CHIEFPHIL

A company I'm familiar with installs a 300 gallon tank in the attic and feeds the system via gravity. We have several group homes in the non hydrant areas of town and each has this system in it. It is called FIRESTOP.

We have an ordinance that states any new construction of a sub-division in a non hydrant district will have a a 15000 gallon inground tank. There will be a tank for every 6 houses and no house can be more then 1000 feet from any tank. Each tank has a 2.5" inlet for filling and a kocheck 6" female with 6"x5" female connection, so either a 1000 or 1250+ can draft (both separate pipes). Each tank is on private land and the town has a right-away to each tank. The tanks are filled by the FD during a drill, utilizing all our mutual aid companies that would respond to that area so that they are aware of the locations. The Fd inspects each tank once a year to insure they are full. Part of out driver training/MPO training includes knowledge of each tank and this is where they usually learn how to draft.

I was there Christmas week. To bad, I like going there.

We use Universal Gold 1%-3% - It is a alcohol resistant aqueous form filming foam. It is used at 1% for hydrocarbons and 3% for polar solvents. I know that your not looking at "A", but we have found you can bring this down to 1/2% and works good as a A or wetting agent. We have a large chemical facility and when I was Chief we collaborated on what type of foam we should be using (they had large foam tanks that injected into the sprinker system) on thier products. We figured it worked their, it would work just about on everthing else. We use simple thru the pump eductors with KK nozzles (TFT's adjustable gallonage nozzle company) with the foam tubes made for hose nozzles. Typically the shelf life is 3 years, per the manufacturer, but the reality is that it will work for many years. We also run angus portable eductors, but rarely tuse them , we do drill with them . We had high expansion foam and a foam generator (big fan type unit ) we used it a few times in the 70's /80's but ended up using it more for a big fan. We expended the last 30 gallons of it one night in the parking lot and then retired the machine. We still have the machine, hasn't run in a few years.

Ok... I'll go again... 1925 Christie /Type 33 American Lafrance ( lafrance-foamite)Front drive straight frame ladder truck, that had the hard rubber tires replaced . -

'46 Autocar with a Seagrave city service body.

we continue to use as long as it passes the annual testing ( third party)and or is damaged. Depending on the damage, the hose is usually sent out for repairs (possibly shortened) and retested by the repaired (documented) and us before placed back in service. We have found that shortened lengths of hose has it's place in alternate modes of operation... as pony suctions, dewatering pumps, supply line from rig to rig, trash lines not intended for use on tural attack lines. Most of our 1.5" and 3" was purchased in mid 70's The oldest 1.75" is about 1994 The oldest 2.5" is about 94 as well. The oldest 5" is 1997.

Yes, the Sutphen's can flow water from that angle and about -6degrees as well. This is only when the boom is 90 degrees off the turntable. The newer cab designs and higher ladder racks and compartments diminish the angles working towards the rear of the truck. We have flowed water several times at this angle, Matz lumber yard in Danbury as an example and during the CFA Aerial Operator Certification course.

Vintech and ERM as well, all 911

The night Senior Lumber burned, the dispatcher sent an Engine on a still alarm to check out the brush fire.. next door to the FD. On arrival the place was going good. Engine 5 to base blow the f@#$%^& siren I'm blowing the F@#$%^& siren then a few years later - same dispatcher... tones go off at 3 a.m. then silence for a minute... then KCC 957.... just dusting, go back to sleep

Our rescue truck has unpainted and they look terrible (tough to keep clean.). Our Tower Ladder has painted and they look good (easier to clean). By the way, they go up and down as needed, use some compressed air to clean out the tracks of sand and what not, they operate fine.

No life hazard. Clear the area, let it burn , extinguish remaining fire on the ground once the pole no longer has a falling debris issue. Call in the utility who owns it to do any elevated stabilization and or final extinguishment.

We just changed the by-laws and one of the biggest task I had (chairman) was to reduce/streamline the officers and put into place officer requirements. We made some very drastic changes and they passed. To be an officer you need to be certified at the FF1 level for a minimum of 2 years, attend all mandatory training, pass a medical evaluation (physical) be certified as an interior firefighter. We reduced the number of Lieutenants from 9 fire to 4 fire, 2 ems to 1 ems and added 1 fire police. The fire police must be a sworn/certified fire police and is appointed by the chief and has no position in the chain of command other then overseeing FP duties. We reduce the Chief officers from 4 to 3 as well. The idea behind that was that we would limit the number of people running for office and hopefully get the best candidate to win. As how I personally vote, I always voted for who I thought would do the best job for the position he or she was running for.

On behalf of the Bethel (CT)Fire Department, we extend our condolences to the family and the Mount Vernon Fire Dept. Past Chief Phil Valenti

Tragedy has hit the Worcester FD, days after the Worcester 6 anniversary. http://www.telegram.com/article/20111208/NEWS/111209386 http://statter911.com/2011/12/08/new...or-conditions/ Initial reports are a collapse with 3 brothers trapped in the basement, two found quickly and removed, the third was found and removed after sometime. RIP, prayers for the two brothers in the hospital and for the families and the WFD.

