SageVigiles

Some 54 years ago it is still the most Tragic Day throughout the Fire Service of Connecticut.  That day on April 3, 1962, when FOUR Norwich, Ct Firefighters lost their lives in a chemical explosion which occurred on Forest St in that city. It is known as the Van Tassel Explosion taking the lives of Fire Captain William Sheridan, Firefighter Leonard Counihan, Firefighter Edward Ramano, and Firefighter Carl Burke.
 
The only two firefighters to survive this explosion were Firefighters Thomas Demauro, who has since passed on, and Fire Lt Thomas LaFrenere. Retired Lt Tom LaFrenere had to face what no other firefighter in the State of Connecticut had to face. The loss of Four of his Brother Firefighters at one incident.
 
Here is Lt LaFrenere as he talks in 2012 at the dedication of a Firefighter Memorial on the 50th Anniversary of that Tragic Day in April, 1962.
 
Part 1.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN1BPGG1FY8
 
Part 2.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5frVersO0Ag
 
 50th Anniversary Memorial Dedication at Norwich (CT) Fire Headquarters in April, 2012
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdkfWu1D6wI  

Seth, Kevin Swain is from my station, I did not have the pleasure of knowing John, he was detailed to station 823 from another Battalion that night. Kevin is doing better and is in good spirits.
 
Many of our surrounding departments have stepped up to help.  Volunteers from Kentland (PG County) and La Plata (Charles County) have been staffing our engine. College Park (another PG house) has provided us with a coverage Ambo.  DCFD E15/R3/BC3, Fairfax Squad 411, Bladensburg FD, Berwyn Heights FD, Accokeek FD and many others have been providing meals for our troops. We appreciate all the support.

Seth, Kevin Swain is from my station, I did not have the pleasure of knowing John, he was detailed to station 823 from another Battalion that night. Kevin is doing better and is in good spirits.
 
Many of our surrounding departments have stepped up to help.  Volunteers from Kentland (PG County) and La Plata (Charles County) have been staffing our engine. College Park (another PG house) has provided us with a coverage Ambo.  DCFD E15/R3/BC3, Fairfax Squad 411, Bladensburg FD, Berwyn Heights FD, Accokeek FD and many others have been providing meals for our troops. We appreciate all the support.

Seth, Kevin Swain is from my station, I did not have the pleasure of knowing John, he was detailed to station 823 from another Battalion that night. Kevin is doing better and is in good spirits.
 
Many of our surrounding departments have stepped up to help.  Volunteers from Kentland (PG County) and La Plata (Charles County) have been staffing our engine. College Park (another PG house) has provided us with a coverage Ambo.  DCFD E15/R3/BC3, Fairfax Squad 411, Bladensburg FD, Berwyn Heights FD, Accokeek FD and many others have been providing meals for our troops. We appreciate all the support.

Rest Easy Skillet.

Rest Easy Skillet.

Rest Easy Skillet.

Morningside Volunteer Fire Dept.
Prince George's County, MD.
Station 827
 
The ambulance on the left, a used Ford/Horton unit that was purchased from a department out West, has been placed in service as A827.  This is our first company-owned ambulance.  For the first time in years, there are no PGFD-owned apparatus in our station.
 
The former A827, which is less than a year old, has been returned to the County. It will be assigned to another station, we don't know which one just yet.

IMO there really is no need for paramedics in the hot zone of a hazmat situation (whether it's terrorism or an accident).  It would be better to have an EMT or two in there to quickly triage and pull victims out, allowing the paramedics to give life saving interventions to those who need it in the cool zone.  I've never tried to stick an IV with a class A or B hazmat suit on, but I'm guessing it's fairly difficult.

Metro North Fire-EMS
New Car 2643
2016 Ford Expedition SSV

Special thanks to Chief Sweeting for the photo opportunity.
 

 
 
 

No mention of Blue Card certified

The solution to this problem that has long been an issue in certain areas of NYS is legislation.  There should be no guessing or discussion about who is in overall command & responsible for 
operations at an incident.  In CT, the
senior fire officer on scene is in charge, by law.  Nothing is left open to
interpretation.  It's clearly defined.

Morningside Volunteer Fire Dept.
Prince George's County, MD.
Station 827
 
The ambulance on the left, a used Ford/Horton unit that was purchased from a department out West, has been placed in service as A827.  This is our first company-owned ambulance.  For the first time in years, there are no PGFD-owned apparatus in our station.
 
The former A827, which is less than a year old, has been returned to the County. It will be assigned to another station, we don't know which one just yet.

 
Wait, you mean to tell me agencies are pre-planning their responsibilities before a multi-agency incident?  Instead of just showing up and doing whatever you want or having a fight over whose jurisdiction it is, or who has the most brass on their collar?
 
I am both shocked AND appalled at this blatant and willful display of preparedness and cooperation.

 
Wait, you mean to tell me agencies are pre-planning their responsibilities before a multi-agency incident?  Instead of just showing up and doing whatever you want or having a fight over whose jurisdiction it is, or who has the most brass on their collar?
 
I am both shocked AND appalled at this blatant and willful display of preparedness and cooperation.

