E106MKFD

Of course, there have been occasions for career and volunteer joint operations in Westchester. Last month the City of White Plains FD worked mutual aid with North White Plains FD and other first responder agencies (both paid and volley) in a rope rescue in a remote area of a park. I have heard of a few instances where Volleys covered a paid jurisdiction or assisted on a scene but it is not a regular operation in Westchester. Some areas like Elmsford work with paid companies more often and we have plenty of combo departments as well.
I believe you are aiming at the question, do departments expect certain standards/training credentials from a Volley or Paid dept when providing mutual aid or on a dual response? I am not sure if there are any specific mutual aid agreements or MOU's between any paid and volley agencies in Westchester but volleys follow the FFI, II standards whereas the paid departments have the career training classes (as Barry mentioned).
When I volleyed upstate NY there were times our agency provided services to a fully paid department and they expected a staffed engine with 6 interior qualified members. Standard wise that was as close as it got.

Of course, there have been occasions for career and volunteer joint operations in Westchester. Last month the City of White Plains FD worked mutual aid with North White Plains FD and other first responder agencies (both paid and volley) in a rope rescue in a remote area of a park. I have heard of a few instances where Volleys covered a paid jurisdiction or assisted on a scene but it is not a regular operation in Westchester. Some areas like Elmsford work with paid companies more often and we have plenty of combo departments as well.
I believe you are aiming at the question, do departments expect certain standards/training credentials from a Volley or Paid dept when providing mutual aid or on a dual response? I am not sure if there are any specific mutual aid agreements or MOU's between any paid and volley agencies in Westchester but volleys follow the FFI, II standards whereas the paid departments have the career training classes (as Barry mentioned).
When I volleyed upstate NY there were times our agency provided services to a fully paid department and they expected a staffed engine with 6 interior qualified members. Standard wise that was as close as it got.

Here's the BS of the problem....volunteer FF's tend to have significantly less training than our career counter parts. There are many reasons why we don't, such as a lack of time because most of us have full time jobs that require us to show up to earn a salary, or families that we can't leave behind over small incidents that otherwise wouldn't affect the most of us. It's a long list, but I don't have the time to waste to list you all the reasons. The matter of the fact is that vollies don't get enough training, for every reason. I would love to take more classes and be "Superman," but I realize that I have far more important things to do, like work!
In a perfect world we would all be trained to the same level. Unfortunately, it's not possible and never will be. The scheme of life just doesn't allow it, but it will always allow that rift between vollie and career FF's.
Now, I'm going to say something really mean, Bottom of Da Hill, and you're going to have to suck it up and take it like a man...You need to stop acting like you're tough sh!t. You're not. The brotherhood of the fire service is a tight knit community, and it's a small world. You just can't go around bashing every body. I speak from experience. I used to shoot my mouth off, too. But, I learned. Now it's your turn.
Alright, back to the original post......I'm guessing you're looking for answers from the volunteer side?? This is a tough question, mainly because every department has their own rules and regulations about the issue. Heck, some departments DON"T have rules or training standards (I unfortunately know of some). Looking at it from a broad stand point, most volunteer departments say FF1 is the basis to become interior, and Fire Officer 1 is needed for company officers. I'm not going to quote my department's policies because I can't find the binder with the by-laws and SOP's, but I can guarantee you that specific classes are required and some point throughout your tenure (I will elaborate once I find the binder lol).
Keep in mind that OFPC and NFPA have their suggestions/requirements, and most of that information is locatable through their respective websites and the wonderful world of Google. Your department may even have copies of the appropriate documents to read through, and your current officers should know where they are located in your fire house.
I do like your question, and I will start looking for more information to help you come to an answer that you're looking for. PM me if I forget to repost.

Of course, there have been occasions for career and volunteer joint operations in Westchester. Last month the City of White Plains FD worked mutual aid with North White Plains FD and other first responder agencies (both paid and volley) in a rope rescue in a remote area of a park. I have heard of a few instances where Volleys covered a paid jurisdiction or assisted on a scene but it is not a regular operation in Westchester. Some areas like Elmsford work with paid companies more often and we have plenty of combo departments as well.
I believe you are aiming at the question, do departments expect certain standards/training credentials from a Volley or Paid dept when providing mutual aid or on a dual response? I am not sure if there are any specific mutual aid agreements or MOU's between any paid and volley agencies in Westchester but volleys follow the FFI, II standards whereas the paid departments have the career training classes (as Barry mentioned).
When I volleyed upstate NY there were times our agency provided services to a fully paid department and they expected a staffed engine with 6 interior qualified members. Standard wise that was as close as it got.

