Taz288

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  2. Posted

    Detroit’s top fire official, Don Austin, is resigning in wake of botched fire crisis
    by Steve Neavling / Published yesterday / @mcmuckraker
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    Fire Commissioner Don Austin routinely mishandled Detroit's fire crisis.

    Detroit Fire Commissioner Don Austin, who botched the hiring of new firefighters, regularly conceals the severity of the fire crisis and oversaw drastic budget reductions, is resigning as early as this week, city sources told us today.

    Residents began calling for Austin’s resignation this summer, saying he’s responsible for an increase in the number of fires that are decimating neighborhoods, jacking up home insurance rates and claiming lives.

    Since Austin took the helm in May 2011, firefighters’ wages were cut 10%, arsons were drastically underreported and seven fire stations were permanently closed as part of a $24-million reduction in the department’s budget. Most of those stations have since been broken into and stripped over scrap metal.

    The Motor City Muckraker has been examining the fire department over the past year, revealing poor leadership, an inadequately staffed department and firefighters who are forced to work without the proper safety equipment or working trucks and engines.

    Fire trucks continue to break down at unprecedented rates, and repairs are woefully slow. Firefighters often are forced to buy their own safety equipment, and arson investigators are rarely available.

    Austin’s administration regularly closes down stations over night to save money, despite a flare up of fires from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

    The city averages 30 fires a day, about half of which are suspected arsons. The city has only enough arson investigators to review 20% of suspected fires – an admission Austin made only after we offered the evidence.

    Austin has declined numerous requests for interviews and stopped reporting when firefighters were injured or residents killed.

    Firefighters have described the former Los Angeles fire chief as cold and uninspiring.

    Steve Neavling

    Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

  3. Posted

    November 29, 2013 at 1:00 am
    $24.2M federal grant to hire 150 Detroit firefighters a 'godsend'

    Detroit — O’Dell Tate has volunteered for the city’s Angels’ Night patrols for more than a decade and has watched as firefighters battle blazes that strain resources and put neighborhoods on edge.

    Now, with a $24.2 million federal grant — the largest ever awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to a fire department — and two savvy grant writers, the city stands to hire 150 new firefighters.

    “It couldn’t come at a better time,” Tate said. “We have wonderful firefighters here, but for a city Detroit’s size, to increase our numbers would be a great asset.”

    After losing out on millions in federal grants for years, the Fire Department turned to the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, a nonprofit foundation founded in 2011 to boost Detroit’s waning public safety resources.

    “The Fire Department is an area that has so many needs and they didn’t have anybody that has focused on writing grants ... ,” Catherine Govan, executive director of the foundation. “It just makes us feel that we’re doing what we need to do to help the city.”

    Govan said the nonprofit dedicated two grant writers to look for any grant “we could possibly get.”

    The grant will fund new firefighters’ salaries and benefits for two years.

    The Fire Department had never secured a grant from FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program, or SAFER, until 2011, when the foundation stepped in. Since then, the Fire Department captured a $22.5 million award in 2012, the largest SAFER grant awarded up to that point, that kept 108 firefighters from layoffs. In October of that year, the city laid off 26 firefighters, but they returned a month later under another SAFER grant of $5.6 million.

    The latest grant is a “godsend,” said Executive Fire Commissioner Don Austin, who credited the foundation with securing the grants that will boost staffing.

    “This is wonderful news for the city of Detroit and for our firefighters,” Austin said. “The average age of our firefighters is 45, so we need some new blood and this is really going to support that effort.”

    The SAFER grant comes amid an effort by the Obama administration to invest in Detroit's economic recovery and enhance quality of life for residents. In September, the administration announced in Detroit that it would unlock $300 million in new and repurposed grants.

    The Fire Department has 781 firefighters, down hundreds due to retirements, said Austin. The city has about 11,000 to 12,000 fires annually — with 60 percent in blighted or unoccupied buildings.

    Last month, the Fire Department began its search to fill 90 firefighter positions, funded by city monies. There were more than 2,400 applicants, which Austin said he expects to tap to fill those openings and the 150 new positions.

    Applicants will take written, physical and oral examinations.

    Dan McNamara, president of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association union, said the grant is another step toward building a “younger, healthier, stronger Fire Department.”

    “We are very thankful this Thanksgiving,” McNamara said. “This is certainly a move in the right direction and it gives us hope we can build a good base and move forward.”

