spin_the_wheel

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Everything posted by spin_the_wheel

  1. Outstanding, good luck with the rig, a few tillers will be delivered to the area soon, in Rockland Suffern FD is getting an all White Seagrave tiller, and Haverstraw is getting a KME as well both tractors are done for both rigs. Glad to see these companies are still running tillers.
  2. I see the Greenville FD website states that "the greenville Fire District has chosen to forgo active participation in this commission because it appears remote that consolidation wil benefit the Edgemont community." Thay also have a newsletter on line which explains the Districts's position on why it is not in the best interest. Pretty interesting.
  3. http://www.fdrantradio.com
  4. FDNY dispatch has alot of history, traditions and pride in what they do. Plus if your into the fire service side of things why wouldnt you want to move there? JMO.
  5. Check out I think this months Firehouse, or one of the mags, it lists a few recent incidents from FD's paid and Volunteer..including on duty sex between career firefighters, 3 guys and 1 girl I think...so it slips through everywhere. Also we dont know what was done, the Chiefs may have found out about this when it hit the papers, IM sure something wa done as soon as this came to light to the Chiefs and or Board if they have one. be safe all!
  6. What makes Officers in any Dept.Career or Volunteer think this is ok? And where does it say the Chiefs accept this behavior? There are idiots that slip through the cracks in any job you can think of, including employees of the "White House"!!! Im sure he will be dismissed from the Dept. Dont make this a volunteer only thing.
  7. Well Done Goose, Keith Fairben was a very active member of the Floral Park FD that borders my Dept. in Nassau County, a great guy. RIP Keith and to ALL the heroes that day no matter what badge they wore.
  8. A very nice site from one of the Companies in my Dept http://www.elmontengine703.com
  9. Thank you for the info, the reports I have read only metioned John Kelly as a Tarrytown f/f. My thoughts to both families and to the Tarrytown FD and DPW. RIP Brothers.
  10. Both men were Tarrytown firefighters?
  11. For the most part, at any time in a Chiefs Office, you will have Chiefs that are interested in making some changes for the better, and some who just like to keep things the same. As long as you can all get along, and find your role, let the Chiefs who want to make some changes, weather it policy or procedure do it, no matter where in the pecking order they may sit. Let them create drafts of plans to put in place for the future. Another important note about trying to work on a long term project is to let the Dept. know the plans you are working on. Each month most Dept.s have Officers meetings, Dept. meetings, Company meetings, inform the members of what plans you have. From my experience if it is a sound project, s.o.g, ect.. you will have the dept.s backing. Once its out there it will be hard to let it die, as long as others in the dept are aware of what you are trying to do. My Dept. runs as 8 individual companies, so what will happen during the election process is the Chiefs candidates will go around to each company making "presentations", or simply a speech once a month for a few months leading up to the election. This is the time to ask the candidate questions, and if an idea is out there that may take a few years to complete, ask the person "Are you in favor of finishing or adding to Chief "so and so's" idea about........" Another way to finish projects is to have a separate policy and procedure committee, that will operate under the recommendations of the Chiefs Office, as well as work with the Chiefs. This committee will continue to work procedures and out live individual Chiefs terms. Out going Chiefs can also join this group when they are out of office, especially if it is a specific project they maybe have started while in office. The key to seeing your projects through is not so much your term in Office but by being persistent, doing your research and determination to see these projects through. Most ideas usually start when you are a line Officer...how many times have you heard all ranks of f/f's saying "If I were Chief I would....." well, you dont need to be a Chief or even Officer to make a draft of a policy or procedure, it may not go anywhere now but if you plan on moving up the ranks, you may be able to put some of your "notes" to use in the future.
  12. Great point...with all the scrutiny going down, it would be wise to let the response stay as originally dispatched. Every move and every alarm they get will be looked at.
  13. Thank you for that info, I would not cancel units if this were the situation.
  14. Keeping it on a "quality of management" issue, I dont see how he did anything wrong in letting the closest Engine continue in, if the info received justified doing that. BUT you may have more info on this then I do, and if the alarm company did not give a good reason to reduce response then the Chief made a wrong move. I'd love to know what was said anyone know thats willing to share? He made a "promise" not to cancel units in a public forum, but he also made a promise to his members, and if keeping needless apparatus responding was justified he did nothing wrong.
  15. You are right but the article does not tell us the full story of what was told to the FD form the alarm co....if it went something like...."Chief 1, control, ADT called back security on scene is reporting they were loading hay into the barn and knocked a smoke head off" Thats good enogh for me to knock down the response, which thye did, they had 2 Engines still reposnd in. The article does not say what the alarm Co. said.
