dashield

The reason they use those panels is to prevent thermal shock to the container and to prolong it's life. True a container burn is different that a structure burn. Container burns are much more predictable and don't extend. The heat is not evenly distributed in a container. Often like in a flashover container its hotter near the back than closer to the fire due to the heat radiating off the back/foward wall.
As for burns, you should avoid comming in conatct with a heated wall and if steam is the problem your either creating to much yourself with the nozzle or you have no ventilation, or both.

In my opinion, As a Volly Chief Officer not wearing your gear is excusable... It is extremely important to be setting the example for your subordinates. I am sure If that engine pulled up and the lone firefighter, with the driver, jumped off the rig in street clothes it would not be tolerated so why is the Chief, who actually performing firefighting activities standing their in street clothes. I always wear my gear at calls because I expect everyone else to, it's as simple as that.
If you are no wearing your gear you are just an educated bystander.

In my opinion, As a Volly Chief Officer not wearing your gear is excusable... It is extremely important to be setting the example for your subordinates. I am sure If that engine pulled up and the lone firefighter, with the driver, jumped off the rig in street clothes it would not be tolerated so why is the Chief, who actually performing firefighting activities standing their in street clothes. I always wear my gear at calls because I expect everyone else to, it's as simple as that.
If you are no wearing your gear you are just an educated bystander.

In my opinion, As a Volly Chief Officer not wearing your gear is excusable... It is extremely important to be setting the example for your subordinates. I am sure If that engine pulled up and the lone firefighter, with the driver, jumped off the rig in street clothes it would not be tolerated so why is the Chief, who actually performing firefighting activities standing their in street clothes. I always wear my gear at calls because I expect everyone else to, it's as simple as that.
If you are no wearing your gear you are just an educated bystander.

In my opinion, As a Volly Chief Officer not wearing your gear is excusable... It is extremely important to be setting the example for your subordinates. I am sure If that engine pulled up and the lone firefighter, with the driver, jumped off the rig in street clothes it would not be tolerated so why is the Chief, who actually performing firefighting activities standing their in street clothes. I always wear my gear at calls because I expect everyone else to, it's as simple as that.
If you are no wearing your gear you are just an educated bystander.

That video is F'in priceless lol, thanks for sharing OoO!!! Too bad ive seen some Fire and EMS agencies operate in similar fasion.

Date: 03/13/2012
Time: 0158
Location: 107 Birch Drive c/s Riley Road
Frequency: NWPD, OC-911
Units Operating: Vails Gate FD (Cars 1,3,4,5,6,7) E-478, E-481, E-479, TL-482, T-484, NWEMS, NWPD, OC Sheriff
Weather Conditions: Pleasant / Dark
Description Of Incident: Reported Structure Fire.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
0158 - VGFD dispatched for a reported structure fire at above address.
0200 - PD on scene reporting fully involved fire at location.
0201 - VG Car 1 request 2nd Alarm.
0203 - E-478 on scene with a hydrant in front of location.
0205 - Car 1 reports detached garage and shed on fire, canceling mutual aid.
0210 - 2 lines stretched and in operation, main body of fire knocked down.
0220 - Overhaul in progress.
0245 - FD in service, scene turned over to F.I and NWPD.

Date: 02/12/2012
Time: 1830
Location: 175 Town View Dr
Frequency: DC-911, FG 5/6
Units Operating: Chelsea FD (35-11, 12, 35) Castle Point FD (91-11) BVAC, Town of Fishkill PD
Weather Conditions: Cold, Windy
Description Of Incident: fire on a porch
Reporters: billy98988
1830 - Chelsea, Castle Point (auto response), BVAC dispatched for a fire on the front porch of the above address.
1832 - Unk PD unit on scene reports fire visable from front porch.
1833 - Castle Point 91-11 on scene.
1835 - County Car 17? Reports fire under control.
1840 - Chelsea 35-11 on scene.
1845 - Chelsea 35-35 on scene.
1854 - Chelsea command reports fire out. Companies checking for extension.
1905 - Chelsea command reports fire contained to the exterior of the building.
1906 - All companies back in service, scene turned over to Town Fire Inspector.