    U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, who announced the award Wednesday, said the grant will better protect Detroiters.

    “This is another major investment in the city of Detroit that will go a long way in helping the Fire Department hire additional firefighters to protect the public,” Stabenow, D-Lansing, said in a statement. “Making sure our first responders have the resources they need is exactly the kind of support that will help Detroit’s continued revitalization.”

    Levin, D-Detroit, added: “There is no more important task (than) caring for our people in times of emergency.”

    There’s no obligation to retain the grant-funded firefighters after the two-year period, but Austin said he hopes Detroit’s finances will be strong enough to support the newest hires. “By then, the city should be in a healthier position to maintain the basic level required to perform services,” Austin said.

    tbriscoe@detroitnews.com
    (313) 222-2541


    From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131129/METRO01/311290027#ixzz2mQdnG8a0

  4. Posted

    19 shocking facts about Detroit's bankruptcy
    John Reeves, The Motley Fool 9:20 a.m. EST December 3, 2013 USA Today


    15. Detroit has witnessed 11,000-12,000 fires every year for the past decade.
    16. Detroit's homicide rate is at the highest level in 40 years, and it has been named one of the most dangerous cities in America for more than 20 years.
    17. Its citizens wait on average more than 58 minutes for the police to respond to their calls, compared to a national average of 11 minutes.
    18. The city has 78,000 abandoned structures.


    (DFD website only states 7000 fires out of 30,000 runs they do not do ems runs due to manpower/heavy fireload
    25% of their responses are Working Structure Fires (mostly arson or suspected arson)


    Firehouses are looking for donations for new or used equipment as the city cannot afford to buy them the stuff they need
    http://www.detroitmutualaid.com/
    http://www.thethinredline.org/detroit-fire-t-shirt.html

  6. Posted

    The Huntington Manor Fire Department regrets to announce the Line Of Duty Death Of Firefighter Richard Holst this morning at a commercial structure fire. The Fire was reported at 3:02 AM on SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 at the Uber Cafe', a bagel shop, located at 334 Depot Road in Huntington Station. Firefighter Holst collapsed at the scene while performing his Fire Police duties and was transported to Huntington Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

    The fire was declared under control at approximately 3:32 AM. The Suffolk County Police Arson Squad is investigating the cause of the fire.

    Firefighter Holst, 60 was a dedicated 31-year member of the Department. He served for many years as the Fire Department Chaplain and was currently the Captain of the Fire Police Squad. Firefighter Holst was also the Chief Chaplain of New York State Association Of Fire Chaplains.

    Funeral Arrangements are as Follows:

    Reposing at Huntington Manor F.D. Headquarters

    Sat. 7-9 p.m.

    Sun 2-5 p.m.

    Sun 7-9 p.m.

    Firematic Services Sunday 8 p.m.

    Internment Monday (info to follow)

  7. Posted

    In Suffolk County a houseman is generally hired off the Suffolk County Civil Service test for Firehouse Attendant. Depending on the fire district they can either be the dispatchers the individual depts use to handle their calls or they can be the maintenance workers that do everything on the district grounds. I am a former one and at the district I worked for I did both. They give the test every 4 years.

  12. Posted · Edited by Taz288

    they had tilt cabs I think in 92, I remember 58 Engine had one, it was horrible everyone sat backwards, not the best seating position when you need to see what you are going to. It was unique cause it had the intake in the front in different position. I dont remember exactly what it looked like but I think it was in the bumper so the cab could tilt. I worked in a 94 tilt cab TL and the same problems were sitting backwards. They also were not stable at all cause of the single front stabilizer.

    Its a step in the right direction, but we need more room inside not top to bottom.

    here are pics of the 93 split tilt cabs from 58/26 that they use to have., from fdnytrucks.com

    FDNYL026-B.jpg

    FDNYE058-B.jpg

  15. Posted · Edited by Taz288

    Fighting 6019 members and supporters,

    Tomorrow will be the much anticipated protest rally. Support has been pouring in from everywhere. Dozens and dozens of FDNY firehouses have been visited throughout the 5 boroughs and many have committed to attend. Many individuals including private citizens, firefighters(retired and active) and members of the media have committed to attend.

    At the rally tomorrow we will state our complaints with the examination. We will hand out sample exam question sheets of the highly subjective questions to further prove the absolute ridiculousness of the exam.

