MJP399

Crossfit, In my opinion from a strength and conditioning stand point, coaching at the high school and collegiate level, is a bit out there. It gets results, but not in a strength. The more concerning thing in my opinion to crossfit is the reps per exercise. A common exercise performed in Crossfit is the Olympic Clean. From a strength and conditioning viewpoint, the clean needs to be a dynamic and explosive exercise, focusing on several phases of the lift in order to complete properly, which can take sometime in order to truly understand, and years to master. With the cleans being an explosive exercise the reps should be low anywhere from 1-5, with rest time incorporated accordingly to the workload.
Crossfit, combines 12 reps of cleans following 12 pulls ups or muscle ups, and a round of burpees, or any other exercise that you can name. In my opinion again, and other strength and conditioning coaches I work with, is that the programming of crossfit, though great since it is getting people moving and creating a buzz, is flawed since injuries can increase and the values of the individual lifts are missed.
Though I am negative about Crossfit, it may serve a purpose with this line of work, high intensity training and round after round, similar to some of the demands in the emergency service field. It also creates team work and togetherness, so there is some great points to crossfit. Just be careful, do what is right for you. And my opinions are from getting atheltes stronger, so my views are a bit different, but hope any information can be helpful.

The brotherhood is still there. However social media outlets where guys can go and cry about mundane immature stuff that should be kept in house and worked out has ruined a lot of it.
And - no disrespect to this website - places like this where everyone climbs on to their high horses and points fingers PUBLICLY instead of manning up and shooting a brother a private message, calling them or dropping in to their firehouse to talk to them man to man has ruined a lot of what we all used to know.
I appreciate the things I have learned here and on other websites. I have made great friends and taken what I picked up here and put it to good use. However, there has been more drama for me and my department because of sites like this, Facebook and Myspace when it was still around. I have been accused of doing things I didn't. My department and members of it have been falsely or inaccurately implicated in things they didn't do. Friendships and professional relationships with neighboring departments have been tested, strained or ruined when someone sees/hears something and reacts to it before knowing the facts.
We live in the information age. Everyone can hide behind a keyboard and be an expert on everything. They can call someone out for something with little to no facts, denouncing them to their easily impressionable audience.
Let this be a lesson to all of you up and coming members of the fire service - WORK YOUR PROBLEMS OUT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF YOUR FIREHOUSE! If you can't say something to someone face to face, DON'T SAY IT!
And to be "politically correct," we're not a brotherhood anymore. Many females have joined our ranks and proven to be exceptional parts of our department families. I like to say that the fire department is a family, and like the families we've been born into, we don't always agree, we don't even always like each other, but at the end of the day - we are (or should be) there for one another when the chips are down.
I'm done. Thanks for listening.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that I am not always liked, and often say things that offend people. It comes with a deep sense of pride in what I do and the department I am proud to be a part of. But, at the end of the day, I can sleep knowing I do what is best for my people and what's in the best interest of keeping our department going strong for years to come.

If you look at JetPhoto's photo it is a great example of what is missing in high school sports and soon to be collegiate.
About 2 months ago, or a bit more when it was still snowing out. One of the athletes asks, what is one way outside of the gym to get stronger? I went on to ask him about the rest and recovery he was doing, as well as the fluids and foods he was consuming. After all checked out. I then asked, are you shovelling? He said no, Ok do you rake your yard? Once again no. The remote is replacing the tool, and for younger generations to continue to get stronger, they need a little manual labor in their life. The strongest athletes I have are the ones that also rake, shovel, mow the lawn when needed.
Secondly, NSCA which is one of the most respected organizations in the strength and conditioning field, has implemetned a new strength and conditioning certification to improve conditioning for all tactical occupations, such as police, fire, ems and esu. They just had a national conference last week, and from the sound of it, it is progressing well. So, if any one in the exercise science field, who has either a phys. ed, exercise science or exercise physiology degree and a passion for emergency servies, you may want to look into this

