ldrco195

It should be a guideline to throw them at every working fire. NO EXCEPTIONS !!! we are in the process of replacing our aerial and we want a large compliment of ground ladders. It is interesting how the reps cringe when we say 300+. Due to them cringing we are taking a TDA (yes, another vollie house with a TDA) into consideration. There are advantages to a TDA. compartment space, ladder compliment ability, and ability to get just about anywhere without a problem. In regards to ground ladders, We are big on throwing them. We have riding assignments on our truck and at two recent fires, our OVM & CHAUFFER, threw all the ground ladders from our ladder and the tower along with most of the ground ladders from the engine companies. Crews made 11 grabs at the one fire and 2 grabs at the next. Why.. Aggressive ground ladder usage. On every bldg fire, there should be ground ladders to every window on the second floor and above if possible. This goes for rural america to urban america. Some may ask "Why?". If you have to ask go back to essentials. Out of kindness I will answer the question... If there is one at every window.. you have a way out ! What a concept huh ! My motto.. "THROW 'EM 'TIL YOU GOT NONE LEFT.. THEN LOOK FOR MORE"

Information From LAFRA Site: WWW.LAFRA.COM During major disasters, some firefighters lose their own homes or must worry about the safety of their own families, while they are out protecting other people's lives and property. Yet, it never shows. Firefighters frequently spend days on the front lines in need of clean socks, underwear, deodorant, toothpaste, and warm blankets. Luckily, groups such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army provide support and help to both firefighters and disaster victims. To help those involved in the Southern California Wildfires, please click on the links below. http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/profiles/d...AWildfires.html http://www.salvationarmy-socal.org/ Please note due to sanitary regulations as well as storage and delivery limitations, food and hard goods are NOT accepted. The greatest need is for monetary donations and gift cards (to places such as Target, WALMART, Sears, JCPenney) that sell the above mentioned goods. For donations to help our retired and active duty firefighters facing times of crisis, click on the word DONATE or the DONATION BADGE on the home page of this web site. Thank You, John Kitchens, President Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association 2900 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90026 213 480-4302 fax/voice john@lafra.org

how about some pics !

We are getting 9 new phillips monitors from our local med center. We have the ZOLL units now and they are terrible. Our medics hate them. They are a maintenance nightmare.

Editorial from the Pueblo (CO) Chieftain - October 6, 2007 Text of the legislation @ http://www.iaff.org/politics/PDF/S2123.pdf

we went from lp10's to the zoll's. It was a change to say the least. My understanding is the Phillips are a more user friendly model. The biggest reason that we are getting these monitors, New Cardiac Care ward at the local med center. There will be telemetry set up between ems and the cardiac care ward with the phillips. They will be using phillips equipment in the cardiac care center. They appear to be nice the the medics look forward to them. THis gift is a blessing in disguise. This gift has saved our municipality approx 300,000 in capital improvement. We are already replacing 4-6 Pumpers & 1 Ladder under capital improvement over the next 5 years.

Hello All - My Wife, Children & I are looking to come to New York this Christmas season for a weekend. (Yes We are Absulotely N.V.T.S... NUTS) We are looking for some advice. We are driving in and we have an idea of staying in lower Manhattan area. We have NO intention of driving our car in the city when there. First question - Do the taxi services carry car seats with them for such occasions? We do have most of our plans set in order and to what and where to go.. with that said. If we wanted to go to Boston from NYC. What is the train service & website if exisits that would get us there? Thanks for the help. More questions and such may follow. Stay Safe ! Chris www.mvfd5.com

Can anyone suggest a great local place for breakfast in the port chester area. Thank You

i thinks its called lombardi's ?

