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Doc, according to their website, Broom Fire , Engine 97 and 98, are also on board. bvfd, One of the things that helps mkae it work is that you can have a fully staffed engine but not all the FF's have to be from the same department. You could theoretically end up with 5 or 6 guys all from different departments, thereby not depleting any one department of its daytime manpower. As far as response time, the county set this up to only cover certain areas. While the resopnse time might be longer if they had to go 2 towns away, how long would it be to resound the first due company a couple of times and then dispatch mutual aid? I know our policy is if we are not out the door in 4 minutes, we are resounded. After another 3 minutes, we are resounded again and the next closest department is dispatched. So, 7 minutes waiting for someone to respond or have an engine already on the road from the get go? Moose, that's pretty much the idea. Guys that can do it sign up. They have an online calender where you can sign up for a shift. They get a crew together and basically hang out at the host company. I believe they cover 7a-5p.

I think regionalization is a place to start. The duplication of services because everybody has their "turf" is probably one of the biggest wastes of taxpayers money. Look at Battalion 3 in Orange County. This covers most of the Town of Newburgh, including the City of Newburgh. An area of 42+/- square miles covered by 8 Departments out of 11 (?) stations. Not counting Air Guard as they are mostly a specialized department, you have a minimum of 3 ladders, 2 towers, 14 engines, 5 rescues, 9 miscellaneous, and 4 boats. Add in Plattekill that has a station in the town and you bring an additional 2 engines, 2 tankers, and 4 misc. Can you tell me that if just the Town of Newburgh consolidated fire districts that there wouldn't be a surplus of equipment? What about if counties consolidated? However, getting back to the original topic, 4 FF including driver and officer on each apparatus. Minimum qualifications: FF1, Haz-Mat Ops, FF Survival, CFR or EMT-B. For drivers, previous plus EVOC, Pump Ops, Line Officers: previous plus Fire Officer 1. That would be for an engine company. Rescue Companies should have all the above plus AVET. Truck Companies should have above plus Truck Company Ops. Capts and Cheifs should have Fire Officer 2, as well as Cause and Origin/ FI

Length Of Service Awards Program. I'm sure someone can explain it better, and there are differences from district to district, but I will tell you how it works for me. Each year, I have to accumulate 50 "points". These points are broken down into various catagories such as elected position, fire calls, meetings, drills, etc. There are maximum #'s of points available in each catagory. Each year that I attain my 50 points, I receive a credit. I need 5 credits to be vested in the system. At the age of 60, I can begin collecting. We receive $20 per month, per credit. Assuming 30 years of service at age 60, I could collect $600 per month.

Is it my imagination, or are there more patients being medivac'd to AMC? I have been reading a lot of press reports lately that mention a patient being flown to AMC. Seems most of them are from mid and northern Dutchess or Ulster counties, but I swear that some have also been from Outer Orange and Sullivan counties. Is there something going on that they are by-passing St Francis or WMC?

In the winter I work for a company delivering home heating oil. When people pay with a CC, the card company makes more than the owner. For those of you who heat with oil and haven't bought any lately, it is very close to $5.00/gal.

National Weather Service did confirm that is was a tornado that hit us in T/Newburgh Monday evening.

In 13 years I have had 2 scopes. The first being an ADC that I think I paid about $15 for. I still have it and it works fine. The second one is a Littman Classic 2 that was given to me by a friend. I spent $10 for new ear pieces. I can hear better with it and it is my primary. I use the ADC now as a backup, loaner, or keep it in my personal bag.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to watch one work a scene. He came down from the Kingston area I believe. Orange County didn't have one then. I don't know if they do now. He was a black lab. It was really neat to watch. He alerted on several points of origin.

But why is it that the cops are exempt from the same laws?. Or is it a case of "What do you mean I broke the law? I am the law!" Every day I see cops from either the town or SP who drive over the speed limit, without seatbelts, talking on cell phones, turning without signaling, passing on the right, or my personal favorite, hitting the lights and siren to get through/around traffic or through the busy intersection/red light. But I guess it's ok for them. Nobody's going to write them a ticket. Face it. The whole idea of coordinated enforcement has more to do with revenue enhancement than anybody's safety. The same goes for the annual "Roadcheck" program that targets commercial vehicles. But that is another issue.

Like I said, "According to the Office of Rumor Control...." I agree that if there was an accountability problem, then that needed to be addressed. Trees will grow back. As far as a government agency not being that stupid...? Well, what can I say? I've been in the military and worked for both local and state government agencies. There are countless examples of government stupidity. As for those of you who believe you can trust the government to do the right thing, sure you can, just ask any Indian. (Native American for you PC type).

