nfd2004

 
 
 As I read this story, ONCE AGAIN, the innocent people suffer through no fault of their own. Poor fire department leadership is again demonstrated as the cause.
 
Unless the fire service picks leaders who are not involved in protecting their own self image, and care more about the people they are assigned to protect, this kind of story will be repeated over again.
 
Question now is;  "who will be next" ?

 
 
 As I read this story, ONCE AGAIN, the innocent people suffer through no fault of their own. Poor fire department leadership is again demonstrated as the cause.
 
Unless the fire service picks leaders who are not involved in protecting their own self image, and care more about the people they are assigned to protect, this kind of story will be repeated over again.
 
Question now is;  "who will be next" ?

I don't think this is a domino effect.  From what I could pick up from reading a few newspaper stories, the Fire Commissioners for the Greenville Fire District and members of the Greenville Fire Department have fallen out of favor with each other.  The Fire Commissioners answer to the problem was to form another Fire Company, Mountain View Fire & Rescue to serve the town and build a new fire station to accommodate the new company.  One story mentions that some members of the Mountainview Company are 'disgruntled' ex-members of Greenville Fire Dept.  
 
I'm sure there is much more, more than I care to spend the time researching.  However, this appears to be, IMHO, a case of the general citizenry taking a back seat to the wants and wishes of a few protecting their fiefdoms and power.

Using pictures or videos as a recruitment campaign is perfectly acceptable. As in the above case it has worked. I would NOT consider that as a "Selfie".
 
 I would consider a "Selfie" of a firefighter posing as a more of "A Look at me kind of thing". Sort of like "yes, see I really am that hero that I wanted you to think I was".
 
I must be honest here, most firefighters who really are out there doing the job, don't need to show pictures of themselves in action. They are more concerned about doing the job and helping others than trying to impress everybody just how great they are. "Look at me, here I am - a real firefighter". To that I say; "lol".
 
Some of the most decorated firefighters out there do very little bragging about themselves. They don't pose for selfies. When you ask them about events which they really were a hero, they just write it off as being at the right place at just the right time.
 
When I look at some of these "selfies" out there involving firefighters, "I laugh". If only they knew how foolish they look in the eyes of other firefighters.
 
 Anybody got a few selfies they can share with us on here to appreciate.

Real firefighters involved in doing their job don't have time to take pictures of themselves. As the saying goes; "Don't brag about yourself, let others do it for you".

It's not that the Chiefs "Did not save the jobs". It's that when the mayor said: "before we proceed with the budget amendments, is the fire chief ok with these changes?" Once the chief said yes, they moved forward with the budget change. 
 
They never said the words: "layoffs, fire department, career firefighters, etc. so they had already planned this out, because they were afraid to even mention it in front of the public. We all understand that at times the chief has to live with what's been given to them. But to not complain at all? Not to fight for your department? Not to simply agree that this is completely acceptable. Particularly when their has been a running battle for years.

I am glad this topic came up. It tells how some firefighters are NOT impressed at all with "selfies" of firefighters in action. Maybe those "Firefighter Selfie Fans" had no idea just how foolish other firefighters look at this.
 
I have some very good friends in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, who are some of the most decorated firefighters in the northeast. I consider it a very special privilege to be a part of their friendship. They are the Best of the Best. Yet NOT ONE, has ever posed for a "selfie photo op" during their years. Just yesterday (6/1/2016) the FDNY had it's Medal Day where they honor those who went above and beyond. Once a year these members are rewarded and given praise for the work they've done. These members get their chance to get photos taken with their family members, the mayor, fire commissioner etc. There are a few web sites that have posted pictures of these individuals as well. But I highly doubt anyone can find any selfies posted anywhere of any one of these members in action.
 
On the contrary, there are many buffs out there who regularly take photos of firefighters in action. I know because I am one of them. Many times these buffs will take these photos and maybe post them on their own web site or even make up a copy for the firefighter in the picture. As "BIGRED1" also states above, very often a crew shot is taken after a job well done.
 
  It is the "OWN SELF IMAGE" that tends to turn off some seasoned firefighters who have been there and done that. You are expected to do a job, and it's not being a Hollywood Model.  You're in the wrong occupation if that's what you think is more important. Are you in it (career or volunteer) to help people or promote yourself.
 
