x635

Wow. That is shocking. So young-wonder what happnened. Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

I had the chance to shoot the new Engine 51 this morning. I was really impressed. It seems like this Engine was designed with the way the department operates in mind. It also has tons of space for future storage, or the addition of extrication equipment and accesories. Very well thought out and different. I particularly liked the brow lights above the driver and officers door, makes for finding addresses on a dark street when you're alone much easier. For a complete photographic tour of the new Engine 51, visit http://www.emtbravo.com/NewDeliveries/TMFDEngine51.html

Stamford Professional Firefighters Benefit Education Symposium 2008 Truck And Rescue Company Operations Presented By Stamford Professional Firefighters Local 786 FEATURING: Real Time Rescue: A discussion on technical rescue incidents and problems that will arise which are not part of the training manuals. Actual trench, cave-in collapse rescue, and body recovery, collapse operations, scuba rescue and confined space. PRESENTED BY: Chief Lafemina, FDNY Chief Lafemina is a 23 year vetran of the FDNY. He is presently assigned to the FDNY’s Rescue Operations Battalion #1 as the battalion commander. He has been with special operations for more then 20 years. He is also the task force leader on NY-TF1’s Urban Search and Rescue Team and has deployed to a number of disasters. He is also a member of the Rescue Working Group nationally for the USAR program and Operations Chief on the White Incident Support Team. From 1996 to 1997, he was the director of the FDNY’s Technical Rescue School. He has writted various articles on fire operations and technical rescue , and lectures throughout the country on many of these topics. Truck Tatics – Ladders A discussion of the various tatics employed to accomplish tasks typically assigned to a truck company on the fire ground. Attendees will be given lessons on “Street Smart Skills” for ground ladder operations. This interactive lecture will cover what the “books” forgot to teach firefighters and also introduce them to new skills and techniques. These include the arm lock maneuver “HILL” and “HELL” leg lock maneuvers, ladder drags, and more PRESENTED BY: Lt. Michael Ciampo, FDNY Michael Ciampo is a Lieutenant in the FDNY, he previously served with the District Of Columbia FD and the Wycoff VFD. He has a B.A. in fire science from John Jay Commmunity College Of Criminal Justice. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC “HOT” portable ladder training program, an instructor for FIREHOUSE Expo & World, and a contributing editor and editorial adviser to Fire Engineering. Truck Ops- Forcible Entry Captain Morris will present an in-depth discussion on Truck Operations including size-up, conventional forcible entry (The Irons), the thru the lock method, power tools (gates and padlocks) as well as vertical ventilation (saws) PRESENTED BY: Captain Robert Morris, FDNY Captain Robert Morris is a thirty year vetran of the New York City Fire Department and has been assigned to some of the busiest fire companies in New York City, including Ladder 42, Engine 60 in the Bronx, and Rescue 3 in the Bronx and Manhattan. After serving the Bronx and Harlem, he served as a company commander of Ladder 28. Captain Morris is currently company commander of Rescue 1 in Manhattan. He is an instructor with the CT State Fire Academy, the New York City Fire Department Institute, and a national lecturer. Captain Morris is the reciepient of seventeen meritorious service awards, including three department medals. Stamford Professional Firefighters are seeking to establish an annual educational symposium to benefit various health and safety issues as they relate to firefighting. In the past year, four of our brothers have been diagnosed with cancer, currently leaving two on extended sick leave. Our goal this year is to donate proceeds to the Stamford Firefighters Family Assistance Fund for future distribution to afflicated firefighters or research initiatives, as well as to raise awareness about cancers affecting firefighters. DATE: SATURDAY JANUARY 26TH 2008 WHERE: UCONN STAMFORD 1 UNIVERSITY PLACE STAMFORD CT 06901 (CORNER OF WASHINGTON BLVD AND BROAD ST)\\ WHEN: 09:30 TO 16:30 COST: $20 PERSON (Lunch is Inlcuded) FOR TICKETS: CALL 203-929-1975 (LEAVE MESSAGE) EMAIL: l786BENEFIT@HOTMAIL.COM DOOR PRIZE: $150.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THEFIRESTORE.COM RAFFLE: OTHER RAFFLE ITEMS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE Click here to download the flyer: StamfordFlyer.pdf

I'm spoiled. I can't listen to FM anymore. Sirius Octane Channel 20 is the BEST!

