AFS1970

Date: 05/16/2020
Time: 15:11
Location: Long Island Sound - Aprox 1/2 mile off Shippan Point
District: Stamford - East Side

Channel: Tac1

Weather: 76 & Mostly Sunny
Units: SFD - E4 (Marine Company), FB236 (Fire Boat), E5 (Dive Support) , R1 (Dive Team), DC4 (IC)

          SEMS - M3, M901 (Supervisor)

          SPD - Harbor 3 (Police Boat), 3A,3C (Patrol)

15:11 Report from fisherman on shore of overturned boat, approx. 16 foot, 1 person in water. Caller did not speak English all info via Voiance Interpreter Service.

15:13 Nearby civilian boat on scene pulling person out of water

15:15 Boat and victim inbound to Cove Island Harbor

15:18 Harbor 3 confirms all passengers accounted for, attempting to salvage fishing boat, cancel fire boat & dive team

15:19 Harbor 3 reports victim is refusing EMS

15:20 Recall for all SFD & SEMS units

15:21 US Coast Guard notified

Writer:  AFS1970.

Date: 05/05/2020
Time: 01:16
Location: 81 Blackwood Dr
District: Turn of River

Channel: Ground 3

Weather: 48 & Mostly Cloudy
Units: Turn of River: E64, E62, K68, 613(Capt), 611(Chief)

          Long Ridge: C711(Chief), 713(Capt), K78, E73(Special Called Pumper Tanker)

          Stamford: E8, E9, E5, E7(RIT), T1, R1, U4 (Deputy Chief), U2 (Asst Chief), U3 (Asst Chief), U1 (Chief), FM109(C&O), FM111(C&O), U121 (Mechanic), E1 (Special Called for additional water supply)

          SEMS - M4

          Tanker Task Force: Banksville NY, Pound Ridge NY, New Canaan for a total of 5 including K68 & K78.

Multiple calls for possible structure fire in area. PD confirmed working fire. U4 enroute called for a Level 1 Tanker Task Force

C711 enroute special called E73 which is a pumper tanker. Engines on scene laid in from a hydrant and set up for in line pumping, however that hydrant was dead. U4 called for an additional SFD engine to assist with water supply. Tankers on scene were nursing to engines.

Writer:  AFS1970.

Just an update, We are almost 50% to the goal on this one, any help is much appreciated.

I am forwarding this fundraiser for one of our dispatchers who recently lost her father. THis was created just before he passed away due to rising medical costs and lack of insurance coverage. Sadly he lost his battle with cancer the other day. Kristen is a Dispatcher in Stamford as well as working part time in Milford PD & Southwest CMED. She is also a member of Echo Hose Auxiliary, Any help anyone can give is much appreciated.

Dispatcher GoFundMe

Date: 08/26/2019
Time: 02:31
Location: Canal St / Ludlow St
District: Stamford

Battalion: South End

Channel: Tac 1

Weather: 57 & Clear
Units: SFD E2,R1 (Initial) E5 (Rescue Support)

          SEMS M1 (Initial) M901 (Supervisor), M3, M4, 2 Mutual Aid Ambulances via CMED

          SPD 2A17,2B12,2C54,2C45,8S2 (Sergeant),4A13 (CARS), 3D25 (CARS), 8D77 (Lieutenant), 209 (Cars Sergeant), 202 (CARS Truck operated by 4A13)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Single Car vs Pole, car struck pole taking down wires that trapped two passengers in vehicle. Multiple calls reporting pole or vehicle on fire (conflicting reports), Unable to extricate until power company arrives to shut off power. 2 walking wounded transported from scene. R1 requested E5 for Rescue Assistance. M1 immediately requested M901 & M3, M901 enroute called for M4, M1 then called for 2 additional ambulances. Eversource (Power Company) requested Priority 1 (Life threatening Response) Power was shut off and extrication begun at 03:18. 

