efermann

And backstep seats so small you cant fit two guys in gear in them!

No matter where you go, a boy and his dog will follow the fire trucks..

Happened to be in the area at a work meeting. Got to the scene right after the 10-75 was called. Here are some pictures from my iPhone...sorry for the poor quality.

In the early morning of Monday January 7th 2013, Arlington was dispatched to 48 Raymond Ave for smoke in the Building. Units arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the duct work of the first floor business. Firefighters made entry to find a fire in the kitchen. Fire had also extended to the attached apartment building in the rear. Arlington had gotten reports of a resident in the apartments was trapped and could not exit the structure. While firefighters were locating and trying to put out the fire on the first floor, Firefighter Joe Tarquinio Jr. went to the rear of the building and made entry to the second floor to search. The rear door had to be forced open. He then made his way down the hallway in zero visibility and in deteriorating conditions, and found an unconscious male. He then radioed command and told 32-9 that he needed help getting the victim out. At that time Firefighter Bill Tompkins Jr. made his way to the 2nd floor to assist. The pair were able to get the male occupant out with some difficulty, as conditions were getting a lot worse. While this rescue was being made, other Arlington Firefighters were chasing fire through out the structure. Mutual Aid was received from the City of Poughkeepsie, Pleasant Valley, Roosevelt, Lagrange and New Hamburg Fire Departments. The fire is under investigation by the Arlington Fire District. Congratulations Group 4, JOB WELL DONE!

I believe that FEMA would classify them as first responders since the definition was expanded in the early 2000's.
They could probably use the same training as any other responder - observe, report, run away.

Very sad.....people just doing their jobs or volunteering their time and already doing something dangerous.
Hey, maybe the NRA will blame this on the media too and suggest armed guards at all fire scenes

Thanks, most depts have major problems with foam operations. Partly because of lack of training and partly because very few understand both foam operations and pump operations (IMO). Most depts only train on hand line and low volume systems. I have rarely seen depts consider the need for large volume foam operations.
What about the volunteers? I have seen countless times on this board and others that we would never work with volunteers, even after we have shown that we do, I have heard it.
It was. The financial issues are the biggest problem. The training foam (which is cheaper and environmentally friendly) used lists for $10/per gallon and we used about 450 gallons of concentrate. Part of this was due to the fact we were trying to develop policies for not just ourselves, but for all depts that respond to ConEd substations. They asked for the help as they identified issues including distances needed for safety zones. The specialized equipment used included the WC "Foam" trailer (filled with F-500 and stationed at White Plains FD Sta #2). Note: F-500 is great for electrical equipment based fires like substations, but it is useless against fuels that contain achohol (including gasoline blended products). All of the other specialized equipment was from New Rochelle Fire Dept. All of the standard firefighting equipment (hose, monitor, etc. was provided by Pleasantville and Millwood and adapted using WCDES and NRFD adapters.

I took this class once on CO incidents with this guy.... what's his name... Barry something...
After doing so, I took my entire approach to these calls (way too careless) and became a bit more attentive. In addition, we formulated a CO Response Checklist which is expected to be used at every CO Incident. It lays out what needs to be checked in the building, the areas of the building to check, and what we did.
When we get on scene and confirm it's not a battery issue only, we conduct an investigation that takes up to 20-30 minutes. This includes running the hot water heater, the furnace and if need be, the kitchen appliances. We also will provide a battery if that's the reason the alarm triggered (and we remember to replenish them after the last run).
It may seem like a mundane call (no cool lights & sirens ride) but it proves to be an excellent tool for us to review building size up, pre-plan the building and give junior guys a chance to hold the reins. And... it's not a bad customer service gig.
There is one cause for CO alarm activation we've seen more than once that one overlooks. The landscapers running mowers/blowers and the guys power washing a house. We've had more than one incident of elevated CO due to this, especially when windows are left open. (Not to mention the mess from the power wash too).
I like to think of every call as an unscheduled drill...

