thebreeze

It's a no no when anyone, who is supposed to be operating at a fire scene, is taking pictures instead. Paid or volunteer, I don't think anyone is stopping during an operation to take group shots. If so shame on them. You obviously have an axe to grind with the FDNY but there's a legion of buffs who follow them around taking pictures, is that so wrong? No one is "grandstanding", and guys take pictures together after a job? There's nothing wrong with that on either side of the fence. You're ignorant if you think that guys are just out for 3/4, it's not an FDNY problem, there are just as many skells in every job, FD, PD, EMS, nameless other civil service jobs, and even the private sector who are just out to get theirs, to bilk the system and sit on their a-- collecting checks. I'm sure as a NYCMEDIC you see plenty of people abusing every system out there. Quit whining like you know what's going on if you want to ignore that larger truth about people and society as a whole, there are dregs everywhere.
As far as who calls themselves a fireman, it's all about training. I wouldn't go as far as to say most volunteers are capable, a good amount definitely, career guys with more training, sure there are still some useless ones but not quite as many. Their are plenty of useless EMTS and Medics out there too, and police officers on the rubber gun squad, we all know at least one or two. Being paid isn't the difference, training and ability is the difference. If someone said they just wanted to volunteer and help, had no training and about all they knew how to do was put on a bandaid, would you let them run around and call themselves paramedics, stick needles in people's arms, intubate, and give drugs. Oh and would you respect them more because it was free? Do you respect volunteer medics more than yourself? Or guys who just do it for less even? I know I know, there are licensing and education requirements for paramedics, but then following that logic, shouldn't the same kind of standards exist for firemen too? Go ahead though and think it's the fact that someone who does something for free deserves respect rather than someone who actually cares about being good at their profession and knows what they are doing, be it career or volunteer.
One more aside, it seems to be very common that the people who are the most inept and incapable, are the ones who don't realize this fact at all.

It's a no no when anyone, who is supposed to be operating at a fire scene, is taking pictures instead. Paid or volunteer, I don't think anyone is stopping during an operation to take group shots. If so shame on them. You obviously have an axe to grind with the FDNY but there's a legion of buffs who follow them around taking pictures, is that so wrong? No one is "grandstanding", and guys take pictures together after a job? There's nothing wrong with that on either side of the fence. You're ignorant if you think that guys are just out for 3/4, it's not an FDNY problem, there are just as many skells in every job, FD, PD, EMS, nameless other civil service jobs, and even the private sector who are just out to get theirs, to bilk the system and sit on their a-- collecting checks. I'm sure as a NYCMEDIC you see plenty of people abusing every system out there. Quit whining like you know what's going on if you want to ignore that larger truth about people and society as a whole, there are dregs everywhere.
As far as who calls themselves a fireman, it's all about training. I wouldn't go as far as to say most volunteers are capable, a good amount definitely, career guys with more training, sure there are still some useless ones but not quite as many. Their are plenty of useless EMTS and Medics out there too, and police officers on the rubber gun squad, we all know at least one or two. Being paid isn't the difference, training and ability is the difference. If someone said they just wanted to volunteer and help, had no training and about all they knew how to do was put on a bandaid, would you let them run around and call themselves paramedics, stick needles in people's arms, intubate, and give drugs. Oh and would you respect them more because it was free? Do you respect volunteer medics more than yourself? Or guys who just do it for less even? I know I know, there are licensing and education requirements for paramedics, but then following that logic, shouldn't the same kind of standards exist for firemen too? Go ahead though and think it's the fact that someone who does something for free deserves respect rather than someone who actually cares about being good at their profession and knows what they are doing, be it career or volunteer.
One more aside, it seems to be very common that the people who are the most inept and incapable, are the ones who don't realize this fact at all.

I call out parade walkers too, it doesn't phase me. I have no problem with either career or volunteer, at all. The risks are equal for both, I understand that, the bathtub falling through the floor isn't going to discriminate who it falls on, training can't prevent every possible misfortune. The simple fact if the matter is though, that some firefighters don't do much more than drive the rig to a fire. It's a needed position, I understand, they get the apparatus to the scene and operate it, it's ultimately the most important position. Some departments have this covered by a designated chauffeur, the guy chosen to drive for the tour, some sit and wait for a chauffeur to come from home, some have the guy who drives the rig there himself, stretches, operates, and puts the fire out, and some have someone who drives there, operates the rig, and that's it. I don't have any problem with any of these, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as parades do, I don't begrudge anyone of the titles they earn in whatever established academy they attend. Your civil service title can be firefighter, your position in the department can just be that of chauffeur, it happens, we all know it. There are police officers who are just the station janitor, you still call them a police officer, but you know what they do. In a career department the positions are often established at the beginning of every tour, volunteer, whoever wants it and gets there first gets it, combination departments use multiple different systems, some of which, designate the paid member, as the driver, every time. As I mentioned before, that falling bathtub will hit whoever is underneath it, but it will never hit the guy or gal who is never inside.

