helicopper

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

I believe that FEMA would classify them as first responders since the definition was expanded in the early 2000's.
They could probably use the same training as any other responder - observe, report, run away.

Consolidation in southern Westchester is long overdue. It would eliminate duplication of services to some extent, but more importantly, it would boost the services that we are lacking such as NFPA compliant manower, better trained and better equipped special operations teams, organized and consistent multple alarm responses with assigned units up to a 5th alarm level, and on and on. About 8 or 9 Chiefs would have to be eliminated since there can only be one Chief, but in a larger department there is a need for more subordinate Chiefs (Training, resource management, personnel, prevention, communications,etc). There should be plenty of slots for existing DCs because the area would have to be broken down into divisions or Battalions with at least 4 DCs for each. In addition, there should be an overall tour commander.
I have become very familiar with the Virginia Beach FD, which only organized in 1963 out of many small departments in Princess Anne County. They have since become one of the premier departments in the country. If they can do it, so can southern Westchester. The Career Chiefs started on a good path to this end,with the proby school and special ops task force,but I have seen personalities almost put an end to our Proby school. "I'm going to do my own school this year" or "I'm sending my guys to Montour Falls" are a couple of Chief's answers to often minor problems with one or two classes. That's not progress. Other departments refused to participate in a consolidation feasibility study, when those departments were just as behind on manpower and money as anybody else
Unless we wake up and look outside Westchester we will become has beens in the fire service. We have to look at the good of all and stop with "my fd is better than yours." I don't think any one Westchester department is giving its best to its public. We all can do better.
As for northern Westchester, I'm not volunteer bashing. I like you guys and I know you are dedicated and often very professional, but like it or not you are underqualified when held up against the southern Westchester personnel. It's not the individual firefighter's fault. Every time somebody tries to get minimum qualifications, FASNY squashes it with the theory that the vol Depts will loose people. You have to do something about that.
"Just sayin"
JustSayin"

It was a total of three officers shot tonight. One off-duty MOS in the Bronx who attempted to break up a robbery of a car dealership on Boston Road, near Adee Avenue. http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=8941265 . One perpetrator in custody at the scene, and two additional arrested later on.
Shortly there after 2 on duty MOS working in plainclothes anti-crime, were shot in Brooklyn at the Fort Hamilton subway station, on the N line.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=8941340 . Perpetrator was shot dead by one officer.
Hopefully all will make full recoveries, and be back to work when they are ready. For those that are not familiar with the term "plainclothes', it means just that, a police officer, on duty wearing regular clothes during the coarse of their tour. They are expected to be wearing their bullet resistant vest, and carry their gun in holster,a spare magazine, asp (extendable baton), pepper spray, at least one set of handcuffs, radio, some basic summons and paperwork, and keep it all concealed to better blend in to enforce what ever crime condition they are tasked to address. Tonight's incident in Brooklyn started with a person walking between subway cars. The Transit Authority banned this about 6 years ago, and the PD enforces it, as a lot of robbery and pickpocket perps have been found to walk thru trains in search of their victims. I did this for 5 years, and it can get hairy at times. Some of the perps know who you are, and will fight anyway, and then cry to the District Attorneys Office that they did know, or the officer did not identify themselves. Others truly did not know who the police were. On the police side, you only means of identification is your shield and ID card, along with the 'color of the day' which changes everyday, and is announced at every roll call. In the field it is just a colored armband/headband. When you get involved in something you are hoping that the responding uniformed officers either recognize you, or the color of the day. Your radio is often turned down low to avoid being heard, and if there is radio traffic you may not hear it as you are requesting help, and hopefully not being blocked by the other transmissions. That and your reaction times to getting equipment out can be slowed by the clothing you are wearing, such as large coats worn during this time of year.

How many of you who have SOO much to say about what goes on in Yonkers actually live in Yonkers? I've been a Yonkers resident for almost 11 years, and I can say with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that I want that engine company down the street from me responding if I call! I have a wife and little boy at home and rest alot easier when i'm at work and know that if my wife has to god forbid call 911, that Engine company is going to be there very quick! I'm tired of some of these posts by people who don't have a dog in this fight!
As a Yonkers resident, and an FDNY Union Delegate, I say I support you Local 628
Keep up the good fight!!!!

I believe that FEMA would classify them as first responders since the definition was expanded in the early 2000's.
They could probably use the same training as any other responder - observe, report, run away.

