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Willy, this is an older story and was pre-KME. 

 
By all accounts, KME could be an excellent company. They have plenty of talented workers, who have the ability to produce a product that could rival any of the other more reputable manufacturers.
 
KME has suffered from years of mismanagement by a ruling family that had failed to invest in their people or infrastructure. Many of their senior managers were relatives or buddies and did not possess the ability to follow the industry trends. 
 
The REV group may have temporarily saved the company from financial ruin and has removed many of the management problems, but the company has a big hill to climb in being retrained and retooled to compete with the likes of other products. 
 
Without knowing the specifics, the Horry County story is probably the results of the old mentality toward the product. The new owner has big plans and made big promises. Only time will tell if they can deliver on those promises.
 
I for one, would be very reluctant to recommend their product until the product and culture improves.
 
 
 
 

I am not sure as to what the benefit of a Dash CF would be to the Stamford Fire Department. The new CF has a very obtuse interior cab configuration and offers absolutely no benefit to the application that the Department is looking for or needs. 
 
The Pierce Enforcer is a very practical chassis and offered us everything we needed and nothing that we did not need.
 
Unlike many of the Departments often represented in apparatus discussions on this site, we operate with a given amount of money for a purchase.
 
What we have to spend, is what we have to spend and not a penny more. 
 
This vehicle incorporated several design components that factored heavily into the final price tag. Getting everything to work for the money we had allocated and available was not an easy task. 
 
The truck should be delivered by the end of this year or early 2018. 
 
 
 
 

I am not sure as to what the benefit of a Dash CF would be to the Stamford Fire Department. The new CF has a very obtuse interior cab configuration and offers absolutely no benefit to the application that the Department is looking for or needs. 
 
The Pierce Enforcer is a very practical chassis and offered us everything we needed and nothing that we did not need.
 
Unlike many of the Departments often represented in apparatus discussions on this site, we operate with a given amount of money for a purchase.
 
What we have to spend, is what we have to spend and not a penny more. 
 
This vehicle incorporated several design components that factored heavily into the final price tag. Getting everything to work for the money we had allocated and available was not an easy task. 
 
The truck should be delivered by the end of this year or early 2018. 
 
 
 
 

I am not sure as to what the benefit of a Dash CF would be to the Stamford Fire Department. The new CF has a very obtuse interior cab configuration and offers absolutely no benefit to the application that the Department is looking for or needs. 
 
The Pierce Enforcer is a very practical chassis and offered us everything we needed and nothing that we did not need.
 
Unlike many of the Departments often represented in apparatus discussions on this site, we operate with a given amount of money for a purchase.
 
What we have to spend, is what we have to spend and not a penny more. 
 
This vehicle incorporated several design components that factored heavily into the final price tag. Getting everything to work for the money we had allocated and available was not an easy task. 
 
The truck should be delivered by the end of this year or early 2018. 
 
 
 
 

Almost any recent KME customer could have ran the exact same story. 
 
Spot on exactly the type of experience that one faces when purchasing from KME.
 
 
 
 

 
By all accounts, KME could be an excellent company. They have plenty of talented workers, who have the ability to produce a product that could rival any of the other more reputable manufacturers.
 
KME has suffered from years of mismanagement by a ruling family that had failed to invest in their people or infrastructure. Many of their senior managers were relatives or buddies and did not possess the ability to follow the industry trends. 
 
The REV group may have temporarily saved the company from financial ruin and has removed many of the management problems, but the company has a big hill to climb in being retrained and retooled to compete with the likes of other products. 
 
Without knowing the specifics, the Horry County story is probably the results of the old mentality toward the product. The new owner has big plans and made big promises. Only time will tell if they can deliver on those promises.
 
I for one, would be very reluctant to recommend their product until the product and culture improves.
 
 
 
 

 
By all accounts, KME could be an excellent company. They have plenty of talented workers, who have the ability to produce a product that could rival any of the other more reputable manufacturers.
 
KME has suffered from years of mismanagement by a ruling family that had failed to invest in their people or infrastructure. Many of their senior managers were relatives or buddies and did not possess the ability to follow the industry trends. 
 
The REV group may have temporarily saved the company from financial ruin and has removed many of the management problems, but the company has a big hill to climb in being retrained and retooled to compete with the likes of other products. 
 
