Future Fireman

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Posts posted by Future Fireman

  7. Posted

    Guys and gals, I'm trying to help out my cousin, who recently got dumped by her boyfriend of 4 years. She works in Hartford and was living with him to shorten her commute (he lives in CT, her parents live in Central Mass). With her being broken up with her boyfriend, she's been kicked out of his house and she is looking for somewhere to rent.

    I'm just trying to help a poor cousin out. This would make things alot easier for her. Please reply if you know of any apartment/condo developments that have open slots.

    Mike

  11. Posted · Edited by Future Fireman

    Our dept. has ALL interior Firefighters. You see, unlike down in NY, we REQUIRE that ALL Firefighters, Career OR Paid ON CALL, go through the Fire Academy. We actually send our members to 2 different ones. The paid on call go through the Fire District Academy, and the Career guys to the Massachusetts Fire Academy. From what I hear, District's Academy is 8 AM- 5 PM MON-FRI for I believe it's 16 weeks. I know it seems like alot, but remember we have different standards up here.

    Now for the volunteers, they go to the District Academy as well. No one in our district with the exception of Worcester (I will have to confirm) has their own academy.

    I know I'm sticking my nose here where I'm not always welcome. However, take a look outside your state, and see what else is out there.

    Mike

  13. Posted

    So 10-8 means the company(ies) are available in service? The reason I ask this is a certain chief up here used 10-8 after a Fire Alarm Activation call. I know for a fact that this particular department does NOT use 10 codes. (actually, I don't think there's one up around here that does) The only 10 code ever used around here is the univeral "Acknowledged" code, 10-4. I thought he wanted to imitate FDNY's 10 codes, but I wasn't sure.

    Mike

  16. Posted · Edited by Future Fireman

    I'm putting my 2 cents in.

    I don't care who you are, how experienced you are, or what rank you hold. If you're going to have training PPE is a MUST. Our service is dangerous in training as it is in real life. Always wear your PPE. I don't care if you think you're invicible against a shower of sparks without your PPE. I know I'm personally not going to start a saw (although I have not....yet) unless everyone around in the vicinity is properly protected with bunker gear.

    I believe ALSFirefighter once had in his signature "Train like you fight; Fight like you train." That should speak for itself.

    Mike

  17. Posted

    Before I say anything, just realize that I'm attempting to help this user out. So don't make this become a bash fest

    First off....chassis wise, how big of a cab do you need? Do you have mainly stick figures or big and brawny FFs? If you don't have stick figures, don't go with SMALL cab. 4 Brawny guys in turnout gear (well....3) plus whatever you want in a small cab is not going to leave much space, especially when it comes to leg room.

    2nd, don't overload it. If you have a small chassis (i.e. F-450) you're not going to fit very much without being close to or at the max GVWR.

    3rd, are you looking for small size engine like the one Seth posted photos of or are you looking for something a little bit bigger?

    The apparatus world is full of options and potential mistakes.

    Mike

  21. Posted · Edited by Future Fireman

    They actually have fewer units than FDNY. They have I think 4 light forces, whereas LA CITY has a bunch more. In some of the more isolated areas, they have Call Firefighters(Volunteers paid per run) staff either equipment or the entire station. Granted the info provided on that site isn't as detailed as Mike Martinelli's, it's still a cool site to pick up some info on the Major League of the West Coast. They are big on quints, bigger on tillers, and have some other advances in communications/dispatching that I would love to have at my disposal if the need arose. I got tons of pictures from out there, and maybe next year another LA out and about is in order.

    LAFD actually has many, many Task Forces, which are light forces and a fully staffed engine comprise. LACoFD has about 4 or 5 light forces. No Task Forces in the county as far as I know.

    Mike

  22. Posted

    You have to remember they staff differently over there. For example, a LA county Light Force (which are only a small part of the dept.) is comprised of a 2 Man Engine and a 4 Man Truck. The companies are dispatched together. The reasoning behind this is that they always have water with them.

    Also, some of the apparatus are cross staffed. Does it work? For them, yes. If we were to attempt how they run, it obviously wouldn't work because of different SOPs/SOGs.

    Mike