apparatus accidents in the County in question (there are also additional accidents not depicted earlier in this thread).

    Yes, there are idiots on the road, that is why we train the apparatus operators to be prepared for the unexpected and lay-off the accelerator. We will have much greater success training our own drivers, than the thousands of motorists we may encounter on any given day (although public awareness is never a bad idea).

    As many others have indicated in this tread, the overall attitude of this group is the root problem. The accidents and altercations are secondary.

  2. Posted

    Productive results usually do not start with tactics that begin with blowing air horns in a residential neighborhood at any time of day. We need the public on our side, not pissed off because of a job-action.

    There is clearly an ongoing problem with the Mayor's attention to the safety of the fire fighters and the residents that they are sworn to protect. Staffing levels below the minimum set by the NFPA (1710) are not acceptable anytime or anywhere; period (important to remember that 1710 is a minimum with the levels increasing for "high-risk" areas). The density of MV could be least described as dense and worthy of more than a 4 person minimum.

    Several authors in this thread chose to attack the IAFF about this (why?/typical). There is no doubt that the Union would have serious concerns about the safety of their members. However, unless you have been at the helm of running a Local, you would have little idea of the challenges to get understanding or involvement of all of those necessary in order to correct a problem like this. Securing minimum staffing language is HUGE task for any local and is usually the last thing that a City will ever willingly negotiate over.

    The President, Executive Board, etc. cannot wage this battle alone. They need to have the full involvement of the Local and community.

    Public awareness and involvement is the key and it will not happen overnight or with a few "Station Understaffed" signs out front. Far too many Cities in this area [Waterbury (CT), Bridgeport (CT), New Haven (CT), Springfield (MA)] have recently managed to close companies and/or stations and keep the practice ongoing. The Local's in all of these Cities have tried almost every tactic possible to stop this from happening with little of no success.

    Unless the public is involved and pissed off (on our side) the concerns of the Union will have a short shelf-life. Public awareness can come in a variety of positive ways and I am sure that the members of FDMV are looking at their options.

    Whenever, our Brothers/Sisters in MV are ready, they will have plenty of support from their extended family in the area.

    Although not mentioned, I guess it is safe to guess where the Admin. is on the issue?

  3. Posted · Edited by x152

    Engine Co. thanks for finding the photo in the archives, I have added 2 other photos from Prince Georges County Fire Departments. Although, we are looking at Kentland in this thread, the photos (and recent news articles) show a disturbing trend (or problems) within the Departments in Prince George's County.

    post-3963-1145975213.jpgpost-3963-1145975196.jpg

    One could easily challenge me and state that accidents can occur anywhere and that perhaps their call volume is greater and thus the possibility of an accident is greater (perhaps?). However, the discussion and the associated article is about "aggressiveness". The examples depicted here are accidents (easily preventable) that have one thing in common: excessive speed. Why?

    Are we placing everyone at risk just to be first-in or to "beat the paid guys" (as the case most often in PGFD)? Are we letting our egos come before public safety?

    A thread-writer before me blamed this on poor leadership, I could not agree more. If the leadership here believes that it is acceptable to promote this type of "cowboy" mentality, then one can expect a continued tradition of placing personal agendas/rivalries ahead of the public safety.

  5. Posted

    Before we even mention the yahoo with tunnel-vision in the car, perhaps looking at the hoseline placement onto the roof?

    I am not sure about the roofs in some areas, but where I live they are designed to shed/repel water? Directing a water stream onto the roof will do the same, right?

    The car rupturing the supply line really couldn't hamper the operation if the lines were improperly positioned to begin with.

  6. Posted

    I think he was just joking.

    Anyway, a quint is like a swiss army knife.....it does a lot of things, but no one thing well!!!!!

    It is highly unlikely that a City (like NYC) would entertain the idea of quint companies. Yes, we have seen other large Cities utilize either a Total Quint Concept or a "Select" Quint Application.

    I am sure some bean-counter in the City has had their biased education to the "benefits" of such a plan at the last ICMA convention, but the likelihood of this happening in a City like New York is remote.

    The reality is that this may have served some communities with marginal firefighting tactics. The only real service (or lack thereof) it provides for is less companies and less manpower. Sure, the pretty new $800K ladder/engine/rescue truck may look impressive upon arrival or on paper. But, I would rather have 5 (or more) fire fighters with the proper tools and training arriving in a pick-up truck (and an extension ladder) then an oversized and understaffed monolith.

    13Victor said it quite well....a giant swiss army knife. Hopefully, your reference does not upset the "pro-quint crowd", I would hate for them to copy and send that to your Chief. :):)

  8. Posted

    Building 18 is in the center of the complex (737 Canal Street Industrial Park) and has always been a known target hazard.