I use to not like the idea of wearing my vest.... then a couple of weeks ago coming home from NH on I-91 in Hartford ,a three car MVA happened right in front of us. I go t out and went to the aid of one of the drivers and so did my significant other (she is a nurse). I had no gear or anything like that, just my job shirt. while waiting for CSP to arrive, i realized we were targets and even though it was daylight no one could see me. Once CSP showed up, I briefed the first officer onscene, then a second cruiser arrived. the first put on a vest the second did not. What a contrast it made to the scene, as one was visible and not the other against the black crashed pick up. So, now that I travel weekly between NH and CT, I have put my Safety Officer vest (in each car) and bought a vest for her (added our mandatory ID's as well). Chances are we are going to see another accident and stop to help. I learned a lesson, hopefully our LEO brothers and sisters will not learn the hard way.

not just the height, the length as well..... GUILTY , GUILTY. We have a 10' door with a steep ramp, so all the rigs need to be 9'6". We were so worried about the height of our tanker and the stubborn on the requirement of 3000 gallons, that to make the height requirement , ment the length of the rig had to be increased. As we were reading the bids, we realized the the truck would be as long as the tower ladder and it would not fit in the bay or go down roads we needed it too. Legally, we had to throw the specs out, rebid with 2500 gallon tank. Needless to say the First Selectwoman was not too happy with me. I was'nt happy with her either, she always kept telling me to have bake sales... Sometimes we overlook the oblivious.

not just the height, the length as well..... GUILTY , GUILTY. We have a 10' door with a steep ramp, so all the rigs need to be 9'6". We were so worried about the height of our tanker and the stubborn on the requirement of 3000 gallons, that to make the height requirement , ment the length of the rig had to be increased. As we were reading the bids, we realized the the truck would be as long as the tower ladder and it would not fit in the bay or go down roads we needed it too. Legally, we had to throw the specs out, rebid with 2500 gallon tank. Needless to say the First Selectwoman was not too happy with me. I was'nt happy with her either, she always kept telling me to have bake sales... Sometimes we overlook the oblivious.

My heart is saddened this morning, Rest in Peace Chief. When I grew up in PC, the Hansen family was always at many of our family events. My dad had succeeded Niels as Captain of Mellor Hose in the 70's.

thank you; My father Pete, my brother Bill, Uncle Roger, Cousins Danny and Bobby. Especially thank full for dedication and sacrifice of my brother Bethel Fire Fighters serving today... hopefully coming home soon, we miss you. Todd, Ray, Adam, Ben, Andy, Julian and Rich

http://firechief.com...todo_list_0908/ - read the article, then find the book Another good read.. "Chief Lloyd Layman proposed an answer to this dilemma as early as the 1940s. Locate a copy of his Firefighting Tactics, published in 1953, and read the introduction. While it may seem that no information so dated could possibly apply to today's firefighting, consider this: Layman's concepts of firefighting tactics created much of the basic foundation on which today's "modern" theories and practices have been built." I read this book 30 years after it was first published. Many lessons I learned and used in the 12 years as a chief officer.

No one who is not on scene should overrule some one who is on-scene. That person is there, knows what is going on , both good and bad. I have had my dispatcher ask me if it was ok when one of the Lt's or Capt requested additional equipment ... my response was always, so and so is on scene, I'm not. he is in charge. The only time a chief can and should [lets make that the senior fire officer responding] make decisions en route to a scene is when they are getting information from dispatch and no FD personnel is on scene. Size up begins when the tone/bell/whistle whatever hits. You need to know your response area, think time, occupancy, water etc. Think quickly about other resources needed - if needed at all. When I started we had a chief who micro-managed from his bed. The tone go off at 3 a.m. for a fire in his district and the first thing he would do is cancel the 3rd due engine and tower. 15 minutes later he'd be screaming for those rigs, plus more. Needless to say, he has a few parking lots named after him.

You have to remember that the chief is still a firefighter, regardless of how much paperwork he or she has. Many times when I was chief, I ended up being on the first due pump as I was in the station doing paperwork. As for all the chiefs going tot he scene, now days with the declining volumes of volunteers we have to be more aware that 3-6 white hats on scene are not going to get the BRT out the door. During the daytime, I would arrive onscene a little into the job and I would let me A/C or Capt run the job and I would go an relieve a hose crew or overhaul. My BWH is pretty brown . If things didn't look right or I thought they would go down-hill, I would take command and that person would stay with me and I though that was a good learning experience. My first experience running a job was as a LT and no chiefs showed up. I was a little lonely out there in the street. My dept as well as the town I live in has the role of a duty officer. That person's role is to respond with a command vehicle to the scene, all other officers need to insure the BRT get out and act as part of the crew as needed. To remain an officer in my department , you must be Interior qualified, if you fail to make mandatory training or fail your medical eval... your position is terminated. All mandatory training is conducted in Jan-March and all physicals be concluded in same time frame. As for the paperwork, the way I look at it and always thought was why is the 2nd and 3rd chiefs called assistant's .... they are there to assist. Breakdown the paperwork, give everyone a little to do. This is how I did it and I still had 15-20 hours week of paperwork to do, plus respond to alarms Chief: Budget Correspondence Meet with town and state officials 1st Assistant: Physicals workers comp claims insurance claims - both town and company LEPC Town Safety Committee representative 2nd Assistant: review run forms/log into computer - before it became FM office task blue light permits planning site review with bldg dept Bottom line, get the BRT out, the SUV does not put fire out. Be active, lead from the front, go to the training do what you expect your troops to do.

I have property in New Hampshire and we have had power problems for a long time as well. A recent study an proposal to bury the lines in NH is estimated to be $40 Billion and take 40 years to complete with the current system in place. This does not take into account any new subdivisions or development in that 40 year period.

Time call is dispatched via 911 center to the time the first radio unit signs off at scene - could be an engine, ambulance or senior officer. (reponse time). Time onscene to time IC terminates command. (incident time)