helicopper

Going by the pictures, it was E119 blocking the road. Not the PD!!!
(before anyone loses their mind and takes me seriously this was a JOKE!)

Agreed. No need to apologize. This thread, like so many others, went off on a little bit of a tangent. But because of the kind of response about the PD most members are reluctant (or under orders) to post details about strategies and tactics here because of the criticism. Instead of treating it like an opportunity to learn how someone else handled a serious job, it almost always devolves into antagonistic banter.

Yes, it is part of the job. Unfortunately the reality is that we are all still human and can get frustrated, too. I don't know if that's the case here but it contributes. As it does in other services where I've heard "screw 'em, let 'em wait in traffic" and "I can close the road so I'm gonna close the road F@(*$% 'em". But that's a discussion for another thread.
Traffic direction and control does not equal information booth and the traffic would be worse if every car stopped to ask for their own personal set of directions. Follow everyone else and you can probably figure it out. Almost everyone has a cell phone/smart phone/GPS/map and can obtain their own directions. Laziness and stupidity are not excuses. An unoccupied police car blocking the road probably indicated that the officer was needed elsewhere on the scene for something else. Not much you can do about that when you have limited resources available to you. Any officer sitting in his car may be writing a report or performing some other duties that you're not aware of.
I often ask questions and post comments in fire or EMS topics. That's very different than specifically bashing an agency here (which IS a violation of the forum rules by the way) for their conduct at a job. When I comment in a topic, I seldom tell people how to do their job whereas many here think that it is perfectly fine to do so about law enforcement. There IS an anti-law enforcement sentiment on this site and many have complained about it in the past.
I'm not dismissing any members "complaint". I made a comment equally obnoxious though not directed at any one agency. Mind you that I'm not the complaint department for any agency. If the member has a "complaint" there are official channels to lodge it and EMTBravo ain't it. Now, if you don't think that drivers education is virtually non-existent today and that people drive like morons (that is different than calling everyone a moron) I don't know where you drive.

Going by the pictures, it was E119 blocking the road. Not the PD!!!
(before anyone loses their mind and takes me seriously this was a JOKE!)

Yes, it is part of the job. Unfortunately the reality is that we are all still human and can get frustrated, too. I don't know if that's the case here but it contributes. As it does in other services where I've heard "screw 'em, let 'em wait in traffic" and "I can close the road so I'm gonna close the road F@(*$% 'em". But that's a discussion for another thread.
Traffic direction and control does not equal information booth and the traffic would be worse if every car stopped to ask for their own personal set of directions. Follow everyone else and you can probably figure it out. Almost everyone has a cell phone/smart phone/GPS/map and can obtain their own directions. Laziness and stupidity are not excuses. An unoccupied police car blocking the road probably indicated that the officer was needed elsewhere on the scene for something else. Not much you can do about that when you have limited resources available to you. Any officer sitting in his car may be writing a report or performing some other duties that you're not aware of.
I often ask questions and post comments in fire or EMS topics. That's very different than specifically bashing an agency here (which IS a violation of the forum rules by the way) for their conduct at a job. When I comment in a topic, I seldom tell people how to do their job whereas many here think that it is perfectly fine to do so about law enforcement. There IS an anti-law enforcement sentiment on this site and many have complained about it in the past.
I'm not dismissing any members "complaint". I made a comment equally obnoxious though not directed at any one agency. Mind you that I'm not the complaint department for any agency. If the member has a "complaint" there are official channels to lodge it and EMTBravo ain't it. Now, if you don't think that drivers education is virtually non-existent today and that people drive like morons (that is different than calling everyone a moron) I don't know where you drive.

Standardization and ease of identification. Of course there is nothing standard in anything in NY.

