firefighter36

Excellent article! Be sure and read the several related articles about D.C. Laun and the rescue attempt he made. He gave total credit to the on-duty truck co. crew for making the "grab". The man is a true hero, at age 72, to be crawling into a flat to get to the victim, without gear or SCBA. The articles show that firefighters everywhere are a true brotherhood. All of us retired guys miss the job so much- you lucky ones that are still "active"- live the dream; stay safe; and never dishonor the profession.

I just want to thank the Roosevelt Fire Company 1 and Croft Corners Fire Company for their donation to ensuring the success of this bus trip.

When I was a road boss, I was called to the scene of a simple auto accident by a police officer who had an un-usual circumstance:
The officer was dispatched to a non injury accident to file a report. It was determined that one of the drivers had a suspended license (for failure to answer a summons). The subject had his mother-in-law in the car whom he transporting to work. As the mother in law did not have a license, the officer instructed the arrested subject that he was going to tow the vehicle. He would arrange for a cab to take the mother in law home or to work. The subject was given his Miranda warnings, frisked and handcuffed. The subject asked to speak to his mother in law before being transported to police HQ. The two then had a conversation in Italian. The subject was secured in the radio car and the officer kept a close watch over the mother in law. The officer then requested a supervisor to the scene.
The unknown to the two, the officer spoke Italian. The conversation consisted of the subject telling his mother in law to take the gun from under the driver’s seat and put it in her handbag. Upon arrival, the officer advised of the events and was unsure of we could conduct a warrantless search under the conditions. Under the circumstances I advised that the search would be valid and we then confronted the mother in law and she surrendered her handbag. In her bag was a loaded .38 caliber revolver.
The subject was advised that we had recovered the handgun and would be arresting both parties. The subject denied any knowledge of the firearm and wanted to know how we found it. The officer told him in Italian what he said to his mother in law. The expression on their faces was priceless.
Both subjects were booked and the DA accepted all of the charges. The defendant was offered a chance in court to admit the gun was his and the charges against his mother in law would be dropped. He declined.
As a side note, I received a phone call at the booking desk from the subject’s wife. I was expecting her to tear my head off for having her mother arrested. She never addressed the issue, she wanted to know what gives us the right to arrest her husband. Thinking that he had not told her what had happened, I filled her in on the days events. Her reply was “Big deal, everyone in the Bronx carries a gun”! My only reply was “this isn’t the Bronx” !
You can't make this stuff up!

Ya know what the drone could tell you about that fire? The same thing a guy in the TL bucket could......except there was no one there.....probably because they don't have adequate staffing.
FDNY does about 30,000 fires a year. If Detroit were the same size they'd do 60,000 fires. Now, I know many of these are vacant surround and drowns, they still see tons of fire. Twice the work, half the staff......brilliant planning.

I take a few things away from this article :
1) New Yorkers have let their lawmakers trample their rights.
2) Don't drive when your license is suspended.
3) Don't drive your suspended licensed self around in a car with broken stuff on it.
4) When breaking two laws, try to avoid interacting with the police.
5) When breaking laws, don't be carrying a handgun and be shocked when the police ask to hold on to it for a minute.
6) Here in NY, don't be a test case for the SAFE Act, especially when numbers 2 thru 5 apply to you.

0:55 - 1:05..... Ballsy move flying through the wires.

Amtrak isn't going to take traffic off 95 until their fares are reasonable and can compete with the cost of driving.

What would Islam do if it were an American who committed a terrorist act in a Muslim Country? I think it would look something like: Hang him by his feet from a crane in a public place, light him on fire and mail the video to Al-Jazeera.
Never Forget

Maybe the government can stop the charades trying to say this was a "lone" act, find out who was financing the terrorists and get the money from them.

As long as low bid copies don't make it back to the streets in the United States...

As long as low bid copies don't make it back to the streets in the United States...

As long as low bid copies don't make it back to the streets in the United States...

Probably a limited number, so that the Chinese factories have something to copy

Anything we can do to start reversing the trade and debt imbalance between us and the Chinese is good...