Date: 01-30-12
Time: 1715hrs
Location: Temple Hill Rd. IFO Continental Manor
Frequency: Base-5/OC911
Units Operating: VGFD Cars 2, 3, 4, 5, R480, E479, E481 (LZ), NWEMS w/numerous, NWPD w/numerous, Medevac
Weather Conditions:
Description Of Incident: 2-Car MVA w/Medevac
Reporters:
Writer: BFD1054
1715hrs-Base-5 alerting Vails Gate FD for the reported MVA at the above location w/(1) vehicle smoking.
While en-route, units received an update that EMS was on scene advising of entrapment.
R480 arrived and its crew secured/stabilized the vehicle and prepared the hydraulic tools for use. FD members were able to remove the patient without the extrication tools. The patient was removed to the care of NWEMS and transported to the LZ.
E481 set up the LZ under the command of Cars 3 & 4 at a near-by shopping center parking lot.
E479 remained at the accident scene while NWPD conducted their investigation. R480 took-up and went back in service.

Date: 01-09-12
Time: 1530hrs
Location: IFO 555 Union Ave (Town of New Windsor Municipal Building)
Frequency: Base-5
Units Operating: VGFD Car-2 (IC), E478, R480, E479, NWEMS w/numerous, NWPD w/numerous, Medevac on stand-by
Weather Conditions: Clear/Cool
Description Of Incident: 2-Car MVA w/(1) on its side
Reporters: billy98988
Writer: BFD1054
1530hrs-While en-route to a wires down call, VGFD Car-2 came accross an MVA involving 2 SUVs. 1 SUV was on its side w/(2) persons still inside, while the other SUV was resting on top of the 1st, spproximatley 6 feet off the ground.
E478 was responding to the wires down call, but was re-directed to the MVA. R480 signed on responding moments after dispatch.
E478 arrived and its crew assesed the scene and used hand tools and a windshield cutter to remove the (2) persons from the SUV that was on its side. An 1 3/4" handline was stretched as a precaution for the duration of the operation.
E479 signed on responding, but was re-directed to the wires down call.
R480 arrived on scene and put the rescue-jacks into operation to secure the suspended SUV. Once that vehicle was made safe, members assisted EMS in removing the driver to a backboard.
Once all persons were removed from the vehicles and equipment was picked up, R480 returned to quarters. E478 remained on scene until the Tow operators removed the vehicles.

I feel kind of silly after seeing the totals of many of the career depts, but here ya go...
Vails Gate Fire Department - Orange County
659 alarms in 2011 - NO EMS

Sorry everyone, but i want to discuss a topic that is a big pet pieve of mine: Freelancing or "buffing" of calls.
Manpower is always a hot topic here on EMTBravo and rightfully so. But i want to discuss another form of manpower, the kind that just shows up.
Why is this (or at least seems to be) an accepted practice in many areas? Time and time again, i see members of agencies that havent even been requested showing up to fires.
Better yet, i see members of agencies who HAVE been requested who show up on scenes in their POV's. If your agency is requested M/A for an engine, Truck, FAST, etc, why wouldnt/shouldnt you go to your respective station to "staff" the apparatus? Wouldnt it make more sense for EVERYONE to know who they have and if they can properly fill out the request?
It seems that there is way too much freelancing that occurs. This leads to a less uniform response and operation.
More importantly, it leads to lack of accountability and makes for a free-for-all on the fireground.
Im just curious what other members think of this, or does nobody else see it as an issue? Perhaps some of you feels its an acceptable practice?
This is obviously a volunteer issue. But any of the career members on here, please, feel free to chime in with your thoughts.
Im curious if any agencies have SOPs/SOGs regarding this?
Personally, i feel if people are found to be freelancing, they should be sent packing from the scene.
Manpower is great, but only good if its known/recorded.
Ideas, thoughts, opinions?
Thank you and stay safe!

