efdcapt115

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/09/27/2011-09-27_plane_speaking_unlikely_big_jets_on_nypd_hit_list.html

http://dcfire.com/

I'll be honest with ya. I'm referring to fire departments like the one I worked for. It's a joke. Who's gonna go? How are they going to pay for it? Through the B.O.C. God forbid the Chief of some of these depts. could just say "They need us, you, you, you and you are going, take this rig, staff this other rig and get the heck up there." Don't work that way in a lot of places in Westcheser.

Ahhhhh...now I get it. You were there. No wonder you were talking about the freelancers. Wish I could say nice photos. Over.

Go Fid Nee! We all know Bull didn't go, he's too busy here defending ESU. lol

Are you saying the phone number posted was a horse farm? And how do you reconcile your statement "no legitimate calls" with the very quotes from the link you put up? Who loves ya Seth? lol

Ah yes my Brother, American Islands like the one I found work well.....just be prepared to slow it all down...for the rest of time. It's really great here if you like boating, fishing or loafing, I'm of the latter type. Stay safe Joe.

I remember last time this happened. Sometimes things "take a while" to get organized in Westchester.

That's exactly the series I got when I went to India...n/k... Good luck and stay safe to all the good members who head up (properly!) there to help out.

On this we can agree, my favorite "Eye In The Sky". But whatcho got gainst Billy Bob's pick-up lol. I'm telling you Brother, whoever the person/idiot was who was responsible for that "call for help" (I wouldn't lie when I tell you out of curiosity I called to see what the heck was going on, and a recording said "They had reached adequate staffing"), somebody up there (and for good reason) probably panicked and pushed the wrong Twitter button. Maybe that's part of the message we need to focus on; be careful with social media when you are possibly overwhelmed as this example illustrates what could happen. Be safe in the skies, you lucky b@st@rd.....

This wasn't freelancing Seth. These guys responded when legitimate calls for help went out, and were turned away. Freelancers would just go on their own without receiving any "invitation." This was more a FUBAR. Are the calls going out to help upstate New York, calls for "Freelancers"?

Hi Joe, The "new world" we live in. These things will NEVER go away. The era of "Big Brother" cameras everywhere, threats all the time, the "terrorists" whoever they are have succeeded. Our country is falling apart economically, we've lost thousand of Brothers/Sisters in "The War On Terror" which will NEVER end. Thousands other, wounded beyond belief. This new time we live in has coincided with the attack on working class people, mostly public employees now, because they've already decimated the private sector with this "World Economy" Bullshit and shipped too many good jobs overseas. Do your time, then find yourself a place where you don't have to constantly be going into these elevated threat situations. Try and get a piece of the pension system before they tell us that's done too. I've got a house in Maine, and when all else is finished, I'll bring my small family, and become a damn survivalist. This sh!t is never going to end, and we've got to start looking at some of the reasons why. How come they can't secure the borders of this country, but spend trillions on private war profiteers like Halliburton? Start asking the questions Bro. The era of the "Elevated Threat" is here to stay. God Bless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXnA9FjvLSU&feature=player_embedded#!youtube credit: fofo69

It's an hour and change, but it's well worth watching.

Gotta say, NEVER liked the Steelers; but this is a decent act by Big Ben. http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/09/montco-police-dogs-get-bullet-proof-vests

That's Reverend Miello. Retired MVPD Detective. Got a son on the job, and he and his wife are the most ardent supporters of the EFD Brothers out there. GOD BLESS THEM.

Curious, Who was the FAST TEAM at this job?

Holy Jesus, Mt. Vernon got THREE new Pierces? "I think this is the big one, I'm comin' too ya Elizabeth!" Best of luck, man those are nice rigs.

Bad info from you Pete? I'm SHOCKED! Thanks for the clarification 59. PS: I'm sorry to steer the conversation away from the job the Brothers caught and the grab they made. Maybe we could save any further discussion about the hows, and whys of EFD for another thread, and get back to the ops at Columbus Ave. By the way condolences to Brother Saviano, recently retired, who owns the home as well as the construction company adjacent to the fire building. I worked with Larry for quite a few years in the Tuckahoe firehouse, there's not a finer gentleman you could ever clock in with.

Hi Cap. The Quint issue was a way for one particular commissioner to placate a very vocal minority regarding having a pumper in Tuckahoe. (As a sidenote with Engine 27 now running first due in most of Tuckahoe, I don't think Ladder 16 has EVER gone into engine evo's at a fire) For the reasons you stated above, with regard to size vs. funding vs. the view of EFD still being a combo dept., all of these things are why I've supported in spirit, the lower Westchester consolidation plan.

I'd like to know what percentage of every dollar given to the Red Cross actually goes to helping victims, and how much goes to paying high end salaries.

Sorry. Thanks Pete I didn't know they still kept a sixth engine. But it's yellow? Eesh. No offense to our Hartsdale Brothers of course!