Good points. Our SOG was taken from elsewhere and adapted to fit our department. The 35 ppm threshold is to ensure members are masked up before entering a space with concerning levels. Mask use may be discontinued once all spaces are found to have levels closer to the OSHA 8 hrs level. Given the number of CO runs we have, this conservative approach doesn't (or has yet to) hamper us.As for industrial or other spaces where other figures are used, we've not had any. We have but a few "large" industrial plants (Fisher Snowplows, FMC Bioproducts, Back Cove Yachts) and mostly small marine related industry along our harbor. The smaller folks tend to be slightly ignorant/oblivious to any rules made by those sporting acronyms. The larger few tend to be the other end of the spectrum. As with so many businesses, those with a lot to lose, do everything they can to protect themselves.
Our officers are granted latitude enough to not forcibly stick to any guideline. So when standard work practices such as you've noted allow for these conditions, I'd anticipate a common sense course of action. Like any guideline the numbers and actions must be evaluated given the total picture. If any member varies from the guidelines and is called into question they are first asked if they know the SOG, as only when they know them may shall they vary for cause. But again, when it comes to CO, we haven't had any issues with our SOG as long as I can remember.

Hello Members of the media (I know you read this)....why not do some investigative journalism into the very serious, life threatening issue of fire department and EMS departments in Westchester County vis-a-vis, oftentimes ridiculously long response times, inadequately trained responders, duplication of resources, lack of transparency in regard to finances and frankly many other issues within lots of departments. This is serious stuff!
Disclaimer- , I must very clearly state....this is not an attack on volunteer Firefighters, EMS workers or their departments! There are many dedicated and knowledgeable volunteer members of emergency services in this region. However, the SYSTEM is BROKEN!
Positive change very rarely comes from inside of an organization, but rather through blunt force trauma from the outside. Well media, how about a little blunt force trauma in regard to this issue? Personally, my own department has been going through some blunt force trauma from certain segments of the media lately, and I'm ok with that- there's nothing to hide, no organization is perfect, transparency and acceptance of change are good things....Why are volunteer organizations who equally hold the fate of people's lives and property (and taxes) in their hands getting a pass from the media?
In closing, I will pre-emptively state that I will not be engaging in a back and forth bicker on this topic, and yes, I do anticipate attempts at deflecting from the issue at hand by attacking myself personally as well as my own department. So, please don't take my non-responsiveness as acquiesence, agreement, or defeat. I'm just too busy to bother with responding to all of it. This post is really just for the media- maybe someday someone in the media in this area will wake up and realize how honest reporting in regard to this crisis would save lives, property and dollars. I'm not optimistic though, because I guess it's just easier to attack salaries, benefits, and pensions, and ignore an almost completely broken system right next door.
stay safe and qtip brothers and sisters!

I found the following on the DOJ's website.....
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) are organizations whose members use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises. OMGs are highly structured criminal organizations whose members engage in criminal activities such as violent crime, weapons trafficking, and drug trafficking. There are more than 300 active OMGs within the United States, ranging in size from single chapters with five or six members to hundreds of chapters with thousands of members worldwide. The Hells Angels, Mongols, Bandidos, Outlaws, and Sons of Silence pose a serious national domestic threat and conduct the majority of criminal activity linked to OMGs, especially activity relating to drug-trafficking and, more specifically, to cross-border drug smuggling. Because of their transnational scope, these OMGs are able to coordinate drug smuggling operations in partnership with major international drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs).
Just because you may know some of them and they are "charitable" doesn't mean they aren't part of a criminal organization. When you see a gang poster in a precinct, the hells angels are listed right along side the bloods and the crips, they are all gang members there is no difference.

I am saddened to hear about this My prayers go out to the NRFD and Keith Morris's family

I couldn't agree less. Is the point of this site to critique operations and procedures or is it just to talk about who's got a shiny new truck. (even though we all DO like shiny new trucks).
There is no fire operation anywhere ever that is text book perfect. Anyone who feels thier operation requires no critique, comment or question is dangerously self confident. We Monday morning quarterback because that's how everyone learns!
From the look of the smoke colum from those great aerial photos, it looks like they managed to make a great stop. From the video, it looks like that house will be perfectly sound for renovation. With today's interior furnishings and petroleum products, a saved structure is a good stop. Well done.
Asking about positioning ect. is just that, a question. It invites debate and discussion and no one should take offense, as long as questioning parties act appropriately.

The term "Re-Kindle" should never be used.
How can a fire that is extingushed, "Re-Kindle"? It can not.
When a fire occurs in the same structure hours (or days) later, one of three things has occured:
1) The arrsonest returned to complete the job
2) The fire dept. did a poor job of overhaul and missed something (most common with a smells & bells or a small "room & content" incident)
3) The fire dept. made a determination that after a major fire (often with collapse) that there were no exposure issues and no way to do overhaul (without heavy equipment) and often it was in the best interest of the safety of the members to regroup and wait.
Based on the size of this fire...sounds like #3. so it was not a "Re-Kindle".