  16. This opens a whole new can of worms...about false automatic alarms and risk vs. reward so to speak. I think this is being made a big deal because of the Dept.s involved and the situation in Stamford. Depending on the info and who it came from, I see nothing wrong with canceling units from the initial response. My Dept. covers Belmont Race Track, the response is a general alarm, 4 Engines, 2 ladders and a heavy rescue 24/7. If we receive addtional info from security on scene giving a good reason why the alarm is a false activation,(like a horse kicking and breaking a sprinkler head or pipe causing a waterflow, not uncommon when dealing with occupied barns and stables) we will modify the response, this includes a cancel of half of the units, cancel all but 1 Engine or even making it a Chiefs response only. Again depending on the info given as a Chief I would rather cut the response or just have a Chief respond then have up to 7 rigs responding to a flase alarm.
  17. It's the NEW "Top Secret EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle" for the new movie sequel "Stripes 2"!!!!
  18. "She's Good People"....I always liked the "good people" line.
  19. No, actually, thats when they become a COMBINATION Dept., WITH VOLUNTEERS...happens every year around the country, this scenario happens more then going ALL PAID, espiecially with a busy Dept. like a Somers. If I read right Somers FD is going to handle the 2nd or 3rd ambulance calls...I dont see how this is not sufficiently dealing with the problem. Most BUSY all volunteer Depts run EMS calls, as the primary agency, with this being the bulk of the alarms. That said this part of the service is usually the most taxing on an agency and it's people. 1 ambulance call can take almost an hour or more in some cases. Then you add a second or 3rd alarm, and the people that responded to the first call are out for 3 hours. It's usually the same day crew people and this "2 for" or "3 for" happens many times a week. It's not about "not willing" to do the calls, it's what is practical for someone, especially in a home response system. The options are in house duty crews or have a paid crew. Unlike the fire calls where you may be on a run for a 1/2 hour or less for most of the bells and smells calls, and be at the "worker" that may take 2-3 hours 2 times a month. The bulk of the work is EMS which equals alot of time, the days of the "scoop" and run ambulance are over. Thats the facts. Volunteers can still do the fire duty but the EMS part is what is a stress to the angency. Having the paid crew and a volunteer crew can off set each other. Works fine elsewhere.
  20. It starts as a probie, the way you conduct yourself between the things you need to learn, as well as the stuff you have to deal with in that role. Self control, self discipline and a sense of humor (a must). Being a team player, respecting the chain of command and "pecking" order both formal and informal. Giving 100% all the time, taking responsibility for mistakes and always learn from them. Never forget you dont know it all, and never will, so keep your eyes and ears open. Just a few off the top of my head...good topic.
  21. You can buy it on ebay...well not really the same size...but its expensive!!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/AHRENS-FOX-FIREFIGHTER-FIRE-TRUCK-/360288087672?pt=Diecast_Vehicles
  22. Check out page 26 and 27 of todays Daily News...this is just what I was talking about, there is going to be some major changes to civil service jobs, unions are going to have to give a little, the politicians are looking hard at the system in place now. Check it out.
  23. In Nassau County we hear the group 16 Departments load and clear on our 46.20 freq.
  24. I wonder what the Lt, Capt and Chiefs payscales are? The problem that is starting to happen now is that civil service salaries are starting to be real nice in many areas. Back in the day it was understood that most civil service jobs, PD, FD, Sanatation ect...had rather low pay, BUT it was a secure job, with a pension and full medical paid for. What you lacked in salary you made up with the extras. You knew this taking a civil service position, people in the PD and FD did it for the love of the job and almost everyone would say "your not going to be rich being in this job". These jobs all went under the microscope for the most part. The times are changing now...payscales are starting to be very high, the difference between White and Blue collar jobs is not as much as it used to be. And when you consider the pensions and full paid medical as part of the package, these jobs are now in many ways better then White collar, espiecially with all the layoffs in the White collar world the last decade. These civil service jobs are now drawing the attention of the public and politicians. This has been going on in my neck of the woods with the Nassau County PD for years, Nassau and Suffolk are some of, if not, the highest paid Patrolman positions in the country. Politicians and the public are starting to put these jobs in the spotlight and backlash from the public has started some of which I have never seen before. Im a union guy, so I know the public is looking at out payscales like never before. Unions are going to have to take a fresh look at the landscape now and 10 years from now. I know many union members are taking cuts, redoing contracts and other things to save jobs. I know my union has made cuts after a contract was in place to save jobs and full paid health, but for how long.