 Personally, I have little use for any firefighters who use someone's misfortune to promote themselves. However, whether my vote counts or not probably really doesn't matter.  

 
 As I understand it, career firefighters are forced to be laid off by city fire chiefs due to budget issues.
 
 As I understand it here, the Village of Rye was paying one million dollars to contract to the village of Port Chester for their fire protection. Was it Port Chester or Rye that laid off these eight firefighters ? Does the responsibility fall on that local group of board members ? Why were those three chiefs removed from their positions if they did nothing wrong ? If Port Chester was having budget problems were there other employees laid off besides all eight of those firefighters ? Were other departments such as education, police etc advised to make similar serious cutbacks due to a budget issue ?

I am glad this topic came up. It tells how some firefighters are NOT impressed at all with "selfies" of firefighters in action. Maybe those "Firefighter Selfie Fans" had no idea just how foolish other firefighters look at this.
 
I have some very good friends in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, who are some of the most decorated firefighters in the northeast. I consider it a very special privilege to be a part of their friendship. They are the Best of the Best. Yet NOT ONE, has ever posed for a "selfie photo op" during their years. Just yesterday (6/1/2016) the FDNY had it's Medal Day where they honor those who went above and beyond. Once a year these members are rewarded and given praise for the work they've done. These members get their chance to get photos taken with their family members, the mayor, fire commissioner etc. There are a few web sites that have posted pictures of these individuals as well. But I highly doubt anyone can find any selfies posted anywhere of any one of these members in action.
 
On the contrary, there are many buffs out there who regularly take photos of firefighters in action. I know because I am one of them. Many times these buffs will take these photos and maybe post them on their own web site or even make up a copy for the firefighter in the picture. As "BIGRED1" also states above, very often a crew shot is taken after a job well done.
 
  It is the "OWN SELF IMAGE" that tends to turn off some seasoned firefighters who have been there and done that. You are expected to do a job, and it's not being a Hollywood Model.  You're in the wrong occupation if that's what you think is more important. Are you in it (career or volunteer) to help people or promote yourself.
 
 Personally, I have little use for any firefighters who use someone's misfortune to promote themselves. However, whether my vote counts or not probably really doesn't matter.  

I am glad this topic came up. It tells how some firefighters are NOT impressed at all with "selfies" of firefighters in action. Maybe those "Firefighter Selfie Fans" had no idea just how foolish other firefighters look at this.
 
I have some very good friends in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, who are some of the most decorated firefighters in the northeast. I consider it a very special privilege to be a part of their friendship. They are the Best of the Best. Yet NOT ONE, has ever posed for a "selfie photo op" during their years. Just yesterday (6/1/2016) the FDNY had it's Medal Day where they honor those who went above and beyond. Once a year these members are rewarded and given praise for the work they've done. These members get their chance to get photos taken with their family members, the mayor, fire commissioner etc. There are a few web sites that have posted pictures of these individuals as well. But I highly doubt anyone can find any selfies posted anywhere of any one of these members in action.
 
On the contrary, there are many buffs out there who regularly take photos of firefighters in action. I know because I am one of them. Many times these buffs will take these photos and maybe post them on their own web site or even make up a copy for the firefighter in the picture. As "BIGRED1" also states above, very often a crew shot is taken after a job well done.
 
  It is the "OWN SELF IMAGE" that tends to turn off some seasoned firefighters who have been there and done that. You are expected to do a job, and it's not being a Hollywood Model.  You're in the wrong occupation if that's what you think is more important. Are you in it (career or volunteer) to help people or promote yourself.
 
 Personally, I have little use for any firefighters who use someone's misfortune to promote themselves. However, whether my vote counts or not probably really doesn't matter.  

I am glad this topic came up. It tells how some firefighters are NOT impressed at all with "selfies" of firefighters in action. Maybe those "Firefighter Selfie Fans" had no idea just how foolish other firefighters look at this.
 
I have some very good friends in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, who are some of the most decorated firefighters in the northeast. I consider it a very special privilege to be a part of their friendship. They are the Best of the Best. Yet NOT ONE, has ever posed for a "selfie photo op" during their years. Just yesterday (6/1/2016) the FDNY had it's Medal Day where they honor those who went above and beyond. Once a year these members are rewarded and given praise for the work they've done. These members get their chance to get photos taken with their family members, the mayor, fire commissioner etc. There are a few web sites that have posted pictures of these individuals as well. But I highly doubt anyone can find any selfies posted anywhere of any one of these members in action.
 