Date: 7/4/12
Time: 22:51
Location: 12 Hallock Place
Frequency: 46.26 dispatch, Fire 16, EMS 16, OPS 1
Units Operating: Armonk FD/EMS: 2021 (IC), 2022, 2023 (Water Supply), E286, E287, T9, 51B1, 51B3, U52, U82; Banksville FD: 2581, 2582, E157, T7; North White Plains FD: L47, 2321, 2325; Mt. Kisco FD: 2281, 2282, U13 (FAST) E106 (draft engine); Bedford Hills FD: 2033, E198, T5; Pound Ridge FD: 2401, T3, E112 (LDH Hose Ramp); Katonah FD: T6; Chappaqua FD: 2062, 2061, E146; Pleasantville FD: 2372, T57, E260; Valhalla FD: 2481, R9 (FAST); Round Hill FD: E2 (Standing by in Banksville FD HQ); Bedford FD: 52B1; Purchase FD: 2412, E240 (Standing by in Armonk FD HQ); Yorktown FD: 2532, E272 (Standing by in Bedford Hills FD HQ); Mt. Kisco VAC: 70B1 (Standing by in Armonk FD HQ); Pleasantville VAC: 76-06, 76-05, 76B2 (Rehab); Ossining FD: 2332, E97; Westchester DES: Bat 13, Cause and Origin Zone 5, County Car 24; North Castle PD; NYSP
Weather Conditions: Hot, Humid, Thunder Storms
Description Of Incident: Working fire. Original size up fire in the basement with heavy smoke.
Reporters: Sailr322, firedude
Contributors: PFDRes47cue
22:51 60 Control to Armonk to respond to 12 Hallock Place for a residential alarm
22:53 2021 responding
22:58 2021 on location, advising that there is a gate at the base of the driveway, can 60 call the homeowner back and have them open it
22:59 2021 advising that a neighbor is attempting to get them in, the homeowner does not appear to be home as this time
23:04 2021 advising 60 that a caretaker has come down and stated there is a fire in the basement, have gained access to the property by taking the gate with the apparatus
23:04 2021 advising of a heavy smoke condition, fire in the basement, requesting a 10-75 and to start with 3 tankers
23:05 2021 requesting T9 to come up to the scene in order to lay-in and then go back down the driveway to establish a shuttle
23:07 60 Control paging: Armonk on a 10-75, Banksville one tanker and one engine, Mt. Kisco FAST and one engine, North White Plains one ladder, Bedford Hills one tanker, Plesantville one tanker, Battalion 13; all units switch to Fire 16
23:07 2281 and 2282 responding
23:08 2581 responding
23:09 2021 on scene with a 125'x75' 3 story wood-frame structure with fire coming through the roof on the C/D corner
23:09 Chappaqua one engine relocate to Armonk FD HQ
23:10 2252 enroute to his firehouse
23:11 2031 responding
23:11 2061 responding
23:11 2021 requesting two additional tankers to the scene, dry hydrant
23:12 Units enroute to the scene per 2021 do not block driveway, leave it open for the truck
23:12 T5 responding
23:12 E157 responding
23:14 55B1 responding
23:13 Katonah Tanker requested to the scene
23:14 E157 requested to the hydrant per 2021
23:15 2021 requesting additional two engines to the scene
23:15 60 Control to 2031 can you have an engine respond, 2031 advises his engine is now en route to the scene
23:16 Chappaqua and Bedford Hills one engine to the scene
23:18 Tanker 6 enroute to the scene
23:19 E198 enroute to the scene
23:19 2021 advising a tanker shuttle will be needed to be established
23:19 Tanker 7 responding
23:19 Purchase one engine relocate to Armonk FD, remain on Fire 19
23:20 2033 on location
23:20 55B1 on location
23: 20 E157 to lay in from a dry hydrant
23:21 E146, 2061, and 2062 responding
23:21 U13 on location
23:22 Pound Ridge on a re-tone to respond to Armonk
23:22 E157 on location at the dry hydrant
23:23 Tanker 3 responding
23:24 Tanker 5 on location
23:25 Tanker 7 on location
23:25 2581 requesting 1 MA engine to backfill Banksville Fire HQ
23:26 2321 on location
23:27 Additional incoming tankers standby at the intersection due to a bottleneck as per 2581
23:29 Round Hill FD dispatched to relocate one engine to Banksville, dispatched by Greenwich
23:29 L47 on scene
23:30 All tankers switch to OPS 1
23:30 Going to exterior, master stream ops as soon as ladder is in place, heavy fire throughout 2021
23:31 2021 negative on evacuation tones all personnel are out
23:33 E240 out at Armonk HQ
23:34 State Police requested to the scene
23:36 E146 to complete layin from E157 per 2581
23:36 T6 on location
23:38 Second FAST and C&O per 2021
23:39 Valhalla FAST requested to the scene C&O landline 60 Control
23:40 Battalion 13 on location
23:44 Second ambulance requested to the scene per 2021
23:45 Bedford EMS requested to respond to the scene
23:50 52B1 responding
23:52 E146 still stretching, E198 standing by to make sure E146 completes lay to T9 per 2581
23:52 52B1 to respond to the staging area halfway up the driveway
23:52 Battalion 13 advising that IC is requesting the closest rehab unit
23:55 Bat 13 requesting Bedford FD to standby for Bedford Hills FD, CAD shows 1 Bedford engine OOS, Bedford unable to fill request. Bat. 13 requesting any engine to relocate to Bedford Hills
23:56 T3 on location
23:57 52B1 to stage on street and bring rehab up driveway per 2021
23:58 2581 telling E157 to charge the 5in line
23:59 R9 (Valhalla FAST) on location
00:01 E273 (Yorktown) assembling to relocate to Bedford Hills
00:02 Progress report from 2021, Signifact fire from 3rd floor throguh roof, master stream set up, waiting for water
00:04 Duration of the incident is 1 hour at this time
00:04 Mt. Kisco EMS dispatched to relocate to Armonk FD HQ per Bat. 13
00:06 Pleasentville VAC Rehab unit dispatched to scene
00:07 7605, 7606, 76B2 will be responding along with P'Ville Rehab, still assembling
00:09 76B2 responding
00:11 2021 requesting rehab units on Fire 16, not EMS
00:11 7606, 7605 responding
00:13 70B1 is relocating to Armonk HQ
00:17 IC requesting a status on the supply line, 2023 advising 5in needs to be shut off will advise when it is back on
00:20 E146 requested to reduce their pressure
00:22 Duration of the incident is now 1 hour 30 minutes
00:26 2021 Roof collapse, to C and D sides, all hands still operating, exterior operations
00:26 E146 requested to raise their pressure again and re-charge the line
00:31 2023 requesting a portable pump from E157
00:35 1405 (C&O) on scene
00:38 Bat 13 trying to boost pressure, will use portable pump from E157
00:47 Plesantville Rehab on scene
00:48 2021 reports more fire in rear of building, no pressure
00:53 2581 reports 5in will have to be shut down for 5 minutes to allow T7 in
00:56 E146 shutting down the 5in
00:57 E146 reporting the 5in has been shutdown
00:59 Hose ramps from Pound Ridge on location on the way to the staging area per 2581
01:04 E146 re-charging the 5in line
01:04 Duration of the incident is now 2 hours per 60 Control
01:08 100psi output per E146
01:09 2023 requesting an additional tanker, will most likely come from Round Hill
01:10 2023 two fill sites, one on 128 and one on School Street
01:22 As per 2021 no additional mutual aide expected, road can be shut at this time
01:34 Duration of the incident is now 2 hours 30 minutes per 60 Control
01:49 2021 advising 60 Control that fire is darkening down, sending crews to check for hot spots
01:52 E198 requested to drop their pressure a little bit as per 2021
01:53 60 Control requesting 2321 to landline 60
01:54 2321 advising 60 Control that is not possible at this time
01:54 60 Control to 2321 asking to landline when possible than
