JTF429

The man you need to contact is retired Chief George Rutledge. He is the department historian and has some great stuff.

GR405@AOL.COM

THANKS FOR THE REPLY. I HAVE AND I HAVE SOME STUFF FROM MY DAD THAT I AM DONATING TO THE MUSUEM. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH 3 OFFICERS FROM YONKRES WHO HAVE BEEN ALOT OF HELP WITH THAT STUFF. THANKS AGAIN JOE

MOD Note: Joe, when you post, please turn off the CAPS LOCK!

Some of the responses make me wonder. I have not seen the stats for LODD for 2007, but I am sure that vehicle crashes are up there. Why would you were your helmet in the rig. Mabey if you are trying to be like Johnny and Roy. I guess that means cops would have to wear motorcycle helmets. Not everything we do is safe. We should be wearing our seatbelts. Loose objects should be secure. NFPA are recomendations and common sense should prevail. There are reasons why we wear seatbelts, no longer ride the rear step, and wear airpacks. As silly as some of these recomendations are, we still kill over a 100 brothers and sisters each year. Our job is dangerous and we will always have LODD. It is up to us to reduce them. :angry:

I have been seeing a lot of old pictures from the 70's on here lately. my dad was a Yonkers wheel man in the mid 70's to mid 80's. he retired in 1992. P.O. Gene Kovalsky #594. If anyone knew him or has any photo's I would love to hear from you. jtf429@yahoo.com. Thanks, Joe

:angry: This is going to prove to be a great time The word Brother is used alot on this site. If you are going to use it step up and live it. Make an effort to attend this function. Support the Brothers Support the Tradition.

Efd Local 916

Fundraiser for Joe and Joann Grogan

(Retired member of local 916)

Saturday, February 2, 2008

7:00pm

The Beechmont Tavern

750 North Ave.

New Rochelle, NY

914-636-9533

For more info contact

Shawn Stewart @ 914-319-6799

$10.00 Cover

Bar and food specials

50/50 raffle and other raffles

5 tickets for $10.00

Live music by I-40 (Capt. Tim Harte)

&

The Westchester Firefighters Pipes and Drums

On December 26, 2007 at approximately 4:30 am a report of a structure fire coming from 151 Old Wilmont Rd. was received. As first due companies were arriving a report of heavy smoke coming from the structure was reported. We then learned it was the home of a retired firefighter Joe Grogan and his family. This was a very difficult situation due to the fact that Joe has been sick for the past several months. Joe has three boys who are firefighters on the job in Eastchester, Chief Mike Grogan, Lt. Danny Grogan and Lt. Kevin Grogan. Everything was lost in this fire. We are now asking for your support during their time of need. All proceeds that night will go directly to Joe and Joann Grogan.

Thank you,

EFD 184

Local 916

:angry: This is a good question and I hope it geats some good reply's and generates a good Thread. I live in Dutchess County and overall It needs work in some area's. I will start out with where I live. I am very happy in the Town of Wappingers. The Fire Departments are quite active and do a lot of Training. EMS has one of the best reponse times in the county. As a taxpayer and someone who has used them numerous times I feel they are seconed to none. Police protection by NYSP and DCSO is outstanding. As far as EMS county wide that needs alot of work. Take Arlington, LaGrange, and TransCare out of the mix and we need better response times. In 2007 you should not be waiting more than 5 minutes for an ambulance 90 % of the time. I am not going to bash the other commecial services because I have little to no knowledge about there operations. Except for Alamo. My comments would not be fair to the crews who work hard so I will keep them to myself.Hopefully some day someone will wake up and move to fix this problem. As far as fire protection, again in some area's it is great other area's not so good. Some departments are going to a mutual box assignment. I think that is a good idea. It works very well in VA & MD. Over all recruitment is down. For change pepole have to have open minds and a willingness to try new things. Some of the ego's and power trips that some of these Chief's have are just ridiculous. Good question. No offense to Seth, who I don't know. I would rather read this than some of the BS that has been posted lately.

I would like honest opinions from all sides, volunteer and career.

What do you think of the current state of Emergency Services in Dutchess County?

Do you think the Emergency Service in Dutchess County is adequate or could it be better?

What can we do to better serve the public?

How long do you feel you or a family member of yours should wait for help to arrive in the event of an emergency?

What solutions would improve Emergency Service in Dutchess County?

