dashield

Vails Gate command on scene reporting fully involved 2-story private dwelling.
You must have good ears. I never heard Vails Gate command report fully involved

This thread is about Stamford Fire-Rescue's new Engine 8, a 2014 KME with a 1500 GPM pump, a 1,000 gallon tank, and 30 gallon foam tank. They operate out of a temporary station next to Stamford EMS Station 4 on Vine Rd near High Ridge Road. It covers the northern part of the city, specifically the High Ridge and Turn Of River sections. They cover urban, suburban, and rural sections of the city In addition, they cover the Merritt Parkway. A large part of their district is unhydranted. The company, Engine 8, was put into service in July of 2008 to cover the Turn Of River Volunteer fire department district. It is always staffed by 1 Officer, One Firefighter/Apparatus Operator, and one Firefighter. When staffing levels allow, a fourth crew member is also added. All members are part of IAFF Local 786.The company nick name is "Ridge Runners - 8 Ball Express"
Stamford Fire-Rescue's entire district is diverse, as they cover multiple high rises, commercial, industrial, and transit infrastructure, including a major interstate, I-95, the Merritt Parkway, a large Metro-North Commuter Railroad maintenance yard. There are large hospitals, office buildings, and large scale residential developments. They also cover a large suburban section, as well as some very rural area with very large and valuable real estate and huge areas of brush with limited access.
The career firefighters of Local 786 staff 9 Engine companies, 3 truck companies, 1 heavy rescue company, and 1 shift commander. A Fire Lieutenant also is a coordinator in the city's consolidated 911 communications center. This adds up to a minimum of 52 firefighters a shift. A Hazmat company and Hazmat support vehicles are cross staffed.
The KME Severe-Service Predator type chassis was specified and chosen for the terrain, roads, and structures it covers.
I'd really like to thank Captain Matt Palmer, one of my favorite fire captains, for taking the time to give me a complete in depth tour of the new KME. I do want to apologize, as the photos didn't turn out as nice as I wanted them to, but hope everyone still enjoys them and can see all the neat specs.
For comparison to the new Engine 8, here's the FORMER Engine 8, a 2005 HME.


And here we go with the NEW engine......
Stamford Fire Rescue
Engine 8
2014 KME Severe Service Predator
1500/1000/30
Engine 8 showing off the new colors and graphics of SFRD:

Engine 8's company patch

Front view

Front intake. KME standard is the chrome.

Front trash line

Driver's area

Auto Charge Status Center - a new product from Kussmaul

Drivers area panel - transmission control, air brake, Jake (engine) brake, power windows, headlights, panel dimmer, power mirrors

Drivers area panel - A/C controls, On-Spot automatic tire chain control, arrowstick control, 12V port

Drivers area panel for lighting controls

Engine tunnel....housing the LUCAS 2 automatic CPR compression device

EMS compartment....rear cab

Another shot of the engine tunnel...

Drivers side cab compartment....housing various items including a 12V DC hydrant barrel pump....hydrant barrels are pumped in the early fall to prevent freezing during wintertime

Pump Panel

Tank level indicator

Evacuation (air horn) button and fuel/DEF level indicator light on pump panel

Remote control for drivers side intake valve

Remote controlled drivers side intake valve

Pump panel uses wheel-type valves instead of push-pull "T"'s, making for an easier and smoother opening and closing of valves

Note how all valves are labeled for function. "Blitzfire", "Flying Wye", "ProPak", etc

Drivers side body

12V port for hydrant barrel pump mentioned above in the MPO's compartment

A real leather helmet that's seen real work

Rear shot

Blitzfire mount

Holamatro Combi Tool with CORE technology and new compact pump

Apartment/High Rise hose packs with pike poles integrated into tray

Officer's side saw compartment with LDH hose clamp. Saw blades are mounted to a custom mount on the right of the compartment, and pre-mixed fuel is in the yellow bracket

Officer's side front body compartment containing various tools

Wheelwell compartments with plenty of space housing 2 SCBA bottles and a water can

Officer's side

Officer's side pump panel. Notice the ProPak foam pack....unique to see it pre-connected with a 1" line

Officer's side rear compartment....containing various tools for the officer

Heavy duty rubber wheel well flares - easy to replace if damaged

Drivers side Whelen Pioneer LED Scene Light

Scott Safety thermal imaging camera mounted under officer's side rear jumpseat

Officers side cab....