Date: 12/25/2011
Time: 0030
Location: 2312 Vails Gate Heights Drive
Frequency: OC-911, Base 5
Units Operating: Vails Gate FD (Car 2,3,4, E-478, E-479, TL-482, L-484) Cornwall FD (T-402), Newburgh FD (FAST), New Windsor FD (446), Salisbury Mills FD (E-560 standby), Cornwall -on- Hudson(T-413 standby)New Windsor EMS, Town of New Windsor PD, Orange County SO.
Weather Conditions: Cold!
Description Of Incident: kitchen fire in a Occupied dwelling.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
0030 - Vails Gate FD dispatched to above location for a possible fire.
0033 - Car 3 on scene reports nothing showing.
0035 - Car 2 on scene, command.
0035 - Car 3 reports fire in an apartment, 2nd floor. Command requesting 2nd Alarm assignment.
0036 - E-478 on scene, stretching one line into the dwelling.
0050? - Command reports fire k/d, held to kitchen.
0115 - All apparatus in service and returning. New Windsor fire inspector to remain

WATERTOWN NY
TEST FEE:$25
Last Date to File:1/30/2012
CITY OF AUBURN
TEST FEE: $25
Last Date to File: 2/1/2012
CITY OF TONAWANDA
Test Fee: $17.50
Last Date to File: 2/1/2012

ESSEX COUNTY, NY
(Driver)
Test Fee: $15
Last Date to File: 02/03/2012
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
Test Fee: $15
Last Date to File: 01/18/12
MONROE COUNTY
Test Fee: $25
Last Date to File: 01/10/12
CHEMUNG COUNTY
Test Fee: $20
Last Date to File: 01/18/12
ONONDAGA COUNTY
Test Fee: $25
Last Date to File: 1/17/2012
CITY OF YONKERS
Test Fee: $25
Last Date to File: 12/29/11
JEFFERSON COUNTY
(DRIVER)
Test Fee: $20
Last Date to File: 10/18/12
CITY OF SCHENECTADY
Test Fee:
Last Date to File: 1/17/2012
VILLAGE OF SCOTIA
(EMT)
Test Fee:
Last Date to File: 1/17/2012

NISKAYUNA CONSOLIDATED FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1
(Paramedic)
Test Fee:
Last Date to File: 1/17/2012
CITY OF ELMIRA
Test Fee: $20
Last Date to File: 01/18/2012


**will update as more become available.

BNechis, I respect your experience and seemingly endless knowledge regarding policies, procedures, and emergency service operations, so this is absolutely nothing personal on my part, plus you weren't the only one to questionably comment his actions, but...
I agree with your statement that this forum is an educational "tool", and I have always been a big advocate of EMTBravo being an invaluable resource to learn from others. But you're initial post was not educational per-se, it was basically defamatory, full of statements that questioned this officers actions. Where is the educational value in asking rhetorical questions? It's one thing to give the officer his kudos for getting the job done, without any injury to himself, as well as further injury to the aided, and then educating the rest of us on some of the safety measures we should ensure we take at these incidents. That's educational. Ignoring the good job that was done, and posing several "well did he do this" and "did he do that" questions does not come across as educational. Maybe in the future, we can ensure that news reporters ask the first responder if the bus was put in park first and emergency brake applied before so we can further evaluate if a proper hazard analysis was conducted.
Emergency service courses teach lots of techniques, with a major emphasis on safety, and rightfully so. And based on certain situations, while the textbook scenario is ideally what we should follow, sometimes we, as first responders, make concessions after doing a risk vs. benefit analysis and do things at times that the textbook doesn't advocate. See, I didn't see you question, for educational value of course, when an off-duty FDNY firefighter ran into an structure fire to conduct a rescue of an occupant without the proper PPE. No one questioned it; we simply commended him on a job well done, and rightfully so. But I did see you start posting questions and comments when a similiar topic was posted here regarding a police officer who did the exact same thing, with the exact same positive outcome. What about the rope rescue FDNY conducted back in 1991 in Times Square where a firefighter was lowered with a rescue rope that was anchored off to other firefighters and violated numerous safety measures. Should we sit here and point out everything that was done questionably for eduational value, or commend them for a job well done in the face of the dangers that they faced? I am not in any way knocking the FDNY member who conducted this rescue, I think what he did was amazing, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for his actions that day. The list goes on and on of incidents where emergency service providers have taken part in rescues that did not necessarily follow the textbook. When we can follow the textbook, we definitely should. Safety guidelines are meant to protect our victims, and more importantly, to protect us. But, unless something was done that was so egregious, so unnecessary, so stupid as to endanger our other first responders, our victim, or ourselves, let's give credit where credit is due for doing a good job, while also educating the rest of us on how the textbook says we should do it.
In regards to awareness level training for Police Officers and EMS providers related to technical rescue and hazardous materials... there pretty much is none. I'm a big advocate for training, especially awareness level training for front line responders so they can adequately identify and potentially mitigate certain hazards at such incidents, but for whatever reason, this type of training is simply not conducted in this area. Part of the problem is a lack of interest from these groups to receive the training, and part of the problem is the fact that PD and EMS are typically "shut-out" from any type of training related to technical rescue and/or hazardous materials.