    We will hand out our Official Declaration of Protest against the entire exam and read it to the public. We will distribute candidate's and private citizen's protest affirmation sheets that will allow any person to enter a formal protest against the examination in unity with FIGHTING 6019.

    We will continuously state and restate how diverse we are in every way. We wish to make it clear that this exam hurt all candidates and that no ethnic group or any group for that matter did any better than another.

    We will then issue a public challenge to ALL fraternal organizations, firefighter's unions and politicians to stand united with us. We have informed as many of the fraternal organizations as possible as well as the unions and politicians of our challenge for them. We are hoping that our diversity will incite the organizations to put aside their differences and unite and work together for this common goal. Every organization contacted is very unhappy with this test and like us, wants it thrown out.

    We have also had a change in the way things work on our end. From now on, no individual from within FIGHTING 6019 will be addressing all members of the protestfdny6019@gmail.com list as an individual. We as the protest group leaders speak with one voice. You as a member will now only be receiving factual updates that have been approved by multiple members.

    We are still actively seeking motivated individuals who want to join us on the front lines of this battle. You will see most of us for the first time tomorrow and we look forward to meeting all of you.

    Please keep checking www.fighting6019.com on a daily basis. We are working hard to add new content and keep you updated.

    Have a great night, we will see you tomorrow at 12 Noon in Union Square Park. Your dissatisfaction with exam # 6019 will be felt tomorrow. BRING A PEN!!!

    -Stay Strong

  16. Posted

    user posted image

    from an email I got

    Fighting 6019,

    Most of you have shot me emails asking, "On what grounds are you fighting this test?" and "What progress have you made?". I have also received

    emails asking about the organization and what people can do to help. So I have thrown some things together and hopefully this email will answer all your questions.

    "Fighting 6019"

    Fighting 6019 was formed when a few students from John Jay College decided that enough was enough. (By the way, we do not represent the school in any way)

    We were fed up, we left that test not knowing what to think, just like all of you. Two people had an idea, now we have an organization. My name is Dominick R. DeRubbio

    and I am one of the two founders of this group. On September 11th 2001, I lost my uncle, firefighter David P. DeRubbio in the south tower. These past years have been extremely

    rough on my family, however we have held strong. September 11th motivated me even more to want to join New York City's Bravest. Throughout my life I have become so connected

    to the New York City Fire Department, no way am I letting this test stand in my way. You should all look at this test as a slap in the face, a slap in the face to the future firefighters and for

    the one's who have passed.

    Moving along, I would like all of you to know that I am no stranger to protest. Last year I protested the underground 9/11 memorial, no names were to be put underground, we wouldnt let it happen.

    So for three nights I slept in the freezing cold on the streets near Ground Zero, during the day I would speak to visitors and gain petition signatures. Eventually the names would be moved above ground.

    Goal

    1) Have the subjective questions thrown out or the entire test

    "So on what grounds?"

    1) 105 opinionated questions

    -These questions were not taught at any of the prep courses-we were mislead, wake up

    -According to the fire department web site, no fire department knowledge was needed for the test- you could have fooled me( how about all those questions regarding rank and file and how to deal with certain situations?)

    -Given there was a change in the Notice of Examination, not everyone received it

    2) Test Day

    -Accounts of proctors giving wrong directions to test takers

    -Accounts of proctors speaking to each other during the test

    -Accounts of cheating during the test

    3) Male/ Female- Caucasian/ African American/ Other/ Etc.

    - I was told by my proctor to fill in all the bubbles on the sheet, I was not told that the race/sex bubbles were optional. Since this is an equal opportunity employment exam, they shouldn't have had that section on the exam.

    - Earlier this week, we were on New York 1, we are making progress!!

    Closing Statement

    1) We are in touch with a lawyer

    2) We are having a protest March 25th-12 noon Union Square

    3) Spread the word people!!!

    These past 3 weeks, I have lived this test, my school and work life have become unimportant. I am not asking you to do the same but I am asking that you spread the word like wildfire.

