AFS1970

Here's Ridgefield Tankers 5 A 1988 International Tech weld  375 2200 tank This is a former Port Authority Tunnel washer unit acquired by Ridgefield & Converted to fire department use all work done by Dept members & was painted by the DPW unit is used on the NJ Turnpike & brush fires in area It's part of the Bergen County Tanker Task Force Credit to the photographer

Date: 07/26/2017
Time: 20:05 (Aproximate)
Location: East Branch of Stamford Harbor off Saddle Rock Rd
District: SFD 4
Battalion: Eastside
Channel: Ground 2
Weather: 69 and Sunny
Units: SFD: E4, R1 (Relocating for Fireboat), U4 (IC), E1 (With Zodiac), Marine 236
         SEMS: M3, M5
         Greenich PD: Marine 139
         Darien: Unk Marine Unit
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Initial report for boat taking on water, 4 occupants with only 2 life jackets. Units arrived at initial location of Shippan Point and could not see the vessel. Arriving at updated location U4 was able to see vessel was capsized and 4 victims were in the water. U4 called for E1 with the Zodiac. Darien Marine unit arrived as well as a civilian boat responding to the distress call. U4 Greenwich Marine 139 arrived at nearby Marina Shortly. U4  canceled E1 due to multiple boats on scene to assist. 
 
** As I was hearing this on a scanner I was not able to get information on police units responding unless they were mentioned over the fire radio. 

 
What is option B?  Unless something has changed in the last 3 years since I left CT, there are no paid FDs in Putnam County. Certainly it isn't ideal, but there's no push for full time staffing in Putnam right now, so IMO this is probably the best that can be done with the resources available. You'll get the initial sign up of everyone wanting the cool T-Shirt, and then maybe end up with a dozen or two hardcore people countywide in 6-8 months who will do the training and respond to calls. Better than nothing.

Here's the million dollar question....
 
Who's going to staff it?  It is going to be a volunteer system, much like the Westchester Haz-mat team, which due to slow response times, has been skipped over many a time for a properly staffed rig?
 
Tech team responses require an immense amount of training, and if you get the cert once and never handle the equipment for months, you're gonna lose that skill...

The way some cities look at staffing this will not be a problem, because the guy who normally writes the tickets will be too busy pumping to do both.

Date: 07/21/2017
Time: 19:02
Location: Aproximately 1 mile south-southwest of Shippan Point
District: SFD 4
Battalion: Eastside
Channel: Tac 1
Weather: 86, Partly cloudy
Units: SFD: FB236, E4, E5 (Relocate for fireboat), R1 (Relocate for fireboat), U4 (DC)
          SPD: 3B28, TE2, 1C54, 8S3 (Sergeant)
          SEMS: M3
          Greenwich PD: Marine 139
          Noroton FD: Marine 34
          Norwalk PD: Marine Unit (Unit # Unknown) crew called back to staff boat
          Norwalk FD: Fireboat 238
          USCG: Unk Vessel from Eatons Neck
Writer:  AFS1970
Description: Multiple phone calls from people on a 12 person fishing boat, reporting male & child overboard, no qualified operators on board. Due to language barrier with callers no vessel location other than Connecticut and no vessel name were able to be obtained. GPS/ALI location for 1 caller showed well inland (likely tower) and one showed location in water. Due to this, the call was broadcast to neighboring towns for any available public safety boat to respond. Siren from Noroton Marine 34 was heard over phone, assisting in locating vessel. Stamford Fireboat 236 located boat and found nobody overboard and all subjects accounted for. Vessel was escorted into marina, EMS transported a child with a minor laceration. Coast Guard responded to pier to meet with vessel operator. 

Date: 07/21/2017
Time: 19:02
Location: Aproximately 1 mile south-southwest of Shippan Point
District: SFD 4
Battalion: Eastside
Channel: Tac 1
Weather: 86, Partly cloudy
Units: SFD: FB236, E4, E5 (Relocate for fireboat), R1 (Relocate for fireboat), U4 (DC)
          SPD: 3B28, TE2, 1C54, 8S3 (Sergeant)
          SEMS: M3
          Greenwich PD: Marine 139
          Noroton FD: Marine 34
          Norwalk PD: Marine Unit (Unit # Unknown) crew called back to staff boat
          Norwalk FD: Fireboat 238
          USCG: Unk Vessel from Eatons Neck
Writer:  AFS1970
Description: Multiple phone calls from people on a 12 person fishing boat, reporting male & child overboard, no qualified operators on board. Due to language barrier with callers no vessel location other than Connecticut and no vessel name were able to be obtained. GPS/ALI location for 1 caller showed well inland (likely tower) and one showed location in water. Due to this, the call was broadcast to neighboring towns for any available public safety boat to respond. Siren from Noroton Marine 34 was heard over phone, assisting in locating vessel. Stamford Fireboat 236 located boat and found nobody overboard and all subjects accounted for. Vessel was escorted into marina, EMS transported a child with a minor laceration. Coast Guard responded to pier to meet with vessel operator. 