Date: 12-14-11
Time: 0620hrs (tow)
Location: I-87 IAO Exit 17
Frequency: OC911
Units Operating: Winona Lake, EMS, NYSP, Air-2
Weather Conditions: Dark/Cold
Description Of Incident: MVA w/Pin & Medevac
Reporters:
Writer: BFD1054
0622hrs-LZ Command advising that Air-2 is on the ground. Units are still in the process of extricating the patient(s).

Middletown's career firefighters staff 5 engines and 2 trucks with 1 FF on each, though they will typically only have 3 engines in service due to a FF covering the desk and vacation spots.. Their current Truck 1 is a tiller truck so that obviously is staffed with two FF's. They will be replacing that with a straight stick to supposedly "save on staffing". I personally have always found their staffing to be less than ideal, for fires they only send 2 & 1 which is only a maximum of 4 guys if truck 1 was sent. Personally it would make more sense to send all of your career guys, but to each their own......
It is going to be very interesting how this plays out as far as basically replacing full-time positions with part-timers. I am not aware of any part-time FF's in this area.

This seems like an annual occurence, like a Christmas present to the Fire Department.
Be one with other Unions, like DPW, and have them not collect trash and plow roads. City can't afford to protect it's citizens, how can they afford to keep these services? Let the trash pile up and the roads become inaccesible. Have the DPW send a letter as to why.
What about, very publicly, showing the City's poor financial planning by allowing developers who would have built anyways millions in tax breaks. Why not, very publicly, go to the billionares and have them step up to protect the residents of the buildings they built? I know, will never happen, but can illustrate a point very well.
In NY, can the FD Union have a "No Confidence" vote in the Mayor, or City Council?
What about rallying to override the tax cap?
Maybe hosting an mini academy for City Officials to show them WHY the personel they are cutting are needed? Or some PSA's for residents showing them how the Council is harming them.
The City may not want to pay for it now, but ultimately they are going to pay for it in a lawsuit.
There's plenty of blame to throw around, but I remember how public the decision was to close Engine 24, and at the last minute some politican became a "hero" by finding funding.

