PEMO3

Just wondering what logic if any went into this ruling. The firefighter puts water on the driveway, the water freezes, the firefighter falls and the homeowner is liable. I am missing something here.

I was glad to see they got the field comm out and on the road, seemed like an asset if not nice to see it get used. Great call to utilize the UTAC channels to coordinate the job especially since you had that many agencies from so many jurisdictions and disciplines working the scene. Chris, does aviation have the UTAC channels pre-punched in? I know you guys can tune on the fly (no pun intended) to just about any channel but you need the freqs to do it. May be someone from 60 control can answer, what is the delay, if any, to turn on the UTAC repeater from the time of authorization to the time of ready for use and can more than 1 channel be active at a time (e.g all UTAC 40 thru 43 all at once)?

Quick question, I heard mention of something called a UTAC, between 60 control and county cars on scene. What is "UTAC" ?

UCALL/UTAC is part of the Nationwide Narrowband Interoperable Communications Channels. UCALL 40/40D is a calling channel and 41 thru 43 are tactical channels with the "D" channels being non-repeater channels. What you hear being used on Thursday was UTAC which I believe was operating off of the Benifield Tower in Peekskill and activated remotely by 60 Control. NYC utilizes the UTAC channels frequently between NY and NJ. Below is the UTAC channel plan. (All frequencies are narrowbanded)

UCALL40 453,2125 156.7 458.2125 156.7

UCALL40D 453,2125 156.7 Simplex

UTAC41 453.4625 156.7 458.4625 156.7

UTAC41D 453.4625 156.7 Simplex

UTAC42 453.7125 156.7 458.7125 156.7

UTAC42D 453.7125 156.7 Simplex

UTAC43 453.8625 156.7 458.8625 156.7

UTAC43D 453.8625 156.7 Simplex

To tell you the truth the southbound bridge has always troubled me. The guide rails for a heavily traveled roadway by cars that average speeds in excess of 60 mph appear to low for comfort. I am sure there are safety specs that back up their design especially given the fact that it was recently rehabbed and luckily no one has catapulted over and into the drink below but with the speeds, tight lanes and number of high profile SUVs on the road it sure looks like a "dive team response" waiting to happen.

I gotta wonder what this does to Chris Christie, the once Golden Child of the Republican Party. Such an action, Flag Code or not, is a slap in the face to many for whom the flags have been lowered, something that can't sit well with the GOP. Anyone who can stomach FOX News seen anything from their perspective? Just being in agreement with Sharpton on anything might be a discredit to a GOP candidate.

Christie is doing what every good politician does, disregard right and wrong and align themselves with the vocal majority. In this case all the bleeding hearts that want to place this has been, drug abusing, alcoholic, entertainer on a pedestal that front and center in the media light at the top of every news hour.

Well I guess it should be easy identify to the crack houses. Christie will probably have the state putting purple bunting over their doors for them.

Below is the complete transcript from the AP of the first phone call. It reads like an Abbott and Costello "Who's on First" script. Someone needs to go back for training. Very disturbing.

Transcript from the Associated Press

Police have released a series of recordings from 911 calls made Sunday when authorities in Washington state say Josh Powell locked himself and his two young sons in his house and lit it on fire. The following transcript comes from a social worker who had just arrived at the home with the boys for a court-ordered supervise visit. The transcript has been edited to remove personal information.

DISPATCHER: Good morning.

SOCIAL WORKER: Hey, I'm on a supervised visitation for a court ordered visit and something really weird is happened. The kids went into the house and the parent, the biological parent, his name is Josh Powell, will not let me in the door. What should I do?

911 OPERATOR: What's the address?

SOCIAL WORKER: It's 8119 and I think it's 89th -- I don't know what the address is.

911 OPERATOR: OK, that's pretty important for me to know.

SOCIAL WORKER: I'm sorry, just a minute. Let me get in my car and see if I can find it. Nothing like this has ever happened before in these visitations, so, I'm really shocked and I can hear one of the kids crying but he still wouldn't let me in. OK, it is one, uh, one ... Oh, just a minute I have it here. You can't find me by GPS?

911 OPERATOR: No.

SOCIAL WORKER: OK, it is - I still can't find it. But I think I need help right away. He's on a very short leash with DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services), and CPS (Child Protective Services) has been involved. And this is the craziest thing. He looked right at me and closed the door. Are you there?

911 OPERATOR: Yes, ma'am, I'm just waiting to know where you are.

SOCIAL WORKER: OK. It's 8119 189th St. Court East, Puyallup, 98375. And I'd like to pull out of the driveway because I smell gasoline and he won't let me in.

911 OPERATOR: You want to pull out of the driveway because you smell gasoline but he won't let you ...?

SOCIAL WORKER: He won't let me in.