Without knowing the specifics, the Horry County story is probably the results of the old mentality toward the product. The new owner has big plans and made big promises. Only time will tell if they can deliver on those promises.
 
I for one, would be very reluctant to recommend their product until the product and culture improves.
 
 
 
 

 
Willy, this is an older story and was pre-KME. 

 
By all accounts, KME could be an excellent company. They have plenty of talented workers, who have the ability to produce a product that could rival any of the other more reputable manufacturers.
 
KME has suffered from years of mismanagement by a ruling family that had failed to invest in their people or infrastructure. Many of their senior managers were relatives or buddies and did not possess the ability to follow the industry trends. 
 
The REV group may have temporarily saved the company from financial ruin and has removed many of the management problems, but the company has a big hill to climb in being retrained and retooled to compete with the likes of other products. 
 
Without knowing the specifics, the Horry County story is probably the results of the old mentality toward the product. The new owner has big plans and made big promises. Only time will tell if they can deliver on those promises.
 
I for one, would be very reluctant to recommend their product until the product and culture improves.
 
 
 
 

Almost any recent KME customer could have ran the exact same story. 
 
Spot on exactly the type of experience that one faces when purchasing from KME.
 
 
 
 

Almost any recent KME customer could have ran the exact same story. 
 
Spot on exactly the type of experience that one faces when purchasing from KME.
 
 
 
 

 
Willy, this is an older story and was pre-KME. 

 
By all accounts, KME could be an excellent company. They have plenty of talented workers, who have the ability to produce a product that could rival any of the other more reputable manufacturers.
 
KME has suffered from years of mismanagement by a ruling family that had failed to invest in their people or infrastructure. Many of their senior managers were relatives or buddies and did not possess the ability to follow the industry trends. 
 
The REV group may have temporarily saved the company from financial ruin and has removed many of the management problems, but the company has a big hill to climb in being retrained and retooled to compete with the likes of other products. 
 
Without knowing the specifics, the Horry County story is probably the results of the old mentality toward the product. The new owner has big plans and made big promises. Only time will tell if they can deliver on those promises.
 
I for one, would be very reluctant to recommend their product until the product and culture improves.
 
 
 
 

 
Willy, this is an older story and was pre-KME. 

 
By all accounts, KME could be an excellent company. They have plenty of talented workers, who have the ability to produce a product that could rival any of the other more reputable manufacturers.
 
KME has suffered from years of mismanagement by a ruling family that had failed to invest in their people or infrastructure. Many of their senior managers were relatives or buddies and did not possess the ability to follow the industry trends. 
 
The REV group may have temporarily saved the company from financial ruin and has removed many of the management problems, but the company has a big hill to climb in being retrained and retooled to compete with the likes of other products. 
 
Without knowing the specifics, the Horry County story is probably the results of the old mentality toward the product. The new owner has big plans and made big promises. Only time will tell if they can deliver on those promises.
 
I for one, would be very reluctant to recommend their product until the product and culture improves.
 
 
 
 

 
No interior stairs? Really? Is that the best you can come up with?
 
You did notice the members that were seen in the video walking inside on the second floor with hand lights (at the same time that someone was arbitrarily taking out a window from a ladder).
 
Looked good for Mommy or your Istantgram profile pic, could have just as easily been opened up by hand from the guy standing inside.
 
The attic space on a house like this is relatively small. Fires in attics such as this work best when water actually comes in contact with the fire.
 
Given that the roof is designed to shed water, a couple of holes from below and some application of water and we can save the numerous tones, air horn extravaganza, and epic battle poses for a fire that may actually be deserving of such.
 
The more videos like this that appear, I really wonder if the fire service of today is about production for social media or about effectiveness of tactics and extinguishment.
 
Flame on.
 
 
 
 

 
Kudos to them, it looks like the fire eventually went out. 
 
Their uncoordinated approach to ventilate every possible pane of glass on the second floor was very helpful in allowing the fire in the attic to eventually enjoy sufficient oxygen that allowed for the overly abundant display of air horns. 
 
Just imagine what an interior line on the second floor with a few experienced jakes that brought some hooks to open up and apply water from below could have done?
 