01:56 2023 to 2581 requesting to cut the pump pressure by about half
01:57 2581 cutting pump pressure by half
02:04 60 Control advising that the duration of this incident is 3 hours at this time
02:12 T5 advising IC of a crew change due to a personnel emergency
02:34 Plesantville and Purchase to the scene for relief and hot spots
02:36 2581 advising an engine is not needed up the driveway, just the manpower, have them come up in any chiefs car
02:37 Ossining toned out for one engine to standby in Armonk HQ
02:38 2332 advising 60 Control and 2021 that E97 is assembling in quarters to respond to Armonk FD
02:39 2021 requesting 60 Control to tone out for Armonk's Gator (U52) and U82 to respond to the scene
02:41 60 Control toning out manpower for U52 and U82
02:42 Ossining additional personnel still needed to fill E97
02:44 2581 to 2421 advising when E240 is on location to position north of the intersection as far right as possible, have crew ready to go to work and shuttle them up in the chief's car since the engine will not be able to make it
02:46 52B1 is available to transport personnel up to the scene
02:47 52B1 making their way down to bring personnel up to the scene
02:49 2581 inquiring if a fuel truck is needed will it fit
02:49 2322 and E97 on the road to Armonk FD
02:51 2581 requesting only personnel to the up to the scene, no engine
02:51 2581 requesting a fuel truck to the scene
02:53 2021 requesting an update on the manpower at quarters for utilities, 60 Control advising nothing at this time
02:54 Bat. 13 requested to landline 60 Control
02:54 E260 on location, per 60 Control contact 2581, have personnel with packs and gear, shuttle to the scene in a chiefs car or apparatus on location
02:55 60 Control tone out for additional personnel still needed for U52 and U82
03:02 2581 asking if Plesantville has portable lighting to bring it up with their crew
03:04 60 Control advising the duration of the incident is now at 4 hours
03:08 Bat. 13 to 2581 requesting the fuel status on all the tankers and the relay, advising of one issue on the scene already
03:13 70B1 requesting additional tones for manpower
03:14 60 Control tone for EMT and driver
03:16 70B1 advising 60 full crew is now assembled
03:17 All tankers are at approximately 1/2 a tank of fuel, 2581 working on fuel truck
03:18 2062 to E146 relief to one FF on the way, he can make his way to the intersection
03:19 2581 if Plesantville wishes to bring lighting in they can, Plesantville advising they don't have enough manpower at this time
03:21 2581 advising fuel truck is on location, beginning the process of refueling
03:27 2581 to E146 can shut down at this time, do not break down at this time, wants to make sure tanker operations are still ok
03:28 2581 to E146 and E157 can start breaking their lines down
03:29 2581 have the fuel truck come up to the scene for E286
03:31 2021 to 60 Control on a progress update, main body of the fire k/d in overhaul stages
03:32 60 Control advising the duration of the incident is now at 4 hours and 30 minutes
03:38 U82 responding
03:41 2581 running two hand lines at this time
03:43 2581 advising water and fuel levels are ok at this time, should be able to handle
03:53 2021 requesting U52 up to scene
04:02 60 Control advising the duration of this incident is now 5 hours
04:07 2581 advising that in approximately 10 minutes all hand lines will be pulled out and going to master stream operations
04:18 2021 advising 60 Control Valhalla FAST in clearing, will advise when they are clear of the scene
04:20 2481 and Valhalla FAST clear of the scene, switching back to Fire 11
04:29 60 Control to Bat. 13 progress report per 2021: pulling hand lines and going to ladder operations, all hands still working, duration of this incident now at 5 hours 30 minutes
04:31 2581 advising going to ladder operations now
04:32 2023 asking if manpower is available to come down to pack hose
04:33 2581 advising Bat. 13 they are keeping master stream ops in place for the next 20 minutes then beginning the process of clearing
04:40 T6 filling
04:43 Bat. 13 advising 60 Control that 52B1 has been released and placed back in service per 2021
04:50 2581 per 2021 to 2023 and tankers shut it down
04:50 E198 shutting down, E106 shutting down
05:02 Bat. 13 all units in the process of shutting down
05:03 2581 to Bat. 13 IC is releasing all tankers with the exception of one Armonk and One Banksville
05:04 Tankers in the process of picking up, one Armonk and one Banksville remaining on scene as per 60 Control
05:05 60 Control advising the duration of the incident is now 6 hours
05:08 T3 returning to quarters
05:09 52B2 back in service, returning to quarters
05:16 2372, T57, E260 released
05:19 T6 back in service, returning to quarters
05:19 All Plesantville units returning to quarters
05:22 2325 advising all North White Plains units are back in, returning to quarters
05:23 All Katonah back in service, returning to quarters
05:24 Mt. Kisco FAST picked up and back in service
05:32 E106 back in service
05:48 T7 returning to quarters
05:49 2372 advising 60 all Plesantville units back in service back in district
05:50 2412 advising 60 all Purchase units back in service from Armonk
05:54 2031 advising all Bedford Hills units in service from Armonk
05:55 2532 and E272 returning to quarters
06:04 60 Control advising units have now been operating at this incident for 6 hours
06:15 2581 all Banksville units clear and in service from Armonk
06:17 2021 to 60 Control heading back to HQ to pickup hose line, E286 and Chappaqua remaining on scene
06:21 70B1 released from Armonk FD HQ, back in service
06:22 Ossining units released back in service
06:22 2021 request tones for manpower to report to HQ for cleanup
06:23 Armonk toned out for manpower to HQ for cleanup
06:38 All Ossining units back in district, back in service
06:42 E146 and 2062 clear of Armonk, E146 out of service at this time per 2062 will advise when it is back in
10:00 2021, C&O on scene with hot spots, requesting Armonk and Banksville to respond back out
10:02 2021 requesting BHFD TL57 to scene
10:09 Armonk and Bedford Hills Re-toned
10:13 E286 OOS until further notice per 2021
10:13 Bat 13 responding to Armonk
10:17 E288, TL57 responding
10:23 2021 requesting TL57 to back up driveway
10:24 Armonk Tanker retoned
10:25 E288 on scene
10:29 T9 responding
10:31 TL57 on scene
10:40 U82 responding
10:41 Bat. 13 on scene
11:44 Bat. 13 back in service
11:45 T9 clear of the scene, going to re-fill
11:45 Bedford Hills & E288 clear of scene, back in service
11:58 County Car 24 back in service from Armonk
11:58 All FD units clear, turned over to homeowner per 2021
17:54 All members to report to HQ for special cleanup
20:07 Armonk units toned back for hot spots
LoHud article: http://www.lohud.com...|text|Frontpage
WABC 7 article: http://abclocal.go.c...urbs&id=8725418
News 12 article: http://www.news12.co...&news_type=news
Newsday article: http://newyork.newsd...-hurt-1.3822029
LoHud photos from the fire: http://www.lohud.com...&nclick_check=1 (these photos are not mine, they are taken by Frank Becerra Jr.)
Armonk FD article with photos: http://www.armonkfd.com/2012/07/july-4th-structure-fire/