Crossfit, In my opinion from a strength and conditioning stand point, coaching at the high school and collegiate level, is a bit out there. It gets results, but not in a strength. The more concerning thing in my opinion to crossfit is the reps per exercise. A common exercise performed in Crossfit is the Olympic Clean. From a strength and conditioning viewpoint, the clean needs to be a dynamic and explosive exercise, focusing on several phases of the lift in order to complete properly, which can take sometime in order to truly understand, and years to master. With the cleans being an explosive exercise the reps should be low anywhere from 1-5, with rest time incorporated accordingly to the workload.
Crossfit, combines 12 reps of cleans following 12 pulls ups or muscle ups, and a round of burpees, or any other exercise that you can name. In my opinion again, and other strength and conditioning coaches I work with, is that the programming of crossfit, though great since it is getting people moving and creating a buzz, is flawed since injuries can increase and the values of the individual lifts are missed.
Though I am negative about Crossfit, it may serve a purpose with this line of work, high intensity training and round after round, similar to some of the demands in the emergency service field. It also creates team work and togetherness, so there is some great points to crossfit. Just be careful, do what is right for you. And my opinions are from getting atheltes stronger, so my views are a bit different, but hope any information can be helpful.

Would you look past this if that Chief's vehicle was delivering donations to Newtown? What if he was buying gifts to bring to a Children's Hospital here in Westchester? This is such immature, cry baby bullshit.
For the record, I don't agree with the abuse of a take home car, but since nobody knows the facts here - let's stop speculating.
FACT: Some municipalities issue take-home vehicles for all kinds of staff members, including PD, FD, DPW and management folks.
FACT: Many of these municipalities don't have rules or regulations concerning the uses of these vehicles, and frankly don't even care.
FACT: A Westchester Fire Chief in Connecticut may be closer from point A in Westchester to point B in Connecticut then if he went to another location within Westchester County.
FACT: I see police officers, fire chiefs/commissioners, EMS officers, DPW bosses and governement officials using their take home cars for all kinds of things.
FACT: I never lose sleep over any of this. Neither should any of us. The same guys who are union firefighters that will come here asking all of us to "put aside our volunteer and paid BS" to help them keep their jobs also commonly take jabs at volunteers for dumb s*** like this. You can't play it one way all the time then flip it around and not expect people to call you out on it. Does it bother anyone else that WE are all our own worst enemies?!
Does it bother anyone else that Westchester County is literally a laughingstock to fire departments (paid and volunteer) outside of this area because of our never-ending bickering and dick-measuring contests?
Ugh!
Note: edited for grammar and layout improvement.

I guess to make sure everyone was healthy?!?!

During an interview with news 12 a Chief stated "we had to let it burn through the roof so we could find it"

Let's clarify our definitions before this thread starts rolling.
"Buff" is someone whose hobby is the FD, be it fires, fire apparatus, old tools, history, etc. A buff often appears at fires but is not involved with any part of the command structure. His position is to stay behind the fire lines and observe, take photos or videos, or discuss the strategy. Sometimes, he is well known and trusted by the IC, and is allowed to cross the fire lines and take pictures, but he cannot become involved in the operation. Also, both career and voll personnel are often found buffing, many are there not to buff but to learn strategy or tactics to better their knowledge of firefighting. Most buffs are not a problem. If they go where they are not supposed tb be, they are told to get back and usually comply.
"Freelancer" is someone who IS part of the command/operations structure but is not following the orders of his superiors or the incident action plan. For example, without an order, he may vent a window, discharge a hose line, enter a building without authorization, etc. A freelancer, by the way, can be a Chief from another department who is operating and giving orders like it was his fire instead of the actual IC. It could be a company that is assigned to the job, but is doing their own thing. Freelancers will get people killed. Yes!...straighten them out or get them off the fireground. Career FFs who are freelancing are easy to correct. Their freelancing can cost them 3 days pay or worse. Volls might take some schmoozing to correct the problem, but if it happens more than once, it's probably time to drop him from your rolls. I know it's hard to get volls to join, but losing a member is better than losing a life.
If there is really a problem, you can get a police officer and request an arrest for interfering with governmental operations. (That's if the freelancer isn't the cop)
Sorry Brothers in blue, I just couldn't pass that one up. I still like you guys.

