JBE

Nobody should be riding the backstep of a rig, parade or otherwise. If you can't march, ride in the rig with the chauffer. After the parade is over and members are hanging on the rigs like idiots(Which most of us, myself included, are guilty of), this is where it's incumbent on the chief to put a stop to it.

I'm reserving my judgement till later on in the season. I was glad to see Matsui go. We'll see what happens with the bullpen. I was down in Philly over the weekend and watched Scott Kazmir pitch. CURSE YOU JIM DUQUETTE!!!!! This kid is awesome and should never have been traded away for that POS Zambrano. It's too bad the Mets can't get Kazmir back because Zambrano was obviously damaged goods.

If this is the City Island incident from a few years ago, the supervisor was disciplined, and the 911 operator was given a letter of reprimand. Don't start me on that one.

I just finished listening to both tapes. I am so calling BS on their union leader. I heard that kid clear as day. At no time did he sound like he was playing around. In my professional opinion(7 yrs. FDNY Dispatcher, nearly 2 as a Supervisor), both dispatchers are guilty of neglect of duty. I wanted to give them both the benefit of the doubt, but, there's no getting around it. The first dispatcher says she's going to send a car, and she didn't. The second one used three words you should NEVER use as a dispatcher, "I don't care". Like I said in the first topic, it's not uncommon to become jaded after so many prank calls. This isn't being jaded, this was two people being incredibly stupid. While I don't think either should be jailed, they should be dismissed. No lawsuit is going to bring that lady back, nor is it going to get the family rich. This is one of those things where I actually feel bad for the two dispatchers because with the City immune from liability, they are both going to get hung out to dry, as opposed to the City settling.

I haven't listened to the tapes, but from reading this story, I also call BS. You play back the tapes, antiquated equipment or not. In my experience, you know when it's a prank. Like a kid in the North end of the Bronx calling in a fire in Brooklyn. I have one simple rule when it comes to this sort of thing, "When in doubt, Turn 'em out". However, to say that these two women should be charged with manslaughter is taking it a bit too far. Is there anything that says the patient wasn't already dead before the child called?? I'm sorry to say folks, but getting fired and losing a pension is IMHO what these two deserve, not jail time. (Quote) It is "absolutely ludicrous" for a professional dispatcher to ever take it upon themselves to assume or determine any 911 call is a prank. (Quote) First rule in Dispatching, never assume anything. Secondly, like previously stated, as a professional dispatcher, we can and do determine when a call is a prank. We have that authority. There are times when you can tell, and no action is taken. Other times, if it's just a child yelling fire and hanging up, units get sent. Refer to the "When in doubt" quote.

From what I've heard, it's a tight squeeze with the tiller. Not sure the lockers or other firehouse stuff.

As of yesterday the move was made. The Dept. Order says it's temporary, yeah right.

Best of luck to all of them from the Rock and Roll Supervisor.

It's about time.

Take it from somebody who just got married this past Sunday to my lovely wife, Jennifer. Get ready for a long and stressful ride with all the wedding planning. I was stunned at how much I didn't know about it. It'll be worth it when the big day comes. God bless both of you and best of luck to ya.

I was thinking over by Ryans Field over by the stream.

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. This weekend, the old blue eyed weirdo will be getting himself married. It's been an interesting trip to say the least. I just hope when all is said and done, it's worth all the aggravation me and my fiance have had to deal with over the past year or so. For you married guys out there, I will see you on the other side of the rainbow. For you single guys out there, I will let you know what it's like. And for all you buffs out there, I will let you know what the Honolulu Fire Department is like. See y'all in a few weeks. And for TBendick, thank you for tolerating my drunk @$$ the other night.

Here's a few I took.. This picture was taken by FF Danny Alfonso in 2002 at a 4th Alarm in the Bronx. Jeeze did I look heavy.

Now that there is something you don't see everyday. Have to give her the E for effort.

I haven't ridden MN in ages, and never ridden LIRR. I see the trains regularly in my travels. I guess the single door gives enough room to allow for quick egress??

Oh boy, not this bunch again. These people picket EVERYWHERE!!! They are convinced that homosexuals and condoning their behavior is going to bring this country to its knees. These people love it when a gay person is killed in a hate crime, they rejoiced when New Orleans got trashed by Hurricane Katrina. They rejoiced when Sept. 11th happened. They believe it is Gods' punishment of America. Unfortunately, there are people out there who hide their hatred behind the cloth of the clergy, regardless of religious beliefs. If you ever want to read some of the crap they preach, here's their websites. The link below will also link you to the main site, the title of which isn't appropriate for this website. www.godhatesamerica.com Enjoy!!

