GFD70

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Posts posted by GFD70

  2. Posted

    Don't get too caught up in numbers and designations. 99.99% of departments have already preplanned what apparatus they will get for M/A. Mosty departments know in advance what they will get if they call for a second alarm or any addiational alarms. All departments should know what resources their neighbors have available to send if needed.

  4. Posted

    From 1/15/05 Daily News

    Funky FDNY nicknames to flame out 

    BY MELISSA GRACE, OREN YANIV 

    and ALISON GENDAR

    DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS 

     

    Shamed by a year of drunken arrests and sexcapades, FDNY brass are pushing to ban some of the city's more colorful - and outrageous - firehouse nicknames.

    The "Happy Hookers" of Engine 227 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and the notorious "Animal House" moniker of Engine 75/Ladder 33 in the Bronx are among 31 firehouse mottos that could be scrapped, sources said yesterday. 

    Fire Department spokesman David Billig confirmed that FDNY honchos were reviewing all department patches to make sure the nicknames meet department regulations for content and size.

    But firefighters said the decision already had been handed down - slogans on 31 of the city's 358 firehouses would have to go.

    Engine 151/Ladder 76 in Tottenville, S.I., where a drunken brawl nearly killed a firefighter on New Year's Eve 2003, already has ditched its "Southern Comfort" nickname for the more dignified "South Shore Pride."

    The "Animal House" logo in the Bronx has been scrutinized ever since two firefighters were accused in August of having sex with a groupie inside the firehouse.

    Bronx firefighters said the nickname dates back decades, to when horse-drawn rigs answered fire calls. But neighbors said its origin no longer matters.

    "It demeans the firefighters and it demeans the people who they serve," said Bronx resident Ronette Jones, 34.

    For firehouses untouched by scandal, the fuss seemed foolish.

    "We're losing the name we had for years," said a firefighter at the Queens Hollis station, known as the "Hollis Hogs."

    The squad had used the slogan for about 20 years and hadn't thought of a new nickname yet. Emblems were still up in the firehouse, and on its rigs and uniforms.

    Bill Aduleit, who works near the Red Hook firehouse that will likely lose its "Happy Hookers" slogan, said he understands the changes.

    "But I look at it this way - all I care about is when I call 911 they show up," he said.

    TOO HOT TO HANDLE?

    Here are some of the fire company nicknames deemed potentially offensive by FDNY brass:

    Hollis Hogs, Engine 301/Ladder 150 in Hollis, Queens

    Happy Hookers, Engine 227 in Red Hook, Brooklyn

    Harlem Zoo, Engine 59/Ladder 30 in Harlem

    Animal House, Engine 75/Ladder 33 in the Bronx 

    Originally published on January 15, 2005 

  8. Posted

    I heard a rumor that WPFD is going to turn Station 4 on lexington Ave (currently houses Fire Prevention offices) into the Special Operations HQ. Sta. 4 would become home to Rescue 88 and I would also assume the Squad bus and any other special equipment. I was wondering if anyone else knew anything about this.

  11. Posted

    From the 12/28 Daily News Opinion section:

    City Hall cuts in FDNY are danger to city 

    By STEVE CASSIDY 

     

    There are some things about fire safety that New Yorkers need to know, most notably the impact of reduced firehouse staffing on public safety.

    The Fire Department recently cut staffing by 20% in more than 100 communities throughout the city. City Hall says the reductions are in response to firefighters not showing up for work. That is a lie. Firefighters' medical leave must be approved by the department's own doctors; firefighters can't just call in sick.

    Further, the department's tragic losses of 9/11 have led to a newer, more inexperienced leadership. This inexperience leads to unsafe policies and more injuries fighting fires. 

    Since the staff reductions, the time it takes to begin lifesaving operations has grown exponentially. In the past few days, there have been five civilian fatalities, more than 40 civilians seriously injured and six firefighters hospitalized - all due to the policy of staffing fire engines with four firefighters instead of five. 

    City Hall's cuts have gotten so bad that the FDNY is ordering trucks with as few as two firefighters to respond to fires. This is unacceptable and endangers civilian and firefighter lives. 

    City Hall's talk about response times is deliberately misleading. One understaffed fire truck outside a burning building can't get the job done. Fire trucks don't put out fires or rescue civilians - firefighters do. 