** CARS is Stamford PD Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Squad - Formerly the Major Accident Case Squad

Date: 07/05/2019
Time: 12:51
Location: 124 Seaton Rd
District: SFD 1

Battalion: Central

Channel: Ground 1

Weather: 81 & Partly Cloudy
Units: SFD: E1, E6, E4, T1, R1, C4 (IC), E5 (RIT), U8 (Safety), FM103 (C&O), FM112 (C&O), C3 (AC)

          SEMS: M2

          SPD: 3C18, 3C30
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Initially reported as oven fire, then kitchen fire. E1 arrived on scene and reported smoke condition and stretched attack line. C4 arrived, established command and declared working fire. EMS responded and treated 1 patient. Police requested to block road. Recall holding all units other than RIT transmitted by C4 at 13:11

Date: 05/02/2019
Time: 11:08
Location: 2289 Shippan Ave (Shippan Point)
District: SFD 4

Battalion: East Side

Channel: Tac 1

Weather: 60 & Mostly Cloudy
Units: SFD E4, R1, E5 (Rescue Support), U6 (Safety) & U4 (Command)

          SPD 3D47, 8S3 (Sergeant), 3C31, 291, K9-6, TE2 (Reconstruction), TE3 (Reconstruction)

          SEMS M1, M901 (Supervisor)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Car drove to end off peninsula and hit seawall. Multiple callers reporting wall damaged, car partially on top of wall with partial ejection. One caller reported small fire that was extinguished by landscapers working near by. R1 arrived on scene and started extrication. 

I do my station's stats and I can't imagine taking on a project this big. It is bad enough I have to use 3 main sources and then ask around for what people remember when doing monthly stats. I know some of my data is bad, but I am working on changing this. 

I have mixed feelings on dual membership. My old department had a specific rule against it but that rule was NEVER enforced, including on some high profile veteran members. My current department has no such rule and in many ways encourages dual membership. That being said, if a member can manage to meet attendance and training requirements for two departments then more power too them. I know this can be hard, especially if drill schedules conflict. I have found neighboring departments willing to work together.

I had a member who was going to be listed as exterior by another town because she had not met their training requirements. I wrote her a letter listing her drill attendance to their training officer, even offered him copies of drill reports, he accepted the letter and restored her interior status. I have personally seen more people not be able to handle meeting these requirements than those who have. 

One local chief is against letting dual members vote, because he does not want members of other departments voting on who is chief in his own department., While I think that is mostly self serving, I kind of see his point. I also don't like neighboring departments using dual members to pad out their rosters, as each member can only be in one place at one time. 

As for legal and insurance issues, those may be defined in statutes. Workers Compensation is usually required for all members, these laws are probably silent on dual members. Here in CT we also have a law that allows an individual to volunteer anywhere statewide as long as approved by the chief/IC and they are covered by their home department (I don't have the exact wording on hand). Now that is a call by call based law that probably never envisioned someone responding to multiple calls in another district, but the intent is fairly clear. 

I think you are more likely to get volunteers for a specialized team, at least in the initial recruitment stages. When it has the new shiny team feel. Then when the refresher training requirements come to light and the lack of call volume comes up membership either dwindles away of just gets apathetic. 

I have seen a local dive team and a local hazmat team both go away, thankfully to be replaced by other agencies. However it happens. 

I wasn't even thinking of them getting caught on it. I was thinking more duplication of effort. If I embroider the dept. on the chest do I really need the dept. patch on the sleeve?

Had a light hearted debate the other day and figured I would spread it over here. I know we will likely not reach a consensus at all. Then again this is a largely meaningless topic for debate. 

On a standard job shirt with the embroidered logo on the chest, do you add patches to the sleeve or not? I went with no, but some others were telling me they do. 

Concepts like this often don't gain the traction they should or could. This is because you can assemble the best personnel & equipment, get the best training, and tell people you are out there as a resource. However you can't make departments call you even if they get one of the relatively rare calls you planned for.