Yes, it is part of the job. Unfortunately the reality is that we are all still human and can get frustrated, too. I don't know if that's the case here but it contributes. As it does in other services where I've heard "screw 'em, let 'em wait in traffic" and "I can close the road so I'm gonna close the road F@(*$% 'em". But that's a discussion for another thread.
Traffic direction and control does not equal information booth and the traffic would be worse if every car stopped to ask for their own personal set of directions. Follow everyone else and you can probably figure it out. Almost everyone has a cell phone/smart phone/GPS/map and can obtain their own directions. Laziness and stupidity are not excuses. An unoccupied police car blocking the road probably indicated that the officer was needed elsewhere on the scene for something else. Not much you can do about that when you have limited resources available to you. Any officer sitting in his car may be writing a report or performing some other duties that you're not aware of.
I often ask questions and post comments in fire or EMS topics. That's very different than specifically bashing an agency here (which IS a violation of the forum rules by the way) for their conduct at a job. When I comment in a topic, I seldom tell people how to do their job whereas many here think that it is perfectly fine to do so about law enforcement. There IS an anti-law enforcement sentiment on this site and many have complained about it in the past.
I'm not dismissing any members "complaint". I made a comment equally obnoxious though not directed at any one agency. Mind you that I'm not the complaint department for any agency. If the member has a "complaint" there are official channels to lodge it and EMTBravo ain't it. Now, if you don't think that drivers education is virtually non-existent today and that people drive like morons (that is different than calling everyone a moron) I don't know where you drive.

Is it really the cops fault that the alternate roads are all windy one lane roads and people have no freakin' idea where they are? Not for anything but I found out about the accident while still in NYC and avoided the area from miles away. It's not like the media didn't warn people and it's really not rocket science.

And, after a while of hearing "is the road closed" and "but that's the way I know" you have to go back and sit in the car or you're gonna say something that gets you jammed up!

1. With the TSP northbound closed during this incident due to a serious MVA, that doesn't help things.
2. People should know alternate routes and/or how to use a map/GPS.
3. There's a plethora of those nifty message boards out there. In instances like this, coordination of agencies (PD, OEM, etc.) should get them out there to help assist people. It's 2013, there's no reason why we can't get these now and not keep everyone in the blind.
4. The main alternative route was through Crotonville, down Quaker Bridge Road out to Route 129. This road isn't the best for the trucks that were detoured and I am amazed none of them got into any accidents.
5. Can you all imagine what things will be like should we ever need to evacuate... that s*** ain't happening!

Yes, it is part of the job. Unfortunately the reality is that we are all still human and can get frustrated, too. I don't know if that's the case here but it contributes. As it does in other services where I've heard "screw 'em, let 'em wait in traffic" and "I can close the road so I'm gonna close the road F@(*$% 'em". But that's a discussion for another thread.
Traffic direction and control does not equal information booth and the traffic would be worse if every car stopped to ask for their own personal set of directions. Follow everyone else and you can probably figure it out. Almost everyone has a cell phone/smart phone/GPS/map and can obtain their own directions. Laziness and stupidity are not excuses. An unoccupied police car blocking the road probably indicated that the officer was needed elsewhere on the scene for something else. Not much you can do about that when you have limited resources available to you. Any officer sitting in his car may be writing a report or performing some other duties that you're not aware of.
I often ask questions and post comments in fire or EMS topics. That's very different than specifically bashing an agency here (which IS a violation of the forum rules by the way) for their conduct at a job. When I comment in a topic, I seldom tell people how to do their job whereas many here think that it is perfectly fine to do so about law enforcement. There IS an anti-law enforcement sentiment on this site and many have complained about it in the past.
I'm not dismissing any members "complaint". I made a comment equally obnoxious though not directed at any one agency. Mind you that I'm not the complaint department for any agency. If the member has a "complaint" there are official channels to lodge it and EMTBravo ain't it. Now, if you don't think that drivers education is virtually non-existent today and that people drive like morons (that is different than calling everyone a moron) I don't know where you drive.

Yes, it is part of the job. Unfortunately the reality is that we are all still human and can get frustrated, too. I don't know if that's the case here but it contributes. As it does in other services where I've heard "screw 'em, let 'em wait in traffic" and "I can close the road so I'm gonna close the road F@(*$% 'em". But that's a discussion for another thread.
Traffic direction and control does not equal information booth and the traffic would be worse if every car stopped to ask for their own personal set of directions. Follow everyone else and you can probably figure it out. Almost everyone has a cell phone/smart phone/GPS/map and can obtain their own directions. Laziness and stupidity are not excuses. An unoccupied police car blocking the road probably indicated that the officer was needed elsewhere on the scene for something else. Not much you can do about that when you have limited resources available to you. Any officer sitting in his car may be writing a report or performing some other duties that you're not aware of.
I often ask questions and post comments in fire or EMS topics. That's very different than specifically bashing an agency here (which IS a violation of the forum rules by the way) for their conduct at a job. When I comment in a topic, I seldom tell people how to do their job whereas many here think that it is perfectly fine to do so about law enforcement. There IS an anti-law enforcement sentiment on this site and many have complained about it in the past.
I'm not dismissing any members "complaint". I made a comment equally obnoxious though not directed at any one agency. Mind you that I'm not the complaint department for any agency. If the member has a "complaint" there are official channels to lodge it and EMTBravo ain't it. Now, if you don't think that drivers education is virtually non-existent today and that people drive like morons (that is different than calling everyone a moron) I don't know where you drive.