Churchtown Fire Company, Columbia County NY upgraded 2 pieces in their fleet. Engine 901, 2014 Spartan Metro Star/Toyne 1500/1500/25 and Engine-Tanker 902, a 2014 IH 7600/Toyne, 1000/3000/0. They replaced a 1996 IH 4900/KME Engine (901) and a 1996 IH 4900/KME Eng.-Tanker (902).
Both units purchased from Shakerly Fire Truck Sales, Round Lake NY.

I'm reading a lot of continuing talk about why NOT to respond "RLS", yet all the reasons I read seem to highlight the failings in the system of adequately covering an area and not questioning the method of getting there. If the system is set up to spread coverage to even out a geographical area, then a neighbor shouldn't be moved one town over.
If the fire is in Dobbs Ferry and Irvington, Tarytown and Hastings are operating, then an engine should be moved there from, say, Port Chester and a ladder from say, Peekskill. Thats just an abstract idea, but that's how you spread coverage efficiently. You move people from COMPLETELY uneffected areas to a central location to offer coverage to a group of municipalities that are committed to an emergency. Also.....those relocated units should NOT be sent to the scene, if it can be helped.
The above is why relocating in emergency mode becomes necessary. You need those units to get to the area that needs coverage quickly. When there is a fire in midtown Manhattan, the relocations come from Harlem and Queens. Who says you can't compare this to Westhchester? Forget the municipality, this is just how it should work.
Is, "the odds of there being another emergency are slim" really the argument? If that's the case, then just pack up your fire department to begin with, because there's only a slim chance of disaster......
Stop with the defining of an emergency....too many gray areas. A serious hole in emergency service coverage IS an emergency. No one says to go bombing through red lights, but stop, look and proceed.

Here's a bit of Mount Vernon FD Fire Station History for you (Old Quarters for Engine 1 and Engine 2; Old Quarters of Engine 3 and Truck 4; Old Quarters of Engine 5, Truck 3 and Foam 1; Quarters of Engine 6 and Truck 2; Old Quarters of Rescue 1; Old Quarters of Truck 1)

For a specialized unit that gets called only a handful of times per year, I don't really see how just one team covering the north part of the county, plus the County PD team, is an issue. We only have 3 Haz-Mat units for the entire county, simply because you don't need more than that.

Departments sharing resources? Crazy idea.

Could they be merged into a regional effort (since they all go mutual aid anyway) and make use of the resources that each department has?

What will be done with all the equipment?

In NYC, the FDNY rarely gets to do this, because the traffic units will have it on the hook and off to the yard, long before the FD gets a call.

Please explain to me how the individuals in either of those photos could have gone without noticing the hydrants.
In the first photo, the driver had to parallel park. Either the driver closed his/her eyes and relied on divine intervention to guide their car in reverse, or he/she saw the hydrant in the rear view mirror while backing up.
In the second photo, the driver is parked JUST far enough forward that the driver's side door won't hit the hydrant when it is opened. I suppose that was simply a stroke of good luck?
Stop making excuses. People don't care because they are lazy and self important.

Maybe you should look into the FDNY Operational Reference books. I am not sure id it would cover all the additional miscellaneous units but it certainly covers a lot.
Past Forum Post:
http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/47008-fdny-operational-reference-10th-edition-just-published/

Does the mounting of the siren make a difference?
So lets compare.

In the 1st picture the Q2 is completely recessed in the bumper. This provides good protection for the siren, but since the majority of the sound comes from the side not the front, the sound is directed under the bumper and into the cab. Also this design defeats the strongest bumper by cutting such a big hole in it. This reduces the crashworthiness of the cab.

In the 2nd pic. its mounted above the bumper, less protection for the siren, but the sound is pushed forward of the cab more than other arraignments.

