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Having lived in Austin, Texas for over three years now after living in Hartsdale, NY for 28, and having worked with law enforcement agencies in both areas, I've noticed something.
THIS IS IN NO WAY A KNOCK AT POLICE OFFICERS, JUST MY OPINION AND OBSERVATION
Down here, cops want to be cops. They want to go out and make arrests, do felony stops, nab DWI and aggresive drivers, etc. They go out and find work, or are dispatched to it-work is plentiful. They follow up with previous victims, and take pride in the sector they work, and knowing it well. They'll help the FD when needed, but they don't duplicate any services. In fact, they get along quite well in most jurisdictions. Most have no interest in firefighting or doing anything the FD's doing. In fact, most people pursue either a law enforcement, EMS, or FD career. People just don't take tests until they are offered something.
It seems like Police Officers in NYC Metro area want to be into everything. Several muncipalities not only have ESU, but some have technical rescue teams, etc. Now, given the infastructure in NY, that's no a bad thing. But someone, seemingly an ESU officer, make some observations about a recent rope rescue Yonkers FD was involved in, which led me to thinking.
I believe STRONGLY in the ESU concept, however I think they should be more focused on tactical operations and supporting other law enforcement endeavors then tying themselves up with what the FD's already doing. These are highly trained police officers, with special equipment. Why tye them up on something the FD is already doing, and why is it a competition? Why are there more officers interested in getting rope certification then assualt rifle certification? Why aren't there more officers assigned to Hudson River patrols? ESU does a great job, but they should really be there for law enforcement work. I mean, I could understand having to rapell to get to a suicide victim or for SWAT purposes, but for rescuing stranded workers from a ledge...that's what the firefighters signed up to do.
Which leads me to wonder, why in the northeast, with less police officers, funding being cut, and crime rising, would officers want to deal with things beyond the law enforcement scope? Why would they want to direct funding towards equipment the FD already has and duplicate services? I know a lot is grant-funded, but if you don't need it let it go to someone who does. I think money would be better spent on having more K-9 units.
Why do officers down here have such a focused law enforcement different mentality, and in NY they want to do everything? I don't see firefighters wanting guns and handcuffs. Cops should be proud and excited that they are cops, and should take every bad guy off the streeet they can.
In certain situations, PD should work with FD, like in HazMat situations. And in certain places, like NYPD's Transit Bureau, should have confined space training, since going into tunnels to shoo them of transients and patrol, is part of their job.
Again, this is not a knock at LEO's, this does not apply to all LEO's, just some comparitive thoughts. I think cops in both areas do a great job at whatever they are assigned to do, I just see such a profound difference from down here to up there.

Here is the original question
What are they?
How does one request them?
What is the response time?
Who responds with them? ??????????????????

I guess the truth really hurts some of you guys.
I speak based on the irresponsible actions of the local chiefs and assistants with ghost lettering on their vehicles. Maybe south of here the Chiefs drive with respect and decency... But then again, I have seen plenty of Chiefs from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam drive around erratically with the lights and sirens blaring at the HVVFA shows 100 miles out of their response area, so maybe not.
Ghost lettering and blue LEDs on fire apparatus wasn't important to have until the cops got it. All of a sudden, everyone has to have it and it apparently has nothing to do with the police having it?
If you don't think I should be a moderator because I have an opinion that is different from yours, I am more than happy to give it up. However, I won't give up my opinion.

As was stated, it makes it much easier to abuse their powers. I guess they want to look like the cops too...

Makes it harder to id after you cut off other cars causing MVA's.

Yes, because they are. The high cost of Westcheser is due to out of control, egotistical people who could care less about the taxpayers, and politicans who can't plan for the future.
I have a:
-Fully staffed career FD, with new apparatus and new stations planned and excellent response times. More training is required for firefighters down here then in Westchester. Some Engines are ALS first responders.
-COUNTY based operated EMS system with all dual Medic MICU ambulances, the medics respond from a station and start around $55,000 a year and a 23 year retirement pension, with excellent response times. They respond from dedicated EMS stations. Ambulances are replaced every two years.
-A Police Department that focuses on crime, and actually patrols proactively instead of reactively with excellent response times.
-Emergency services share an MDT system
-Excellent School system
-Abundant recreational oppurtunities
-Abundant higher education oppurtunites
-New hospitals being built and opened
-DPW which is on the ball and takes care of problems quickly, and require education and continuing education
Where in Hartsdale, I paid for a Ladder truck that was falling apart and staffed by one firefighter/driver, down here for less taxes I have a 5 man Tower Ladder Quint in great condition that responds with a 4 man Engine company with a brand new Engine. Greenburgh ambulances have a high response time, weren't properly staffed, and often called mutual aid. Most ambulance calls took two police officers off the street for a couple of hours.
For half the taxes I was paying for in Greenburgh.
All this because it's not about the egos down here, and the governments have master planned for everything. Also, the community is very involved and the agencies make sure of that.
I agree with the expenses in Westchester, but these governments are getting more money in taxes the down here, yet the whole emergency services system is in shambles, and I don't see it ever getting better.
I feel the rigs that I comment on are really spec'd nicely, because they are. We have really well-spec'd rigs down here as well. Westchester has very old strutures, and very unique challenges. The taxpayers could really give a crap, and no department (FD-EMS-PD) wants to work together to eliminate redundancies and increase service. Things are never going to change because no one can get along.
Westchester is light years behind us......it's 2011, and having a unified MDT system still isn't a standard.
And, emergency service personel can afford to live in the communities they serve, and don't have to commute a couple of hours to get to work.
And that's just one of many reasons I moved down here.