On the contrary, there are many buffs out there who regularly take photos of firefighters in action. I know because I am one of them. Many times these buffs will take these photos and maybe post them on their own web site or even make up a copy for the firefighter in the picture. As "BIGRED1" also states above, very often a crew shot is taken after a job well done.
 
  It is the "OWN SELF IMAGE" that tends to turn off some seasoned firefighters who have been there and done that. You are expected to do a job, and it's not being a Hollywood Model.  You're in the wrong occupation if that's what you think is more important. Are you in it (career or volunteer) to help people or promote yourself.
 
 Personally, I have little use for any firefighters who use someone's misfortune to promote themselves. However, whether my vote counts or not probably really doesn't matter.  

Using pictures or videos as a recruitment campaign is perfectly acceptable. As in the above case it has worked. I would NOT consider that as a "Selfie".
 
 I would consider a "Selfie" of a firefighter posing as a more of "A Look at me kind of thing". Sort of like "yes, see I really am that hero that I wanted you to think I was".
 
I must be honest here, most firefighters who really are out there doing the job, don't need to show pictures of themselves in action. They are more concerned about doing the job and helping others than trying to impress everybody just how great they are. "Look at me, here I am - a real firefighter". To that I say; "lol".
 
Some of the most decorated firefighters out there do very little bragging about themselves. They don't pose for selfies. When you ask them about events which they really were a hero, they just write it off as being at the right place at just the right time.
 
When I look at some of these "selfies" out there involving firefighters, "I laugh". If only they knew how foolish they look in the eyes of other firefighters.
 
 Anybody got a few selfies they can share with us on here to appreciate.

Real firefighters involved in doing their job don't have time to take pictures of themselves. As the saying goes; "Don't brag about yourself, let others do it for you".

Who has time to take a selfie at a call? Every time I'm on a run i am too busy to take out my phone and snap a pic of anything, let alone myself. I feel this is more a "younger" firefighter thing. Most older guys still have flip phones and wish they could have kept their Nextel's. I think it goes to show how some Chiefs are just not aware of whats going on. Anyone who has say 10 years or more, what would happen to you if you were at a MVA and the Boss showed up and your taking a selfie in front of the wrecked car? Ya you would be fired or at least brought up on charges. Maybe lose some personal days. I've seen pics of guys wearing aviator glasses, looking like they were some kinda models. These guys of course will wash out down the road cause the job just ain't for them. The crew shot is OK if your just chilling out after everything is done and fires out.

Using pictures or videos as a recruitment campaign is perfectly acceptable. As in the above case it has worked. I would NOT consider that as a "Selfie".
 
 I would consider a "Selfie" of a firefighter posing as a more of "A Look at me kind of thing". Sort of like "yes, see I really am that hero that I wanted you to think I was".
 
I must be honest here, most firefighters who really are out there doing the job, don't need to show pictures of themselves in action. They are more concerned about doing the job and helping others than trying to impress everybody just how great they are. "Look at me, here I am - a real firefighter". To that I say; "lol".
 
Some of the most decorated firefighters out there do very little bragging about themselves. They don't pose for selfies. When you ask them about events which they really were a hero, they just write it off as being at the right place at just the right time.
 
When I look at some of these "selfies" out there involving firefighters, "I laugh". If only they knew how foolish they look in the eyes of other firefighters.
 
 Anybody got a few selfies they can share with us on here to appreciate.

Real firefighters involved in doing their job don't have time to take pictures of themselves. As the saying goes; "Don't brag about yourself, let others do it for you".

Telling both sides of the story gives the people the entire picture. Had it not been reported as it was, the full story would not have been known. On here we learned:
 
1) We learned how apparently three fire chiefs were the real reason these eight firefighters were eliminated and lost their jobs, as some here reported they knew nothing about it.
 
2) We learned how another village was paying one million dollars to Port Chester, basically covering the entire cost of those Port Chester firefighters.
 
3) We learned how one individual encouraged a group of firefighters to damage another firefighters home.
 