Thanks to all for the ideas... angels & rodney place - that is a great idea thanks - we will be doing that. ok.. now the most important thing in NYC - Where is that world famous oldest pizza shop in NYC that makes coal fired pzza?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khat Cops seize shipment of the narcotic khat, a first in Philly By VALERIE RUSS russv@phillynews.com 215-854-5987 Philadelphia police have made their first seizure of the drug khat, a narcotic plant that is popular in East Africa and the Saudi Arabian peninsula. Undercover narcotics cops on Wednesday seized 740 pounds of khat that was being delivered to an East Falls address, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman. The value of the drugs has been put at about $148,000. Vanore said it was the first seizure of khat (pronounced COT) in Philadelphia and perhaps the first in the state. No arrests had been made as of yesterday afternoon. The khat leaves and twigs that are routinely chewed as part of socializing with friends in places like Somalia and Yemen were wrapped in banana leaves and packaged in boxes. "It is not illegal in Europe or Africa; it's legalized there," Vanore said. "But here, we have it as a Schedule 1 narcotic" - the same as cocaine and heroin. Narcotics Chief Inspector William Blackburn said the khat is typically found in places like Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas, Boston and New York. "According to intelligence reports, it's prevalent in areas that have large populations of people from Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen," Blackburn said. Blackburn said khat leaves are chewed like tobacco or added to tea or food products. The drug produces an excitement and euphoria that is similar to the effects of cocaine or marijuana, and can last anywhere from 90 minutes to 24 hours. The side effects can also include hallucinations and paranoia, Blackburn said. Khat, which is also spelled Qat or Kat, is a natural drug that comes from the Celastrus edulis plant. Khat contains cathine (d-norisoephedrine), cathidine and cathinine. Cathine is also one of the alkaloids found in Ephedra vulgaris, according to Internet reports. "We just want to make people aware of it," Vanore said. "We don't think it's being frequently used here now, but our concern is that it's very, very inexpensive and it could become a problem." He said it neither looks nor smells like marijuana. It has a very strong odor. "It doesn't have a very good shelf life," Vanore said. "Once it's out for a certain period of time, it loses its narcotic effect." * Staff writer David Gambacorta contributed to this report.

More Info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qat_in_Yemen http://www.plot55.com/growing/c.edulis.html Very Interesting From what i have read, granted i am no MD, but there is really nothing EMS can do in the field to counter react this narcotic like drug. Since it is not opium/ opiud based then narcan is out of the question. Any Ideas thoughts?

30% CLUB BY: JAKE RIXNER There is a little known club in the fire service; I call it the 30% club. The members of this club have what it takes to get the job done no matter what the circumstances. I first noticed this club when assigned to 5 Engine in Richmond, Virginia. 5 Engine was the busiest Engine Company in Richmond, for the entire 8 years I was assigned there. It was a wonderful place for a young fireman to learn his trade. In the early 1980’s all three shifts at the nickel were taking in about 80 to 100 working fires a year, most of which were in the first due. To really learn how to be a good fireman, one has to go to fires. And the action didn’t get any better than 5 Engine. Some of the best Officers, and firemen were assigned to the busy house on Leigh Street. Lessons of previous battles were passed down from the senior members. Friendships were forged that will be taken to the grave. We also worked with 18 other men assigned to 1 Truck that shared the cramped quarters. Many of them, were also members of the 30% club. What is the 30% club? Have you ever noticed that when first arriving at a working fire, its always the same guys who step-up and take the fight to the fire? Now far be it for me to point fingers at the rest of the members, but it seems that some guys have a strong urge for self-preservation. Another important point is that someone has to take the hydrant. In my early days as a Richmond Fireman, it was always the same guys you bumped into inside a fire building. Pitch black smoke, the sound of crackling fire, a campfire noise amplified 100 times by being confined inside a building. Who is that? It’s Buzzy, It’s Pinky, It’s Radar, it’s Mikey, It’s Bryan, It’s Grayson, and the list goes on. Richmond has always been blessed with great firemen; it has been passed down from generation to generation. It always felt good to be crawling down that long dark, hot hallway with these men. Upon finding the fire, the pipe is opened and the steam seams to find every opening in your clothing, making and uncomfortable situation even worse. Thru clenched jaws you “stick it out” that extra 30 seconds that it takes to turn a second alarm fire into just another all-hands job. The members of the 30% club know that their work will not be featured on the news, the public will never see what they do. That small burns to the ears, & neck are part of the trade. They know that many second and third alarm fires (which can generate intense media coverage) would have been put out for want of a thirty percenter on the pipe. Members of the club also know that once the fire is knocked down, there will be a wave of firemen on scene wanting to help pull ceilings and walls, making sure the rub a little soot on themselves. At times it gets so tight you can’t move. So what is it that drives these guys? Thirty percenters love the challenge of taking on a force of nature, and living to tell about it. They know that the true reward working in this business is what you give back to the community, the life you helped save, the building you helped save, the little boys baseball card collection. A little girl’s American girl doll collection. The family photo album. Things that can never be replaced are some of the things that drive the “thirty percenter”. There is also a bond, a brotherhood that is formed by shared hardships, and shared danger. Respect, the respect you get from Officers and co-workers. I can remember what it meant to me. The many times of “Good job” or the eye contact from officers who know what you just went through, and what you’ve accomplished. The respect your company receives from the Battalion Chiefs. The respect you receive in the firehouse kitchen, etc. It feels good to be in the thirty percent club. How do you join? You join the club by taking all available training classes. Learn your business so you are not a danger to yourself or those around you. Then you must figure out who in your department is trustworthy, and stick with him at the next fire. Like any trade, you need a mentor to show you the ropes. Be careful, the loudest talker at the kitchen table may not be the best fireman on the fireground; its often that quiet guy sitting at the table taking it all in, who just might surprise you at the next worker. One sure way to tell is to push the line in at the next fire and see who you bump into………I can promise you that it is right then that you will have become a candidate for the thirty percent club. And you may even be seen with a slight grin on your face when one of the pretenders rubs a dirty glove across his face…

it is from former trainer fire co in pa. i believe they are in montgomery or chester co pa. It was refered to as TAC 68.