Is any agency around here employing this new technology, and if so, is it effective? Police using new 'rumbler' siren that makes motorists shake

Thank you Hope to get more photos of this building once it goes into service.

Here is another view. As you can see, the "warehouse" portion has a loading dock.

In NYS, EMT-I's really are underutilized or obsolete, depending on how you want to look at things. In most agencies, they don't use EMT-I's. I personally feel that every ALS ambulance should be double medic, and if not, at least an EMT-I to help with the skills. I know CT has a similar EMT-I program, but I can't remember how it is utilized. I reccomend the class to any EMT who's not immediately planning to go to medic school. It's great to have the extra knowledge and skills, even if you're just working at the BLS level. FAC911 was in the class with me as well, and only a few others. I believed we were allowed to use our skills under the direct supervision of a paramedic, but couldn't use the skills independtly. FAC, you remember anything about this? Also, I believe Yorktown VAC had an EMT-I program, but I don't know about that program, it's terms, or if it's still around. WCREMSCO and NYS DOH has the structure in place for EMT-I's, but the concept has never really taken root. I took my EMT-Intermediate class at Phelps in 1999 with Barry Nechis in the sub basement of Phelps. Was an AWESOME class, Barry was a great instructor and made lthe coursework fun. Not only did he teach us EMT-I skills, but also helped us to sharpen our EMT skills. It was also a great "primer" for Paramedic School, and really helped me while in the field as well. I remember the fun tabletop MCI excercise-that was the best! I've applied lessons from his teachings multiple times. If Phelps Hospital and Barry Nechis were to have offered a Paramedic class, I would have definetly taken it there.

I notice many Highway Dept's nowadays use some form of liqiuid de-icing solution in conjunction with the standard sand and salt. Does anyone know what the fluid they use is typically, how it works and when is it applied and does it present any hazard to us first responders in any way, shape, or form?

Peoples LIVES, including other firefighters, depend on the apparatus operator placing the stick PERFECTLY. If you do not operate the stick on a regular basis, or drive the apparatus on a regular basis, then you're not going to be proficient at it, period. It's not as easy as it looks, especially when you have tight streets, trees, power lines, etc everywhere.....not to mention large, set back houses and institutions. It's a skill, not one that is as easy as it looks, and it's not one that should be taken lightly. I believe he is more referring to the staffing of the aerial device. Will the ladder be responding with a crew of four or more members qualified and able to perform truck company ops? Will this ladder get out of the door within a reasonable time for every dispatch? (we all know that sometimes if a ladder isn't the first to arrive, it's very hard to place) If it's being used to respond to schools and large structures, I would imagine that the most important tool on this apparatus would be the firefighters, who especially with a straight stick, would be needed to help faciliate any rescue using the aerial. It's all good to have "Volunteer Pride", which seems to be more of the goal of your post. All I want to read is factual information, not claims that the volunteers are getting active. That's great, but I think people are just concerned that it be done in a proper and safe way so that no one gets hurt, and that the correct and truthful information from the proper sources is being posted here.

I'm looking for a contact from Greenville (Orange County, NY) Fire Department. I would like to shoot their Special Operations/Traffic truck that was recently delivered. If you can hook me up with someone who can help me set up a photo shoot with this truck (person must be able to pull rig out into light), it would be greatly appreciated. PM me here or email me at x635@EMTBravo.com

Still looking for a Chief or any officer from this company's email address........

Did South Salem replace this Engine?

Let's remember to post only factual information here and not let egos or misperceptions glaze over the truth. Bickering gets us nowhere, and only causes tension. The fact of the matter is, there's a HUGE difference between being trained to DRIVE an apparatus, and a qualified APPARATUS OPERATOR. Also, a TRUCK COMPANY isn't just a ladder responding, it's four or more firefighters trained and able to perform truck company operations. In my opinion, if you're not going to drive apparatus regularly, then you shouldn't drive at all. Fire apparatus are unique beasts, and the more often you drive, the more proficient you are. Someone who's going to only drive the apparatus a couple of times a year, at most, poses a huge training and liability risk. If you are "qualifying people to drive", that is not enough. They should know the apparatus inside and out, from both a firefighting perspective and a maintainence perspective, the streets of the district inside and out, and drive the apparatus to emergency calls on a regular basis. Also, as far as I am told by someone at Seagrave, Seagrave does not train anyone at the factory. Nor does the dealer, which would be Excelsior. Their role is to simply explain the apparatus and how to use it's features. It is the department's ultimate responsibilty to train it's members on the apparatus, and the member doing the training should have extensive experience operating fire apparatus, as well as strict SOP's and standards for the operators. Being an Apparatus Operator (no, you don't just "drive" apparatus) is a role I take seriously. It's not a hobby, you have a huge responsiblity, probaly the most on scene next to the Chief. It's a shame some departments take it so lightly. You aren't just driving a pick up truck, you have the responsiblity of getting firefighters to the scene safely, and using that machine to protect and save lives, and a lot of times firefighters lives depend on the APPARATUS OPERATOR. So, even just getting it to the scene isn't enough if you can't use it proficently.

