Bnechis

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Posts posted by Bnechis

  3. Posted

    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?

    FDNY does not send a few units on Mutual aid. They send a 1st alarm assignment and they expect when they come to be put to work. I have never seen them come and cover.

    boca1day, M' Ave, Disaster_Guy and 2 others like this

  8. Posted

    HOLY $H!T!!! I did not realize that stairs were being built "lightweight" as well. Thanks for this heads up....I would have never known.

    It's a shame that construction and the respective building codes allow this kind of construction at all. I understand that it's been proven safe [when it's not on fire or damaged by water or nature], but at what point is someone going to stand up and say enough is enough? Is it 5 FF-LODDs? 10? 1,000? And why can't the almighty insurance lobby step in and say, "Hold on, these homes burn to the ground and cost us millions extra in payouts. Stop this."? Oh, wait...I forgot it's about the bottom line. Apparently it's worth it to someone. :(

    How about the fire service lobbying against it?

    dwcfireman likes this

  9. Posted

    +1 to this. SOP's have the control man flush out the standpipe before hooking-up. However....you can't flush 20 foors worth of water (or 40, 50, ect) and something could very well come through the line and clog at the tip. However, you're much better off with a 1 1/8th smooth bore tip, both for lower propensity to clog and for it's superior penetration ability.

    My personal belief is.....automatic/fog nozzles have no place in interior structural firefighting. They have a multitude of applications in brush, rubbish, decon, utility emergencies, exterior and many others....but a straight up house or apt. fire.....i'll take the smooth bore.

    AGREED.

    It must be nice to have a control man. Sure beats stretching the line, then running back to open the valve, then running to open the nozzle and flushing it, then hoping the pressure is correct, because you can't really adjust it. Or hoping the next due engine can get it for you.

    This is how most depts. are forced to operate

    M' Ave likes this

  10. Posted

    What is important to remember is that six people died that night and that can't ever be reversed sadly. But, the response to the scene and how things were conducted afterwards showed how well a major MCI can be handled. However, there is a certain level of truth to claims that there should be a review of how mutual aid and resources are called upon. I understand that people really appreciate having 60 Control be there dispatching source, but shouldn't the question be asked, where is there boundary? Also, what about being realistic about resources. I know people might still have issues with career and volunteers mixing but to be honest when you need resources sometimes you got to go with that option. Also, geography plays part in this matter. It isn't realistic calling departments from literally miles away to go to the scene or standby when you have resources closer by. This isn't about being picked first in dodgeball or getting to say "we were there". That's foolish to think like that. This is just being realistic. The IC did a good job that night and those who were on the ground did a great job too. This issue shouldn't take away from their efforts. There is nothing wrong with just reviewing for next time and hoping that an incident like this won't happen again.

    Much of what you wrote I agree with, but a few items....

    1) "how well a major MCI can be handled." - Nothing against any of the responders because it sounds like they did a fine job, but there were about a dozen patients transported and that is not a "major" MCI. what if the train had derailed? what if it had tipped over? From an MCI stand point this was a very minor event that could have been catastrophic.

    2) "where is there boundary?" (60 Control) - While I do not always agree with WHAT their boundaries are, the chiefs all know WHERE they are.

    3) "It isn't realistic calling departments from literally miles away to go to the scene or standby when you have resources closer by." - Sometimes it is. Again stripping every resource in an area makes no sense, but also sometimes departments that are farther away can get there faster because, they get out quicker, or they can respond via highways vs back roads or because they are staffed.

    Dinosaur, nydude2473 and velcroMedic1987 like this

  11. Posted

    Yeah Barry, I read your whole report. It wouldn't only be a cost savings, but clearly an improved Fire service. I won't name specific dept's, but there are some within that study that can barely provide the minimum, if even that. (That's not a knock on the guys, its a knock on staffing and/or volunteer participation)

    I have to imagine that there would be some cost savings realized in a reduction in apparatus and equipment. (While we're short staff around Westchester, we're certainly not short of firehouses filled with shiny trucks) I would hope that apparatus repair costs could be reduced by uniform fleet orders as well. I mean, lately in NYC, we've gotten a lot of apparatus from different builders, but they've all the got the same motor, transmission, brake systems, ect. ect.....and this means they stock one type of part....with little variation.

    On a separate note, my desire to see some consolidation isn't limited to the fire service. There are a lot of other agencies that could use a little combining.

    Thank you. The cost savings in the 1st few years would be minimal, if any. Their would need to be a lot of additional equipment, radios etc. to standardize. You are correct, a number of departments are not legally able to enter burning buildings do to lack of staffing.

    While, in the long term there was fleet savings, again it was in the less than 1% range, in part because many of the apparatus were at the end of their service life, also we identified more than 1/2 the houses needed massive rebuild or replacement.

    The goal was to see if we could get up to the standards for response/staffing and we were pleasantly surprised to see that the costs to do it were approximately the same as what we were collectively paying now.

    I agree, their are many other areas for consolidation. unfortunately while Albany claims they want consolidation and the tax cap is designed to force it, they still will not acknowledge that under current state laws City's can not merge with towns or villages (including just services like fire).