    Stay strong,

    Dominick R. DeRubbio

    (Tyler)

    Fighting 6019

  17. Posted

    MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

    Pay for Rookies Increased from $25,100 to $35,000

    Collective Bargaining Agreement Includes Over 8% Wage Increase, Total Compensation Increases Almost 10%, and Covers Over 8,900 Firefighters, Fire Marshals and Fireboat Wipers

    Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Uniformed Firefighters’ Association (UFA) President Stephen J. Cassidy today announced that a tentative contract settlement has been reached on a collective bargaining agreement covering the period from August 1, 2006 through July 31, 2008. The agreement covers two years, and it includes an 8.16% wage increase and a significantly improved salary structure for newly hired employees including those hired after the first class of 2006. When a uniform differential of 1.5% is factored in, total compensation increases by almost 10%. Under the agreement, the salary for rookie Firefighters is increased by $10,000 to $35,000. The agreement is funded, in part, through productivity enhancements and other measurable savings. This settlement establishes the parameters for this round of bargaining with the uniformed services.

    “This is a great example of a union coming to the table and making a good faith effort to reach an agreement,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “By working together the City and the UFA have provided for raises for union members. We want to give equitable wage increases to all City employees. I am pleased this contract does that in an especially important area, the pay for rookie Firefighters.”

    “Today’s agreement represents a significant raise for New York City Firefighters and the introduction of specialty pay, which has been sought by this union for over twenty years,” said UFA President Steve Cassidy. “I thank the Mayor and Commissioner Hanley.”

    The principal features of the settlement, including compounded wage increases of over 8%, and total compensation increases of almost 10% during the contract for current Firefighters, are as follows:

    • 4% salary increase effective August 1, 2006

    • 4% salary increase compounded, effective August 1, 2007

    At the end of this contract, a Firefighter’s basic maximum salary will be $68,475.

    • New Hires:

    Effective April 1, 2007, the salary schedule for Firefighters newly appointed, including those hired after the first class of 2006, will be as follows:

    Effective

    April 1, 2007

    Entry Rate $35,000

    After One Year $36,725

    After Two Years $40,000

    After Three Years $44,000

    After Four Years $48,500

    Basic Maximum after 5 years $65,841

    • Special Assignment

    Effective July 1, 2007, there will be an assignment differential of twelve percent (12%) payable to a category of Firefighters detailed on “special assignment” to Hazmat and Rescue Companies upon satisfactory completion of a review period established by the Fire Department.

    • Longevity Schedule

    Effective September 1, 2007, the longevity schedule will be increased by $1,000 at each step.

    • Chauffeur/Tillerman Differential

    Effective September 1, 2007, the differential for performing Chauffeur or Tillerman duties will be increased to 3.00%.

    • Security Benefit Fund

    Effective July 31, 2008, the City’s contribution to the Welfare Fund (Security Benefit Fund) will be increased by $80.00 per annum per retiree, for retirees only.

    • Uniform Allowance

    Effective July 31, 2008, the amount paid by the City to each Fire Marshal for a uniform allowance will be increased by $1,100 per annum.

    • Legislative Support

    The UFA will support legislation for a new article 1B medical board.

    • Annuity

    Effective April 1, 2007, for employees hired on or after April 1, 2007, the $1,150 additional annuity contribution remitted by the City of New York on behalf of employees during the first one and one-half years of service shall cease.

    Effective April 1, 2007, for employees hired on or after April 1, 2007, there shall be no annuity contributions remitted during the employees’ first five years of service.

    • Night Shift Differential

    Effective April 1, 2007, for employees hired on or after April 1, 2007, the night shift differential otherwise payable will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) during the first five (5) years of service.

    • Holidays

    Effective April 1, 2007, for employees hired on or after April 1, 2007, there will be six (6) fewer paid holidays during the first five (5) years of service. That is, there will be three (3) fewer paid holidays reflected in each of the two holiday checks.

    At the announcement the Mayor thanked Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, UFA President Stephen Cassidy and his Executive Board, Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley and First Deputy Commissioner Pamela S. Silverblatt and their team, and Budget Director Mark Page and his staff for their efforts in reaching this Agreement.

    ----------------

  18. Posted

    I went to the session this morning there were several hundred people, maybe even 500 down there. DCAS was way overwhelmed. FYI anyone who put A for question 18 on the speed section, after looking at the test, it was definitely graded wrong. A was the correct answer even though the proposed answer key said B. Also there are a few people really trying to organize a serious protest, They got NY 1 there is morning and yesterday at the WTC.