Date: 01/17/2019
Time: 11:07
Location: 50 Forest St
District: SFD

Battalion: Central

Channel: Ground 2

Weather: 26 & Sunny
Units: SFD - Initial Dispatch: E1,E2,E5,E9 (RIT),R1,U4 (Deputy Chief)

                    Updated Response: E6 Replaced E9 as RIT, T1 cleared from training to respond

                    Working Fire Additions: U6 (Safety), U8 (Safety), FM108 (C&O)

          SEMS - M2

          SPD - 2A296,2B31,2A50,3B45,8S2 (Sergeant)

                    2nd Alarm: E4,T3
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Reported as smoke coming from basement pump room of occupied high rise residence. Initial response was short due to units being tied up in a training class. Units cleared up from class to take in the box. Units on scene declared working fire. 2nd Alarm declared per policy for all working fires in high rise buildings. IC (U4) declared recall at 11:20 holding the 1st alarm & RIT but releasing 2nd alarm units. 

*** This incident was part of a busy period with 2 reported gas leaks, an unfounded HazMat release and a technical rescue. ***

Date: 01/17/2019
Time: 11:48
Location: Washington Blvd / Henry St (No address assigned yet)
District: SFD

Battalion: South End

Channel: Tac 2

Weather: 26 & Sunny
Units: SFD - E2,T1 (Tower Ladder),R1,E5 (Rescue Support),U5 (Reserve DC), U4 (DC), U6 (Safety),U8 (Safety)

          SEMS - M1

          SPD - 2C21,2C23,8S2 (Sergeant), 8S1 (Relief Sergeant)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description:Initial report of male with head injury, hit in head by falling spool. Male reported to be down on ground. First unit (E2) arrived and located patient on 2nd floor of high rise building under construction with access difficulties. E2 special called for a tower ladder for patient removal then declared a technical rescue. Due to a previous working fire there was a reserve Deputy Chief in service. Police requested Federal OSHA respond. 

I think the most common is the enhanced engine, but I have seen everything from SUV's to Heavy Rescues called Squads. In dispatch we use the term squad for the group of people who work together the way some fire departments use platoon or group.

One nearby department has a heavy rescue and has small extrication tools on their two engines. We just purchased a large amount of extrication equipment but only have a small amount of cribbing and air bags. We also don't carry struts or jacks. As we have no rescue, we are putting all of this on the second due engine. Some members wanted to call it a squad, but I argued that meant that those riding it had to be better at extrication than those riding the other engine. 

I am not sure that outside of a given department or region there is a traditional answer. Even FDNY started out differently than they currently operate. Even the squad numbers are all over the place. Squad 1 & Squad 8 replaced engines but got new numbers, the others retained the numbers of the engines they replaced. 

In NJ where my friend is chief, because the term squad also referred to his agency, they used to use Squad 1-5 as the officer ID's. So he would sign on as Squad 2 from home or in his POV, while going to get the squad (ambulance). They have since changed to a car number system as they share a channel with other agencies (some of them squads) and didn't want to have conflicting numbers. 

A neighboring town has just placed a new engine into service, however they call it a squad. I have a friend in NJ who calls his ambulance a squad. We used to have an engine called a squad in Stamford but changed it to an engine, I was told because the same mattered to ISO. Another neighboring town used to call utilities (including old chief's cars) squads. So what defines a squad in general? I believe in FDNY they are engines with enhanced equipment, which of course brings with it dedicated personnel trained to use that equipment. So do all the departments calling their engines squads make this distinction? What about the places calling their rescues squads, do they do something that other rescues don't or can't?

Date: 11/02/2018
Time: : 11:25
Location: 2200 Bedford St
District:Stamford

Battalion: Woodside

Channel: Ground 2

Weather: 65 & Cloudy
Units: E9,E5,T1,U4 (Deputy Chief),T2 (Haz Mat Support), U7 (Safety)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description:Initially reported as a fire alarm in an occupied super market. Units arrived and found a refrigerant leak. Units were operating here when a second simultaneous Haz Mat call was received. 