    According to the FDNY's own studies, reducing manpower to these levels actually doubles the time it takes to begin lifesaving operations. This means in a community where response time is about five minutes, you need to add almost an additional 10 minutes for firefighters to begin extinguishing the fire. 

    More than 100 civilians perished in a nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I., last year when two firefighters showed up on a truck and were too understaffed to rescue those trapped inside. I hope it won't take a tragedy like the Happy Land Social Club fire of 1990 for the mayor and fire commissioner to admit they are wrong about cutting staffing in a city that, according to the Census Bureau, has increased in population by 10% since 2000.

    In Jackson Heights, Queens, where one of the five fatal fires occurred, residents haven't seen an increase in fire protection levels in 75 years dating to when Queens was sparsely populated. 

    In the wake of the five civilian deaths and 40 injuries of recent days, not to mention several hospitalized firefighters, New Yorkers need to know the real facts, not just City Hall's propaganda. 

    Cassidy is president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York. 

  13. Posted

    How about Larchmont or the Town of Mamaroneck Ladder???How about Dobbs Ferry or Hastings?? You can't argue that taking Ladder 1, ladder 4 and ladder 32 does not compromise a truck company response in the White Plains, greenbrgh area.....

    Keep in mind that Greenburgh was still being covered by two ladders (L4 & TL15) and White Plains also had two ladders still in service(L34 & TL6). While I can't speak for other departments, the policy of Greenville is to call back additional manpower to fill in for the crew that responds on M/A. In my opinion it makes more sense to call White Plains, Fairview and Greenville because the truck is out the door right away where as with places like Larchmont or Mamaroneck you have to wait for a full crew before responding. On paper it may seem better to call for M/A from the closest places, however, that does not always work out. Also, I know of several departments who in the past had trouble responding on M/A calls due to problems with calling back man power, which may explain why some of the closer departments were not called first.

  15. Posted

    I'm currently a freshman at the University of New Haven. UNH has a great Fire Science program which offers degrees in Arson Invesitgation, Fire Department Administation and Fire Science Technology, which deals with building designs, sprinkler systems etc. You can also get a double major in Arson Investigation and Fire Admin. Another good thing about UNH is that it's only an hour from Westchester. If you have any questions about the school or the Fire Science program feel free to ask.

  16. Posted

    This is the official description of what a Squad Company is from

    www.westchestergov.com/emergserv/apparatus/validunits.pdf

    SQUAD COMPANY (TEAMS)

    Valid Prefix

    (SQ = Squad)

    A vehicle(s) consisting of at least an Engine with or without other support vehicles (ie: Rescue, Ladder,

    or Utility Type), equipped with additional and specific equipment to handle hazardous materials / WMD

    (Weapons of Mass Destruction) and/or technical rescue, that will respond with a minimum of six (6) trained

    and certified members, included a company officer.

    For haz-mat and WMD the minimum training level shall be Haz-Mat Technician (as identified under OSHA 1910.120) and

    the squad shall have the equipment necessary to perform air monitoring, level “A” suit and decontamination.

    For technical rescue the minimum training level shall be based on NFPA 1670. All members shall be at the technician level

    for structural collapse, trench rescue and confined space rescue and at the operations level for rope rescue. The squad shall have the

    equipment necessary to initiate a response, safely size up and identify additional resources required to safely mitigate these incidents.

    As far as I can tell from this description, Squad 311 will be a regular engine company, but well go a step further and have some HAZ-MAT and WMD technician capabilities.

  17. Posted

    In Greenville E-150 & L-4 w/ 1 captain, as well as the chief and assistant chief if they are on duty, are dispatched on all automatic alarms. For alarms at schools (Edgemont High School, Greenville School and Seely Pl. School), an additional engine from Hartsdale is dispatched. I think alarms at the appartment complexes on Central Ave. also get an additional engine from Hartsdale. All apparatus respond w/ lights and sirens unless the officer in charge calls for a 10-20.

  19. Posted

    Date:11/18/04

    Time: 1924 hrs.

    Location: Fort Hill Rd. & Maple Ridge Ct.

    Frequency: 46.26

    Units Operating: GFD E-150, L-4, Greenburgh Police, Scarsdale VAC

    Description Of Incident: GFD dispatched for MVA w/ Injuries at the intersection of Fort Hill Rd. & Maple Ridge Ct.