According to the Office of Rumor Control, since it had been some 50 years since that much of the area had been burned, DEC had been looking at doing a burn off there. When they (DEC) showed up on scene, they ordered the chief to pull his guys out, questioning their accountability system (or lack thereof). By the time DEC let them back in, it had gotten out of control. Maybe not entirely by accident.

Has anyone taken the NREMT recently? I was trying to find out more about it, but didn't get what I was looking for on the NREMT website. It seems that for EMT-B, there is just the written (computer) test. Is there no practical test at the basic level? That doesn't seem right, but the info they post on testing only mentions the hands on stuff for EMT-I and Paramedic. Maybe I'm not looking n the right area. If someone has info on this or can point me to the right info, I would appreciate this.

OK, a little more research and I found what I was looking for. From NREMT: Registration Entry Requirements Individuals applying for EMT-Basic registration must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the national registration as an EMT-Basic. Applicant must be 18 years of age or older.Successfully complete, within the last two (2) years, a state-approved National Standard EMT-Basic education program, as developed and promulgated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Candidates who are not state certified and fail to become registered within two (2) years following EMT-Basic course completion must retake the entire EMT-Basic educational program. If the candidate's initial training is beyond two (2) years and the candidate has maintained state certification, the candidate must complete a current state approved EMT-Basic refresher training program. Refresher training programs must be completed within the past two (2) years and meet or exceed the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation EMT-Basic Refresher Training Program, National Standard Curriculum. If the candidate's initial training is beyond two (2) years and state certification has not been maintained, the candidate must complete the entire EMT-Basic education program. Successfully complete, within the past twelve months, all sections of a state-approved EMT-Basic practical examination that equals or exceeds the established criteria of the National Registry.Truthfully complete the Licensing Action and Felony statements on the application and submit the requested documentation if necessary.Possess a current CPR Credential at the healthcare provider or equivalent levelA non-refundable/non-transferable application fee of $70.00 to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, must be submitted with the application to cover the cost of processing the application. Please Note - Each examination attempt will require an additional application and an additional application fee. Successfully complete the above requirements and the National Registry EMT-Basic cognitive examination.Return to Top Expiration Date Initial expiration dates are established in reference to the date of initial registration. Individuals initially registered during the first six months of the year will revert to the beginning of that year for an anniversary date. Those initially registered during the last six months of the year will begin their biennium the first day of the following year. All subsequent re-registration periods will be for the full two-year period running from April 1 through March 31. For example: Individuals successfully completing the examination between the dates of January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007, will receive an expiration date of March 31, 2009. Individuals successfully completing the examination between the dates of July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, will receive an expiration date of March 31, 2010. Return to Top Lapsed Registration To be reinstated once EMT-Basic national registration has lapsed, the candidates must: If lapsed within a two-year period, document successful completion of a state-approved DOT National Standard EMT-Basic Refresher education program within the past two (2) years; submit a new application and fee; and successfully complete the NREMT-Basic cognitive examination and state-approved practical examination (within the past 12 months) that meets or exceeds Registry standards. If lapsed beyond a two-year period and still currently state-certified at the EMT-Basic level, document successful completion of a state-approved DOT National Standard EMT-Basic Refresher Training Course within the past two (2) years; submit a new application and fee; and successfully complete the NREMT-Basic cognitive examination and state-approved practical examination (within the past 12 months) that meets or exceeds Registry standards. If lapsed beyond a two-year period and state certification at the EMT-Basic level has also lapsed, document successful completion of a new state-approved DOT National Standard EMT-Basic education program within the past two (2) years; submit a new application and fee; and successfully complete the NREMT-Basic cognitive examination and state-approved practical examination (within the past 12 months) that meets or exceeds Registry standards. Thanks evryone. <A class=topLink href="http://www.nremt.org/EMTServices/reg_basic_history.asp#top">

I'm not in a class now. I refreshed last year. I seem to recall that if you refreshed within a certain time frame of taking the NR, you didn't have to take the practical. But again, I didn't find that info on their website. I'm looking at a job out of state and in order to get reciprocity, you have to be NR.