Date: 07/21/2017
Time: 19:02
Location: Aproximately 1 mile south-southwest of Shippan Point
District: SFD 4
Battalion: Eastside
Channel: Tac 1
Weather: 86, Partly cloudy
Units: SFD: FB236, E4, E5 (Relocate for fireboat), R1 (Relocate for fireboat), U4 (DC)
          SPD: 3B28, TE2, 1C54, 8S3 (Sergeant)
          SEMS: M3
          Greenwich PD: Marine 139
          Noroton FD: Marine 34
          Norwalk PD: Marine Unit (Unit # Unknown) crew called back to staff boat
          Norwalk FD: Fireboat 238
          USCG: Unk Vessel from Eatons Neck
Writer:  AFS1970
Description: Multiple phone calls from people on a 12 person fishing boat, reporting male & child overboard, no qualified operators on board. Due to language barrier with callers no vessel location other than Connecticut and no vessel name were able to be obtained. GPS/ALI location for 1 caller showed well inland (likely tower) and one showed location in water. Due to this, the call was broadcast to neighboring towns for any available public safety boat to respond. Siren from Noroton Marine 34 was heard over phone, assisting in locating vessel. Stamford Fireboat 236 located boat and found nobody overboard and all subjects accounted for. Vessel was escorted into marina, EMS transported a child with a minor laceration. Coast Guard responded to pier to meet with vessel operator. 

If your staffed properly and everyone does their job you should be able to put the fire out and move before the ticket officer nabs you! Of course you'll have to leave all the overhaul to the truckies.

Date: 07/12/2017
Time: 14:07
Location: 46 Seaside Ave
District: SFD 4 (Eastside)
Channel: Tac 1
Weather: 87 Hot Humid
Units: SFD: E6, E2, E3, T1, R1, E4, U4 (IC), C1 (CoD), C2 (ACoD), U6 (SAFETY), U7 (SAFETY), U8 (SAFETY), FM111 (C&O), E1 (SPECIAL CALLED), U121 (MECH), U122 (MECH), U123 (MECH), U9 (FIELD COMM)
          SEMS: M2, M5, U91 (REHAB), M901 (SUPERVISOR)
          SPD: 3B33, 2C291, 3D48, 8S3 (Sgt), K9-1 (K9 Sgt)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Multiple calls for house fire. E6 initially sent as RIT but arrived first and declared working fire. U4 arrived and assumed command, special calling additional engine. M901 called for 2nd ambulance and rehab unit. Eversource (power company) notified also.
 
** Tac channel being used in place of fire ground channel due to radio reprograming project.

Date: 07/12/2017
Time: 14:07
Location: 46 Seaside Ave
District: SFD 4 (Eastside)
Channel: Tac 1
Weather: 87 Hot Humid
Units: SFD: E6, E2, E3, T1, R1, E4, U4 (IC), C1 (CoD), C2 (ACoD), U6 (SAFETY), U7 (SAFETY), U8 (SAFETY), FM111 (C&O), E1 (SPECIAL CALLED), U121 (MECH), U122 (MECH), U123 (MECH), U9 (FIELD COMM)
          SEMS: M2, M5, U91 (REHAB), M901 (SUPERVISOR)
          SPD: 3B33, 2C291, 3D48, 8S3 (Sgt), K9-1 (K9 Sgt)
Writer:  AFS1970

Description: Multiple calls for house fire. E6 initially sent as RIT but arrived first and declared working fire. U4 arrived and assumed command, special calling additional engine. M901 called for 2nd ambulance and rehab unit. Eversource (power company) notified also.
 
** Tac channel being used in place of fire ground channel due to radio reprograming project.

Date: 07/09/2017
Time: 18:39
Location: 58 Stephen St
District: SFD 3 (Westside)
Channel: Ground 2
Weather: Sunny & Clear
Units: SFD: E3, E5, E1, T3, R1, E4 (RIT), U4 (IC), U8 (Safety), E2 (Special Call), C1 (Chief of Department). FM110 (C&O) C2 (Asst. Chief of Department), U123 (Mechanic)
          SEMS: M3, M901 (Supervisor)
          SPD: 1C21, 1B14, 1A45, 8S1 (Sergeant)
Writer: AFS1970
Description: Initial reports of smoke inside the house. E3 arrived and confirmed the smoke condition. U4 arrived, assumed command and declared working fire. U4 requested Eversource (power company) to respond. U4 special called an additional engine company. Also called was the Red Cross and a Fire Marshal.

 
They already do administer the funds.  The way it works is that the 2% funding is initially collected by the NYS Insurance Department(Insurance Law, Section 2118) (I would also like to indicate that this same law gives the State Comptroller's Office full authority to audit all fire department, district, and company treasury departments).  From there, the NYSID distributes the funds to the department/district, who in turn distribute it to the company(ies).  For the sake of this explanation, as both paid and volunteer fire departments receive 2% funding, labor unions representing firefighters and fire officers are considered fire companies.
 