911 OPERATOR: He won't let you out of the driveway?

SOCIAL WORKER: He won't let me in the house.

911 OPERATOR: Whose house is it?

SOCIAL WORKER: He's got the kids in the house and he won't let me in. It's a supervised visit.

911 OPERATOR: I understand. Whose house is it?

SOCIAL WORKER: Josh Powell.

911 OPERATOR: OK. You don't live there, right?

SOCIAL WORKER: No. No. I'm contracted to the state to provide supervised visitation.

911 OPERATOR: I see. OK. And who is there to exercise the visitation?

SOCIAL WORKER: I am, uh, and the visit is with Josh Powell. And he's the husband of ...

911 OPERATOR: And who's supervising?

SOCIAL WORKER: I supervise.

911 OPERATOR: So you supervise and you're doing the visit? You supervise yourself?

SOCIAL WORKER: I supervise myself. I'm the supervisor here.

911 OPERATOR: Wait a minute. If it's a supervised visit you can't supervise yourself if you're the visitor.

SOCIAL WORKER: I supervise myself. I'm the supervisor for a supervised visit.

911 OPERATOR: OK, but aren't you the one making the visit? Or is there another parent there that you're supervising?

SOCIAL WORKER: I'm the one that supervises. I pick up the kids at their grandparents'.

911 OPERATOR: Yes. And then who visits with the children?

SOCIAL WORKER: Josh Powell.

911 OPERATOR: OK. So, you're supposed to be there to supervise Josh Powell's visit with the children?

SOCIAL WORKER: Yes, that's correct. And he's the husband of missing Susan Powell. This is a high-profile case.

911 OPERATOR: How did he gain access to the children before you got there?

SOCIAL WORKER: I was one step in back of them.

911 OPERATOR: So they went into the house and he locked you out?

SOCIAL WORKER: Yes. He shut the door right in my face.

911 OPERATOR: Alright, now it's clear. Your last name? ....

(Exchange in which caller provides personal information.)

911 OPERATOR: And what agency are you with?

SOCIAL WORKER: Foster Care Resource Network. (Pause). And the kids have been in there by now approximately 10 minutes. And he knows this is a supervised visit.

911 OPERATOR: How many children?

SOCIAL WORKER: Two, Braden is five and Charlie is seven.

911 OPERATOR: And the dad's last name?

(Long Pause)

SOCIAL WORKER: Powell. P-O-W-E-L-L.

911 OPERATOR: Two L's? Two L's at the end of Powell?

SOCIAL WORKER: Yes.

911 OPERATOR: His first name?

SOCIAL WORKER: His first name is Josh.

911 OPERATOR: Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Native?

SOCIAL WORKER: He's white.

911 OPERATOR: Date of birth?

SOCIAL WORKER: I don't know. He's about 39.

911 OPERATOR: How tall?

SOCIAL WORKER: 5' 10", 150 pounds.

911 OPERATOR: Hair color?

SOCIAL WORKER: Brown.

911 OPERATOR: Did you notice what he was wearing?

SOCIAL WORKER: No, I didn't notice what he was wearing.

911 OPERATOR: Is he alone?

SOCIAL WORKER: I don't know. I couldn't get into the house.

911 OPERATOR: Are you in a vehicle now or on foot?

SOCIAL WORKER: I'm in a vehicle. I'm in a Prius. A 2010 Prius. The door is locked. He hasn't opened the door. I rang the doorbell and everything. I begged him to let me in.

911 OPERATOR: ... Please listen to my questions. What color is the Toyota Prius?

SOCIAL WORKER: Gray. Dark gray.

911 OPERATOR: And the license number?

SOCIAL WORKER: I don't know I can look ...

(Social worker provides license number.)

911 OPERATOR: Alright, we'll have somebody look for you there.

SOCIAL WORKER: OK. How long will it be?

911 OPERATOR: I don't know, ma'am. They have to respond to emergency, life-threatening situations first. The first available deputy will respond.

SOCIAL WORKER: This could be life-threatening. He went to court on Wednesday, and he didn't bring his kids back and this is really - I'm afraid for their lives.

911 OPERATOR: OK. Has he threatened the lives of the children previously?

SOCIAL WORKER: I have no idea.

911 OPERATOR: Alright. Well, we'll have the first available deputy contact you.

SOCIAL WORKER: Thank you.

911 OPERATOR: Bye.

The Associated Press

10 years is the life span per the new standard. Three things are killing gear that might go under the radar.One overwashing the gear. You dont need to wash your gear every single time it gets dirty. Another thing that is killing gear is the Soap the gear is being washed in. The NFPA Standard has a specific amount of PH in the soaps that are avaible make sure your PH is correct or it will damage the PBI.One more thing to consider is making sure the washing machine is only turning at one G .Aparently machines that spin more than one G force will ruin the fabrics. Also make sure the hot water is at the correct temprature.