It appears that I am not looking at this from an EMD standpoint. However, I stand by my previous statements. Unfortunately, with the public and press complaining about higher response times, my job is to get the information out to the units in the quickest, most efficient manner possible. So they can get to a scene in a quick and efficient manner, following set protocols. No call is ever routine. Doing the right thing by the patient/person in need is correct, no doubt. But, it's a double edged sword. If a unit is directed to respond silently, and something bad happens, who is going to be responsible?? Those who ask for help will be the first ones to try and burn you if something goes sour. And as for not having the best interests of the public in mind, I can only speak for myself. Not only do I have their best interests in mind, I also have my best interests and the interests of the department I work for. In this lovely age of sue everybody for everything, It's not a chance I as a dispatcher am willing to take.

My attitude on this subject is pretty simple. You need help, we send the help. It's not what the caller wants. We are in the business of emergency service. Not in the food service where we give the customer a ham on rye with mayo and hold the tomatoes. If the officer of the responding apparatus wants to turn off the lights and siren a block or two out, that's up to them. In most of my dealings with the public, the request for a silent response is usually coupled with the request only to send one piece of apparatus. Mind you, it's an odor of smoke in a 7 story OMD. It is then followed with the concern of being embarassed or the neighbors being nosy. Personally, I don't give a rat's @$$ if you are embarassed, or if your neighbors look at you a little strange. You asked for help, you get help. I think you would be more embarassed if you didn't call and your building or neighbor was burned out. I understand the concerns of the public, but I don't agree with it. Simply as stated before, the one time you go silent and it goes sour on you, what are you going to do then. Respond safely, folks.

I've heard a couple of different counts for September 11th. I think it was somewhere between 16 and 20 alarms. This is including the 3rd alarm for staging in Brooklyn. For anyone who doesn't know what they mean by a Borough Call, It's actually a pretty simple concept. I'm doing this from memory, so be patient. Let's say for arguments sake, a 5th alarm has been transmitted for Manhattan Box 715(5th Ave. and W 34 St. Bonus to anyone who knows what's there.) The chief needs more help. So he requests a Borough Call. The way it worked was, you would send an assignment from a particular box in another borough to Box 715. Example: A second alarm assignment for Bronx Box 3133(Vyse Ave and E 179 St) would be dispatched to Manhattan Box 715. From how it was explained to me by the old timers, it was usually a third alarm assignment of engines and trucks. I think the bells went like 3-3-3133-5-5-715(Bronx and Manhattan use the same borough identifier). Throw in Queens or Brooklyn and it got interesting. Relocations on the bells were apparently a lot of fun too. If anyone has any questions about the bell signals, let me know. We still use them in record keeping when the computer crashes. We still use the "Squawk Boxes", it's called the Voice Alarm, and we test it every day at 0845.

The CAD has pre determined assignment cards for each box in the city. We have the paper cards as a back up when the computer crashes. We have a computerized back up with assignment cards, but they aren't completely accurate. Please understand George, FDNY fire dispatch is working with a CAD system developed in the 1970's. For all its faults, the damn thing works.

To add to my previous statement about content, there was a photo I saw in the NY Post that made me think twice about some photos that were taken. Recently, I was asked about info regarding a fatal accident on the 59th Street Bridge. It was on the Queens approach, which has a really nasty turn that has been the death of a number of people over the years. I didn't have any info, passed along my condolences and that was it. Then I saw the picture of this poor fella laying in the street covered in a bloody sheet. I think this adds a little insult to injury. The diagram of the accident should, IMO have been enough to show this mans' tragic last ride. I know if it bleeds it leads, but I think the diagram would have been enough. Things have definitely changed from the days when it wasn't uncommon to see pictures of mobsters shot up in the papers. Fire scene photography is necessary for a number of reasons. Evidence gathering comes to mind. Education has already been covered. It also serves as a history lesson. To see how things have changed over the years. That's about all I can come up with other than the photographer should use discretion as to what photos should be disseminated and what is best to just keep for yourself.

My cousin just went to one of those the other night. She said she had a great time.

NYPD was transmitting it not long after it went out. I don't believe FDNY is mandated to do so, although I think it is a great idea.

What's with the goat??

I forgot to add, maybe LAFirePhotos could add to what I said about the selection process.