Absolutely disgraceful. There is no excuse to leave an animal to suffer, throw it out alive and then use it for entertainment. You should be ashamed.

The exercise of the first amendment is a wonderful thing; we're one of the few places in the world where you have that. But just because they're opposed to things that I'm opposed to doesn't make them an ally so I have the same right to protest against their methods - not necessarily their message. I don't think "camping" in a park is the kind of protest that will effect change but that's just me and my first amendment talking.
It's refreshing to see that activism is alive and well but the "Occupy Wall Street" movement could take a few lessons from some of the great activists of our time who were articulate and convincing in their message. The double-talk gibberish that they use with the media further alienates me.
And I seriously doubt that any of these protesters want to see our wages increased and our pensions protected. That is part of the hypocrisy.
My two cents.

Wait, the protestors are the police and fire department's friends?
Is that why they defacate on RMPs, spit at Police Officers, pass out flyers that say "when to kill a cop," prevent cops from investigating sexual assaults and help the perpetrators avoid prosecution, prevent EMS from responding to medical emergencies and break an EMT's leg? With friends like those, who needs enemies?
I respect the right to protest. But the fact of the matter is any other group that wanted to protest in that park that way would have been kicked out months ago. These kids need to follow the rules like everyone else, we as a country have humored them for long enough.

LOL! Exactly my thoughts. It's nothing but another Woodstock without the music. Most of these imbosols don't even know why they're there!

These people should go back to "occupying" their parents' house, playing video games and getting stoned. Stop pretending you know why you're there!

Its commonly called pay per call or part time pay. You do know that then you can not right off your volunteer car use on your taxes and as a benefit, it may be taxed.
Ok then here is the real question, does it retain memebers?
The current active members who are showing up without this gas, are showing up because they want to, not because of the gas. So for them its not retention, its a payment (which if the community agrees, I see no problem with).
Those members who no longer contribute or have resigned are the ones you are then trying to retain and you need to ask 2 questions:
1) do you really want them back? Were the productive members or always just another body?
2) Will free gas bring them back.
Like most retention payments, the big question is will it really work or are we just throwing a little money away and claiming its working?

Just wanted to openly thank our Mutual Aid help for being there at this job. I also want to give a "tip of the hat" to our own guys and gals for putting forth an aggressive attack on a stubborn fire. A job well done by everyone on scene.
Unit rundown
Croton FD units: 2081, 2082, E118, E119, E120, TL44, T10, R18
Ossining FD units: 2331, 2334, E98, TL42, U51
Montrose FD units: 2273, E121
Yorktown FD units: E272
Buchanan FD units: 2551, U12
Cortlandt VAC: 88B3
Ossining VAC: 36M1, 74B1
WCDES: Bat 10, C&O Zone 5
And thanks to Millwood FD for covering us and answering what I think was almost a dozen additional calls while we handled this fire.
I know there's some that were asking questions about this fire, so here's some info.
We were operating at a primary line and pole/transformer on fire at South Riverside and Oneida. We were repositioning E120 when the transformer exploded. I asked the crew of E120 to tell the patrons at Umami Cafe (next to Anton's) to stop standing outside to watch this transformer fire. As the guys were cutting across the lot of Anton's they heard some kind of a "bang" and saw black smoke dumping out of the building. At this time, they radioed me and I made my way over and saw it, giving the "10-75." At the time, all of our apparatus with the exception of TL44 were out on incidents. Luckily, the other incidents were in the middle of being given over to Con Ed, so they could respond to this fire. Car 2081 pulled up a minute or so later and assumed Command, and I took the "Operations" role.
The crews of E120 & T10 stretched a 300' preconnect to the B-side door. We took a quick look inside with the TIC, and could see the basement was the origin of this fire, and made a push downstairs. A 2nd line came in and protected the first line into the basement. As the additional companies arrived, crews made a primary of the restaurant and apartments upstairs (both negative), began horizontal ventillation and stretched an additional two lines in from side A.
We coordinated the basement fire attack with guys on the main level who opened up the floor to help the guys in the basement. While this was going on, part of the main level collapsed into the basement, pushing us back and eventually out of it. The fire was being fed by what we think was the gas line to the kitchen appliances, making it a royal PITA to extinguish, but we were successful in keeping it from taking a hold of the entire basement. The fire was in a 125 x 75 two story restaurant on first/apartments on 2nd building, with masonry block walls. The fire followed pipe chases up to the 2nd floor apartment. Crew made a push into here, only to find the floor burnt thru (glad they were sounding the floor as they advanced). They were able to get at it from a neighboring room and from the roof over the front of the restaurant.
Since the guys were taking a beating between the fire and the weather, I suggested to the IC early on to bring in an extra company for relief. This was when Montrose E121 came to work. Later on, when we realized we had been operating about 90 minutes, I then suggested to the IC to make it a full 2nd Alarm for relief, which brought E272 & TL42 in on the box. We were able to use the member from these three units to rotate personnel for relief as needed.
All in all, thanks to the weather and building construction, smoke was very heavy and wasn't lifting much, so the use of the TICs and old school sounding tactics allowed all of us to go home.

