batt2

You definately bring up great points and I know many departments do have either a rank or a stipend for the vehicle operators. But I think it's a good thing for all firefighters to do. I think it aids in their development as firefighters and eventually as bosses. Is it too much to ask our firefighters to learn to operate either the engine or ladder that they're assigned to? In our department the new firefighters gradually learn this and then take turns as vehicle operator.

Should the vehicle operators get paid more than the firefighters going inside the buildings taking much greater risk?

Good news: There will be 40 virgins waiting for him.

Bad news: Paddy Brown, Ray Downey and a bunch of their friends are also waiting for him.

I guess you were there monday. I was there myself pretty intresting drill. I got tons of pics(not the best that ill probably post tomorrow).

The drill was Monday through Thursday. I was there Thursday. These pics were from a cellphone so I look forward to yours.

Some Apparatus seen today at NJ Metro Urban Search and Rescue Strike Team Drill at Newark, NJ

Old Newark R1

Elizabeth, Hackensack

PAPD, Newark, Elizabeth

?, North Bergen, Jersey City, Hoboken

Metro USAR consists of Bayonne, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, North Hudson Regional and NJ Transit and Port Authority PD.

I tend to disagree with many of the observations... Structurally, I see nothing wrong with it. Additional photos would be helpful to support my disagreement. Esthetically, I have issues with it, but I'm sure there are reasons(which will probably will never know) for the way it was designed. Form follows function in this case! Tactically, there are concerns about rear access, unless there is another way to the rear other than through the brick or block buildings.

I posted this photo because I believe this method of construction has implications to firefighters. Many methods of construction are adept at holding up the load under normal circumstances. I beams are very strong and are widely used in buildings. (And they are usually enclosed in a protection membrane or coated with a fire retardant.)

The method of construction in this picture has obviously worked for many years and probably will hold the load under normal circumstances. That said, I find concern that during a fire, the unprotected steel could cause collapse to the building it supports. A fire in the building to the left or an auto fire underneath could easily cause failure of the I beam. Firefighters responding at night in the building to the left might not immediately see that the building to the right is held up by steel which is being heated up.

Recently at a fire in Yonkers, a cockloft fire heated an I beam and pushed out a parapet wall, narrowly missing some firefighters. Steel elongates once heated. "Heated to 1000 deg. F, a steel member will expand 9 1/2 inches over 100 ft. of length...at temperatures above 1000 deg. F,...steel starts to soften and fail, depending upon load." (* p.272)

*All serious firefighters should read "Building Construction for the Fire Service" by Francis Brannigan. Chapter 7, titled "Steel Construction" is particularly relevant to this discussion. Be safe.

I don't know the answers to most of your questions about the building. (Nothing else about the building is extraordinary.) I wonder as you do about the history of the I beams and the building next door. I love the points you all make and how many details were picked up. The Fire Prevention Division and Building Department have some work to do. In the mean time, we will have to deal with any fire that occurs under the beams in the driveway and the Exposure 2 building or any other incident which weakens that precarious load arrangement.

An interesting method of construction! What issues do you see...

Looks like great work. Whats the collar around the base of the 4x4? Is that something guys made in house as an anchor point for the strapping?

Those collars were fabricated by a YFD member.

Great job by all YFD and YPD units let's also not forget about the EMS involved in this accident as well, everybody worked great together to make a succesful rescue and transport of the patient

Absolutely. As mentioned in the original post, the agencies involved all contributed to a succesful outcome!

The professional teamwork by YPD ESU, YFD RES1, SQ11, TL75, B2, Empress EMS and NYSP freed seriously injured victim whose arm was caught between steering wheel and tree. Vehicle was hanging around tree and had to be stabilized before any extrication could be performed. Members were concerned that any removal or re-alignment of vehicle would cause it to fall back down embankment.

Did you see the vehicle pulling the light tower:

http://www.facebook.com/NYRRT?sk=info#!/photo.php?fbid=51065033780&set=pu.41565548780&theater

So was R1SE one of the rescuers?

No, he was off. Ironically, he and R1's Captain looked at the scaffold the other day and pre-planned it. But neither were working. The man who went down on the rope, FF Mike Giroux is one of the best. He has trained extensively with the YFD, the FDNY Rescue and others and is well thought of by our members.

Bronx street named after late FDNY dispatcher Dennis O'Connell

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2011/03/02/2011-03-02_bronx_street_named_after_late_fdny_dispatcher_dennis_oconnell.html

Date:2/24/11

Time:1145 approx

Location:97 Waverly St.