From Incident Alert:
Date: 06-17-12 (Sunday)
Time: 18:19hrs.
Weather Conditions: Warm and Clear
Description Of Incident: Chief 80 o/s reporting a kitchen fire on the 2nd floor of a 7-story brick 200'x200' OMD w/reports of victims trapped. Companies o/s w/heavy fire showing w/extension to the 3rd floor. 2nd and 3rd Alarms transmitted by Command for heavy fire conditions and numerous victims trapped. Command reporting fire extended to the 5th and 6th floors w/jumpers down. 4th, 5th, and 6th Alarms transmitted by Command. Heavy fire on the 2nd through 6th floors. Numerous L/S/O's w/master streams in operation. Ladder Companies opening up. Numerous victims rescued. Command requested 24 additional Ambulances to the scene for 30 victims to be transported to local hospitals. All hands working.
The above incident occured yesterday in Hempstead L.I.. The depts. did a great job and everyone was very lucky to have no fatalities.
Identical buildings exist in Westchester from Yonkers to Peekskill along the Hudson, from Pelham Manor to Portchester along the LI Sound and from Mount Vernon North to _______ along the Harlem Line MNRR.
How many depts. can get enough trained personnel on scene fast enough?
How many are competent in fighting a fire in this type of structure?
How long would it take to get 24 additional ambulances?
And how would the performance be if the weather was not perfect and it was at other times/day of the week?
Finally, how do we get there from here?