As long as they don't dumb down the test and or lower the standards, who cares?!

You mean like this:

or this:

I think you speak from a position ignorance, bigotry and intolerance rather than one tolerance, understanding and acceptance, and frankly that is just as dangerous.
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."-Martin Luther King Jr
"Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility for real peace"-Dalai Lama
"Fear always springs from ignorance"-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think its funny, that Northern Westchester seems to be the the new adopted word for vollie. very good. I also know my name is to the left and my town, but my views are all mine, not like others on here hiding behind a cute screen name or where they are from for what ever reason. I also like how this is fun for all. Someone is getting something out of every conversation no matter what the comment - As it should be, there are very smart people on this site. The Southern Westchester fires do have more BTU's, because a city block of fire burns hotter than a single house . I know Yorktown and all mutual aid company's did a good job at this fire because I was there. And yes, I do agree with all - that to many chiefs in the same place is a bad idea . And yes J. Flynn we would be open to some ideas, as all should be, if they want to be good at what they do, this is how we learn . Even though you are from Southern Westchester.

Define "extraordinary response" - I don't follow.
Not following you here. Are you saying neighbors can't respond to neighbors in case they have a fire at home? Please elaborate.
What's so amazing? Host FD's 3 rigs, MA source Engine, MA Dump Site engine, 5 MA Tankers, Cascade Unit, FAST. Again, not following you here.
While I agree a FAST company needs to be on scene as quick as possible, that location is very remote from Mohegan's HQ, as well as all of the other Mutual Aid that came in. Also, these times in the post above may no be 100% accurate, as the writer said.
I could be wrong, but I think I heard radio traffic stating a person may still be inside. If there's a chance someone is inside, I believe the OSHA 2 in / 2 out rule is not expected to be adhered to - and according to said rule, your apparatus operators may count as your "two out." When we arrived, there was at least 10-12 members of the YHFD on location, so I am sure all of them didn't go inside initially.
Still would have to call Tankers...
Not 100% true, there are guys out there (myself included) that believe things can be done better, but with what we all have at our disposal at the moment - we do the best we can. Yorktown and Croton are two neighboring departments that have done plenty of assessments to see what we can do to help ourselves and our customers, which has led to automatic aid responses of FASTs, Tankers, etc. We may not be a "consolidated" group, but our intentions are for the best of all involved, given what we have available to us right now.