How many pedestrians are run over by city buses in a year? Probably about the same number. Where's the outcry about that?

We have to stop trying to legislate responsibility!

How many of the 54 deaths were "self-initiated"? When I worked in Transit I'd have to say off the top of my head that 80% (edit: at the very least) of the "man unders" I responded to were suicides or attempts, with pretty much the rest being accidents. I also recall reading a recent story from Long Island of a male who was struck by a train, survived, released from the hospital, only to jump in front of another train the following day and kill himself. Perhaps some would be discouraged, but all the barriers in the world would only delay the inevitable for most of these folks.

How many pedestrians are run over by city buses in a year? Probably about the same number. Where's the outcry about that?

We have to stop trying to legislate responsibility!

It's in regard to posts that had to be deleted because they inaccurately reported agencies had dive teams or other resources but do not. The people that need to get the message, got the message (I hope).
When someone posts something inaccurate about an agency or their resources, we very quickly receive notification from personnel in authority reporting the problem and we remove the offending posts.

It's in regard to posts that had to be deleted because they inaccurately reported agencies had dive teams or other resources but do not. The people that need to get the message, got the message (I hope).
When someone posts something inaccurate about an agency or their resources, we very quickly receive notification from personnel in authority reporting the problem and we remove the offending posts.

How many pedestrians are run over by city buses in a year? Probably about the same number. Where's the outcry about that?

We have to stop trying to legislate responsibility!

How great an investment will it be? What's the actual cost? How will that cost be borne by the MTA, perhaps a fare hike?
I'm with bnechis, I don't see the cost/benefit argument and your cleanliness point is moot as all that garbage will simply be on the platforms now since the slobs and pigs who litter won't stop just because of partitions.
And having intimate knowledge of the civil service system, I respectfully disagree with your assertion that there will not be issues associated with the implementation of this from the human factors (operators).
I'm not saying it isn't a great idea. I think a lot of things have been great ideas that simply aren't worth the expense or the trouble.

The NYC Subway system is vast and carries a tremendous amount of people. As a matter of fact, it could carry every person in China twice a year! Do the math, that's over 2 billion rides a year. 54 deaths is a pretty low percentage. It becomes even smaller when you remove those deaths that are associated with track workers.
No one wants to see a single fatality, but the most reasonable way to avoid such things is simply to educate people and hope they heed the warnings. I ride the subway most days. I stand perpendicular to the tracks, I keep an eye over my shoulder and I don't stand close to the edge. In a large and populous system, I think that's all the safety we can get.

How great an investment will it be? What's the actual cost? How will that cost be borne by the MTA, perhaps a fare hike?
I'm with bnechis, I don't see the cost/benefit argument and your cleanliness point is moot as all that garbage will simply be on the platforms now since the slobs and pigs who litter won't stop just because of partitions.
And having intimate knowledge of the civil service system, I respectfully disagree with your assertion that there will not be issues associated with the implementation of this from the human factors (operators).
I'm not saying it isn't a great idea. I think a lot of things have been great ideas that simply aren't worth the expense or the trouble.

Besides the cost are the logistics. As good as they may be, it will take quite a bit to get each door lined up properly with a manually operated train. The motorman will have to ease into the stations even more slowly and when he/she is off and the doors don't line up 100%, it will further slow boarding down.

1) More people in NYC get pushed into traffic or down stairs should we gate every sidewalk and staircase. Only 54 people out of 100's of millions of trips each year is very low.
2) MTA does not have liability, since they tell you to stand back and almost everyone who ends up on the tracks (pushed or fell) was too close to the edge to begin with. I cant tell you how many times I see people leaning over the edge to see if the subway is coming.
3) Yes track safety will be improved, but to pay for it they will reduce something that will negate that.
4) Very few things with the MTA are a "great investment". They can not manage their budget without annual bailouts and support from employee payroll tax. We do not need them taking more money, because its already been proven that that it hurts local industry and reduces local employment as companies must reduce the payroll to pay MTA.

http://crimevoice.com/suspect-arrested-in-home-invasion-shooting-20538/
http://www.news10.net/news/article/222195/2/1-dead-in-Sacramento-home-invasion
http://www.examiner.com/article/armed-homeowner-shoots-intruders-while-children-have-sleepover
Despite being wounded himself, the homeowner maintained his composure and control of his weapon wounding all three of the suspects, one fatally.
I don't know why they targeted this house full of kids at the time but I'm glad the homeowner was able to defend them.