Bull,
I would like to address your discontent with my questioning of the sources another poster now that I am back at my computer. Regardless if you think I was avoiding answering your questions, the simple fact is that it would have taken me 2 hours to send a well thought out reply from my cell phone. Since I am now back at my computer, I am more then happy to respond to your questions and assertions.
First I would like to address your question of "who cares". Personally, as a law enforcement officer, I care. This is an issue that is related to my line of employment, along with INIT915, and several other members of the law enforcement community, and is an issue that is worth discussing amongst us law enforcement professionals. This was not your "run of the mill" jumper, this was an individual who was armed and required a conducted energy device to be utilized to bring them into custody. A civilian engaging in bringing this person into custody raises questions of scene control by the law enforcement officers on scene, and for us is worth discussing. INIT put it very well, and I was going to ask the same question of you, but he beat me to it. If a poster made a claim that a bunch of firemen were standing around while a civilian was fighting a fire with a garden hose, I would expect a member of the Fire Service here to question the validity of this claim. Day after day, I read threads here on EMTBravo that are Fire Service related, where issues are raised and questions are asked about things that I personally don't care about and seem trivial to me simply because I'm not in the Fire Service. So should I start questioning "who cares" every time I read a Fire Service related matter that seems trivial to me? Of course not, what's not important to me may be an important issue to someone else for reasons that I can't understand because it doesn't pertain to me or my line of work. While EMTBravo is "fire service heavy", there are law enforcement officers on this site who enjoy discussing law enforcement issues, and dispelling some of the rumors and myths associated with law enforcement, since it's amazing how everyone is an expert when it comes to police work. In fact, I was able to dispel one rumor based on my questioning of the handcuffing that was brought up by another poster, and educate that person on proper police tactics and procedures when it comes to handcuffing EDP's. If you ask me, just for that reason alone, my questioning of the original claims was well worth it then.
Perhaps I could ask why you care that I have taken a peaked interest in the claims made by another poster, claims that still have been ignored by the original poster? At no time did I make any statements, claims, or assumptions as to who handcuffed this individual. I clearly stated in my initial post that I found it to be suspect, given the circumstances, that a civilian Thruway Authority worker handcuffed an individual who was armed with an edged weapon and required Troopers to deploy a conducted energy device. My uncertainty with the validity of the original statement is based on my experience, as I would have found it uncommon for a law enforcement officer to permit a civilian to handcuff an armed individual. Does it happen? Sure it does, and generally when it does happen it happens under extreme circumstances which are worth discussing because there are things to be learned from the incident. As an LEO, we can then study the tactics utilized, the efficiency of the less lethal device utilized, how well the scene was controlled by the LEO's who responded. But there's no point to starting a discussion when the initial information provided that could raise all of these questions is false. So you can ask me all you like what factual proof I have to my claims, but I haven't made any claims. I merely questioned, along with INIT915, the validity of the statement made by another poster, and have inferred from the lack of response to our questions, that the information provided was not accurate. As I stated before, if this information was factually correct, then the issue of scene control arises and is something that is worth discussing. But before we get into a entire discussion based on incorrect information, I wanted to get the real story, and not just a "shot in the dark" assumption. If I had proof or factual documentation, then I would have provided my sources and informed the original poster that they were wrong and the Troopers handcuffed this individual. Where in any of my posts did I say that the Troopers were the one's who applied the handcuffs? To infer that I need some kind of concrete proof to question claims made by someone else is a bit silly. IMHO, I feel my experience, as well as the experience of several other of our knowledgeable and well educated professionals in their respective emergency service field, is all the "proof" they need to able to question someones claims that may seem inaccurate or false.
I hope I answered your questions and addressed your concerns. If you require any further information, please feel free to PM me.
Joe

Read, digest, comprehend and then respond. If you do these things you'll realize that I have a lot more than negativity to bring to this topic. It's called constructive commentary. As for your writing; I'm not trying to insult you. I'm simply pointing out that if you want your point to be taken seriously, you should be able to string a properly constructed sentence together. No one is looking for perfection, but I have to read your post about 4 times to make sense of it. Part of a respectful argument is to address everyone here like well read adults.
As for PCFD/RBFD operation; why should be not discuss that here? Isn't that the point of this forum? What should be do, buff out to apparatus and incident photos all day? Or perhaps we should only give big pats on the back for a job well done after every incident. No, that's not what this is for. We have this forum and it allows us to do many things. We get to share photos, report incidents and most importantly, discuss operations in the hopes of improving them. If all of those things can't be done, than why are Seth and the rest of the staff killing themselves and spending money keeping this site open?
As for the RBFD issue, lets cut to the chase. Everything is not fine. Those guys are in a position of having to do too much with not enough. Sorry, but waiting for PCFD to show up is also not appropriate as a first due means of providing emergency service. How about night time? Do you REALLY think that the lone chauffeur of engine 59 thinks showing up in front of a building fire at 2 A.M. is fine? I DOUBT it. What do you think residents see? They see a big red truck and a guy killing himself to hook up to a hydrant or whatever, but then they have to wait a few LONG minutes waiting for people to arrive to actually fight the fire. That's B.S. for that fireman to be in that position and B.S. for the residents.
There are many ways to skin this cat, but the system as it exists now is in fact NOT working. It is not sufficient and it puts a lot of firemen and civilians in danger, let along property. This is not about the dedication of those who work or volunteer in this two department system. This is about not being provided with the tools or manpower to do the job. Why are you defending this system? Is it because, "this is the way we've been doing it for 175 years", as someone said? Well, I guess we should dust off the hold hand drawn pumpers because they worked fine a century ago, right? Why examine a system to look to improve it?
If this doesn't get through....nothing will. I'm going to put the soap box away for now....