    I found this on the fdny rant page:

    ProtestFDNY6019@gmail.com

    « Thread Started on 2/22/07 at 13:41 »

    Hey everyone,

    The email account is finally up and running. If you want to be added to the email database please send an email to

    ProtestFDNY6019@gmail.com

    I already have a list of people who need to be added, so if you already sent me a message saying you want to join the fight to protest this scam exam then you will be put on there, if you haven't sent me a message already then please email us at that account and you will be added to the list.

    Also, if anyone already on the FDNY wants to help us in any way feel free to email us and let us know, we will take any help we can get.

    Our first step will be getting organized for the protest session since that is coming up shortly.

    Please pass this email address on to everyone you know who took the test, we need as many people as possible to get involved.

    -----------------------------------------------

    FROM NY1

    FDNY Applicants Protest The Hiring Exam

    March 03, 2007

    Some potential firefighters said a section of the city's hiring exam administered last month is nothing short of a joke.

    Dozens of applicants who took the firefighters exam lined up Saturday in front of Washington Irving High School in Gramercy Park to protest the exam.

    They say the questions were unfair and not what they expected in a firefighters exam.

    “There were opinionated questions that were out of left field,” said Sean Pogan, who took the exam. “Everything that we studied for was not enough to prepare us for that.”

    "These 104 opinionated questions were just totally bizarre,” said another applicant. “And it was just totally a shock to everyone who took this test, whether it was someone who took the test or the prep."

    Some also say the way the test was administered was completely disorganized and chaotic.

    “On everybody's testing card they said do not bring a cell phone onto the testing site, otherwise you'll be disqualified and escorted from the site,” said applicant Luke Crisalli. “I didn't see people on [the cell phones] but you could hear them. People probably were text messaging. Camera phones were being used and proctors were not doing anything.”

    The Department of Citywide Administrative Services says the exam was developed by working firefighters who helped identify important aspects of their job.

    The protestors are hoping that the DCAS throws out the test.

  20. Posted · Edited by Taz288

    The only paid departments on Long Island are the Northport VAFD, Brookahven National Lab Fire Rescue and MacArthur Airport Fire Rescue. I don't know about the NY ANG 106th Air Rescue Wing out at Grabeski (Suffolk County) Airport.

    Dix Hills, Garden City, Long Beach and Melville have some career members.

    Long Beach & GC are the only ones that have paid crews, but it is only 1 engine, its not the entire dept. I think LB also has a crew for the ambulance.

    As for Dix Hills and Melville, they have houseman that are released from their duties to be first responders. Dix Hills also has a paid medic, that responds in a fly car. Dix hills' first repsonder is a mini lt rescue truck with a small tank and pump, its only got 2 people on it, Melville's first responder, responds in a sprinter ambulance.

    There are a lot of depts on LI that are going to some sort of paid ems, most have at least a fly car during the business hours.

    As for Brentwood's times, There avg response time is tops on the Island, newsday has a tendency to twist the #s around. They are very liberal and one sided, and are not good at reporting facts, but their opinions

    Also at least in Suffolk there is always a bit of a delay from the 911 call to when units get activated, because first it goes to 911, then they have to contact the fire/ems dispatchers at county, who then have to advised the FD. A call that goes through 911 can take several minutes before the FD is activated, since the county only activated 1/4 of the depts in Suffolk, most of the depts in the western part of the town self dispatch

  21. Posted

    I thought it had already been @ the FDNY shops for some time?

    Yes it has but this if for permanent delievery I guess after stuff was worked out between the shops and Firematic, like any last minute changes or modifcations. My dept got a new truck in around the same time as Rescue 1, they dropped it off with us and we made up a checklist of stuff that needed to be done locally by firematic. That can take a few weeks. Firematic sold around 60 trucks last year, they can have several trucks waiting for the inhouse modifcations at any one time.

  22. Posted · Edited by Taz288

    They were both there, all the way in the back of the Expo Hall. The reason it was so far out east is because the Pierce Dealership is out in Shirley (Exit 68 on LIE). The Firematic rep at the show I talked to said its being delivered to the city on Monday so it should be in service pretty soon. The Rescue Me truck is Pierce's 100" Aluminum HD aerial. I think when they originally started as use in the show had a steel aerial but not 100% certain.

    The Velocity demo was there as well..definitely interesting chassis to finally see in person. There was more room in back than in a Quantum, but the Officers seat seemed a little narrower and ther was a lot other stuff on top of the bunkhouse. If you ignore the asthetics of the front it wasnt that bad.