    M' Ave and AFS1970 like this

  12. Posted

    I understand the comments about 1 3/4" vs 2" what I am curious about is what type of hose places are using. batt2 stated single jacket, what are other places using ?

    We have been using 2" rubber hose. 75' lengths for about 20 years.

    "Angus Hi-Power is an ultra-lightweight, maneuverable, nitrile rubber hose designed specifically for fighting fires in high rise buildings. The lightweight through-the-weave construction is heat and puncture resistant, kink resistant and has low friction loss. The rubber cover prevents water from penetrating the reinforcement thus minimizing the weight of the hose when in service. The standard color for Hi-Power is blue."

    batt2 likes this

  13. Posted

    Instead Westchester has individual department run cards and there is no consistency or commonality.

    Fiefdoms and egos preventing any kind of system development!

    Yes but in many other places that also have the same standards from one place to another.

    Standards for response,

    Standards for equipment

    Standards for personnel

    Standards for training.

    You will never see a "system" here until everyone agrees to follow similar rules.

    PCFD ENG58, Bottom of Da Hill and jd783 like this

  14. Posted

    My previous post was based in the previous ISO rating schedule that was in effect in NYS from 1980 to June 2014. The new schedule has changed to the following:

    A. Training Facilities and Use (T1):

    Training conducted at a live fire training facility.

    Up to......................................................................................................................35 points

    1. Facilities (FA): Maximum Points

    Live fire training structure including smoke room 17

    Drill tower at least 3 stories in height 10

    Training area at least 2.0 acres in size 8

    Maximum (FA) = 35

    2. Use of Facilities (U):

    For full credit under this item, each member of the department should attend 18 hours of training at the facilities credited in Section 580A1.

    Multiply the points credit for facilities (FA) by the factor (U) for use of the facilities by all company members:

    Maximum 18 hours per member; (U) = number of hours per member ÷ 18

    Maximum for factor (U) =1.00

    T1 5 (FA)(U)

    Training at the facilities credited in this section must be in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions and NFPA1410, Standard on Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations.

    Note 1: Their are a number of additional training requirements beyond the facility use ones.

    Note 2: Above where it says "All company members" This section hurts volunteer fire departments that do not clearly separate "active" members from "social" (or formally active) members. I.E. Your department has 100 "members", 20 are active and complete 100 of in-service training per year ISO will calculate this as 2,000 total hours (20 x 100) but they will average it out to the 100 members and will only credit you with an average of 20 hours per member (not the 100 hours). It is critical that departments identify the number of "Active" members. This also may mean that Fire Police and scene support members are being counted and that may hurt your rating if they do not maintain the same amount of hours as your interior members. ISO will let you slide on this if you clearly categorize who your "Firefighters" are.

    spin_the_wheel likes this

  15. Posted

    I read somewhere that a training building does help a fire Department ISO rating. Does ISO look for certain fire training props.

    Points

    1. Facilities and Aids (FA)

    Drill Tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

    Fire Building (including smoke room) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

    Combustible Liquid Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

    Library and Training Manuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

    Slide and Movie Projectors and pump and hydrant cutaways . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

    Training area (this may include streets or open areas when no other training facilities are provided) . . . . . . .10

    Those points are used in a mathematical calculations, so if you do not use the facility, it generates no points

    2. Use (FU)

    Multiply the points credit for facilities and aids by the following factors for use of the facilities and aids by all company members:

    Maximum

    a. Half-day (3 hours) drills, 8 per year (0.05 each) ......0.40

    b. Half-day (3 hours), multiple-company drills, 4 per year..... 0.40

    c. Night drills (3 hours), 2 per year (0.10 each).... 0.20

    Note: A single company drill may receive credit under a and c; a multiple

    company drill may receive credit under a, b, and c.

    Ti1 = (FA) (FU)

    Note: the Combustible Liquid Pit may be substituted with propane based props or other flammable liquid training materials and the Slide and Movie Projectors can be replaced with computer based training systems (powerpoint & DVD's)

    spin_the_wheel likes this

  16. Posted

    1) Many hands make light work. Who wouldn't mind an additional 6 or more firefighters on an alarm?

    2) Just asking...... when they do these studies, is there a way to measure productivity gains achieved by a common command and sop's because you are one department operating in concert at a multiple alarm fire as opposed to several departments operating together under mutual aid?

    3) Also would not the costs associated with injury lost time and overtime be less if the single consolidated department was properly staffed, spreading the work load?

    4) Can a value also be placed on the intangible costs associated with less burn out and better attitudes?

    1) You would be surprised how many don't want the help.

    2) Never looked at measuring this, but its commonly held belief that it has to improve.

    3) It most definitely would, however while those savings can be substantial, in the overall budget its a small %.

    4) I am sure their can be, but again in the grand scheme, its a very very small percentage

  18. Posted

    I'm a huge fan of consolidation of certain services. There are simply too many little kingdoms around here. I'd venture to say that a consolidation that didn't save money, isn't really a consolidation.

    You can cut administrative staff, for one. There should be fewer chiefs and some redundant bureaus, such as a detective units, IAB, ect would be trimmed from 2 - 1.