Officer's area in cab

Whelen Pioneer low-profile side scene light mounted between officer's/driver's door and rear cab door....brand new product available from Whelen

Officer's side safety panel and Q siren controls

Officer's side radio and Firecom in cab-communication control panel

Officer's MDT

New SFRD logo on cab door

Hydrant type legend

Station 8's "Temporary" Engine bay

Station 8's "Temporary" Living Quarters

Apartment/High Rise pack.....note the custom made tray for it

Cab roof

Storage area on top of the "L" shaped tank

Storage area and deck gun above pump panel

Ash can

LED lights to illuminate the crosslay area

Note the high-intensity headlights

Brow light

Front bumper with LED illuminated cornering light

LDH connection with hydrant bag

BBBMF, how dare you suggest dual response procedures, that's almost leaning toward consolidation....gasp, blasphemy 😳😉.

1) Have spent a tremendous amount of time doing ISO evaluations I can easily say this is a very costly maybe. I have not studied YHFD so my statements on this are very general.
a. I understand that some parts of YHFD do not have hydrant protection, if the area south of the Croton (the area the Board wants to build) has no hydrants, then they could build 50 fire stations and staff them with 100 firefighters each and they will not improve their ISO rating better than a 9 unless they demonstrate to ISO that they can move water. Since no dept. in the Hudson valley has proven this, its unlikely that adding a house will change it.
b. If the area has a rated hydrant system, then a new fire station, if operational (meaning the rig responds to a majority of calls in its area as a 1st due unit) can drop the rating rater substantially. But a signed automatic aid agreement for a single engine from Millwood (with the balance of response from YHFD) would give the exact same ISO improvement at no cost to the taxpayers.
c. Any insurance improvements from a new station would only benefit the area south of the Croton R. So every property owner in the district gets to pay for it, while only a small portion benefit financially (maybe).
2) Since the majority of depts. (career or volunteer) have not gained staffing (locally, regionally, state or nationally) this is a rather unlikely gamble. What happens if as the fire chief said he expects no responders from this area? Or what if this new station which is now priced as bare bones as it can be, attracts members away from Millwood?
3) When the Chief of the Department says: "I will put a rig there if the Board Orders me too, but no one will be responding from this house" who are we supporting? If they build this and no one comes, then the next time any dept wants to and needs to how will that affect the attitude of all of the voters?
4) I agree, But 1st look at the response times and staffing numbers. If the dept is doing a good job, then its not worth hiring. If they are having trouble turning out, then the cost is worth it, when your house is on fire or your pinned in your car. And since you pointed it out, the single biggest score changer under ISO is staffing and even with this years massive rewriting of the insurance rating schedule, the NYS insurance commission agreed that manned stations need 1/3 of the number of firefighters per response as those that are responding from home or work. ISO wants a minimum of 36 volunteers and an IC on every reported fire in the initial response. But a manned station/dept only needs 12 and an IC to get the same score.
5) While staffing costs may never go down, I have never heard of an building, including fire stations having no costs. Their is maintenance, fuel, insurance and since this is an additional station, often requires additional apparatus.
6) Wrong career vs. volunteer staffing is based on availability of volunteer responders. If you have only a few calls, but no volunteers show up, then you can get away with it for a long time before something goes bad. If you have a lot of calls and a lot of volunteers show up, then you also do not need career.
I have no idea if YHFD has high or low volume or if it has adequate staffing. I also do not believe they need to build a station and staff it with career personnel. Most communities in Westchester that have volunteers and have response problems (some of the time or all of the time) need to consider consolidation with the adjacent depts., long before they consider hiring.

An initial 360 is a critical step and mandatory in most of the country. Most people would consider that action by the first arriving IC with the first alarm right behind them spot on.
The members were confronted with a KNOWN life hazard. So individual searches were both permitted and called for in this situation. Looks like the HFD did a bang up job based on what they were confronted with and their limited staffing.
Would you like the IC to drive like a nut half dress and sprint into the front door as the companies arrive to make the grab???
The search team to hold hands or tether themselves to the hose while a victims fights for every last breath?
Many times in this form we are critical of highly risky tactics when they were not warranted. In this case it seems the members did exactly what they should have. The Chief should be understandably proud of his men. Nice work HFD.

Ladder towers were used in medieval time to attack castles. Archers would shoot at the castle defender from the top. Game of Throwns starts soon. Tower Ladders are the safest type of ariels in the fire service. Rearmount ladders are unpredictable and have been known to hit firefighters in the head while operating at fires.

So then when you move the aerial to the right with a left side pedestal the same thing could happen!

So then when you move the aerial to the right with a left side pedestal the same thing could happen!

I can't speak for Westchester, but in Orange County I would make an educated guess that at least half of the departments have ice/cold water rescue capabilities. If a department does not have the training or equipment I can guarantee that at least of their neighboring departments does.
In my department we have a 14 suits and an extensive inventory of other associated equipment.