4) We learned how that group of 8 Port Chester firefighters may seek legal action through an attorney seeking damages on their behalf, which may actually cost the taxpayers more now.
 
 This went beyond the fact of a city that couldn't afford to pay for its firefighters. If and when this issue is finally resolved, the City of Port Chester will be known throughout the fire service as a city that allowed three of its fire chiefs to make some very poor decisions. It could be used for future training as "A Lesson to be Learned".

Yeah, but our municipal leaders and in some cases, fire chiefs, are not very good at heeding those lessons learned.
 
This type of stuff keeps happening over and over and for the most part, nobody pays a price for it expect the employee and the taxpayer.

This afternoon ,members of the Port Chester Firefighters Local paid a visit to village hall. Along with the members were signatures of approximately 4000  citizens. This forces the village of PC to have a referendum to bring back the union firefighters. Only 3000 were needed, went beyond and got 4000. Their brothers and sisters from locals across the tristate hit the pavement and helped reach their goal. All I could say is job well done..

I disagree that the best analogy would be volunteer compared to career EMT.  In fact, I don't think it's even a correct one for the point I think he was trying to make.  All EMTs receive the same minimum training, have the same scope of practice and hold the same certification regardless of being paid or volunteer.  A better comparison for the point would have been EMT vs Paramedic.  Both may work side by side on an ambulance and save lives, but one has a larger volume of training and larger skill set prior to stepping into that ambulance.  Both are important and contribute to the success of the team, but there is a distinct difference between the two and what they are able to contribute.
 
By comparison, the person who attends a full-time fire academy for initial training is going to possess a larger volume of training than the person who just attends a basic FF1 class.  Typically a career recruit academy includes more than just basic FF training and usually more hands on training.
 
Recruits for the large metro department in my area obtain certifications for FF1, FF2, BVR, Hazmat, Rope Rescue, EMT and a number of others before graduating and responding to their first call.  By contrast, a new member in many of the VFDs in the area can get on the truck without any formal training or certification.  Many require their members to attend the entry level training course (about 166 hours), which prepares one for the FF1 test, but doesn't not include testing for the certification.  They may not be required to achieve additional certification other than the federally mandated, minimal Hazmat training.
 
Both are considered "firefighters" and both are valuable to their departments.  Both may even work side by side routinely or on occasion.  Over time, the "gap" in training, certification, experience, ability, etc. between the two may disappear, but there is clearly a difference between the two at the start and I think that was at the heart of the point being made.
 
 

This afternoon Port Chester local turned in 4000 signatures from village citizens, with help from their brother and sisters from locals throughout Westchester. This is 1000 over amount needed to force a referendum , so village taxpayers have their say to bring back the professionals.This shows that you can't pull suprises that effect public safety. So the village board can eat their words and the chiefs can have a good cry tonite. Job welll done.....

 
  And HOPEFULLY you want someone to show up that you can trust your life with. Or the life of your family. You want someone who can go inside a burning building, working at peak capacity, who is willing to risk their own life to save yours. Someone to try and save your belongings as well. Some of those belongings of which can NEVER be replaced.
 
 Are you willing to accept a 67 year old guy like myself, dressed in a firefighters costume and riding a shiny big fire truck to show up and expect me to perform a job like that. Its dangerous enough for me to climb a ladder on a nice spring day to clean out the gutters on my house. Let alone climb a ladder covered with ice in the middle of some cold winter night. All while wearing 60-80 plus pounds of extra gear.
 
 Is there a difference between someone who attended a Firefighter I class or somebody who completed a fulltime, 14-16 week, fire recruit school training ? Of course there is. And anybody involved in the fire service, should realize that.
 
Just as an EMT can save lives the same as a doctor can, the EMT was NOT required to meet the same requirements as that doctor. Does a security guard have the same training as a police officer ? No, but in each one of these positions, there is a mutual respect for each other for similar duties. There is a mutual respect and an understanding between these groups. Yet they all represent some very different training and educational requirements. They depend on each other as well.
 
 One of my best friends is a retired U.S. Army Colonel. He was in charge of the entire Army operations during 9/11 in New York City.  He has not one, but TWO Masters Degrees. Today he is also a volunteer firefighter. He really enjoys being a volunteer firefighter in a combination career/volunteer fire department. He tells me all the time how he respects career firefighters. I just can't believe the respect this guy has for any career firefighters.
 