    Yup, it means admin staff losing their jobs, hopefully only due to attrition. The only way to save money (real money) is to employ fewer people.

    Having spent a lot of time working on consolidation financials I can say that your statements only work if each department is overstaffed (particularly in admin). While their may need to be fewer chiefs of departments, many small depts. do not have anyone performing many critical administrative functions (training, safety, codes, etc.)

    Sometimes a consolidations is about trying to provide the proper service levels. When we did the southern Westchester study we had one mandate, to meet NFPA 1710. We had 9 departments in the study and none were meeting 1710.That meant every rig needed 3/1 and that 90% of the calls would have an engine in 4 min and every box would have 22 firefighters in 8 min.

    After figuring out the time parameters and vehicles/stations needed we calculated the number of employees that would be needed. What we found was that the total # of employees the 9 departments was only about 10 short of the 600+ needed. While we did not get into a major financial analysis, that fact alone told us that the costs of consolidation was neutral, but the service level meant that every fire alarm increased of 6 to 19 additional firefighter.

    AFS1970 likes this

  19. Posted

    When has a nursing home in Westchester County ever had to be evacuated? How about in the UASI territory?

    We have 2 in the coastal evacuation zone that evacuated during Sandy (a 3rd chose to rid it out) Including approx. 30 vent dependent patients. Durining Irene one facility was ordered by NYS DOH to take evacuated patients from a Far rockaway SNF, They advised the DOH, they could not as they were evacuating themselves.

  20. Posted

    We have standardized our 3 newest engines (and in the future the other rigs as they are replaced will change to this):

    Front bumper: nothing (members advised they would rather stretch the same way for trash, brush, car or a structure fire.)

    Cross Lay 1: Deadload 200' High Pressure 3" Hose with a gated wye. Used for court yard stretch & supplying FDC.

    Cross Lay 2: Deadload 200' x 2 1/2" Hose with akron mini monitor

    Rear 1: Deadload 600' x 1 3/4" w/ Task Force Fog. Max stretch is generally 300' leaving a second line available underneath.

    Rear 2: Deadload 800' x 2" w/ straight nozzle.

    Rear 3: Deadload 600' x 2 1/2" w Straight nozzle

    Rear 4: Deadload 800' x 5" LDH Supply

    Units also carry:

    3) 75' x 2" Standpipe Hose with straight nozzle.

    1) 50' x 2 1/2" Standpipe hose

    2) 25' x 5" LDH in the pump panel running boards

    1) 50' x 5" LDH rolled in pump operators compartment

    Danger likes this

  24. Posted

    1) No online application, forms must be picked up in person.

    2) No notification of what the application costs until you show up in person to get it.

    3) No information on exam reciprocity while the exam was posted after Westchester filing closed.

    4) And while those of us who've tested before know what "preference" means (a NR list and an others list), there's no real explanation of what "preference" means. They know who they want to hire, but they still want those donations from suburban kids looking to get hired.

    1) Wrong. From the city website:

    FILING PROCEDURE: In order to be a candidate for FIREFIGHTER for the City of New Rochelle, you must appear IN PERSON AT THE CITY HALL LOCATION WITH PROPER PHOTO I.D. AND DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE RESIDENCY. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH THE MAIL. IT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS YOU APPEAR IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OFFICE PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE APPLICATION PERIOD.

    You may obtain an application by sending a stamped legal sized self-addressed envelope to the New Rochelle Civil Service Office, City Hall, 515 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801. You may also pick up an application at any of the locations listed below:

    Yes their is no online "application" they want it filled out in your own hand.

    2) You know how I found out, I went to the city website and looked at the actual announcement, It says it for all to see. Again a little bit more effort than just looking at the modified version on EMTBravo. It also gives test suggestions.

    3) Again from the NR website: APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS

    ARE SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: If you have applied for any other civil service examination for employment with New York State or any other local government jurisdiction, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site. If you have applied for both STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXAMINATIONS, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the STATE examination center. If you have applied for other local government examinations, call or write to each Civil Service agency to make arrangements. You must make your request for these arrangements no later than three weeks before the date of the examination. You must notify all local government civil service agencies with which you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examination(s). For this examination, call (914) 654-2171 or write to New Rochelle Civil Service Commission at the address on page 1.

    4) from the website: RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: Candidates must be legal residents of Westchester County for at least three continuous months immediately preceding the date of the written examination and continuously through date of appointment. Preference in appointment WILL be given to successful candidates who have been legal residents of the City of New Rochelle for at least three months immediately preceding the date of the written examination and continuously through date of appointment. A CANDIDATES RESIDENCY WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND VERIFIED BEFORE APPOINTMENT.

    That explains it. And its not "They know who they want to hire, but they still want those donations from suburban kids looking to get hired." Also from the website:

    The application and appointment procedure has been prepared in accordance with terms of proposed consent judgments in the cases of Vulcan Society, et al, vs. Fire Department, et al., and United States vs. New York State Civil Service Commission, et al., in Federal District Court, So. District of New York.

    You want to be a firefighter, show some initiative. I got all this info in 10 minutes from the city's website with no "inside knowledge" of the job.