    1927hrs. - L-4 - 10-84, E-150 - 10-19. L-4 Reporting three cars involved.

    1931hrs. - GPD Ambulence on scene, M/A Ambulance being dispatched.

    1945hrs. - Extricating 2nd patient, Scarsdale VAC on scene.

    2003hrs. - Patients transported, awaiting tow truck. Cleaning up fluid spill.

    2039hrs. - Vehicles removed. E-150 & L-4 - 10-8

    Writer: GFD538

  20. Posted

    Route 9A in Briarcliff Manor remains closed after fiery crash 

    By LIZ SADLER 

    THE JOURNAL NEWS 

    (Original publication: November 17, 2004) 

    BRIACRCLIFF MANOR — Two people were badly burned tonight in a fiery crash involving a tanker truck and a car on Route 9A. 

    The northbound tanker, laden with 4,700 gallons of gasoline, crashed near the Pleasantville Road overpass about 7 p.m., flipped onto its side and erupted into flames. Its driver, who was badly burned and helped by a passer-by, was taken to Westchester Medical Center. The woman in the car was helped out by another passer-by and was flown to the medical center. 

    Their identities and conditions were not available. 

    When firefighters from several municipalities arrived, they were met by intense flames and could not get within 100 yards of the vehicles remains, Briarcliff Manor Fire Chief William Ventura said. The county Hazardous Materials Unit and the state Department of Environmental Conservation were at the scene to try to contain the gasoline spill, which threatened to reach the nearby Pocantico River. 

    Absorbent booms were placed in a swampy area between Routes 9A and 100, where the gasoline seeped into. The entire area was covered by white foam, which was sprayed to prevent the fire from reigniting. 

    Routes 9A and 100, as well as Pleasantville Road, were expected to remain closed today. 

    "Everything that is closed now will remain that way indefinitely," said Briarcliff Manor Police Chief Norman Campion, whose department is in charge of the investigation

  21. Posted

    Also from Firehouse.com:

    Four Alarm Fire Causes Big Problems for Bronx Neighborhood

    Jeff Rossen  

    Courtesy of WABC News - New York

    Sunday a four-alarm fire broke out in a Bronx building, causing nearby residents to be evacuated. Tonight they my be home but they have no heat. Reporter Jeff Rossen has the story from Mount Eden.  

    You can still see an active fire scene here in Mount Eden. Today on this block, a now burned out building was a grocery store. Right in the middle of the block was a computer shop and on the end a Chinese restaurant.  

    Now, with the temperatures dropping, one of the coldest nights of the season, all the neighbors in the apartment building next door to the burned out building have no heat or hot water.  

    Resident: "I can't stay here with no heat."  

    For her family the Sunday will end as bad as it started.  

    Resident: "Five in the morning running out with nothing, I could hardly find nothing because it got so smoky in here I couldn't see nothing."  

    By 5:30 a.m. flames and choking smoke turned stores to ashes.  

    Three stores were destroyed, but all of them were closed anyway: They'd been condemned because of rain damage suffered here last month.  

    Today six firefighters were hurt battling this blaze, one of them admitted to the hospital with chest pains. Two children were injured with smoke inhalation. They'll all reportedly be okay.  

    Building Resident: "Everybody was waking up everybody, because it was horrible. I mean, I never saw a fire that way."  

    All the water used to put out the flames flooded the all- important boiler and it broke.  

    It is going to be a long night. Firefighters were still there looking into the cause Sunday night, as it may be that this was no accident.As one chief told me today, in a condemned building fires don't start themselves

  22. Posted

    From Firehouse.com:

    Bravest Hurt In Bronx Storefront Blaze

    Ikimulisa Livingston  

    Courtesy of New York Post

    Six firefighters were injured yesterday in an early-morning blaze that swept through a vacant Bronx storefront, officials said.  

    The Bravest spent nearly three hours battling the four-alarm blaze in the one-story building along Featherbed Lane in the Morris Heights section.  

    Among those hurt was a firefighter who had to be hospitalized for heart trouble, a Fire Department spokesman said.  

    Neighbors said the building and those adjacent to it had been vacant for several months because of roof problems.  

    The cause of the fire is still under investigation.