Obit from TH-Record (4/2/08) Jeffrey Alan ReistadTown of Newburgh, NY Jeffrey Alan Reistad of the Town of Newburgh, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at home. He was 30. Son of Dennis and Janet Hansen Reistad, he was born October 21, 1977 in Newburgh, NY. "Jeff's personality was that of a gentle, caring person with a very giving nature. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone whenever needed. He will be missed by all who knew him and will be welcomed in heaven by his grandmother, Cora." Jeff attended Newburgh schools and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy. He was the owner of "Relax and Call Jeff" landscaping. He was also a 15-year member of the Dan Leghorn Engine Co., currently serving as Lieutenant. He is survived by his loving parents at home; loving sisters, Jenee Bailey and her husband, Chris of Pine Bush, and Denise Carpenter and her husband, Ben of San Francisco, CA, and many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm on Friday, April 4, at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh, NY 12550. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, in the funeral home, with the Rev. Thomas Hendricks officiating. Cremation will follow at Cedar Hill Crematory. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeff's memory may be made to the Dan Leghorn Fire Engine Co., 426 South Plank Rd., Newburgh, NY 12550. To send a condolence or for directions to the funeral home, please visit BrooksFH.com or call 845-561-8300.

When I worked for NYS, I sometimes came in late because of a fire call. Just had to bring in a form letter the Dept has signed by the chief. Occaissionally, I would take time during the day if I happened to be close by. Most of the time I worked in a different county so it wasn't an issue. The best was the day we were on scene for 12 hrs. We were 4 hrs into the call before I could call my supervisor. He didn't like it, but there was nothing he could do about it. Currently, we have a member in our department who works for the town and is allowed to respond from work. He is almost always our top responder. We consider him our only paid member.

For those interested.... I just received the new OCCC Adult and Continuing Education Catalog. They are going to be offering a Paramedic Certificate program starting this summer. It looks like it will be done by/with/through Ulster's program.

Nope. It's been a month now since they took my info and said they would get back to me.

I would like to, but I seriously doubt it. Dutchess is closer as most of their classes are at the Wappingers site, but both are a little to much for my wallet. When I first got the OCC catalog, I called for more info but never got any. Do you know how much is OCC charging?

I didn't read all the replys to this topic, but I just wanted to say that my department tries, at least once a year, to include our local VAC in an extrication drill. We don't have rope rescue, low/high angle, confined space, collapse, or trench rescue teams. We did at one time have an underwater recovery team. We do, however, run a lot of MVA's and our heavy rescue gets a lot of use. We usually have a good turnout from them. Sometimes we will do the drill in their back lot and rope off an area for local residents to watch. We have to work together on these calls so it only makes sense to train together. We usually try to make the drill as realistic as possible by putting a live person in the drivers seat. After vehicle stabilization, we allow EMS to gain access to the patient and let them do their thing while we extricate. If anyone is interested, I'll let you know when the next time we do this.

I am looking for EMT's, (B,I,P) who may be interested in per diem work in industrial or large scale heavy construction settings. This would be a non-transporting, BLS, first responder type position. At this time, the project is in the conceptual stage. I am looking to put together a list of individuals who may be interested in the future should anything come of it. Interested individuals should have minimum 3-5 years EMS experience, preferably with fire/rescue background. They should also have some working knowledge of industrial facilities and large scale construction operations and the equipment involved. Please email me if you are interested or have any questions. wlec57@aol.com

I don't understand why they have to wait. Why can he only be suspended? Why, as suggested in another post, should they have to ask him to resign? Don't the members of the department get to vote on his membership when he joins? Do they not have a membership committee, rules/regulations, by-laws, etc? In my department, just the original charge of the theft from the department would have been enough to get him booted, not just suspended. His actions, as reported, would be considered as conduct unbecomming a firefighter. That, in itself, should be grounds for dismissal from the department.

Back to the OP. I guess the initial reporting was somewhat premature. Todays paper had another follow up that is a little more encouraging. http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll.../801220334/1001

OK. So to get back the OP's question. If my dept. doesn't answer tones within 3 minutes we are automatically resounded and our other dept in district is called. If we answer that we are assembling but haven't responded, County will call to see if we are responding. At that point, if we can't respond, OIC/Senior FF will instruct County to resound and also dispatch other dept. In addition to the dept chiefs, (2 Seperate Depts = 4 Chiefs), there are also 2 District Chiefs. It is rare that the above protocol has to be followed but it has occurred. In any case, either apparatus or a chief is on the road, usually within 3-5 minutes.

In honor of Veteran's Day. Originally named Armistice Day, November 11, was the day that the agreement ending WWI was signed. It was signed at 11am. Apparently, for many years, fire sirens and church bells were rung at 11 am on 11/11. This practice eventually went away and Veteran's Day became just another day off of school/work and another excuse for stores to have a "sale". A few years ago, my nieces wrote to their elected officials about this. The county legislature picked it up and adopted a resolution that fire sirens in the county would sound at 11 am, on November 11th.