Chief21

RIP Officer Falcone, Respectfully AWARDED the City of Poughkeepsies first Medal of Honor. A retired NY Police Detective respectfully donated his own Metal of Honor to Falcone, in the cities absence of having one on hand. "The detective, who risked his own life, said it would be his honor if John had his ribbon." Our deepest wishes go to the family and friends of Falcone. And lets not forget the 3 year old girl Forever Welch, who lost her family, but was saved by our HERO, Detective John Falcone # 22.

This whole story is rediculous. This woman deserves everything she got. Lets see how we can go with this....going by the information above....
First... She should have never entered/moved the vehicle! Period! Would she have moved the police car if it was in the way? I DOUBT IT.
Second... We spoke of fire apparatus/beer trucks/police cars/ambulances.. Where do we park? So know we have to be more convenient for the public when we park? You tell the fire to stop for a moment while we move the command post or the water sourse or arial truck or LDH or landing site or ambulance or SWAT van so Joe Smoe can move his car.
Third... How often do we keep the vehicles running? If we are worried about idleing the trucks maybe we should work on shortening our on scene time.
Fourth... It is a big differance between one of us moving a car and Mr/Mrs. Joe Public. Im sure most of US have moved a vehicle (with permission from the operator).
Fifth... The public needs to take a breathe. Im sure if they had asked the responders..instead of just jumping in..beeping the horn.. and backing out.. they would have moved the rig if possible. Im sure if this was a Cardiac Arrest they would not be staying on scene long?
That is my Rant.. Thank you
Be safe

They need to take Rod's power away from him and give the chief the power he needs to run BFD!

Times have defenitely changed when it comes to coverage. As it was said some departments ( I do not understand always why) strip their own department to cover either nearby or afar. Then, as I have seen the covering department gets a call in district and can not always divide coverage without stripping the department they were asked to cover.
Why when covering another department would a department have to send all Chief Line Officers, along with all their certified manpower.
The only time I see this as an option is in a neighboring request, where an Engine is requested by a small department with limited manpower.
But under the current disaster circumstances, why would a department strip their district for a known 72 hour tour (maybe 3 hours from home)?
I feel the best statement was made when you have your County Coodinator Staffed, and strategically dispatch/request assistance.
You get a big incident;
You do not :
strip every ambulance in the county...
activate every tanker in the county....
tie up every ladder in the county...
That is the purpose behind Inter-County Mutual Aid. Alternate Department Apparatus, Known your County Inventory, and know your counties response capabilities.
Just a few years ago, I remember hearing quite often on the scanner, County Control requesting 5 Interiors and a Class 1 to a large fire.
Any more is like throwing darts at a map. What happened to the coordination?
Also please, this is not a pun at any county in particular. There are some very well organized counties in this state. Others just seem to fall behind.

What is everyones feelings on "full PPE".
I have always followed, if the equipment has been designed and issued, its more than likely made to protect you.
We have a guy at our house who changes like the weather. He is like a real A$$ when it comes to telling him "your doing it wrong";
i.e., no nomex hood when in a taxpayer live burn, or no nomex during car fires, not clasping helmet (and losing it coming down a ladder.
And yet he is the first one to fight with everyone, if someone besides him does it.
We use differant tools for differant jobs, firefighting, EMS, HAZMAT, CS, etc.
But when it comesto PPE it can be life or death.
Thank you and be safe.

There are no direct legal requiremnts, however The General Duty Clause of OSHA states:
29 U.S.C. § 654, 5(a)1: Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."
Generally, thats close. We use (and got from many Fl. Depts) Sustained gail force winds (39 mph), but only if it is ahead of a hurricane.

Interesting conversation today with local emergency IC's.
The Walkway Over the Hudson, Located at Poughkeepsie, NY:
The Structural members on the coast are not hurricaine rated and may only with stand winds up to maybe 90 mph.
Beyond this it has the potential to break away from the anchor points and fall apart.
I know this does not involve evacuations, as do the previous postings, but if this occurs what are the results?
MTA railroads will be impassable with steel and concrete
Homes may be compromised and injuries from debrie
Close access along a major highway, with possible MVA's
Unknown rescues/recoveries?
A structure such as this bridge which has made it through so many disasters may not make it through this one.
On another note, a notification was made that if the winds get over 60 mph the bridges over the Hudson River will be closed.
To all be safe out there.

Great turnout by PD, FD and EMS for the funeral of Poughkeepsie Police Det. John Falcone in Carmel.

It is always great to see the pictures Bill produce from these devistating times. As had been said, the logistics of placing all those ariels and supply lines must have been a nightmare. My only question is looking at the photos, why was the power still on to the building? I would assume with the magnitude of the incident and apparatus in use, they woud have atleast cut the power. There are a few pictures of the side entrance to the building, with the flood light still on?

So, the North East is begining to see more of that white stuff we call snow. Definitely not the 3 plus feet i remember from the 90's,
but the roads are getting covered, and drivers for some reason have forgotten how to drive in these wintery conditions.
Do you still go down to the house and wrap the chains the day before the predicted storm?
Or has technology caught up and your apparatus is spec'd with auto chains?
With weather conditions varying from state to state, how does your department prepare?