efdcapt115

As soon as I saw these two words, all written in caps, I stopped reading this post. I'm guessing this emphasis was placed as a negative connotation, and quite frankly to insert that onto what has become a Remembrance Thread of a Unionized Worker, is disgraceful. Rest in Peace Brother Union Member.

http://www.reuters.c...E83M1KQ20120423

Glad there's included a mailing address. May I gingerly ask what is going on for this family? I'm truly sorry to read they've lost one of their daughters, and the other is ill. God's Blessings for them all. I think Dawn was a dispatcher when I was OTJ, and she was/is a great one to work with over the radio. I'm sure that extends much more for the 60-Control folk.

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.

This particular incident should be studied and made part of a mandatory personal vehicle/department authorized personal vehicle EVOC geared toward volunteers, as an aside program to apparatus operation instruction.. All the things that were done wrong here should be elevated to a level of mass distribution (Edit: for education), certainly within the county, if even the people with this forum take it forward and develop a program from it, geared toward their individual department. :-)

Hi Mikey, A lot of inflammatory stuff got deleted earlier Bro.

Never, ever pass another emergency vehicle en route to an alarm. It's been on the books of the rules and regs of my former dept since the early 20th Century. If this former chief would have stayed behind the other responder this accident never would have happened.

Working nicely bro. Thanks.

The story going around everywhere is about how the mayor of Newark pulled his neighbor out of a fire. I saw his interview yesterday and he got to the point where he referenced the fire department and said words to the effect of "now I know what that job is all about." This should reflect well on the Newark FD. Anybody know what's been going on over there? What condition the job is in? Hopefully this incident helps that job in some way.

I've been running the site on a desktop/google chrome browser and a netbook/chrome as well. No speed problems encountered. One thing I miss is the list of names at the bottom of a thread. It felt communal. Like I remember events as they were happening and there were 75+ members all crowded into the thread. Felt like something. These new threads had the members reading it on the bottom, but that disappeared. Also the list of those who visited a thread is gone. I'd like to see those two features put back up.

Don't forget Cap, you might also get the honor of having to go out there and untangle a major catastrophe. MVFD had to do it. Can happen anywhere. There have been so many interesting opinions about this topic. I think it's important to mention, there has been a big cultural change regarding the trains. Going back not so long ago, commuter trains were a big growth industry. Conductors had great contracts, overtime was flush as were the coffers at the train HQs. THEN the financial squeeze hit train lines. That and technology, ie; the ticket machine, changed the culture of riding. Used to be a conductor carried wads of cash, tons of punched paper tickets, etc. Conductors started getting squeezed, their discretion was basically taken away. Truth be told; there were certain days when train cars were full to the brim with MOS on particular celebratory days. Conductors smiled, laughed and closed the door to the car so the cigar smoke didn't bother the regulars. Yes there were days like that. But those days are long gone.

PD or FD riding the trains are two separate things. IF PD is riding undercover, off-duty and the train peoples say they ride for free, that's that. FD; how many guys have gone on a Metro ride through the years in their Class A's going to a funeral? IF the ticket-taker decides to respect the uniform, that's it. It's not YOU that is getting a professional courtesy, it's the respect for the uniform. Do not expect that courtesy to be extended to you on St. Patrick's Day or any other day in your civies.

There will be a time ahead to ask the critical questions that must be asked of the circumstances that lead to two of Philly's Bravest being struck down. Right now however, may their families and Bro's/Sis's from the job find comfort in that God has welcomed Home his valiant servants, who were doing what they loved and did best in service of the people. Doing God's work here on earth. May the deceased Brothers Rest in Eternal Peace, joining the countless others from these jobs, who rest before the Father that sent them to life here to do great things. To set the example for humanity of having lived a meaningful life.

I heard the film was shot by Abraham Zapruder.....

PS: A very big thank you to the New York State Police and Fire Retirees Association, for originally posting the info about this Settlement on their site.

In my dated thinking I took "cross" in the title to mean like "have a problem with." Happy to see this a good story. lol

The estimate was $750. I got enough for 43.75 gallons of 87 grade gasoline.