We've used a number of different instructors and training companies for training over the years. Some good, some great, some not so good.
I'm calling upon all of you in the know for your assistance.
If you were looking to host any of the following programs, who would you utilize?
You don't have to answer publicly, you can send me a PM.
PS - this isn't a survey or motivated by anything devious, I'm looking to bring some new stuff to our department.
Thanking you all in advance!
- Extrication Training
- Rope Rescue Training
- Water / Ice Rescue Training
- Coast Guard classes
- Boat Operations
- Elevator Rescue Operations
- Officer Development
- FAST/RIT and Mayday Operations
- Anything else you can think of.

This is the truest statement thus far. I'm not going to make blanket statements about ESU vs. FD rescue operations because mistakes and accidents can happen to anyone at any time. However, FDNY truck Co.'s have the manpower advantage. With the Hurst tool and the extensive airbag equipment, it is much easier to effect a rescue when you have 5 firemen and one officer. Those firemen each have a position. One will take the tools, one the power unit, another is on chocks, ect.... ESU has only 2 members until additional units arrive and that could take quite some time.
Lifting something that weighs 3,000+lbs demands time and careful protocol. This is a terrible mistake, regardless of the fact that the individual was probably mortally wounded already. We won't know what really went wrong for sometime. All we have now is a fuzzy video and some civilian (who don't know sh!t) commentating.

A Post-Incident Review is in planning, until then I can only offer some information.
The original caller reported a raft in the water behind her house on Truesdale Drive (south of Silver Lake Park). The original assignment of E120, TL44, R18 and EMS was dispatched.
Car 2083 arrived and assumed the initial command. While investigating the vessel and asking bystanders, it was revelaed that this raft was occupied by 5 men, none of which were in the raft. At this point, Assistant Chief Vlad confirmed that this was a swift water incident and requested Yorktown FD's Dive/Water Rescue Unit (per our SOG) and E119 for additional personnel.
At this point, I was leaving work and heading back to town in my POV, sans a trunked radio, so I don't know the specifics of what was requested nor updates given by the IC.
As I was entering our area, one of my Past Captains was giving an "Urgent" on our fireground radio reporting our boat had overturned and we had 3 members in need of EMS evaluation at the Echo Canoe Boat Launch (south of the train station). At almost the same time, another Officer giving an "Urgent" reported members rescued additional victims near Maio's Landing off of Nordica Drive and also needed EMS.
When I got to our command post, I assumed command and kept 2083 in charge of the operations section. At this point, Croton PD made a grab of the victim that succumbed to his injuries. Personnel began CPR on him, but he did not survive.
As Yorktown FD M55, Croton PD Boat 2 and the TRT's Zodiac worked their way up to the scene, we confirmed that we could account for four of the five victims. While the boats searched the river, personnel were located on both sides of the river from as far up as Croton Dam to the end of the river where it meets the Hudson. At a point (not sure of the time) one of my other Past Captains and a member of the WCTRT radioed that he had a visual of victim #5. Despite valiant efforts by all boats, they could not reach this victim.
Members of the WCTRT then went upstream and made an in-water rescue attempt, which was unsuccessful. While they planned, made and terminated this effort, personnel began formulating additional plans to reach him. While another attempt using a portable ladder in the water as a better "reaching point" was being established, units started to advise me that the victim was now free of the tree he was grasping and heading downstream. Luckily, the 3 Zodiac units were all in position below his location, and CPD's unit grabbed him and brought him to awaiting EMS at the mouth of the Croton River.
As the IC, I can sum up the whole thing in two words: "pucker factor." I was nervous the entire time about the well-being of all the guys working their asses off trying to rescue this guy. When the transmissions came over that he was loose, I could feel myself clench up, hoping that we could not only find him, but rescue him vs. recover him.
I can not give enough credit to the Croton PD boat, Yorktown FD Water Rescue Team, County Tech Rescue Team and all others on the ground and in the air that worked together to bring this event to a close without any injuries or worse to emergency personnel.
Units that operated:
Croton FD: 2082 (IC), 2083 (Ops), E119, E120, TL44, R18, M32
Croton EMS: 55B1, 55B2
Ossining FD: 2332, 2334, E96, E99, TL42, R14, U51 w/ Zodiac
Ossining EMS: 7405, 36M1, 74A1, 74B1
Cortlandt VAC: 88B1, 88B2
Peekskill EMS: 7511, 75B1
Briarcliff FD EMS: 53B2
Sleepy Hollow EMS: 73B2
Mt. Pleasant ALS: 37M1
Peekskill FD ALS: 39M1 (2 Medics)
Yorktown FD: 2531, R55, M55
Montrose FD: 2271, E121, R51 (Lighting), U53 (Rehab bus)
Montrose VAFD: 2571, MA28 (Lighting)
Irvington FD: 2202, R49 (Divers)
Millwood FD: 2253, R36 (Lighting)
Pleasantville EMS: 7605 (Rehab)
Westchester DES: Car 5/EMS 1, Bat 10, Bat 12, R77, U77, Zodiac
Westchester County PD: Multiple Supervisors, M3
Ossining PD: M15
Croton PD: Multiple Cars, Marine 2
NYSP: Multiple cars, Aviation Unit
NYPD: Aviation Unit
Covering Croton
Peekskill FD: 2342, E131 (who covered 2 additional calls in our district)
Cortlandt EMS: 88B1, relieved by Sleepy Hollow 73B2.
I believe Verplanck 83B1 covered another incident in Croton during this call as well.
On a side note, unless one lives under a rock, this incident has been all over the news. The County and Village have shut all parks and access to the Croton River due to the ongoing currents... and TODAY, Croton PD had to remove 10-20 people - including children - from the Croton River. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!
On behalf of the Croton Fire Department, we thank everyone for their assistance. We couldn't have done it without you.