Nicoli's decisions have left his home community with 1 less life-saver. For those of you that don't know, he has been awarded numerous life saving awards as well as a congressional level award from Congresswoman Dr. Nan Hayworth last month. It is unfortunate that internal FD politics have resulted in his decision to no longer be a firefighter.
I don't think my own community as a whole is aware of the separation between the the company and the district functions, as mirrored in one of the comments above. I certainly did not understand this for several years after becoming a FF/EMT.
When we hold fundraising events such as a "boot drive", we get dressed in our PPE and hold out fire boots for motorists to donate money to our cause.... "OUR CAUSE?" Unless they have a personal connection to the FD, I doubt that any significant percentage of the donators understand that this $ is NOT going towards training, equipment or operational readiness. This is straight up false advertising. And I am personally sickened by it. I've told my friends and family that donated money annually to the fire dept through the companies annual fund drive, to stop.
I have witnessed repeatedly over the years, tens of thousands of dollars getting spent by my company on parades, annual dinners, installation dinners, christmas parties, etc... And simultaneously get turned down for much needed equipment and stonewalled on training funds by the fire commission. Although these are two separate entities, there seems to be something very very wrong with this. I did not join the FD to drink beer either. I did not join to go to parades.
Ask yourselves: are you going through more cans of ZEP and tubs of turtle wax than saw blades and saw fuel? Our pride should not come from how shiney and clean our trucks are, but rather how dirty and trashed our gear is from having training with it so much. I believe that if we prioritize the trophies that go in a glass case over what we actually signed up to do, we are more likely to end up in a pine box.