The thread has been restarted, ny10570 posted the video and hopefully it can be a good discussion that doesn't cross any lines. We all have to remember something and that is this; we have members from different generations who confronted different circumstances (particularly in NYC) "back in the day." We have to remember their perspective; just because it's not politically correct these days to talk the way some of our older members do, THEIR memories of how things were is really all they are expressing. I learned a lesson here a long time ago; I'm never going to jump in and criticize police activity. It's not my area of knowledge, but I have learned quite a few things from our Brothers and Sisters in Blue. The problems arise in the "cross-over" areas like pin jobs in NYC with basically two agencies operating. I think they've come a long way (but I don't work there so what do I really know) in cooperation on scene, and working for the same end; control and mitigation of emergencies. But we must acknowledge there was a time, and there are active members who were there, when things weren't quite so cooperative. There was a Battle of The Badges. Remembering the perspective of what a member experienced in their time on the job really helps us to understand "where they are coming from." I know my good friend from Rescue 3 has stirred the pot here and pissed people off. In his mind, (I've talked with him as recently as today) he comes from the era when cops and firemen would come to near blows at pin jobs. Thank goodness those days have passed. But it should not take away the credibility of a man's knowledge from his extremely active career, and the wisdom he has to offer. We all have to GIVE A LITTLE, and things will be fine. I'm optimistic it can be done.

Okay here's the deal. Barry's right about the laws pertaining to villages and fire departments. For reference observe the Village of Pelham; has it's own FD. 100+ years ago, the Town of Eastchester's fire companies (including the two villages) joined forces and became a Fire District; a combined service that covers all three municipalities. The only combined service to this day of the three municipalities. The first career firefighters were hired (in the 1920's?), and all the apparatus in service at the time, 5 engine companies, two trucks, a heavy rescue, as well as a shop, and an alarm bureau, and a dispatch office were minimally staffed with career personnel to augment the hundreds of volunteer firemen the district used to have. The decades passed, the demographics changed and by the 1970's it was becoming more than apparent that the volunteer ranks were dwindling. Yet, the rigs were still staffed with one career guy per rig. With the density of the district, the number of high rise structures, etc, it was becoming apparent staffing was inadequate. The first step that was taken to address the manpower issue was to hire guys in a new (and highly controversial) position of "Daytime Firefighter." Irregardless of what the various chiefs through the decades had reported to the Board of Commissioners, the Board always chose the cheap way out. To address the fact that there was virtually no volunteer response during the "daytime" hours they tried to solve the problem by hiring these new firefighters to work 8-4/9-5 something, five days a week. They became known within the job as "day-slaves" and the fight was on between the union and the Board for as we saw it, a violation of the terms and conditions of employment. As that started to work it's way through the court system, Engine 27 now had a chauffer and three firefighters to respond throughout the district. It was the first increase in career manpower anyone could remember, yet it was full of controversy. As "regular" career firefighters retired, "day-slaves" graduated to the regular terms and working schedule of the job. I know it sucked for those "day-slaves while it was happening, but the positive side of it was the members got on the job, and eventually enjoyed the full working conditions. I drove E-27 with a day-slave crew. It was great having the manpower; if the Board at the time didn't nickel and dime the job the controversy wouldn't have arisen. Eventually the union prevailed and the day-slaves were eliminated. they were absorbed into the regular squads(groups) and that was that. The next thing the Board did was contract with a consultant. What they wanted was more firefighting capability for the same money. What they got was; elimination of the dispatcher and transfer of that function to 60-Control. the dispatcher position became the step-man on E-27. Next they shut down Rescue 5 and as Bob Kelly loved to say, "slid that member across the floor" and now they had a step-man on E-29. In the north end, and Chester Heights, there was no getting around the fact that they needed more manpower. So they created a step-man position for Engine 30 in the Heights. Up north they had Engine 31 and Ladder 17. Ultimately thy staffed those rigs with two additional firefighters. They also added Lieutenants along the way, all of these moves in conjunction with the recommendations of that consultants report. One Lt. was assigned to the north end and one to Tuckahoe. In Tuckahoe they took engine 28 out of service, and I don't know if any of you noticed this in the photos, Ladder 16 is a Quint to keep with the ISO rating I think. Now the didn't need a sixth engine anymore as a spare; they used Engine 28. They took the chauffer position of E-28 and made it the step position on Ladder 16. And that's how EFD wound up with four front line engines, two ladders (one really a quint one a ladder tower) and two firefighters on all the rigs. Two is better than one, but we all know two still isn't enough to really run a company properly. What will the future hold? My fingers are tired.

Median annual wage: $45,520. The fifth most toxic job. And for this we are attacked for our pensions, our health benefits, and general insults from an ignorant public that accuses us of just about everything. I always loved the comment "Did you save a cat from a tree?" Answer...."F no I hate cats." I remember after a job once I was exhausted and "cherry red." The VAC member that checked me out told me my blood pressure was 210/110. He asked out loud, "Wow and you're alive?" Uhhh...I think so...for now anyway. http://247wallst.com/2011/09/01/seven-jobs-that-will-make-you-sick/3/