Interestingly enough there is a company in Thornwood - Xtreme Clean (http://www.xtremecleannewyork.com/) that handles bunker gear cleaning & inspections under the NFPA 1851 standard.

everybodygoes I strongly suggest you find out how to apply for an observer shift at the TMC. Maybe a Friday night of a holiday weekend or a rainy night when the Sh-t really hits the fan. See what they really do and how the "mentally challenged" can multi-task in ways that would make your head spin and have you crying for your mommy in about an hour. Do not toss criticism out until you have walked a mile in someone else shoes. Remember hind sight is always 20/20 and Monday morning quarterbacks always win the game but this is life not fantasy land. Do that tour then come back and tell us if you opinion is still the same.

Just curious where this will leave NYC's other 9 VFDs. I am in no way saying that they are of the same level as Aviation or that they have done anything wrong, just wondering how this will effect the FDNY - VFD relations as things move forward on the legal end of things.

1. Gerritsen Beach VFD, Brooklyn
2. Edgewater Park Volunteer Hose Co #1, Bronx
3. West Hamilton Beach VFD, Queens
4. Broad Channel VFD, Queens
5. Point Breeze VFD, Queens
6. Rockaway Point VFD, Queens
7. Roxbury VFD, Queens
8. Richmond Engine Company, Staten Island
9. Oceanic Hook & Ladder Company, Staten Island

Great idea. Just curious, how are the AED purchases funded?

You speak of tradition. Do you feel that the FDNY does not use the MERV or MRTU as they were intended? Was the MERV used differently back in the days of NYC EMS? As some posters suggest, are these units of little value to the EMS Bureau? I don't totally believe that, as I have a laundry list of missions that either unit could accomplish. Most likely, for our area, the MERV, as pictured in an earlier post, with locations for additional supine patients would accomplish both missions.

Spunky, when I was detailed to a BLS unit in the Bronx in the 1980's the person that was assigned MERV driver (other than the one dedicated 8-4 operator) would be recalled back to Jacobi to pick up MERV 2 to respond to a scene. The second crew member on the unit would follow the MERV with the ambulance to the scene unless there was a spare person at the station to fill out the crew. On some occasions you would be directed to pick up an MD and 2 RNs from the ER then respond. The MERVs were designed to be used as part of the treatment sector at an MCI and while transport capable it was not their primary goal or function. While some people here do not see the value of such a unit I can tell you first hand as a treatment sector resource they were useful.

It would be great but would we become to reliant on it. It is definitely a look into the future. Hey when most of us "old timers" were kids if you told us we would be walking around with phones in our pockets smaller than the size of a deck of cards and listening to music on small portable hard drives about the same size we would have laughed at you.

I can hear it now:

09:00 - IC the the bridge, Scotty we need more water.

09:01 - I'm giving her all she's got, Command!!

09:02 - All she's got isn't good enough!

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* LOCATIONS... INTERIOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY... THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY OF SOUTHEAST NEW YORK... AND SOUTHWEST CONNECTICUT.

* HAZARD TYPES... SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS... 4 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW.

* WINDS... NORTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES... FROM THE MID TEENS TO LOWER 20S LATE TONIGHT... RISING TO THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* VISIBILITIES... FREQUENTLY ONE HALF MILE IN MODERATE SNOW SATURDAY MORNING.

* TIMING... LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS... SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL CAUSING VERY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Wouldn't it be a better idea to change teh building code to require residential sprinklers in all new construction. This particular house was only built in 1981 when sprinklers were around. Not only would this help in areas in with limited water but also would help in manpower constrained areas as well.

Residential sprinklers at least in an area with known water supply issues should be a mandate for the safety of the homeowners and the responding firefighters.

The points are very simple. True professionals (volunteer or paid) know that education is important and after action reviews no matter how hard to accept are an important part of that education. Lets face it, we are all human and no one enjoys hearing that they have short comings or failures or missed something. If they did they would not be normal. The most important aspect is to approach it as a learning experience not a personal attack. We have all been to too many funerals ( even 1 is too many ) and the last thing we ever want to hear is the famous "If only they had......" Does anyone want to be part of the "If only they had......" because they were too big to accept advise or suggestions for a better way or where they had gone wrong in the past or efforts planning for that department dinner dance was more important than the efforts needed for pre-planning. One suggestion that might make the process in this forum easier for those of thinner skin to take is to couple the negative with the positive so it is not so hard to take.

I'm always amazed by the skeptics/back seat ff in these posts.

Then again the critics always enjoy coming out especially with the "way" they would do things.