Thank you for your service!
 
 

 
No interior stairs? Really? Is that the best you can come up with?
 
You did notice the members that were seen in the video walking inside on the second floor with hand lights (at the same time that someone was arbitrarily taking out a window from a ladder).
 
Looked good for Mommy or your Istantgram profile pic, could have just as easily been opened up by hand from the guy standing inside.
 
The attic space on a house like this is relatively small. Fires in attics such as this work best when water actually comes in contact with the fire.
 
Given that the roof is designed to shed water, a couple of holes from below and some application of water and we can save the numerous tones, air horn extravaganza, and epic battle poses for a fire that may actually be deserving of such.
 
The more videos like this that appear, I really wonder if the fire service of today is about production for social media or about effectiveness of tactics and extinguishment.
 
Flame on.
 
 
 
 

 
No interior stairs? Really? Is that the best you can come up with?
 
You did notice the members that were seen in the video walking inside on the second floor with hand lights (at the same time that someone was arbitrarily taking out a window from a ladder).
 
Looked good for Mommy or your Istantgram profile pic, could have just as easily been opened up by hand from the guy standing inside.
 
The attic space on a house like this is relatively small. Fires in attics such as this work best when water actually comes in contact with the fire.
 
Given that the roof is designed to shed water, a couple of holes from below and some application of water and we can save the numerous tones, air horn extravaganza, and epic battle poses for a fire that may actually be deserving of such.
 
The more videos like this that appear, I really wonder if the fire service of today is about production for social media or about effectiveness of tactics and extinguishment.
 
Flame on.
 
 
 
 

Laytheline,
 
Sorry, but you are about 8 years late to this story and discussion. The time to debate structure, charter requirements, chain of command, etc. has long been established through a series of charter revisions, court actions, and collective bargaining agreements. 
 
The staffing and number of career apparatus are contained within the CBA and recently include an increase by 2 per shift. 
 
I am sure that future CBAs with the Union will discuss and hopefully include staffing adjustments to include additional Battalion Chief or equivalent level supervision. In addition, the Long Ridge paid drivers issue will eventually and inevitably include some type of incorporation into the City staffing levels. 
 
The chain of command has also now been clearly defined within the latest CBA.
 
As far as the fate of the remaining volunteer companies, with the exception of one, they are almost all now nonexistent.
 
Simply put, due to the woefully inept "leaders" that continue to be voted into place by their members, they have allowed themselves to serve more as gadflies then a respectable ally in service. I do not believe any of them have the ability to assess the pathetic state of their organizations or their future.
 
They only know strife and discontent and now appear to relish at new opportunities to spend their energy and money on issues outside of public safety or strengthening their Departments.
 
Sad, but the crafty lingo that some of their T shirts would be more appropriate to read: "I have seen the enemy and the enemy is us".
 
 
 
 

Laytheline,
 
Sorry, but you are about 8 years late to this story and discussion. The time to debate structure, charter requirements, chain of command, etc. has long been established through a series of charter revisions, court actions, and collective bargaining agreements. 
 
The staffing and number of career apparatus are contained within the CBA and recently include an increase by 2 per shift. 
 
I am sure that future CBAs with the Union will discuss and hopefully include staffing adjustments to include additional Battalion Chief or equivalent level supervision. In addition, the Long Ridge paid drivers issue will eventually and inevitably include some type of incorporation into the City staffing levels. 
 
The chain of command has also now been clearly defined within the latest CBA.
 
As far as the fate of the remaining volunteer companies, with the exception of one, they are almost all now nonexistent.
 
Simply put, due to the woefully inept "leaders" that continue to be voted into place by their members, they have allowed themselves to serve more as gadflies then a respectable ally in service. I do not believe any of them have the ability to assess the pathetic state of their organizations or their future.
 
They only know strife and discontent and now appear to relish at new opportunities to spend their energy and money on issues outside of public safety or strengthening their Departments.
 
Sad, but the crafty lingo that some of their T shirts would be more appropriate to read: "I have seen the enemy and the enemy is us".
 
 
 
 

Laytheline,
 
Sorry, but you are about 8 years late to this story and discussion. The time to debate structure, charter requirements, chain of command, etc. has long been established through a series of charter revisions, court actions, and collective bargaining agreements. 
 