Hmmm. I updated the domain this morning, might take a little while to update across the internet. Can anyone else see it?

Pretty cool idea. FULL STORY: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080117/lf_nm_...k_waterfalls_dc

Here's a photo I got yesterday of the netting on the back step of Waterbury, CT's new Pierce Arrow XT's. Los Angeles City FD's Pierce Arrow XT's also have the similar setup, and all new deliveries I have been shooting have some sort of system in place. However, many systems have been locally "overwritten". (Photo by me, 1-16-08 )

Yet another training oppurtunity I missed out on, as I am still unable to return to work despite being cleared by doctors months ago. Another story for another day, just makes me frusterated to keep missing great training oppurtunities. I can't wait to train in this new simulator, though. It would have been great if it were there during probie school. This is definetly a great asset, especially with buildings getting taller and taller. It also test's firefighter's ability to fight fire on a different level (excuse the pun) and their endurance to set up and fight the fire. Departments do work well together, it doesn't take a burn room to demonstrate that. Guys who are at the level to use this simulator understand the heat they'll face, I feel this simulator is more geared towards the logistics of fighting a high-rise fire, rather then to have the "feel the heat". I feel that some of the Chiefs who are involved with this drill should be learning and training on ICS as it relates to high rise fires, as well as other logistical concerns. Not only is this an oppurtunity for firefighters, but for leaders as well to see how they deploy and sharpen their leadership skills.

While shooting New Britain, CT's EMS fleet a few weeks ago, I noticed when they backed up the bus, the spotter hit a button in the back of the ambulance. This is part of the on-board "black-box" computer. It confirms that a spotter was there. I think the vehicle has to be in reverse, but won't budge until the spotter hits it. Pretty neat idea. Does anyone else employ this practice? It's just a little button on the drivers side rear of the ambulance. Hardly noticeable.

I love the First 48, as you know. I'll be watching Matt!

From what I understand, this is a trailer for a possible TV series http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=...ideoid=16282850

I absolutely agree with the above, and couldn't have said it better myself. Even in Fire-based EMS systems where firefighters staff the ambulance, you have guy's that could really care less about clinical excellece. I think systems such as Boston EMS sets a fine example of the way a municipal, urban EMS system should work.

Sorry, was having some issues with the upload path last night, which was the reason why the upload/attachment system wasn't working. It's corrected now, and your photo should be showing.

Remember the day you used to be able to punch in a frequency, found usually through the scanner bible, AKA Police Call, and listen to an agency. Heck, my first scanner had crystals!! Now, you need a radio engineering degree to figure out the latest in scanners! Don't get me wrong, the scanners of nowadays have great features that make monitoring more easy and fun, but I miss the simplicity of the old, basic scanners.

EFD Local 916 Fundraiser for Joe and Joann Grogan (Retired member of local 916) Saturday, February 2, 2008 7:00pm The Beechmont Tavern 750 North Ave. New Rochelle, NY 914-636-9533 For more info contact Shawn Stewart @ 914-319-6799 $10.00 Cover Bar and food specials 50/50 raffle and other raffles 5 tickets for $10.00 Live music by I-40 (Capt. Tim Harte) & The Westchester Firefighters Pipes and Drums On December 26, 2007 at approximately 4:30 am a report of a structure fire coming from 151 Old Wilmont Rd. was received. As first due companies were arriving a report of heavy smoke coming from the structure was reported. We then learned it was the home of a retired firefighter Joe Grogan and his family. This was a very difficult situation due to the fact that Joe has been sick for the past several months. Joe has three boys who are firefighters on the job in Eastchester, Chief Mike Grogan, Lt. Danny Grogan and Lt. Kevin Grogan. Everything was lost in this fire. We are now asking for your support during their time of need. All proceeds that night will go directly to Joe and Joann Grogan