  He is a volunteer firefighter in one of the busiest firehouses in America. Even as a Retired career firefighter, "I just can't relate to everything he's done". His service to our country and his community goes way beyond what most of us have done. Yet he is the first one who would put career firefighters at the top of his list.
 
 He is familiar with the Westchester County area as he grew up in Brooklyn. However, I don't think he is aware of what has been going on in Port Chester or Garden City.
 
 The entire group of career firefighters in that firehouse have a huge amount of respect for this guy. He respects them too of course. I know because I've been to that firehouse myself, where both career and volunteer firefighters sat at the dinner table together, talking shop and having a few laughs.
 
 "IF ONLY WE COULD BE LIKE THAT" !!!!!!!
 
 
 
 

 
  And HOPEFULLY you want someone to show up that you can trust your life with. Or the life of your family. You want someone who can go inside a burning building, working at peak capacity, who is willing to risk their own life to save yours. Someone to try and save your belongings as well. Some of those belongings of which can NEVER be replaced.
 
 Are you willing to accept a 67 year old guy like myself, dressed in a firefighters costume and riding a shiny big fire truck to show up and expect me to perform a job like that. Its dangerous enough for me to climb a ladder on a nice spring day to clean out the gutters on my house. Let alone climb a ladder covered with ice in the middle of some cold winter night. All while wearing 60-80 plus pounds of extra gear.
 
 Is there a difference between someone who attended a Firefighter I class or somebody who completed a fulltime, 14-16 week, fire recruit school training ? Of course there is. And anybody involved in the fire service, should realize that.
 
Just as an EMT can save lives the same as a doctor can, the EMT was NOT required to meet the same requirements as that doctor. Does a security guard have the same training as a police officer ? No, but in each one of these positions, there is a mutual respect for each other for similar duties. There is a mutual respect and an understanding between these groups. Yet they all represent some very different training and educational requirements. They depend on each other as well.
 
 One of my best friends is a retired U.S. Army Colonel. He was in charge of the entire Army operations during 9/11 in New York City.  He has not one, but TWO Masters Degrees. Today he is also a volunteer firefighter. He really enjoys being a volunteer firefighter in a combination career/volunteer fire department. He tells me all the time how he respects career firefighters. I just can't believe the respect this guy has for any career firefighters.
 
  He is a volunteer firefighter in one of the busiest firehouses in America. Even as a Retired career firefighter, "I just can't relate to everything he's done". His service to our country and his community goes way beyond what most of us have done. Yet he is the first one who would put career firefighters at the top of his list.
 
 He is familiar with the Westchester County area as he grew up in Brooklyn. However, I don't think he is aware of what has been going on in Port Chester or Garden City.
 
 The entire group of career firefighters in that firehouse have a huge amount of respect for this guy. He respects them too of course. I know because I've been to that firehouse myself, where both career and volunteer firefighters sat at the dinner table together, talking shop and having a few laughs.
 
 "IF ONLY WE COULD BE LIKE THAT" !!!!!!!
 
 
 
 

Using pictures or videos as a recruitment campaign is perfectly acceptable. As in the above case it has worked. I would NOT consider that as a "Selfie".
 
 I would consider a "Selfie" of a firefighter posing as a more of "A Look at me kind of thing". Sort of like "yes, see I really am that hero that I wanted you to think I was".
 
I must be honest here, most firefighters who really are out there doing the job, don't need to show pictures of themselves in action. They are more concerned about doing the job and helping others than trying to impress everybody just how great they are. "Look at me, here I am - a real firefighter". To that I say; "lol".
 
Some of the most decorated firefighters out there do very little bragging about themselves. They don't pose for selfies. When you ask them about events which they really were a hero, they just write it off as being at the right place at just the right time.
 
When I look at some of these "selfies" out there involving firefighters, "I laugh". If only they knew how foolish they look in the eyes of other firefighters.
 
 Anybody got a few selfies they can share with us on here to appreciate.

Real firefighters involved in doing their job don't have time to take pictures of themselves. As the saying goes; "Don't brag about yourself, let others do it for you".