The staffing and number of career apparatus are contained within the CBA and recently include an increase by 2 per shift. 
 
I am sure that future CBAs with the Union will discuss and hopefully include staffing adjustments to include additional Battalion Chief or equivalent level supervision. In addition, the Long Ridge paid drivers issue will eventually and inevitably include some type of incorporation into the City staffing levels. 
 
The chain of command has also now been clearly defined within the latest CBA.
 
As far as the fate of the remaining volunteer companies, with the exception of one, they are almost all now nonexistent.
 
Simply put, due to the woefully inept "leaders" that continue to be voted into place by their members, they have allowed themselves to serve more as gadflies then a respectable ally in service. I do not believe any of them have the ability to assess the pathetic state of their organizations or their future.
 
They only know strife and discontent and now appear to relish at new opportunities to spend their energy and money on issues outside of public safety or strengthening their Departments.
 
Sad, but the crafty lingo that some of their T shirts would be more appropriate to read: "I have seen the enemy and the enemy is us".
 
 
 
 

Laytheline,
 
Sorry, but you are about 8 years late to this story and discussion. The time to debate structure, charter requirements, chain of command, etc. has long been established through a series of charter revisions, court actions, and collective bargaining agreements. 
 
The staffing and number of career apparatus are contained within the CBA and recently include an increase by 2 per shift. 
 
I am sure that future CBAs with the Union will discuss and hopefully include staffing adjustments to include additional Battalion Chief or equivalent level supervision. In addition, the Long Ridge paid drivers issue will eventually and inevitably include some type of incorporation into the City staffing levels. 
 
The chain of command has also now been clearly defined within the latest CBA.
 
As far as the fate of the remaining volunteer companies, with the exception of one, they are almost all now nonexistent.
 
Simply put, due to the woefully inept "leaders" that continue to be voted into place by their members, they have allowed themselves to serve more as gadflies then a respectable ally in service. I do not believe any of them have the ability to assess the pathetic state of their organizations or their future.
 
They only know strife and discontent and now appear to relish at new opportunities to spend their energy and money on issues outside of public safety or strengthening their Departments.
 
Sad, but the crafty lingo that some of their T shirts would be more appropriate to read: "I have seen the enemy and the enemy is us".
 
 
 
 

The Chiefs are their own worst enemy and they have dragged the entire volunteer system and alot of good, hardworking and skilled volunteer firemen down with them. Not even to save their own asses and that of their departments could they suck it up and work together..and that even after a variety of means to do so were handed to them. And that my friend is not only irresponsible, it constitutes a dereliction of duty.  The founding members of each VFD must be rolling over in their graves, thoroughly disgusted with what has become of their hard work and dedication. What a sad legacy for over 100 years of service to that city. 
 
After all that's been said and done...but more importantly not done...I think it may be time to thank the VFDs for their years of service and shut them down. Maybe after that it might be possible to build a new volunteer service more in tune with the realities, but quite frankly after so much damage that may prove impossible. Like many other communities, the VFDs of Stamford have become an anachronism at this point, and one that is no longer needed. For the annual price of the VFDs collectively, about 20 new career personnel (or one company and a second DC x 4 groups ) could be put on the books. That along with a redistribution of some apparatus and all of Stamford could be covered 24/7 365 by SFD. As you well know, that fact was the premise on which a few of us, with just a microscopic speck of forethought, based our attempts to develop a workable and valuable volunteer system. One that would serve into the future with,  not instead of, our career colleagues. But alas it was not to be, even that speck of forethought was too much to accept. Better these "leaders" thought, to rest on the laurels and revel in the glory of the good ole days while pining and scheming for a return of their paid driver pals....what a pathetic joke, the brunt of which was borne by the residents served by the VFDs. 
 
Sorry but in the big picture, the days of the VFDs being a financial and operational value are long gone and aren't going to return. Sadly now there's not even a minimal return on the investment made in them when taken as a whole....and like it or not, in 2016 they are taken as a whole by both the politicians and average Joe on the street alike.  As painful as may be to admit, it's time to pack it in and call it a day...and by doing so they just might be able to salvage a modicum of the dignity and respect so tirelessly earned by so many in the good ole days.