No one is worrying, in fact, people are applauding Somers Commissioners for exploring the possibility of providing a service that can only enhance the service that is in place. There is no bashing, only constructive ideas that others (mostly career firemen with decades of experience) are bringing to the table to help you out... free of charge. This is basically pro-bono consulting with limited information on your situation.
Let your ego aside, embrace the fact that people are looking out for you and trying to help, rather then throwing you to the dogs. You currently have unlimited time to make this work, and work well. I would rather have 1000 different people try and help so there are 1000 different viewpoints on the topic, then only 5 people with almost no diversity on an issue. If time was a pressing issue, which right now it does not appear to be, then you would need that 1 guy making all the choices. But since this is not a state of emergency, and this is a democracy, explore ALL of your options, truly weigh the pros and cons of every choice that is out there, and make a choice that works for your district, and serves your customers the best choice that THEY are willing to pay for.

Didja Know:
When wired correctly (many are not) a Gamewell Box system has these features:
When several boxes are pulled they will get in line and wait their turn to transmit.
The box will wait for the beginning of a round to transmit, never in the middle.
The box will try 26 times to gain access to a busy circuit and then take over the circuit before its spring winds down.
If a wire is broken, the box will transmit thru the ground.
Boxes have a telegraph key for two way communiation.
Even in a place like the Bronx, as busy as they were in the 60's, boxes gave the quickest response times. Companies knew by the first two digits whether the box was theirs or not.
There are only three certainties in this world-Death, Taxes, and if you pull that red box, firemen show up in three minutes.

Date: 09-07-11
Time: 1627hrs
Location: 2064 Independence Dr.
Frequency: OC911/Base-5
Units Operating: VGFD Cars 1, 2, 3, 7, E478, E481, T484, T482, New Windsor w/(2) Engines, Newburgh FAST, NWEMS, NWPD, NW Fire Inspector.
Weather Conditions: Light rain
Description Of Incident: Fire in a laundry room
Reporters: TAPSJ
Writer: BFD1054 (o/s)
1625hrs (approx)-Vails Gate alerted for the residential fire alarm, laundry room activation.
1627hrs-Vails Gate re-sounded for the structure fire, fire in the laundry room. New Windsor dispatched under m/a.
VGFD Car-3 arrived 1st and advised of smoke showing with the occupants evacuated. He then quickly advised of an active fire in the laundry room on the #1 floor of a large, 2 story colonial.
E478 arrived, hooked a hydrant IFO the residence and stretched a 1 3/4" line through the front door. T484 and T482 then arrived and their crew's performed a primary search and started ventilation. Members made quick work of the fire and started opening-up & checking for extension, which was negative. A pet cat was located in a #2 floor bedroom and was brought out and re-united with the homeowner.
Mutual-aid was released as overhaul began. All apparatus was released with the exception of E478 which remained on-scene as the fire inspector conducted his investigation.
All units were picked-up and back in service by approximatley 1820hrs.

Hey everyone. My wife and i love to travel and when possible, i try to get some buffy pictures. We usually find ourselves traveling to the Carribean or other beach destinations. However, we have both come to the conclusion that there are soo many places here in the States that we'd like to explore. With that said, we spent the last week of July vacationing through Oregon and Washington State. We flew into Portland, Oregon and spent 2 days there. We then drove our rental car into Washington and up the Coast, where we stopped off at some destinations. We spent one night in Port Townsend, a cool little Port City. Early the next morning we hoped on the ferry and over to the Orcas Island where we spent 2 days. Orcas Island is part of the San Juan Islands off of the Washington State coast, which is absolutely beautiful. We then left the Islands and drove into Seattle, Washington. We were only there for a night, so i wasnt able to photo hunt.
Anyway, i will share some pictures that i had taken. Ill try and include some non-buff shots as well lol.
Hope you enjoy them.
First up: City of Portland Heavy Rescue-1. We were lucky enough to meet these guys in the coffee shop attatched to our Hotels lobby.