:angry: I just had a discussion about this in my FF1 class during the salvage and overhaul unit. We talked about this fire and the two students from Hyde Park wrote a term paper on it. A little more on the history some of these pictures are hanging up at the fire academy in Montour and was a on the job feature in firehouse. ( I guess I should break out my copy and have Billy autograph it). I have been encourageing Billy to publish his own book of photo's. The older buff's like me remember the late 80's and early 90's when fire photo books were in. Billy you need to do it. This man has a remarkable collection and the best is yet to come.

to jtf-429. i think you are wrong !! it sounds like your bashing the guy ?? it an very sad thing it could

happen to enyone.like everybody i worked 3 jobs too. i happen to know the driver in accident on rt-9

and he is an realey good kid . but lets not forget his emt/parter who died/ rip. and for the driver he

will be in my prayers.

IN RESPONSE TO MY QUOTE. I AM SORRY IF ANYONE THINGS I AM BASHING THE GUY. I AM NOT I WISH I HAD THE PRIVLEGE TO KNOW HIM. MY RESPONE WAS TO THE POSTING ON OVERNIGHTS AND EMS. I FELT IT WAS TO EARLY TO POST THAT THREAD OUT OF RESPECT TO THOSE INVOLVED. IN LIGHT OF THE REPLIES I GUESS I WAS WRONG. SURE LESSONS LEARNED MIGHT CHANGE THINGS, BUT IMO GIVE IT SOMETIME. AS FAR AS PEPOLES OPION'S YOUR ENTILTED TO THEM. IF YOU MISUNDERSTOOD ME AND THINK I AM TRYING TO BASH THE CREW OR THE COMPANY I AM SORRY BUT YOU ARE WRONG. :angry:

I hope you choose not to delete my reply. It is way to early to even think about talking about this. The poor guy has'nt even been waked yet. The facts have not come out, and one can only imagine how bad the driver is beating himself up. I don't know how long you have been in EMS, but after 20 years I can assure you that the companies main concern is not how much sleep you get. They have a bussiness and we are employees. I am sorry to say I was not lucky enough to know this guy. I am pretty sure he was like the rest of us working, going to school, serving his community and planning a life. I am on the job in CT which means I have 3 side jobs to afford my house in NY. I try to maximize my hours to see my kids. It is what it is. When you work EMS that is how it will be. I don't know anything about Empire other than they have a station in Fishkill. I would not want to be the boss who took that phone call that day, or would I want to read speculation on my companies health and safety policies. You are entilted to your opion but at least wait until the guy is waked, buried, and remembered for the man he is. IMO

Nice video and song to go along with it

that was a nice video. my dad was on the job in yonkers as a wheel man from 1970 to 1992. it was alot diffrent then. the police had respect. thanks

MR MOOSE

AS FAR AS THE ADDENDUM. CALL THE BOOK STORE UP AT THE FIRE ACADEMY. WE RECEIVE THEM FROM THERE PRIOR TO STARTING OUR CLASSES TO HAND OUT TO OUR STUDENTS. STUDY GUIDES ARE ANOTHER STORY. IF YOU ARE TAKING THE NY STATE CLASS YOUR DELMAR BOOK WE PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CLASS MID-TERM AND FINAL. IF YOU ARE TESTING IN CT THEN THE EXAM PREP-GUIDE FROM DR HERIST IS YOUR BEST BET. IF YOU ARE TAKING THE NATIONAL CERT IN NYS RESEARCH IT BEFORE BUYING A TEST GUIDE, TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ONE. GOOD LUCK. IF YOU ARE THIS PUMPED UP BEFORE CLASS YOU WILL DO WELL.

67-L57 IF FF1 WAS EASIER THAN STUDY HALL, I AM POSITIVE YOU WERE NOT IN MY CLASS :angry:

IT IS EASY TO SAY WHY DON'T YOU CLEAN THIS OR THAT. UNLESS YOU WORK FOR A CITY ADMIN IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE BROKEN PROMISES, ESPECIALY AROUND ELECTION TIME. HOW ABOUT KUDO,S TO THE BROTHERS WHO STILL SHOW UP FOR WORK TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THAT CITY. AND I BET IF YOU ASK THEM THEY WILL STILL TELL YOU THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE JOB :angry:

The other guy had it right, Don't move to NY. I was on the job in Northern VA for 8 years. I left NY because it is tough in the Metro-NYC area to get on. Every department has residence and age requirements. I am now on the job in CT. Look there most places do not have a residence or age clause. Try Stamford, Strattford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Greenich, Norwalk also. Good Luck :angry:

:angry: I feel I have to put in my 2 cents. This came about because of a call in the town were a customer on scene called the 7 digit number for their agency and a employee called 911. The comercial agency arrived 1st. There was some confussion when Wappingers ambulance and the F.D. arrived. The main concern was what happens when a commecial ambulane is called in the town and 911 is not. Then the 1st responder program with the other agency's does not happen. If a town resident wants to call service xyz for transportation to the hospital from home great. I would hope that company xyz has dispatchers that will ask some questions and if there are priority symptoms than they will turn it over to 911 as they are going to the scene so the patient recives the best care. I think it is great that the Town Board takes such an interest in EMS. If they didn't then they never do anything. Since they do they are micro managers run by a dictator. Response times in the town are great on the average 5 minutes or less. This is not rocket science honor the contract and dedicate ambulances and you too can have great response times. This comes for a price and as a taxpayer I will take the increase in my ambulance tax for this service. I have had to call them three times since they took over and the service they provide is excellent. I am not familar with other towns, but I am glad my elected members take an interest in this one.