Now, the issue at hand about how to appropriately spend these funds is detailed in Sections 9104 and 9105 of the State Insurance Law.  Essentially, these sections state that the money must be spent FOR the firefighters and their families, such as to provide food and refreshments after drills and meetings, parades, and picnics; fire department tee shirts, jackets, and other apparel; furniture, air conditioning, and entertainment for firefighters at the fire house; annual awards banquets and holiday parties for fire company members; and radio receiving devices (pagers).  The list for what you CANNOT spend the money on is just as long, which includes paying for training courses, fire prevention, medical leave/benefits (although there is a caveat on that which I'll explain below), assisting disaster survivors, and paying for delegates to attend conferences/conventions.
 
The caveat with medical leave and benefits can be legal if, and only if, the company has been approved legislatively for the funds to go to a benevolent association, in which then the money can be used to reimburse firefighters for medical expenses that they paid for out of pocket.
 
This above information can be found at the below links:
FASNY: https://www.fasny.com/pdfs/redhandbook.pdf
NYS Department of Financial Services: http://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/faqs/faqs_ft_fft.htm
 
For more information about the legality of the collection and distribution of funds, you can also visit http://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/ogco2007/rg070522.htm (this is another page from the NYS Department of Financial Services that includes the names of court cases to direct you to certain laws and court decisions that have created the current foreign insurance program).
 
AND, if you fear that the State Comptroller is going to investigate your fire company next (don't worry, they'll get to you eventually  ), here's the link to the Office of the NYS Comptroller: http://osc.state.ny.us/localgov/firedist/faq.htm.  This site provides all of the information that you need to better manage your company's funds, prepare for an audit, and how to fix your financial problems.
 
Don't sit around and wait.  Be proactive and prevent your department/company from being the next news headline.

 

It's funny, some VFDs are better "staffed" and more adequately covered when they are OUT of town...

I noticed the lake George convention is going on right now. At a time when volunteer fire departments seem to have an issue with staffing on a good day, does anyone find that having a great deal of the active membership several hours away negatively effect public safety ? What are some of the things your departments do during events like this (or other parades...) to alleviate staffing issues ? 

Date: 06/13/17
Time: 0715hrs (approx)
Location: Mount Airy Rd & Moores Hill Rd 
District: Vails Gate 
Battalion: 4
Channel: 
Weather: Hot/Humid 
Units: VGFD Car-3 (IC), R480, E479, NWEMS/ALS
Writer: BFD1054
Description: Single car MVA/Car into a tree with entrapment 
 
Crews worked to remove both front doors. The drivers legs were pinned under the dash, so the Holmatro spreaders and chains were used for a dash roll. 
 
*Side note; VGFD responded to this incident with minimum manpower. R480 had a chauffeur, officer and 2 firefighters, while E479 responded with a chauffeur, officer and 1 firefighter. Car-3 was on scene in command. Members had the victim extricated within 16 minutes. 
I was not at this incident, but I am proud of my VGFD brothers on a job well done.

 
Urban Studio Unbound (www.urbanstudiounbound.org) along with members of the Yonkers Fire Department have opened a two week exhibit honoring the history of the department with photos and displays.  The exhibit opened this past Saturday and runs through June 24, 2017.  The studio is located at 66 Main Street in Yonkers.  There is no entry fee but donations are greatly appreciated!  Hours are: Wednesdays 2-7 pm, Thursdays 11am-4pm, Fridays 12-5 pm, Saturdays 1-6 pm, and Sunday June 18, 1-6pm.  The exhibit closes on Sunday June 25th.
 
Members past and present, along with their family members have commented on the heartwarming and sincere effort that went into displaying the hard working firefighters over the years and the professional rememberance of those members who lost their lives in the Line of Duty

There's some guy's that do up Their Suv's almost as good as a fire Chief 's unit over by us in NJ what ever happened to just a tear drop light on the dash lol

I don't know Rye specifically, but I have seen a few departments that either haven't kept up with the times with regards to standards, or have made standards to get a certain candidate that then are way passed what any other candidate has. This is why requirements for office should be real attainable goals, that are reasonable to meet.
 
I have seen two departments that were very progressive for the time setting officer requirements. Then a few y7ears later have nobody who meets the requirements. For a while they had two Captains who were acting Chief & Assistant Chief because of the requirements.
 
Another factor that comes up is when nearby departments enact requirements, they sort of work towards building unofficial standards. This may inadvertently end up applying to a department if they find themselves behind the rest of the region. 
 
I would be more worried about a member that has had such a long absence from the active department. My FF1 class was 20 years ago, I am sure much has changed in what is considered basic. There is a fair amount of refresher training that should be required before anyone should let me strap on a white hat.

 
That sums all of this up in a nutshell!

If you are driving like an idiot with a blue light, you are an a-hole fireman, if you are driving like an idiot without a blue light then you are just like all the other a-holes out there. 

 Straight streams will illustrate if all items were installed correctly and what has to be revisited by dealer 

I generally do not like the idea of any markings on a former rig that would make one think it was still in service. That being said I once was part of a discussion about converting an old engine into a tailgating rig for a football team.

I generally do not like the idea of any markings on a former rig that would make one think it was still in service. That being said I once was part of a discussion about converting an old engine into a tailgating rig for a football team.