Well this is truly amazing. According to lohud, over 60 police units had to respond from as far south as Tuckahoe to deal with this unreasonable and unruly crowd. Why? Because their "muslim sensibilities" were insulted? Give me a freakin' break. The rules are posted and for certain rides, there is to be NO WEARING OF ANY TYPE OF HEADGEAR period.
Why do these people think they are exempt from the rules, the laws? I know what they would like; Sharia Law. Their own version of a justice system implemented in the countries they emigrate to. I think that is a disgusting disgrace, as were the actions of these supposedly "religious" people at the Playland park.
Look, you people want to assimilate in this country, fine. I guess we have to let some of you in. But if you don't like the system, the rules in place... TOO F'IN BAD, go back to the place you came from.
The difference between these people and the ancestors of many of us here in this forum is our great-grandparents had a huge desire to assimilate into the American culture. That's why on my mother's side, they came from Italy, moved into the south Bronx and gave up teaching their native language to their children, my mother, and therefore I don't know Italian today as a result. I wish that part were different, but the point being these people were so anxious to "fit in" they even gave up their language. Italian was forbidden to be spoken in the house by my great-grandparents, as a result their great-grandchildren only speak English.
Now these muslims with their headgear, the hijab, they can't even get on the Dragon Coaster without starting a ruckus? Like Playland OWES them something, like WE owe them anything? They should kiss the ground of freedom they walk upon, shut their damn mouths, follow the rules, or else.
What a waste of PD resources to have to direct half the cars on patrol up to Playland because these freaking people were "insulted"! Enough! Fit in or GET OUT!
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110830/NEWS02/110830004/Police-arrest-15-Playland-dispute-over-Muslim-headwear?odyssey=nav|head

There wasn't much to the photos, just a dead body. I can understand how this may disturb some, but she did seem in pretty good shape considering the kinetics involved (externally, that is - she had some pretty extensive internal trauma according to the ME report). In all honesty, i find the images less of an issue then the crap that we see on commonly available cable channels. I would rather have teenagers view this documentary and see the end results of poor decision making then have them view the glorification of teenage pregnancy on MTV. Thats just me, however.

I think cops pull too many cars over. I'm staging a protest on I287.
Morons...