Yes, it is part of the job. Unfortunately the reality is that we are all still human and can get frustrated, too. I don't know if that's the case here but it contributes. As it does in other services where I've heard "screw 'em, let 'em wait in traffic" and "I can close the road so I'm gonna close the road F@(*$% 'em". But that's a discussion for another thread.
Traffic direction and control does not equal information booth and the traffic would be worse if every car stopped to ask for their own personal set of directions. Follow everyone else and you can probably figure it out. Almost everyone has a cell phone/smart phone/GPS/map and can obtain their own directions. Laziness and stupidity are not excuses. An unoccupied police car blocking the road probably indicated that the officer was needed elsewhere on the scene for something else. Not much you can do about that when you have limited resources available to you. Any officer sitting in his car may be writing a report or performing some other duties that you're not aware of.
I often ask questions and post comments in fire or EMS topics. That's very different than specifically bashing an agency here (which IS a violation of the forum rules by the way) for their conduct at a job. When I comment in a topic, I seldom tell people how to do their job whereas many here think that it is perfectly fine to do so about law enforcement. There IS an anti-law enforcement sentiment on this site and many have complained about it in the past.
I'm not dismissing any members "complaint". I made a comment equally obnoxious though not directed at any one agency. Mind you that I'm not the complaint department for any agency. If the member has a "complaint" there are official channels to lodge it and EMTBravo ain't it. Now, if you don't think that drivers education is virtually non-existent today and that people drive like morons (that is different than calling everyone a moron) I don't know where you drive.

No, Thats Truth!
It's amazing when people don't have a contingency to get home because they've traveled the same road for 20 years...Or even better, you're cutting someone out of a car in a revene and someone asks you to move the fire apparatus because they want to get home. I've said it once and i'll say it again...I Love helping people, but I Hate People Sometimes!

Is it really the cops fault that the alternate roads are all windy one lane roads and people have no freakin' idea where they are? Not for anything but I found out about the accident while still in NYC and avoided the area from miles away. It's not like the media didn't warn people and it's really not rocket science.

And, after a while of hearing "is the road closed" and "but that's the way I know" you have to go back and sit in the car or you're gonna say something that gets you jammed up!

Is it really the cops fault that the alternate roads are all windy one lane roads and people have no freakin' idea where they are? Not for anything but I found out about the accident while still in NYC and avoided the area from miles away. It's not like the media didn't warn people and it's really not rocket science.

And, after a while of hearing "is the road closed" and "but that's the way I know" you have to go back and sit in the car or you're gonna say something that gets you jammed up!

Is it really the cops fault that the alternate roads are all windy one lane roads and people have no freakin' idea where they are? Not for anything but I found out about the accident while still in NYC and avoided the area from miles away. It's not like the media didn't warn people and it's really not rocket science.

And, after a while of hearing "is the road closed" and "but that's the way I know" you have to go back and sit in the car or you're gonna say something that gets you jammed up!

Is it really the cops fault that the alternate roads are all windy one lane roads and people have no freakin' idea where they are? Not for anything but I found out about the accident while still in NYC and avoided the area from miles away. It's not like the media didn't warn people and it's really not rocket science.

And, after a while of hearing "is the road closed" and "but that's the way I know" you have to go back and sit in the car or you're gonna say something that gets you jammed up!