Thanks Seth. I know that many people are very upset with a recent item that was posted on the website of the newspaper that I work for. This was a decision made by the bosses. There are many dedicated employees that work there that had nothing to do with that decision.

Happy birthday Jack !

Happy birthday to our forum guru, our always on top of things, hard-working EMTBravo Community Manager Jack (aka jack10562)!

http://crimevoice.com/suspect-arrested-in-home-invasion-shooting-20538/
http://www.news10.net/news/article/222195/2/1-dead-in-Sacramento-home-invasion
http://www.examiner.com/article/armed-homeowner-shoots-intruders-while-children-have-sleepover
Despite being wounded himself, the homeowner maintained his composure and control of his weapon wounding all three of the suspects, one fatally.
I don't know why they targeted this house full of kids at the time but I'm glad the homeowner was able to defend them.

Thanks Frank for your hard work in covering the emergency services events in the lower Hudson Valley! Your work is always outstanding.

For those that don't know Frank, he has been covering Westchester and beyond as a photgrapher for the Journal News and it's predecessors for over 30 years. He is mostly assigned to breaking incidents and emergency services-involved event. Frank is an ex-chief in North White Plains, and a member of Brewster FD. He is a legend in his own right, and the son of another legend, Frank Becerra Sr who was an artist for the Journal News predeccesors for decades. His dad's art was seen around the world. I can only imagine how proud Jr. makes his dad.

He was assigned by Journal News editors to the Newtown CT incident, where the photos he took were seen around the world, published by Gannet Affiliates worldwide and were also on the AP Wire. Watch what Frank was thinking behind the lens when assigned to this incident.

This must have been one of your toughest assignments yet.

OK...so we all know the NFPA REALLY means, Not For Practical Application....but I have a question, and it may be common knowledge, but I dont know..
We go out and spend $$$ to make our gear NFPA compliant...throw "good" gear away after 10 years...ditch our salty helmets that have been with some for a career....spend money to put pretty chevrons on the apparatus...bail out kits....helmet carriers in cabs, and the list goes on and on...
We question "Why?"....and our Chiefs say "becasue the NFPA says so...."
So answer me this - why can SO many towns and cities completely ignore the NFPA manning standards? What IS the minimum staffing per rig per NFPA?
Why are we still sending career jobs out with three, two, and even ONE guy on a rig?
And it's not just the small jobs like Middletown, Kingston, and Beacon - but larger, very urban cities like Reading, Pa that see alot of fire duty. Reading, last I knew, had 2 men per apparatus...that means thier Ladders 1, 2 (reserve), and 3, roll out with a driver and a tillerman! How scary is that?
Why is this overlooked, but other, IMO trivial regs enforced without hesitation?

Great Questions!!!
The reason we follow the minor ones is 3 fold:
1) OSHA / PESH also require us to follow NFPA Standards and they will give violations for failing to meet the minor one (but they have never enforced 1710, which they can only do under the "General Duty Clause", as there is no OSHA standard for manning. NYS DOL does not appear to be overly concerned with enforcement of the "General Duty Clause").
2) Liability - There are many documented legal cases where NFPA standards were used, but not 1 case on 1710.
3) Availablity/Liability - The minor items listed are often only available in NFPA versions or the chief must sign liability waviers to get around them. For examble we had red/white rear chevrons, when we purchased the 1st rig after the NFPA 1901 change to red / yellow our chief asked if we could keep it red/white and the manufacturer said only if he would sign a liability release. We got red/yellow.
The standard (as partially listed above) requires 3ff's and 1of per company minimum and 16 or 17 total (based on ladder ops) on the 1st alarm assignment. These numbers are based on a 2,000 sq/ft pvt. dwelling without a basement, larger structures require greater staffing.
The 2 reasons we do not enforce NFPA 1710 is 2 fold:
1) Because no department has been sued and/or lost. I always believed that if the insurance industry ever figures this one out we will be hit hard (i.e. 2 on a rig =50% complience, sue the FD for 50% of the loss).
2) 99% of Mayors, Managers, Counciles, etc. do not believe this is important so they do not fund (or cant afford to fund) 1710. The only other option for depts is CONSOLIDATION, and we all have learned that we would rather run short then go down that road.