I was reading the newspaper today at school and came across the article linked below about cross-laminated timber (CLT) being used in construction in Europe. Seems very different than typical stick construction and different still from light-weight construction. Either way, it's allowing wood /timber buildings to be built taller than previously.
The article mentions that this construction hasn't taken off in the US, but if/when this construction works its way to the US, it will probably have an impact on tactics and fire spread (with the apparent lack of void spaces within walls).
1st link to the article: http://www.nytimes.c...gewanted=1&_r=1
2nd link to the large graphic image with some summary information for those that don't want to read the whole article: http://www.nytimes.c...tml?ref=science

Over the years, the populace has become dumbed down and complacent. Look at any of those man in the street interviews and you can't but agree that we have become a country with an enormous amount of morons, no thanks to our educational system, but that's a rant for another time.
The old saying is that 'you can fool some of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time'. Today's problem is that the 'some of the people' you can fool some, and all of the time, is now a majority.
Most of our elected officials serve without the proper foundation and knowledge for the job which they been elected to do. When that lack of knowledge is recognized, there is no accountability, just re-election over and over again. Do you know how many members of Congress thought the Electoral College was where you went to learn how to be elected and serve as a member of Congress? Pathetic.
This is why I have always been in favor of term limits. Those opposed to term limits say the voters can enact term limits each election day by voting in another candidate. Well, fine for a local or statewide election, but what about the politicians from other states who's actions impact our lives and for which we have no recourse but to stand by as their local constituents send them back to office year after year. Then when term limits are enacted, like in NYC, the first order of business for the new session is how to overturn them.
Money has corrupted the process. I thought it was one person, one vote. So I'm in favor of absolutely no corporate money, no PAC money in elections. If a company or organization has an issue it wants to support or oppose, impress that upon it's employees or members and they can take that to the ballot box with them. Only individual, limited personal contributions we make it a level playing field. Elected officials were meant to represent the people, not corporations or organizations.
Outside of overt illegality such as corruption, elected officials are immune from accountability for the consequences of their decisions and actions. Our system of governance and justice may be the best in the world, but it could sure use a good cleaning right about now.
The buck doesn't stop anywhere anymore, it just keeps bouncing off everyone and its not going to change until the populace wises up and rises up to force our representatives and our news medias to do their jobs, tell the truth and remember that this country started with "We The People".

I think that lift assists should be handled only by people who realize that one day they might be old and need a lift. It doesn't matter if it's FD,PD, EMS or the local Boy Scout Troop. All should be able to recognize a more serious situation and notify the proper agency.
The old lady you helped may be saying "What nice boys those firemen are" to her friends and family. You may want those people on your side when layoff time is near.
Reading some of the posts, my conclusion is this: If I call, I would rather have guys like EFDCAPT115 take the call than alot of you guys who posted.