"Tear down this Wall". Those famous words were once spoken by the late President Ronald Reagan. Those were the words he once said to then Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He was referring to a large cement and brick wall topped with razor wire, which physically divided the City of Berlin and the entire country of Germany. On the West side of that Wall in West Berlin, was a Free Country and Free Demorcracy. On the East side of the Wall in East Berlin was a Communist Country with no Freedoms.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit one of the Stamford, Ct Firehouses. I was invited to the quarters of Engine 8 which is on Vine Rd, about seven tenths of a mile south of the Merritt Parkway. That evening when I got off the Parkway was a firehouse to the left. I was later told that is Turn of the River Fire Depts quarters. A large, maybe three bay firehouse, that really isn't that old. So I headed south and three traffic lights was Vine Rd. Turned left and Stamford Fire Station 8 was right there.
When I got there I found a trailer mounted on a slab and a seperate single bay garage with the words Engine 8 on the top of it. It reminded me of some firehouse in the middle of nowhere in one of our very poor rural areas. This certainly wasn't what I expected to see in Connecticuts Fourth Largest City, in one of the richest counties in the country. (Fairfield County, Ct). That firehouse is the home of Three Stamford Firefighters, One Officer and Two Firefighters per shift. When I got there we talked about some of the older rigs that Stamford FD had, and of course of the Stamford Fire Dept how it is today. With two firehouses within 7/10s of a mile of each other I asked; "why aren't you up the street in that other firehouse". The answer was:
"We Are NOT Allowed in There"
The Stamford Firefighters are NOT allowed in there. I couldn't believe that ! Instead the City of Stamford must pay rent for that property to operate that Trailer mounted on a slab as Stamford Fire Station 8 with a seperate single bay garage. I asked how long they have been operating out of this trailer, and the officer told me, Four Years.
When a run comes in, these Stamford Firefighters must go outside into that garage, regardless of the the weather: snow, rain, wind, whatever, before they can get on the rig. All while a large firehouse, that is probadly empty sits Less than 7/10s of a mile away. In fact, while I was there, a run did come in. They responded to a call in one of the other volunteer areas. At that call was what appeared to me as a very young volunteer chief. Later I asked one of the Stamford Firefighters if that was the chief of the volunteer dept and I was told "yes, and he's 26 years old". Another shock that I just had a hard time understanding. Maybe he knows his stuff, I just wouldn't feel confortable taking orders from a 26 year old fire chief. Would you feel confortable taking orders on the fireground from a 26 year old ?
Now please understand, I am NOT putting that dept down. As I said, maybe that chief knows his stuff. In fact, I was actually pretty impressed with the members of that volunteer dept. And as I looked around, I happened to notice a well respected FDNY Officer from a very busy company, driving one of the rigs. He certainly has alot more firefighting experience than I ever did.
I was later told that there is also another Stamford fire station that is even closer to one of the volunteer firehouses that the Stamford Firefighters are NOT allowed to use and the taxpayers must pay the bills on that Stamford fire station also. I believe that is Stamford Fire Station 9.
Maybe there isn't a cement and brick wall with razor wire dividing the Fourth Largest City in Connecticut. But there certainly is a Wall in Stamford. It may not be physical, but its there. Recently a decision was approved to combine all Five Stamford Volunteer Fire Depts into one dept., and with one leader. A combination career/volunteer dept. I hope that this Wall can be torn down, just as that Berlin Wall was torn down decades ago. And the City of Stamford is only one example. Stamford just happens to be in the spotlight at the moment. There's more depts out there that also need to Tear Down Their Walls.

Barry,
Lets talk about 2 of the squads that were disbanded. 1 Was Squad 5 that was handled by Eastchester and Scarsdale. Eastchester is allegedly with Mt Vernon now. Lets say there is an incident in NYC trains are going to be stopping in New Rochelle because they have a hospital, Trains will stop in Yonkers because they have 2 hospitals, Trains will stop in Mt Vernon because they have a hospital, and guess what trains will stop in Bronxville because there is a hospital.
So now lets talk about decon at these locations, how are we going to decide who gets the trailer? and the needed equipment?
Also Mt Vernon has 3 train stations as does Eastchester. Perhaps the people that made the decision to do away with squad 5 should really speak to the people that do the work. The plan may look good from some meeting room however not in practical application.
Captain Richard Dempsey
Eastchester Fire Dept
Haz Mat Tech

All the time and money wasted putting these in is what's getting to me. It would be nice if the federal government (or any government for that matter) learned to think things through before acting. How could they not see this coming?

Id like to sue Congress and the President for all the money they keep stealing out of mt paychecks

M/A from Yonkers?

I always said this same thing, Dan! If you'll throw a fire chief in jail for 1403, why not a mayor for 1710? I've read every report on NIOSH's website and not one was attributed to 11 year old leather helmets. But many were staffing and supervision. Barry you're right and I wish the the bean counters would catch on.
I was interviewed by OSHA at a random inspection of an agency I'm no longer affiliated with. They asked how we follow 1910.134. I told them we don't. They asked how we followed 1910.146. I told them we didn't. They wrote down notes furiously. The next day I got an email from the department head congratulating us on getting a 100% on our OSHA inspection. It's a joke.

Great article minus the technical symantics. Great press coverage laid out to readers in layman's terms. We offered this same opportunity to a team of reporters from a newspaper in Dutchess a few years ago when they were writing their series of articles concerning salaries, pensions, and benefits. Interestingly enough, they turned down the opportunity. The fact that a reporter is willing to step outside their comfort zone to get a real story speaks alot about their character. Good for you guys!

Great article minus the technical symantics. Great press coverage laid out to readers in layman's terms. We offered this same opportunity to a team of reporters from a newspaper in Dutchess a few years ago when they were writing their series of articles concerning salaries, pensions, and benefits. Interestingly enough, they turned down the opportunity. The fact that a reporter is willing to step outside their comfort zone to get a real story speaks alot about their character. Good for you guys!

This specific quote shows there was a need for a more aggressive, and thorogh overhaul / removal of items from the building.
Had that been done - perhaps the body would have been located. Very sad, and embarrassing.
*quote was from linked article, not from DCJPells post, as quoted.




And HOLY CRAP! You finally retired your salad bowl! Welcome to the new millenium!

Wouldn't it be interesting to see a guy in a Chief's Uniform going to Proby class if the candidate selected doesn't have a fire academy certification?

Waiting for punch line ?