Proper staffing for every response in every community

Date: 12/23/13
Time: 0505hrs
Incident Type: Structure Fire
Location: 1124 Route 94 c/s Temple Hill - BOX 45-10
District: Vails Gate
Units: VGFD Car-1 (IC), Car-3 (Ops), E478, E481, T482, T484, R480, City of Newburgh (FAST), Salisbury Mills (Engine), 36-14, New Windsor EMS, New Windsor PD, New Windsor Fire Inspector, Central Hudson
Stand-by: New Windsor (Engine) and Cornwall (Truck) @ VGFD Station-1
Description: Working Fire in a strip mall
0504hrs-Base-5 alerting Vails Gate; reported fire in the area of the Mobil on Route 94, called stating fire in the strip mall.
0505hrs-VGFD Car-3 advising working fire in a strip mall on Route 94 closer to the I-87 overpass.
0507hrs-VGFD Car-1 on location, establishing command advising working fire in the middle occupancy (Deli) of a strip mall, requesting 2nd Alarm.
- OC911 re-sounding Vails Gate for the confirmed structure fire, City of Newburgh FAST and Salisibury Mills with (1) Engine to the scene.
T482 was 1st due and positioned on the #1 side. E478 grabbed a hydrant and laid into the scene. T482's crew made entry as E478's crew led off with a 2 1/2" line.
T482's crew then went to the #2 floor to open up and check for vertical extension which was (-).
T484 arrived and positioned on the 3-4 corner, putting it's stick to the roof. It's crew made entry through the rear and assisted in opening up.
Crews made quick work of the fire and began the process of overhauling.
Mutual-aid was then released from the scene.
All VGFD units were picked up and returing to quarters by approximately 0715hrs.
Link to 1st Responder News;
http://1stresponder.com/webpages/news/DisplayNews.aspx?PT=state&state=NY&ID=03fbb6b6-ed25-41be-9777-99b64444bec7

Not to start a fight, I train as many vol ff's as I do career, BUT these statements by you fellows are why the career side pushes so hard for equality in training, to call yourself a firefighter, officer or chief. Look whats happening, A officer wants to change things for the better, and he is voted out. The fire service is in a lot of trouble, it is time to wake up.

the last posting i could find.

FAST / RIT is not supposed to be a special op's resource or a special team, county team, select group of folks who are trained differently or to a higher level than other firefighters, etc. FAST / RIT skills are necessary for EVERY firefighter every bit as much as any other firefighting essential functions are. When a MAYDAY is transmitted, IMMEDIATE action by knowledgeable, skilled firefighters is required. FAST / RIT operations are often required very early on during an incident, obviously we all need to be ready to perform appropriately and immediately when a firefighter requires assistance due to entrapment or medical condition while in a hazardous location. FAST / RIT training absolutely needs to be a requirement for new firefighters prior to certification. Currently certified firefighters who are not FAST / RIT certified should be required to attend the course and become certified. Firefighting is not a game, a passtime or a hobby, it's about life and death. Those who don't see it that way need to find a different calling.

I will pose the exact same scenario I've posed a million times on this forum:
At the exact moment that YOU call a Mayday, would you rather have:
A. The team of 18-21 year olds fresh out of Firefighter 1 standing on the front lawn, ready to go with equipment.
-OR-
B. The elite "Special Operations" FAST crew in their customized FAST rig still en route from 3 towns away.
People are acting like the basics of a RIT operation are some form of black magic attainable only by the saltiest, most senior Firefighters. Sure, would it be preferable to have a bunch of experienced senior guys to do it? Sure. But the situation isn't always going to allow for that.
Say it with me: RIT/FAST is NOT a specialized unit. It is a basic function that must be performed at ALL fires, just like fire attack, ventilation, search and rescue, water supply, etc. So ALL Firefighters need to be trained to perform it... Are some people going to gravitate towards that training more than other aspects? Sure, as with anything else in the fire service. But its not a something that any of us can say is "not our job." It absolutely NEEDS to be a part of basic Firefighter training.

You are absolutely incorrect, no such policy exists. For some reason FAST is treated as some speciality team rather than having every interior member trained to get the guy your crawling down the hallway with out. Due to this belief only some departments in Orange County have FAST, which often result in the FAST coming from further away.

You are absolutely incorrect, no such policy exists. For some reason FAST is treated as some speciality team rather than having every interior member trained to get the guy your crawling down the hallway with out. Due to this belief only some departments in Orange County have FAST, which often result in the FAST coming from further away.

You are absolutely incorrect, no such policy exists. For some reason FAST is treated as some speciality team rather than having every interior member trained to get the guy your crawling down the hallway with out. Due to this belief only some departments in Orange County have FAST, which often result in the FAST coming from further away.