    There are numerous occupancies within the building and access for operations is difficult. Without a doubt, this will be an extended operation.

    All on-duty SFRD units and numerous call-back units are operating at the scene. Mutual aid is being provided by Stamford combo departments and for station coverage.

    Not aware if out of town resources are operating.

  9. Posted

    I see you are at it again x152, spewing your Yankee hatred around.  Just because it will be another 84 yearts until the Red Sox win another title is no reson to be upset...

    Yes.....and I have never heard you say a negative thing about the Sox?

    I heard you were rooting for the Braves now? :P

  11. Posted

    Great.......another music video from the folks at Kentland.

    Perhaps they could produce their next video using the footage from their latest fight with other local fire companies and use the music from the Rocky theme?

    :angry:

  12. Posted

    I heard about this forum through a good friend. I work in Ladder 103, and I was at the fire where Richie died. First of all the "official" reports do not tell the entire story, and arnt 100% accurate either. Secondly, all your "theory's" are wondurful...now do them when its a guy you were just eating lunch with, blinded by very hot smoke in a chimney, in a real building that you've never been in before, while your radio michrophone is melting, and the guy is pinned down by something you cant determine, boxes and crap all over the place, with room for maybe two guys to operate and try to keep the fire from coming up the stairs at the same time....simple just set up two in two out and go pick him up.....why didnt we think of that??

    POSA glad you stepped in.......as usual there are far too many quarterbacks attempting to rewrite history here.

    Fire Fighter rescue is a labor intensive (i.e. time intensive) operation. If we do not have a cadre of personnel available to do the job, the concept of RIT/FAST/or (whatever buzz word we call it this week) is not going to work.

    Expensive tanden-axle Rescue Trucks (with 24" lettered "Rapid Intervention Unit" on the side), colorful armbands/scba covers, concrete cutting saws, all terrain vehicles, rescue cranes, or whatever..... are only good for the clever marketing of the equipment dealer that just sold you the goods.

  14. Posted

    <<Lets face it, Paid firemen are paid firemen...they get a paycheck every week. So since they are getting paid to do it, a rule like "No beards' makes sense...that is there career, they are getting paid to do it, and that is where they are getting all the health benefits etc from.>>

    OK? paychecks and beards? = relevance?

    I have read on countless occasions on these boards that Vol. and career are supposed to be the same. Is that convenient mantra or do we actually live (and in this case potentially die) by our words?

    I was under the impression that the funny looking device with the air bottle attached to it was the primary reason why the issue of facial hair is an issue.

    Unless certain departments are solely exterior and maintaining a distance outside of the effects of radiant heat, then the argument should have been self-explanatory.

    Facial hair = poor seal = products of combustion = lungs/face/and other = hyperbaric chamber, burn unit, or funeral.....easy right?

  16. Posted

    JR has been busy in Bridgeport and the valley with several episodes of the show.

    He has been in Bridgeport several times, including the Captain's Cove Marina and the Ferry/shipyards near the old Steel Point (there was also a show at an industrial factory of some type).

    He has also been to Shelton several times doing the Wiffle Ball Company and a Packing Tape Company.

    It is amazing how the production of a television show can make some of these places look "quant" as mentioned by Cliff Claven.

    762 - before I hear it from you, I am not a "buff" of the show............and they have not made it to Sandy Hook yet :blink:

  17. Posted · Edited by x152

    X635's photo is an excellent example of Boston's "habitual" (not used in a bad sense) use of aerial and ground ladders.

    Having spent a lot of time and a part-time resident of Boston in the early 90s, their use of ladders was impressive. I am not sure if the SOG is still in effect, but they were required at one time to deploy the aerial ladder of the first due truck at all alarms (essentially have the jacks down and ladder out of the bed).

    Some would argue that this may be an extreme approach to aerial deployment, but it is clear that Boston uses the aerial trucks for what they are; a valuable tool (not a parade piece).

    My limited experience indicates that many departments will purchase aerial/tower apparatus that are far beyond the capabilities that they need 99.9% of the time. Often, the trucks are positioned away from the scene in some sort of "ready" mode. Granted most communities do not have the construction and occupancy issues as the densely populated Boston area, but their tendency to deploy the aerial prevents the complacency of aerial operators or officers.

    I am not sure what Boston's transition to Pierce will mean for their ability to 'sneak' into some of the alleyways as depicted in the above link? E-One is not known for their resiliency or quality, but they have certainly worked well as the aerial apparatus for the City of Boston.