Seth, you comment constently about how wonderful all the new rigs in Westchester are and how well they will serve the communitiies of Westchester. At the same time you moved away because of the high cost to live in Westchester. Part of the problem is every 1 square mile in Westchester keeps buying more fire apparatus than it can staff.
Westchester has 135 fire stations, 200 engine companies, 74 ladder companies, 37 rescue companies and at least 150 fire chiefs cars. The total replacement cost is estimated at $981,680,000.00
The average number of response is under 600 fire runs per year per dept. and each dept. has at least 3 rigs to handle those 600 runs (some as many as 15).
Now add EMS, PD, DPWs, Parks and the Schools and thats why our taxes are #1 in the country.
I was going to say: Seth you can't have it both ways. But the real issue is Westchester can't have it both ways.

The silence by those who know what these trailers contain or don't contain is deafening and in a sense speaks volumes.

A CHANGE IN THE FIRE SERVICE?!?!?!

Fun day? One of our brothers transmitted a MAYDAY (correct me if I am wrong) and was injured. How's that a fun day?
Brothers - if you read BFD1054's Incident Alert for this job, one of our own needed help within TEN MINUTES AFTER ARRIVAL! This is not uncommon and we need to ensure we have guys on the scene while we're making that initial push that can help us out if s*** hits the fan.
Bad s*** happens quicker than we can expect, and we need to absorb this information and prepare ourselves.
I hope the brother has a fast and full recovery.

Nothing against the hard work of the moderators (particularly in this case FDNY 10-75) But this section is hurting the quality of EMTBravo.
I enjoy seeing what depts are getting. but this is just filler. This morning 80% of the recent board is about rigs being delivered or that might be put out to bid. With half the info either unknown or TBD.
Meanwhile it replaced, a LODD thread, Chains, Grants and other great threads.
If posters have real info on a new rig great, lets see. But this is just filler and is taking away from what makes EMTbravo great.
Rant over.

I'm going to open my big mouth and bite on this... a few random points:
1. Blue light. Big mistake. That's not what it's for. And as a wise man once said to me, if you drive like an a$$hole, people say 'there goes another a$$hole'. If you drive like an a$$hole with a blue light, it's 'there goes another one of those a$$hole firemen'.
2. Aside from that, on the limited information available, I disagree totally with this judgement. It's ridiculous.
3. The word 'chase' is used freely. Was he chasing? Or following? What's the difference in law? I've 'followed' an obvious drunk driver and called them into the cops, and had the satisfaction of a 'thank you' call back for telling them exactly where to find the guy.
4. So the idiot driver wrapped it round a tree and half-killed their passenger. How is anyone other than the driver liable, unless they were literally forced off the road? If they had stopped at the accident, it wouldn't have happened. If they hadn't driven like an idiot, it wouldn't have happened. Why didn't he sue the bloody driver?
5. I can't remotely see how the town can be liable for this. Way too far remote from the cause of the injury. Unless the report is totally incomplete and the damages were actually awarded because... he crashed into a dangerous tree which the town should have cut down or something. I'd tell him to go whistle for the money, and I can't see this surviving an appeal.
6. If you have confidence in the standard of your driving, do what I've done for the last three years or so - install a 'spy in the cab' camera. Activates automatically when you start the car, runs all the time. No arguments about who's to blame after an incident with video evidence available.
7. If you're in the habit of driving like an a$$hole, ignore 6. above!

The simple solution would be to just hit reset on the pager and not go... but we all know we can't do that.
What kills me is how many more electronics are on our fire apparatus now. Especially around the pumps. Take a cold night like we're having now, a little bit of water and in no time, watch how many components start crapping out on you. It's almost moronic if you ask me.
For me personally, I try to keep the bunker pants in the front hall so I don't put them on and go into shock. I would love to leave the coat inside too, but my wife doesn't care for that idea too much.
All of our Engines are outfitted with a small propane torch should we need to thaw caps. I know that we preach to everyone that they should never run around an emergency scene, but it is EXTREMLY IMPORTANT NOT TO this time of the year. Try keeping some good rock salt on every rig, and make that call to DPW / DOT, etc. for more if you're going to need it.
With so much snow on the ground lately, roads are narrower, cars are parked further into the road than normal and hydrants are buried. Be prepared to commit extra personnel to the "dumber" tasks of shoveling out hydrants, throwing down some salt, etc.
Stay warm and be safe.