:angry: Just a few thoughts. If Beekmen could man their ambulance they would not have to contract Alamo. 19,000 a year can't cover an EMT salary so this is what happens when you under bid. Mabey it is time for a county wide system, and the Chief is doing whats excpected of him defending his company. I know alot of members from Beekmen and they like alot of other VOLUNTEERS are doing the best they can.

Change the name on the contract BUT this is always Alamo's statement:

As a member of Beacon Vol. Amb. (BVAC) I can tell you that the correctional facilities have paid contracts with private services. BVAC does not typical go to the facilities (Fishkill and Downstate - both maximum facilities) unless an employee forgets to call the private service and dials 911 or it is a critical emergency. We do go to Camp Beacon and transport from there. I must also say that the City of Beacon who responds on P1 & P calls no longer responds to Fishkill Corr. because they don't allow the engine in the gate unless there is a fire. We do transport correctional guards from all facilities.

We do not transport from nursing homes once again unless it is critical or (which is often the case), the private service is not available.

BVAC is not supported by taxes

While I understand everyone's points on this topic. If a facility contracts with a paid service, the paid service that has a contract with a municipality should not be sending the primary ambulance to a call at said facility unless it truly does immediately backfill the municipalities location. TherReason is because the paid service is getting paid twice for the same job. (I know that's not legal)

So I say to Beekman - Good Luck Bro.

:angry: Ok I will now stand on my soap box and reply. I am a career firefighter and it happens with us to.Alot of it begins with their intial taining in firefighter 1. As a state instructor I am constantly hassaled about running my classes like probie school. Good habits are just as hard to break as bad ones. Are we as a whole doing a good job promoting safety. What do we do about members that drive a 100 to an AFA with their blue lights going. How about the guy who drove a car his whole life and now within 2 months drives a tanker code 3 because we need drivers. Do you have a mandatory seat belt rule in your department? Do you have a mentor program that encourages the senior men to show the probies how to be safe. Are we encourgeing are members to stay heart healthy and work out. As you know departments are crushed with mandatory training but how about the basics. We spend alot of time teaching them how to bail out a window head first but not enough time understanding basic firefighting skills. OK enough rambaling. I agree and nice post to generate discussion.

I just wanted to brush on a subject that bothers me a lot, it was brought up in another post about training and I wanted to start a thread dedicated to this subject to see how much input we can get.

You are starting to see it everywhere, including drills now...Complacency. Why does it happen with us? Why do officers let it get this bad, to the point where we bury yet another one of our bretheren? For what? To stay cooler at a drill? To not have to clean all of your gear after the call? It amazes me today, to see so much haphazard accidents and stupid mistakes even AFTER reading about all of the death and injuries on the job. Ironically enough it happens to all of us too; how many times do any of you read about, or watch a video about a stupid accident somewhere, on this site, and start picking them apart and throwing your jabs, but than you go on your own call and dont follow all safety procedures? Come on, dont be shy.

It happens TOO much, and I am tired of seeing our brothers and sisters get burried because they took a shortcut, or didnt want to wear everything for this "routine call". Here is a routine call I found online somewhere;

Is he in a hurry to get back to dinner? It takes 1 minute to don your gear, ALL of your gear, ( well, for most of us it may take a little longer )

What could happen with this "routine call"? We need to send a better message to everyone about safety and not becoming complacent. I am constantly made fun of because I wear all of my gear responding to, during, and returning from all calls, and it doesnt bother me one bit. If, knock on wood, we ever get into an accident returning to quarters, I will have my gear on and seatbelt, what will happen to my brothers?

Please, everyone, stay SAFE, and pass it on to everyone. If you see someone without a helmet on smack 'em in the head. If you see someone without a hood, yank on their ears. Do what you can to promote safety, not complacency, on the fireground and hopefully the LODD toll will drop. What do you say?

In response to the post about citizen and PT rights. The PT did not call the ambulance service a person who worked for that commercial service did. Another good samaritian called 911. In Wappingers the 3 fire departments work very hard at providing a 1st responder service. If a person calls a private commercial service for a 911 call it circumvents the system.