I agree, well written post Joe. We didn't look at these calls as nuisance though.
We used to ride around the district and I'd spend a lot of time staring out the window at the neat row after row of little pink houses, block after block, ain't that America. Aided's, lift assists, water conditions, all the service calls gets all of that look behind the doors and locks of the little pink houses. The encounters would soften the hardest cigar chomping brutes of the job. They softened everybody.
There'd be the poor, frail elderly and oft neglected by remaining family or friends, victim; stuck in some torturous position for God knows how many hours, wedged behind a fixture, soiled, humiliate, scared, confused.
And the compassion that flew forth from otherwise stoic members of the services was always warming. Yet the whole scene always enveloped me. The old photos on the wall from when the husband was still alive, from their younger days of love, family, children, photos from later when those kids grew up, got married, moved on...
In the end, this poor compassion-needy person is stuck, helpless on the floor of her bathroom with acid burns from having been unable to relieve herself properly. Each and every single call, heartbreaking in a way. Makes the self-preservation instinct kick in for a lot. Trying to fit humor in some where when picking up.
In a way, Americans are all victims of our collective success, relatively luxurious compared with much of the rest of the world. Yet, here we are, all separated, elderly abandoned and left to their own means. Isolated. Alone. Half of everybody in this country has got some kind of head problem because of how we are all so alone so much even within the hustle and bustle of large populated areas.
Yeah, those lift assists. You've got to construct an iron ring around your heart for the time you do these jobs, because if you let all of that despairing into yours...it leaves scars.

Put turnout gear on these guys and what do you have - a disciplined company operating as a team with a supervisor.......

You had me until you got to the turn signal equation. But you're spot on with regard to human behavior when given ANY sort of power. From the soup nazi to the parking enforcement officer looking down over his Aviators at expired meters.
The privilege of "power" in real terms gives the individual great leeway with regard to personal conduct. The initial impression any new officer is going to make upon the rank and file is of paramount importance for personnel to gauge whether you have the real deal, or the throw-his-weight-around on your hands.
There are countless examples of persons who have fallen from positions of power because of the abuse of said. Many many factors figure in to the equation of what makes a person be able to handle power over others with grace and dignity.
Let's face it; we've all known our share of jerks who have a bar, two bars, crossing bugles, flying eagles, or twinkling stars across their collars. Usually, the person who displays the lack of understanding of the application of power, and the restraint thereof as appropriate, will be the bonehead yelling on the radio to "go faster" or the same guy yelling on the fireground thirty four different conflicting orders all at once.
Watch out for that guy. Because he just might come flying past you, in an intersection, frustrated, and over-anxious to get on the fireground and start barking his conflicting orders, and smash into the innocent victim who by ALL MEANS should rightfully hold that municipality responsible because THEY allowed this bonehead to reach a position of power where he was able to inflict carnage upon the citizen he was supposed to be looking out for, with care. But the blinders were on Bro; from the municipality that allowed him, to the "responsible officer" given the sacred right to protect life, limb and property.

Very doubtful it had any kind of trusses. They were not in use at the time of this building's construction (1920-1950?).
Clues are the "step" on the parapet wall indicating a "flat roof" which has a slight pitch to one side, usually the rear to allow for runoff. Also note the tiles on top of the masonry walls, another clue to date of construction. The only trusses in any common use at that time were bowstrings, used a lot during WWII for gyms or other wide span buildings.
Popping a ceiling tile, however is a good move. I would say that iof there are ceiling tiles, it is clue to possible renovations which may have weakened the structure such as cutting thru a rafter to run AC ducts. If you were to pop a ceiling tile in this building, it is very possible you would find that the next ceiling above the dropped ceiling is a 12"x12" interlocking tile ceiling on a wood frame. Above that, a tin ceiling.
I would be remiss if I didn't add a pitch for doing Company Inspections. Then we wouldn't have to guess what the building contains. It's nice to know this info before the fire. If you get that info into your CIDS, then everyone will know before the fire.

We currently have a mapping system (Which includes CIDS info) on all apparatus. 2302 has internet access and access to our file servers including FireRMS (Records Managment System). It is not tied into the CAD system.
We are completing the testing on an upgrade that every apparatus will have internet (we previously had it but it was not reliable enough) and the new mapping system has a very beefed up CIDS (including a hazmat data base for each known location and preplan, photos, floor plans etc. for any location). It also includes hydrants with flow and other data and multiple layers so we can overlay flood zones, sewers/drains or other features. The map/cids data is shared with 8 other depts that recieved this system.
The final 2 components that we are testing is "Dispatch Monitor" & AVL. The AVL will allow 2302 & HQ to see where units are. The "Dispatch Monitor" recieves info from CAD (including the CAD narrative), displays it, then shows the location on the map along with the location of your apparatus. This all happens before 60 Control can complete the voice dispatch.
It is not as good as a CAD based system as it does not communicate two way. But currently 60 does not offer any data. Unfortinatly, when the county planned the trunking system the Fire Advisory board said we had no need for data, so we do not have the infastructure to suport it.