The info is available from the EEOC, and workplace violence info from OSHA.
The course I was refering to is an inside "joke", it only qualifies personnel to run 1 dept.
The reallity is most depts are multimillion dollar corporations (even the volunteer depts) and need qualified managers to operate them.
A dept with 2 stations, 3 engines, 1 tower ladder & a rescue has an investment of at least $15,000,000 not including personnel (plus there time, training, etc.).
How many corporations are run by unqualified managers?
How many CEO's have a formal education?
How many fire chiefs?
I am not implying that those coming up thru the ranks can not make excellent fire chiefs, but do they make excellent managers?

The law also states the driver of any emergency vehicle will drive "WITH DUE REGARD". Any lawyer will argue that an emergency vehicle going past a red light or other negative traffic control device and involved in an accident even if not the operators fault was not operated with due regard since we should all expect the other drivers to be idiots and not paying any attention.
All that really matters in this accident is that every one walked away.

The law also states the driver of any emergency vehicle will drive "WITH DUE REGARD". Any lawyer will argue that an emergency vehicle going past a red light or other negative traffic control device and involved in an accident even if not the operators fault was not operated with due regard since we should all expect the other drivers to be idiots and not paying any attention.
All that really matters in this accident is that every one walked away.

The law also states the driver of any emergency vehicle will drive "WITH DUE REGARD". Any lawyer will argue that an emergency vehicle going past a red light or other negative traffic control device and involved in an accident even if not the operators fault was not operated with due regard since we should all expect the other drivers to be idiots and not paying any attention.
All that really matters in this accident is that every one walked away.

Here are a couple of instructor quotes from actual pump operator courses. One is the New York version, the other is the Virginia Beach version. They are quite similar. I would like to hear the Califoirnia version.
FROM THE SOUTH:
What should you flow that nozzle at? 40psi, right? Sure you could flow it at 50 or 80. Can you hold on to it? I don't know. What's the worst that could happen? Slide around on your back on the floor for a bit 'til you hit a wall and that's where you fight fire from...it's just that simple yall
FROM THE NORTH"
To determine correct Pump Pressure, simply throttle up slowly until the nozzleman just leaves the ground. Then throttle back 1/2 turn (on digitals, quickly tap the "Decrease" button twice).
If the nozzleman is in the building or otherwise out of sight, this can also be done audibly.

feel better

Officership doesn't start or end on the fireground. Having the top spot filled with someone who cannot understand the country we live in today, whether we agree or not, is foolish and harms the FD as a whole. Not to mention failure to follow a directive by the Mayor. Immature and amateurish are the best I can sum this man's actions with, both adjectives I'd never want used about a Fire Chief.

I'm the last one to defend politicians, but if our "leaders", in this case a Fire Chief, had some inherent good sense, and a desire to keep his fleet looking crisp and professional, the Mayor would never have needed to become involved, no?

Are you arguing that the Sheriff's having a Marine Unit serves no other function, other then to write tickets? They don't respond to any other emergencies or play any other vital role?

what do you expect when agencies have tshirts that say "when in doubt fly em out"
Its not our money, really its all our money eventually since you end up paying higher fees since only 1/2 pay then they charge twice as much.

Well as for someone who can say.. i was in a ATV accident about 3 years ago in Putnam valley , i was flown from Putnam valley to WMC and the cost of that ride was not covered by my health insurance or my ATV insurance the cost was pretty hefty i wanna say at that time it was about $14,375.. but i was given the utmost best care i have ever received in my life and i thank god for that... now a days i just don't know if anybody could afford to be flown even if they are in seriously injured.. i only walked away with a few scratches and torn muscle in my back i was discharged about 4 hours later .. i can say i do believe i could have been taken by ambulance but due to the MOI. i believe it gets overlooked because all i can remember was hearing the medic as he approached before he even made patient contact was fly the helicopter.. unless you really need a medivac i do not believe they should be used

...............and jobs for other Americans.
I find it completely amazing how many flag waving Americans (and Firefighters) can turn their backs on this country and its workers to save a couple of bucks.
Whelen prides itself on Designing and MANUFACTURING all of its products in the United States of America. These other companies take Whelen's designs, knock them off in China, and export them here for a percentage of the price.
Sure a Whelen product costs a few bucks more but the quality and performance is significantly better and you are keeping US workers at work supporting our country. Why is that so easy to forget??
And also don't forget that a huge majority of workers at Whelen's facilities are volunteer Firefighters and EMS just like us, including all of the people who run the company. So BROTHERS, lets keep our fellow BROTHERS at work and remember to buy AMERICAN!!!!!