What do they ultimately do? Drive. You can call a duck an eagle, but it's still a duck.

What about quality not quantity? I just think its a better assessment as far as hall of fame stature goes. The guy who shows up to the most calls isn't always the best fireman, we all know that. So how about a ratio of reputation points to number of posts, who has the most likes per post? Just an idea

What about quality not quantity? I just think its a better assessment as far as hall of fame stature goes. The guy who shows up to the most calls isn't always the best fireman, we all know that. So how about a ratio of reputation points to number of posts, who has the most likes per post? Just an idea

What about quality not quantity? I just think its a better assessment as far as hall of fame stature goes. The guy who shows up to the most calls isn't always the best fireman, we all know that. So how about a ratio of reputation points to number of posts, who has the most likes per post? Just an idea

What about quality not quantity? I just think its a better assessment as far as hall of fame stature goes. The guy who shows up to the most calls isn't always the best fireman, we all know that. So how about a ratio of reputation points to number of posts, who has the most likes per post? Just an idea

Saying that gun control alone will solve any of this is fairly nearsighted. It ignores all of the other factors at play, such as mental illness and social media providing these loons with notoriety. Guns have been in the hands of ordinary citizens since the inception of this country, we need to examine what in the last twenty years has led to the proliferation of these types of incidents, the guns aren't a new factor, so we must examine these other new factors that have come into the picture. Sure I believe there should be gun controls, background checks, psychological tests, registering of certain weapons, but that's not going to stop these people. They are already willing to break the law and MURDER people, more laws aren't going to stop people already breaking the number one rule to not kill others! They will find a way to carry out their attacks, whether it be illegal guns, homemade bombs, or as we have seen in some instances a knife. We need to address the ever hushed problem of mental illness in this country, and the pandering of the media to these psychopaths. Why not pass a bill that you may not print pictures of the victims of such crimes nor the perpetrator, take away their spotlight. It will take away some of their sick motivation.

Saying that gun control alone will solve any of this is fairly nearsighted. It ignores all of the other factors at play, such as mental illness and social media providing these loons with notoriety. Guns have been in the hands of ordinary citizens since the inception of this country, we need to examine what in the last twenty years has led to the proliferation of these types of incidents, the guns aren't a new factor, so we must examine these other new factors that have come into the picture. Sure I believe there should be gun controls, background checks, psychological tests, registering of certain weapons, but that's not going to stop these people. They are already willing to break the law and MURDER people, more laws aren't going to stop people already breaking the number one rule to not kill others! They will find a way to carry out their attacks, whether it be illegal guns, homemade bombs, or as we have seen in some instances a knife. We need to address the ever hushed problem of mental illness in this country, and the pandering of the media to these psychopaths. Why not pass a bill that you may not print pictures of the victims of such crimes nor the perpetrator, take away their spotlight. It will take away some of their sick motivation.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

Saying that gun control alone will solve any of this is fairly nearsighted. It ignores all of the other factors at play, such as mental illness and social media providing these loons with notoriety. Guns have been in the hands of ordinary citizens since the inception of this country, we need to examine what in the last twenty years has led to the proliferation of these types of incidents, the guns aren't a new factor, so we must examine these other new factors that have come into the picture. Sure I believe there should be gun controls, background checks, psychological tests, registering of certain weapons, but that's not going to stop these people. They are already willing to break the law and MURDER people, more laws aren't going to stop people already breaking the number one rule to not kill others! They will find a way to carry out their attacks, whether it be illegal guns, homemade bombs, or as we have seen in some instances a knife. We need to address the ever hushed problem of mental illness in this country, and the pandering of the media to these psychopaths. Why not pass a bill that you may not print pictures of the victims of such crimes nor the perpetrator, take away their spotlight. It will take away some of their sick motivation.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