I want to preface this post with the fact that I have been in the fire service for 17 years both Vollie and Career so please don't interpret this as Vollie bashing... I just think the volunteer chief officers have to be a little more conscious about where they bring their District Vehicle.
Yesterday while shopping at the Woodbury Commons with the family I stumbled upon a Chief's vehicle from Jerico, NY. The first thing I thought of was "typical Long Island again", but then I tried to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and say he was probably coming back from Montour Falls (even though no classes ended yesterday).
Whatever the reason was that brought him 90 minutes outside his district....it does nothing for the public perception of the "Extravagant Long Island Fire Departments" to have your vehicle sitting in the Woodbury Commons parking lot.

I want to preface this post with the fact that I have been in the fire service for 17 years both Vollie and Career so please don't interpret this as Vollie bashing... I just think the volunteer chief officers have to be a little more conscious about where they bring their District Vehicle.
Yesterday while shopping at the Woodbury Commons with the family I stumbled upon a Chief's vehicle from Jerico, NY. The first thing I thought of was "typical Long Island again", but then I tried to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and say he was probably coming back from Montour Falls (even though no classes ended yesterday).
Whatever the reason was that brought him 90 minutes outside his district....it does nothing for the public perception of the "Extravagant Long Island Fire Departments" to have your vehicle sitting in the Woodbury Commons parking lot.

I want to preface this post with the fact that I have been in the fire service for 17 years both Vollie and Career so please don't interpret this as Vollie bashing... I just think the volunteer chief officers have to be a little more conscious about where they bring their District Vehicle.
Yesterday while shopping at the Woodbury Commons with the family I stumbled upon a Chief's vehicle from Jerico, NY. The first thing I thought of was "typical Long Island again", but then I tried to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and say he was probably coming back from Montour Falls (even though no classes ended yesterday).
Whatever the reason was that brought him 90 minutes outside his district....it does nothing for the public perception of the "Extravagant Long Island Fire Departments" to have your vehicle sitting in the Woodbury Commons parking lot.

I don't know, nor do I care, what this Chief was doing, that business is between him, his Department and those who foot the bill. But what should be clear to everyone by now is that we are ALL under scrutiny...everyday, everywhere, anytime, any place. Whether it's driving dept vehicles or simply wearing FD apparel think before you act...or speak. A moment of carelessness and you just might find yourself plastered all over Youtube, and the fodder for forums like this...or worse still, in the unemployment line on the evening news trying to explain yourself.

I want to preface this post with the fact that I have been in the fire service for 17 years both Vollie and Career so please don't interpret this as Vollie bashing... I just think the volunteer chief officers have to be a little more conscious about where they bring their District Vehicle.
Yesterday while shopping at the Woodbury Commons with the family I stumbled upon a Chief's vehicle from Jerico, NY. The first thing I thought of was "typical Long Island again", but then I tried to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and say he was probably coming back from Montour Falls (even though no classes ended yesterday).
Whatever the reason was that brought him 90 minutes outside his district....it does nothing for the public perception of the "Extravagant Long Island Fire Departments" to have your vehicle sitting in the Woodbury Commons parking lot.

I want to preface this post with the fact that I have been in the fire service for 17 years both Vollie and Career so please don't interpret this as Vollie bashing... I just think the volunteer chief officers have to be a little more conscious about where they bring their District Vehicle.
Yesterday while shopping at the Woodbury Commons with the family I stumbled upon a Chief's vehicle from Jerico, NY. The first thing I thought of was "typical Long Island again", but then I tried to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and say he was probably coming back from Montour Falls (even though no classes ended yesterday).
Whatever the reason was that brought him 90 minutes outside his district....it does nothing for the public perception of the "Extravagant Long Island Fire Departments" to have your vehicle sitting in the Woodbury Commons parking lot.

Lets not forget in all of this "Stuff" the fantastic job the Brothers did that night under these extreme circumstances--. rescues were made-- civilians were saved--firefighters put their lives on the line for the citizens of Mt Vernon.
To any firefighter pulling up on a scene and being told that people were trapped in side--chills run up and down your spine--your training kicks into high gear and you go to work doing the best you can. Those firefighters and Officers that night were sworn to protect the citizens of Mount Vernon and they did it to the best of their ability. 2 men 3 men it didn't matter - people were trapped and they went to work, knowing full well that at any time it could be them in trouble...it didn't matter- they did it any way. For that the people of Mt Vernon should be proud of firefighters and Officers of FDMV.
Let politics take its course--it will all shake out--but FDMV did a yeoman's job that night.
Just my thoughts