The backbone of the volunteer fire service rests in training. It must be kept in mind that volunteer fire departments are "professionally staffed by volunteers" and must provide the same services as any career department (in many cases to a higher standard as to disprove the notion that they are "just volunteers"). This is why the volunteer fire department of which I am a member has a mandatory Firefighter 1 requirement within 6 months of becoming a member and a very aggressive weekly in-house training program. Amateurs train until they get something right, professionals train until they can't get it wrong. At 2 am, in the cold and snow, with mutual aid minutes away, duties must be performed perfectly. Firefighters, career or volunteer, must train hard to get to this level.

Hey y'all! Let's not lose focus about the REAL issue here. The real issue is not a vollie who is career somewhere else. The issue here is that there is a fully-functional firehouse run by volunteers who won't allow the city engine staffed by career FF to stay there and as a result, they have to live in a trailer down the road. THAT is a travesty and I'm surprised there isn't more outcry about it.
Pathetic little turf battle!

Thanks FDVA and great question Chris.
Once you get into suits, you need to follow 2in 2out and decon must be established before you make entry into a hot zone.
Having been involved in response plans and evaluating many drills/exersises the squad system was developed because we found that the Yonkers HM Task Force with approx 30 responders could not handle an incident that required mitigation and mass decon. It was sufficient if no civilians or 1st responders were contaminated before the team arrived and set up. This was reconfirmed this year at the Paladin Center (with close to 48 responders). When we drilled with the 6 squad companies we found the following personnel was needed:
2-6 entry (suits)
2 Back-up (suits- minimum)
4-8 Dressout (minimum)
2-4 Medical Monitoring
6 Technical Decon Set-up (1 squad)
6 Technical Decon (suits) (1 squad)
2 Research
2 Logistics (Meters)
6 Mass Decon Set-up (1 squad)
6 Mass Decon (suits) (1 squad)
2 Hazmat Command
1 Hazmat Safety
Thats 41 to 51
Decon team also requires 1-2 engine companies for water supply
Note: the Mass decon requires a minimum of 2 squads (10ff / 2off) which is also the minimum the MDU were required to provide.
Now having 3-6 HM Techs responding to a Hazmat incident is sufficent for a large % of HM incidents where materials need to be evaluated and generally the incident gets better when you allow time to let it stabilize. But once people are contaminated the needs for rapid decon and/or rescue can not wait.

This is no different that the 16+ that are needed on a fire alarm. Most of the time depts "get away" with 3 to 6. But most of the time it is not a fire.
Thats the reason the standards call for enough to get started if their is a fire.
Just because you have gotten away with it in the past does not mean it is right or it won't come back to bite you in the future

Hey y'all! Let's not lose focus about the REAL issue here. The real issue is not a vollie who is career somewhere else. The issue here is that there is a fully-functional firehouse run by volunteers who won't allow the city engine staffed by career FF to stay there and as a result, they have to live in a trailer down the road. THAT is a travesty and I'm surprised there isn't more outcry about it.
Pathetic little turf battle!

Part of the problem is that people take HAZMAT ops, do a powerpoint refresher every year, dress out in Level B's for 30 minutes and call themselves prepared.

Fire, Police, EMS and Emergency Management SHOULD be doing at least annual exercises on this kind of operation. But as several people have mentioned, if you can't get a first due ambulance out to a chest pain call, its unlikely you're going to get them out for a decon call.

The county has lots of decon equipment but it has few decon resources. It might be semantics but to me a resource is something that is trained, equipped, and staffed (even on-call) and available to respond. Equipment is the bunch of trailers full of stuff sitting around without being used while a resource is one that can actually be mobilized and utilized for the prescribed purpose.

I have a sleeve on my right arm from my wrist to my shoulder. It will not fade due to computer work! What will cause it to fade is sunlight. So keep it protected with sun screen in the summer months. Ive had mine there for 7 years and it still looks as good as the day it was done. Believe it or not this area actually doesn't hurt all that much to get inked. But each persons tolerance to pain is different. If you want it you have to settle for some discomfort. The only other advice I can give you is to search, search, search a tattoo artist that does EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY WORK. DO NOT settle just because he is 50-100 bucks cheaper. It will be with you FOREVER and on your wrist alot of people will see it. I know Rhode Island is about a 3 hour drive but there is an absolute FANTASTIC artist. His name is Shane Baker and he works at Powerline Tattoo. You can do a google search. It would be well worth your time to drive a bit for QUALITY work.