Date: 11/02/2018
Time: 12:03
Location: 425 Fairfield Ave
District: Stamford Fire

Battalion: Westside

Channel: Tac 1

Weather: 65 & Cloudy
Units: E2,T3,HM1, U6 (Safety), C1 (Chief)
Writer: AFS1970

Description: delivery driver reported 5 large nitrogen canisters on loading dock leaking. Canisters have been there for quite some time. This is one of two simultaneous HazMat calls that came in while units were still on scene of a previous structure fire. 

Date: 10/16/2018
Time: 08:30
Location: Dyke Ln / Washington Blvd
District: Stamford

Battalion: South End

Channel: Tac 1

Weather: 45 Sunny
Units: SFD: E2, T2 (HM Support), HM1, U4 (Deputy Chief), U7 (Safety)

          SPD: 2A29, 2A44, 8S2 (Sergeant)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Excavator operator at construction site hit power lines, taking down wires and transformers. Transformers leaking. CT DEP notified. FED OSHA Notified. 

Date: 10/16/2018
Time: 08:39
Location: Taylor Reed Pl / Crescent St [Exact address deleted]
District: Glenbrook

Channel: Tac 2

Weather: 45 & Sunny
Units: SEMS: M2

          SFD: E6,U4

          GFD: E34

          SPD: 3D296, 3B12, 4E53, 1E41, 317, 8S1 (Patrol Sergeant), 304 (BCI), 506 (BCI), 73 (Lieutenant), 63 (District Captain), 103 (CSI)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Workers at private garbage/recycling plant reported finding deceased baby in trash while transferring material from dumpster. FD & EMS responded to confirm DOA. PD Investigating to determine where baby is from.

Date: 10/09/2018
Time: 20:24
Location: 652 Glenbrook Rd (Glenbrook Industrial Park)
District: Glenbrook

Channel: Ground 1

Weather: 68 & Clear
Units: Stamford Fire: E6,E7,E1(RIT),E4(Special Call),T1,R1,U4 (Duty Chief),C2 (Asst. Chief),C11 (Asst. Chief),C6 (Safety),U121 (Mechanic),FM105,FM104 (C&O)

          Glenbrook Fire: E34,V314 (Capt)

          Belltown Fire: E41 (First Alarm)

          Stamford EMS: M3, M901 (Supervisor)

          Stamford Police: 3D47,1E43,102 (Crime Scene Unit)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Reported fire in basement of mixed industrial building, This complex is a former factory with several out buildings, all housing mixed light industry. There is one out building that houses a church. Companies arriving on scene reported smoke from the basement and sprinkler activations. 

E41 responded as part of the first alarm, E4 was special called to add an additional engine (at one point this complex got an additional engine and truck on all calls) 

This was in a smaller building (60x150) and the fire was extinguished with a single hand line by 21:00.

Thanks Seth.

The ads are not a problem themselves. It is just the way they are displaying. They seem to extend over the site graphics, although not covering any critical areas. Might just be a formatting issue. 

I agree that we get hung up on numbers. When the debate over what order to put the names on the memorial was going on, I always thought it was odd that few if any new stations quoted Cantor Fitzgerald employees survivors when that company lost over 700. Either way the number we should concentrate on is close to 3.000.

That is why I always think Charlie Daniels said it best dedicating the new (at the time) video he did for America. He dedicated it to the nearly 3.000 people who did nothing more than got up and went to work on Tuesday. That sums it up for everyone, public safety or not.

He will always be #344 to me also, despite never having met him (or anyone from the patrol). The layoff/disbanding of the patrol was one of two things that lead me to switch my insert in my old department to a brown shield with our utility as the unit number.