First of all.. if you are a fellow brother and you have a "source" who was there... then you should know that the information regarding a fellow brother's medical condition is PRIVATE and it's NO ONE ELSE's BUSINESS, including yours. It is unfortuante that we live in a world where the press out's someone's information. Just because it happened, doesn't mean its fair game or fodder for all the loads of verbal vomit that has followed here. Worse are the individuals who come up on this site and begin to monday morning quarterback a horrible situation.. questioning the Department who put the pro in professionalism when it comes to fire suppression and rescue operations. Those at the FDNY are the best of the best and we all know it. A fellow brother is hurt and needs to heal. For those of you who don't know when to just shut up and let it be... take some somber refelection of this situation and think about if it was you, your family, your friend or child. Would you want their information out there, or people who, regardless of their experience; were not there and are now spouting all sorts of mouth diarrhea about their opinion of the validity of the incident or how it should have been handled?
Just because you are able to give your opinion doesn't always mean you should. Let's all just keep our fraternal brother in our thoughts, lets keep respect for his privacy, respect that his fellow brothers and sister's did the right thing and the best they could in the situation; and hope the best for his recovery back to a normal life without pain or permanent disability.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

Honestly I don't see the problem with this, it's not like they are trying to mitigate the situation or take down the gunman. Sure doors can be breached, but most gunman aren't carrying around forcible entry tools with them just multiple weapons and ammo. These sickos are trying to inflict maximum damage in minimal time because they know sooner than later there will be armed response, something like this that slows them down could make them move on to try and find another target or buy precious time while law enforcement is en route in order to save lives. It's not like these people think they have found a solution to school shootings. Plenty of times in these instances you hear about teachers and students barricading themselves inside classrooms, this is just another method to accomplish just that. Why bash it if it could save lives? If your child was stuck in that room would you prefer if the teacher was just trying to hold the door shut from the inside or if they actually had a device like this to better accomplish the same task?
On top of all this, when is the national news media going to stop plastering these killers faces all over the place granting them their fifteen minutes of fame? It only further emboldens others to commit similar acts. Knowing they will achieve some infamy and exposure as they escape their own perceived notions of insignificance is a lot of what drives these lunatics. The media is more concerned with selling papers than they are with common sense and the safety of the public.

That's White Plains's fire district. Harrison did buff it though and show up as well. I believe the system did not activate automatically, which I agree is odd, but was manually activated after the fact. Just what I heard secondhand, feel free to correct any misinformation.

It has nothing to do with dumbing down, it has everything to do with "diversity", the PD is already more diverse or they would drop the requirement for them too I'm sure. It's funny though, they got rid of the FDNY college requirement to try to increase the number of minorities who passed, but how is that logical if a sufficient number of minorities are able to pass NYPDs supposedly higher level of college requirement? Could it be maybe they just don't want the job? No of course not, that's absurd. Ask the Vulcans why, if the NYPD is so diverse with a high college requirement, how does it make sense that lowering the FDNYs would produce the same result? If their president could even grasp the logic of that statement I think his bow tie might spin.

I agree that the ultimate responsibility lies with the parents and that more parents should take a more active role in their children's lives. This does not mean, however, that the school system and the FD do not have a responsibility to the student. We entrust the schools with teaching and caring for our children, if we aren't educators ourselves I don't think we really have the right to second guess every one of their opinions on what is best for a student to function properly. Wouldn't you want the school to take an interest and say something if your child was falling asleep in school all the time? It shows that they are actually invested in the child's future, isn't that a good thing? As far as the FD, we often take members 16 or 17 years of age who still have a year or two of high school left, that schooling should be their main priority, it's going to serve them in whatever they do for the rest of their lives whether it be firefighting or not. 16 and 17 year old children shouldn't be the backbone of our firefighting service, in fact they shouldn't even be interior members. The immaturity, inexperience, and feeling of invincibility that all children have is something that needs to be monitored closely. I'm not saying that some of these kids won't go on to be great firemen, I'm saying that they need a proper education and careful mentoring from those above them in the fire service.
P.S. If anyone takes issue with me referring to 16 and 17 year olds as children, let me say first, I get it, I didn't want to be considered a child then either, it took years for me to realize what a jackass I actually was. Second I will paraphrase Kurt Vonnegut who once said that in this country boys and girls do not become men and women until they have either served in a war or graduated college and entered the real world.

Sadly that trend seems to be reversing in the name of fairness and "diversity". The FDNY used to require college credits as a condition of employment, that has since been reduced to 6 months of "work experience". Apparently the ability to learn and apply your knowledge isn't as important to municipalities as what ethnic group you hail from. Don't be surprised if you see more of these requirements disappearing as well as the lowering of standards and requirements for promotions all in the name of "diversity".

Sadly that trend seems to be reversing in the name of fairness and "diversity". The FDNY used to require college credits as a condition of employment, that has since been reduced to 6 months of "work experience". Apparently the ability to learn and apply your knowledge isn't as important to municipalities as what ethnic group you hail from. Don't be surprised if you see more of these requirements disappearing as well as the lowering of standards and requirements for promotions all in the name of "diversity".