Some will remember the discussion we had a while back about a Class Action Lawsuit against United Healthcare. I am please to report; those who bothered to fill out the forms and mail them in, should be receiving a check soon. I received one today. While not for the full amount originally declared to be available to us, it is found money. I'm definitely not complaining. Good luck all.

Interesting new board. I'm hoping you are still constructing it, because the main page with the active topics is the "community feel" here. Without it....I dunno. Good luck with it all Seth.

Oh that's funny! Yeah that whole bench felt like a potential launching pad. How about the "air-ride" driver's seat...the boing boing up and over bumps in the road. How many times did you crack your head on the ceiling liner? Not all bad in the interior though. The brake pedal was great, the location of the dash controls made those easy, the battery switch on the side of the driver's seat, all good stuff. The sliding window between the cab and the jump seats.....

Much of my career chauffeuring engines was spent in Mack CF's. Surprised nobody has mentioned the one inherent flaw that could actually hurt; the steering wheel was too close to the windshield. The thousand scratches on the windshield from guy's rings getting jammed up in there was proof of the pain. This was on the earlier models like E-28 that Pete posted the photos of above.

Great post. I'm lovin' it.

For me based on what has been reported here, the "dynamics" of this story just don't add up to a monitor catching the act. We apparently have two colluding test takers. If they were caught cheating by a monitor, my guess is the testing in that room would have been suspended, and at the very least the two people would have been removed. Paperwork about the incident would have been filed. There is NO WAY the cheaters would have been certified on a list, one of those two then going on to interview for promotion, and then receiving that promotion if this scandal began with a monitor catching those involved in the act. It sounds like after the fact of promotion, further information came to light, possibly the two tests were compared, and lined up identically. This evidence, combined with some notification from an involved party, comparison of seating charts, times of departure from the test, etc. could add up to an investigation being pursued, and possibly some sort of confession. Once again I'd ask the question; what are people thinking these days? Has greed so clouded someone's better judgement that they would put at risk possibly their entire career for the chance at making a little more money? Reminds me of the firemen who got busted growing pot, the cop with the pills up at the airport, or the other examples we have seen through the years. Remember what you stand to LOSE by trying to game the system, before you start thinking about what you stand to gain by taking such reckless and disgraceful chances. And if you have a conscience, an act like this should hound you forever. And a PS: Receiving promotion is a great honor. Along with the money comes great responsibility, added stress, and sometimes straining health issues. Be prepared to be overwhelmed. If an officer tells you how great you have it as a firefighter, that officer knows the difference between the two job functions. Recognize and heed words of wisdom, and be thankful for what you have. Take some time to smell the roses....

Okay this kind of faux pas really gets under my panties! First thing, they took way too much of a risk smoking up, or possibly muddying those gorgeous gowns! Second thing, hopefully they also had their nails done properly. Simply picking up a ho-ho(hose) could do irreparable damage to a very fine manicure and paint jaaahhb! WHAT were they thiiinkiing?? So fiiiine...I'll give them credit for the EFFORRRT, but honestly they took very unnecessary risks on their EXTREMELY fine preparation and wardrobe. If they would have had hair extensions and put THOSE at risk as well, I would have confiscated this video as evidence and send it to the Fashion Police. Think I'm kidding? Talk to the hand honeeeey...

The answer as in so many other cases in this business; it depends. Assessing the urgency and priority of actions to be taken on a vehicle depends first and foremost on the existing risks to the victim/s and potential dangers to rescuers. Disconnecting the battery may or may not be a priority depending on the potential for the electrical system in the vehicle to involve further damage. This shall be of the highest priority to determine. Spilled or leaking fuel, smoke or burning smells, sparks, extensive damage to the vehicle, and the surrounding environment should alert you to a higher hazard. Particularly if the victim/s are compromised and cannot be moved away from the vehicle expeditiously if needed. Any of these hazards should be considered a potential IDLH, and a line should be stretched and charged. The battery should be disconnected immediately. It is usually better to disconnect the terminal as opposed to cutting the cable, but once again it depends on the urgency. Cutting the cable at a fender-bender with no apparent hazards presenting is mindless. Cutting the cable is the fastest way to eliminate an electric hazard, and you're going to have to use good judgement for those times when it is necessary. PS: Remember it's always the black/negative (-) terminal that comes off first and goes on last.