In the 3rd pic a shroud is added, this forces more of the sound forward away from the cab

In pic 4 the siren is only partially recessed allowing the sound to travel, but the siren is more vulnerable to damage. The addition of crash protection protects it, but does reduce some of the effectiveness of the siren.
Every item on a rig is a compromise. One needs to evaluate the pros and cons of each of these

Since I am no expert and am not on the job please correct me if I am wrong or attack this the wrong way.
In Special Operations you have your 5 Rescues, 7 Squads, and HazMat (Of course additional miscellaneous units). Benefit of a Squad is they fit the role of a Rescue, HazMat, Engine, and or Ladder depending on the box assignment allowing for better versatility and better support in response. In addition to these companies you have SSL (Squad Support Ladders as well as some Squad/Hazmat Support engines (ie. Engine 44). Having these support units allows for a faster specialized response and better coverage of special operations in the city. To add another HazMat you would get another big box racing to jobs that in many circumstances will be mitigated by these support companies. Geographically it just wouldn't make that much sense.
Don't get me wrong I am not downplaying the importance of the HazMat or their need. I don't believe their work can be totally fielded out to suppression companies or other areas of SOC (Squad) but why add another specialized piece to an organization that seems to operate very well with the versatility and variety of other SOC units? A second Hazmat would seem to be redundant. According to FDNY Stats HazMat 1 took in 922 runs in comparison to 2,553 by Rescue 1 or 3,986 by Squad 18. I would imagine adding another Rescue or Squad before another HazMat.

There is probably an app for that.

This is so incredibly sad. Gone way too young considering what he survived.
RIP... The Free World is forever in debt to you and your fallen brothers both on the battlefield and off.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/10/23/decorated-soldier-from-black-hawk-down-battle-in-somalia-dies-at-52/

HVFE has posted 60 new post-delivery photos of the detail of this rig. Some really cool features!

Album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.548094715280003.1073741837.116645911758221&type=1

(Photo from: Hudson Valley Fire Equipment)

To clarify. The County did not refuse to dispatch the METU. I requested it and was advised through the proper dispatch procedure that the vehicle was not yet placed in service and that it was not available. This is no different than any other fire apparatus or ambulance. The County did coordinate the dispatch of two Bee Line buses in its place. Many of you need to climb out of your glass house and visit the real world. Stop posting and spreading rumors before knowing the facts.

It will happen eventually but it will be in conjunction with the East Side Access project (LIRR connection to GCT). When LIRR starts running trains to Grand Central it will free space in Penn allowing MNR trains a space in Penn via the Hell Gate line and the Amtrak line on the West Side via Spuyten Duyvil. ESA won't be completed for another 6-7+ years so it will be a while before any East Bronx stations start popping up.

Your thinking pro-active. Westchester is mostly re-active unless it's a federal mandate cough like the airport.
Who would man the mass medical unit if it was called out to the northern part of the county ?

I didn't say that it had anything to do with it, I just said that it made me think of it.
But that being said, mutual aid EMS was requested yesterday (for standby in quarters), as well as the response of the EMS Mutual Aid Zone Coordinator. I was wondering if any of these procedures had been included in an "official" county mutual aid plan. Not to discredit the great work that OVAC does, but this might have also been a good opportunity to request an EMS task force, or at least more of a response than just 1 BLS and 1 ALS unit. I understand that this was not an active shooter, and it was just a report of a person with a gun in a school, but wouldn't we rather have these units responding and staging and available if needed than scrambling at the last minute when the situation escalates? Especially during the daytime when we know that coverage in Westchester County is oftentimes a struggle.
Full disclosure, I'm not trying to start a war here, or talk about what OVAC did/did not do right, just looking for some constructive discussion on the overall Mutual Aid plan, and Westchester's handling of potential MCI scenarios.

Well, the fares only cover about 40% of what it costs to get your from point "A" to point. "B", so either fares have to go up or taxes have to. Personally, I'd rather see regular users pay, not me and my already crazy taxes.That said, I love the Railroad and I think MetroNorth runs an excellent operation. I hope they get every bit of funding they seek and I certainly hope to see Penn Station access. Not so much for the ride to Penn, but for the amazing flexibility that would be gained.....along with 4 new and needed stops in the eastern bronx.

This rig is for sale on one of my favorite websites. As a classic car owner and vintage racer I frequent it often. As a fireman I never expected to see this for sale. The NYC EMS rig pictured is not the for sale rig but just a good pic on one of ten built.
http://bringatrailer.com/2014/09/23/1982-jeep-cj-8-horton-all-terrain-medic/

The city writes a check and a few months later the truck shows up. How does it work by you?