This ia awesome.. I could see me wasting alot of money on this if i were run inot a few extra green backs http://www.pioneervalleylivesteamers.org/ but you need one of these http://www.mountaincar.com/main.htm http://www.mountaincar.com/Catalog/MCC2006.pdf http://www.mountaincar.com/Engines/Dash9.htm

check out... Riverdale Heights Thread !!!! for further details.

We spent the day with Monroeville VFD #5. Volunteers of Co. 5 have 2 E-One Engines, 135 E-One Ladder, 2 ALS Med Units and a couple other support vehicles. They are an all volunteer organization handling approx 1400 calls per year. They have a live in program at the fifth district and currently have 8 live in members. check out their website @ www.mvfd5.com. They are just one station of 5 in the Municipality of Monroeville. We had 7 Platoon A members present along with a throng of #5 Volunteers. It was a great day. Brother Husky made a tremendous breakfast for all with some assistance from the crew. We staffed both engines, the ladder, and 2 ems units with a total of 20 volunteers present !! Even with all of the staff their we only ran a CO call (engine only) and Ambulance call. Later Brother Hank Grimes prepared some wedding soup, artichoke dip, and crab dip that his wife prepared the night before. The top of it all was the Captain Knapp of Platoon A prepared some home made fettucini chicken alfredo with a tremondous salad. Everyone had a great time and the next trip will be on January 24th to Berkeley Hills VFC, Co. 247. Some of the Fleet At the Monroeville Public Safety Training Center The Whacker A Platoon Some of the Crew The Riding Board

Action Lighter Side

A group of comm specs from STAT MEDEVAC made a trip to Washington Twp Volunteer Fire Co in Fayette County, PA. (www.wtvfc42.org). WTVFC is located just off Interstate 70 in the Area of Belle Vernon, PA., Charleroi, and Rostraver. WTVFC operates an awesome fleet. That fleet includes a Seagrave Engine, Seagrave 100' Single Axle Ladder, Seagrave / Marion Heavy Rescue, Brush Truck, Squad, Ford L9000 / 4 Guys Tanker. They run approx 300 calls per year. They are a great group of guys. The chief & captain works with us and their guys are just as great as they are. We started by enjoying a fulfilling breakfast at the local Eat & Park. We returned to quarters to get a great fill of how they operate and the little antics that occur around their firehouse. Not be left out, we of course traded war stories from years past. We enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant across the street. We were even graced by the local air medical transport company with a site visit that was prearranged for our enjoyment. It was a great time for all. I would like to thank our brothers for a great time and enjoyed the visit. Stay Safe !! The next trip will be to one of our brothers fire company on Wednesday Jan 17th 2007 to Monroeville VFD Co. 5. I will be sure to post pictures from that event.

A Platoon Whacker Tour 2007 Video Teaser

hey guys, FIREMAN SAM is a show that is on SPROUT network on Direct TV on Saturday mornings at 8:35. If you have children (2 - 5 years or so) will love. It is from the UK. It is a great learning tool. It has taught my daughter alot about fire safety. Check it out with your children when you have a moment. You can get the DVD on AMAZON UK.

if you go to http://www.antiquefirebrigade.com there are alot of gi-normous hazmats & squads (rescues) pictured here and they are all beautiful hi qulity photos.

if you go to http://www.antiquefirebrigade.com there are alot of gi-normous hazmats & squads (rescues) pictured here and they are all beautiful hi qulity photos.

In my town we operate the opticom system and this for the most part eleminates the need to push other drivers thru red lights. If the opticom does not trip or the traffic is so heavy that it is not moving well we take the oncoming lane. We have an intersection in our town that see's upwards of 60-80k cars a day thru it during the holiday season. We have US route 22 & PA route 48 at that intersection. 22 & 48 We are aggressive apparatus operators but if you ever have the interest we do offer an observational ride along. Monroeville Volunteer Fire Co. 5 Here are some links to some info about our town: http://www.monroeville.pa.us/about/about.html The Comp Plan.. Very Intersting Reading