There is such a thing called "lessons learned" that comes from a post review of an incident. One of the benefits of hindsight being 20/20 is that we can look back and learn from both our mistakes and our successes. Regardless if you are a rookie or a seasoned veteran you should be willing to learn from every opportunity that avails itself. The day you take the attitude that you know all that you need to know and no one can teach you anything is the day you need to hang up your equipment and step way for your safety and the safety of those you work with. While some look at it as Monday morning quarterbacking, a true professional will look at the opportunity to evaluate could things have been done differently even if not necessarily better. Be it a trash can fire, house fire, MVA, cardiac arrest, or building collapse we should all be willing to explore what when right and what went wrong in the interest of lesson learned.

Listening to the later end of the job it seemed frozen 5 inch lines was a big concern and problem. Listening to operation setting up to de-escalate the IC was heard telling units once pumping was shut down to uncouple as much 5 inch as they could quickly working away from the trucks. One question, does any department in Westchester have a Thawing Unit or is a special call for FDNY the only option for this type of equipment and is it ever considered as an option especially north of the "287 corridor"? I know FDNY has sent units to Long Island and even Hackensack, NJ.

{The Thawing Unit is a mobile utility van with a portable steam-generating boiler; it's super-heated steam melts the ice off the hoses, ladders and tower ladders.}

Enjoy your retirement. It is well deserved.

Since DPW crews will not clear trees down (and blocking roads) with downed wires and cConEd wont clear trees down (and blocking roads) to get to downed wires

You hit on a big point here. One of the questions I have always wondered is why the restoration crews do not include a tree crew and why the tree crews do not include a electrical emergency crew. It always seems both a waste of time to send a crew to a location to only have them not able to do anything and a PR issue for the customer to see the trucks roll up look at the tree on the wires and say I can touch it until the tree is moved or the wires are cut. Why put a team together if it only includes half the resources you need. It would be better to have 20 complete crews on the road then 50 half crews that have to wait for help to do their job. But we all know with Con Ed it is a numbers game. Remember a 10 story apartment building can be considered 1 customer in their book.

I would be interested to learn if the other equipment e.g. scott pak, etc have to be specially made or modified for him also. Based on the info in the article he appears capable to perform the job and kudos for the department for not turning him away but embracing him. Nice find Cap.

Problem is people are just too damned spoiled and really don't understand the dynamics of power grids particularly when the damage is vast and to primary infrastructure. People think they are more important then the next and that power should be on in 45 minutes.

I thought the Con Ed goal was 45 hours.

Still want to know how Con Ed came up with $20,000

Easy answer. Check your next bill. There will now be a new line "Westchester Bicycle Sunday Tax". It will go along with the other taxes, surcharges and delivery charges Con Ed adds every month.

Date: 12/14/11

Time: 10:17 hrs

Location: 285 Madison Ave. -- E 40 St to E 41 St

Frequency: 482.10625, 482.38125, 478.0125, 470.8375

Units Operating: E65,21, L2,7,12, B7, D3, R1, R4, SQ18, HM1, HM Bat, Res Bat, Safety Bat, Tac2, ReBreather 1, Field Comm 1, FDNY C6, Multiple EMS, Multiple ESU and NYPD

Weather Conditions: Clear & Cold

Description Of Incident: Elevator dropped while a 41 y/o female was entering on a upper floor with doors open(exact floor still unclear). Victim was crushed between the elevator and the shaft wall. Two other people were in the elevator at the time of the incident. FDNY removed a total of 3 patients from the elevator and shaft - 1 DOA, 2 treated minor by EMS. Buildings dept on scene, Building is a 25 story structure built in the early 1920's.

Info obtained from scanner feeds and multiple news sources.

Reporters/Writer: PEMO3

My heart felt condolences go out to the members of the Virginia Tech Police Department and the family and friends of PO Deriek Crouse. A loss is very difficult at any age, at any time and under any circumstances. Remember, he will always be with you, no matter what. My family will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

Come on, with all the back to back to back 16 hour days you guys were doing back then you couldn't have maybe gotten a 12 hour schedule worked out?? Hell, you guys got us these polo shirts. Why not a better work schedule?

You forget one thing. The mandatory O/T was only for 4 hours, 8 if you wanted to stay. Once you got you number pulled you went to the bottom of the list to be forced. A lot of guys, myself included jumped at the doubles when they were there, who wouldn't. You just made a deal with the boss - I'll do it voluntarily for 8 but you put me in for a force that way you didn't get screwed the next day. If you were lucky they needed 2 people and you and your partner would double the shift together. By the time you got back and switched rigs you blew off the first hour of the shift and then you could blow the last 30 or so minutes going in "O/T personnel". If you had gotten 12 hour shifts you would be working 16 hour shifts on a regular basis. Thank god they left it as 8 hour shift. As they always say, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it and it may not be the green grass you thought it was.