 
While there is no restriction, that I am aware of, of using an ambulance as a fly car, it might cause some awkward conversation on the scene with some of the family members, who might not be up on emergency operations. Especially if there is a delay in getting another ambulance to the scene. you know, paging out several times for a crew even if after waiting( as I have) before telling disp. that I'll ride it in BLS, just get me an ambulance please. I can see it going something like this....
 
"What are we waiting for, my (pick your loved one, wife, husband, child etc) needs to get to the hospital"
" I'm sorry we're waiting for an ambulance"
"Isn't that an ambulance out front" 
"No, that's my fly car"
"It says it's an ambulance"
"Well its a little complicated, you see my (fill in organization) has some difficulty keeping appropriate vehicles on the road some times so we're filling in with what we have in order to to serve the community"
Family member mumbles under breath "The only thing you're serving me is a load of B*##@%&+" "Does it have one of those, whatchamacallits, little beds inside"
"Yes, but I don't have any one else to drive"
"Can't one of the other (half dozen or so) responders (getting in their points) standing around drive for you"
"Well, no they're from a different agency and our insurance won't cover them"
"Well I haven't had an accident in over 20 years, not even a parking ticket, I'll be happy to drive. I'll sign any wavier of liability you want"
"Thank you for the offer, but I can't allow that either"
"Oh hell I'll drive them myself" (after hearing the third or forth page for this location)
" I'm sorry you can't do that until you sign my RMA form"
"RMA form? What's that"
"Well, that says you're Refusing Medical Assistance"
Family member now a little red in the face
"I'm not refusing anything!! You can't get them to the hospital!!"
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to control yourself or I'm going to be forced to ask you to leave"
"LEAVE, LEAVE!! THIS IS MY F#*#*&g HOUSE!"
"Sir, sir if you don't get yourself under control I'll be forced to ask the officer to remove you"
It quickly spirals down (as if it could get any worse) from here
 
While this might be a little over dramatized I would rather be spared this particular or similar conversation. While there might not be anything preventing such use I wouldn't want to be involved, thank you. Sending a patient transport vehicle to an emergency and then saying you couldn't transport would be like sending an engine to a confirmed structure fire, KNOWING, that you only have the driver going. (Yeah, I know, unlikely, but it's the only comparison I could think of) "Sorry, I brought the truck but we don't have anyone to man the pumps." Permissible, maybe, but a public relations disaster as the driver and home owner watch the house burn down.
What do you guys out there think? Maybe I should think of starting a new career writing fiction, no? Either that or apply for a job at LoHud! I got it, I could run for President!
 
 

 
 
They go on calls as supervisors, serve as liaison to other agencies and deal with hospital back-logs when EMS units are stacked up waiting for ER stretchers.  They manage schedules, equipment, training, time off, and perform other duties.

To minimize the importance of that in a city like NY is unfair.

I know for the most part, the home rule applies about who is on the "FAST" Team and what their training is. It is nice for everybody on a FAST Team to have the FAST class offered by NYS. However, we know that this isn't always the case. What's important then, is to have experienced and trained guys on that crew. That has to be determined by the officers of that department to keep everybody at a certain level. Also, you have to take into consideration that sometimes a FAST Team isn't available and you got to use an incoming unit as the FAST, whether it be a mutual aid engine or ladder. The fireground can be a tricky and fast-paced place, so being able to call a shot on a dime is important. Remember, FAST techniques are really just honing in on firefighter survival and truck operation skills. Throwing ladders, searching rooms, buddy drags, etc. It's nice to put that title as a "FAST" Team, but honestly, everybody should be ready to go if they get called from the bullpen. It's about being good with the skills that you have been trained to do and have been implementing for however long you've been in the fire service.  

Morningside Volunteer Fire Dept.
Prince George's County, MD.
Station 827
 
The ambulance on the left, a used Ford/Horton unit that was purchased from a department out West, has been placed in service as A827.  This is our first company-owned ambulance.  For the first time in years, there are no PGFD-owned apparatus in our station.
 
The former A827, which is less than a year old, has been returned to the County. It will be assigned to another station, we don't know which one just yet.

Morningside Volunteer Fire Dept.
Prince George's County, MD.
Station 827
 
The ambulance on the left, a used Ford/Horton unit that was purchased from a department out West, has been placed in service as A827.  This is our first company-owned ambulance.  For the first time in years, there are no PGFD-owned apparatus in our station.
 
The former A827, which is less than a year old, has been returned to the County. It will be assigned to another station, we don't know which one just yet.

Maybe if NYC paid their cops a decent wage guys wouldn't be jumping ship. 1% raise for cops, double digits for city council...
The city shows no respect to NYPD.

This is the problem they are paid beans compared to other jobs outside the city the legislature voted themselves a 32% raise what bullets do they take there have been 4 cops in NYPD shot in the last few weeks my son is a cop  in the projects where there are a lot of drugs and guns the money needs to be up there like other jobs

Maybe if NYC paid their cops a decent wage guys wouldn't be jumping ship. 1% raise for cops, double digits for city council...
The city shows no respect to NYPD.

I always wondered what was the point of having a ladder truck with its own pump and a tank.
Are the added cost and weight on the truck worth it?
I have no idea how much this cost extra, but I doubt it is a nominal fee.
Plenty of places use trucks with no pumping capacity and no water tank. Why do some have no pump/tank?
Is there a big advantage to combining the pump/ladder?

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/mount-kisco/2016/01/21/mount-kisco-fire-cause/79126236/