Frequency: 484.7125

Weather Conditions: cold

Description Of Incident: Fire in 3 story ordinary

Reporters:

Writer:batt2

Initial alarm: E306, E303, E304, E312, TL71, L74, RES1, B1

All Hands: FIU, MSU

s/c additional Engine FAST: E310

2nd Alarm: SQ11, E309, TL75, B2, C2

3 story ordinary, fire on top floor. Exposure 1= street, 2= 2 1/2 story attached vacant, 3= rear yard, 4= street.

B1 reports fire in cockloft, 3 lso, making progress...

Sad news. Condolences to the members of the PPD. Stay safe out there brothers and sisters in law enforcement.

I see from the reports and photos that both Larchmont and White Plains each had a Ladder/Tower Truck at this site working.

Question regarding Mutual Aide? I can understand Larchmont, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Mamaroneck, all being a close neighboring locations being requested to send in Engine and Ladder/Tower trucks and that makes sense and Mount Vernon, with their current limited resources, not being called into NewRo for this job, but why not bring in a Ladder Company and Engine Company from Yonkers FD to work this job, say vs. having White Plains come in with their Ladder Truck and Greenville FD with their Engine Company? Wouldn't the response time to this job from Yonkers be faster than say White Plains and Greenville? (or possibly Yonkers had a job or jobs going on at the same time that prevented any mutual aid request?)

I was working last night. Yonkers didn't have any jobs. We're low on NR's Mutual Aid list.

Date:2-8-11

Time:about 1700

Location: 2 Highland Pl (betw. Highland Av/Ludlow St)

Frequency: 484.7125

Units Operating: Fire Dispatcher: Oswegowind

Weather Conditions: cold

Description Of Incident:

Reporters:

Writer:batt2

3 story frame, fire on floors 2 & 3

E304, E303, E306, E308, L74, TL71, RES1, SAFETY, Batt 1

on confirmed working fire: MSU, FIU

second alarm:

E307, E309, L72, Batt 2 (E307 as FAST) Car 2

2LSO

Main body of fire k/d, all companies working.

1712: B1 reports fire out, companies overhauling.

Relocation: SQ11, TL75 to Fire Station 1

LoHud article: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110208/NEWS02/102080361/Fire-triggered-by-burning-food-damages-Yonkers-apartment-building

Best of luck Chief!

Very sad...

Sentencing will be April 12.

Breaking news:

Accused Arsonist pleads guilty to Murder, Assult in death of Yonkers FF. Patrick Joyce, RES1.

Kudos to Yonkers for apparently having more foresight than their big brother to the south.

Now just a stupid trivia question for the curious with cabin fever types...

How come it's engine 317 and Ladder 78? What about 315 and 316 or 76 and 77?

Chris,

The Spares and Reserve Apparatus are numbered and quartered in firehouses and at Special Ops. The ones selected were at Special Ops and accessible and ready to go. It just happened that those numbered rigs were the ones that went out... (with Chief Fitz's blessing!)

Does anyone know why YFD is dispatching only 1 and 1 (1 Engine Company and 1 Ladder Company) along with a Battalion, for Reported Alarm of Fires? Is this something temporary during the Snow Emergency?

It is a special response which is used during Storms, emergencies etc.

Engine, Ladder and Battalion to automatic alarms. Any additional information pointing to smoke etc. gets the box filled out...

Just heard that Engine 317 and Squad 21 are in service. I would suspect at Special Operations has several of their "Reserve Rigs" placed in service, located throughout the city, to cover Emergencies. Does anyone know where YFD has these "Reserve Rigs" running out of?

For 12/26N and 12/27D tours the YFD has:

EMS1 at 460 Nepperhan Av: 1 Lt, 1 FF, 1 Empress Paramedic. Using Battalion 1's former Ford SUV.

E317 at Fire Sta. 1: Officer + 3FF's

L78 at Fire Sta. 3: Officer + 3FF's

SQ21 at Fire Sta. 11: Officer + 3FF's

Great pics Mike. Thanks for your help and that of your team this morning.

Chief Rush was a great guy. He was County Coordinator when I taught 4 YFD Proby classes. Our probies got the Westchester Police Recruits wet one morning when a deck pipe was "accidently" aimed at their PT class. I had to stand tall before the man and explain. He was firm but a real gentleman. Condolences to my Stepinac classmate Ed and your family. RIP.