JBE

As of right now, there's possibly some of the FEMA TF guys down there, and a few chiefs heading down. You'll probably see some more down there in the days to come.

I prefer Jack in the Box. Had one down the road from where I was staying the last time I was there. For anyone who hasn't been there, I recommend taking a trip to SoCal at least once in your life. Just to see what it's like and just the total difference in attitudes and lifestyles. And the cool apparatus. I'll be heading back there in three weeks. Totally looking forward to it.

This is what we like to call a Frequent Flyer.

Find me an online feed for these guys and I'll be your friend for life!!!

Bagel Zone on Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx.

No part timers, sorry. Either you're in or you're out.

Don't worry, we'll be back there in a couple of weeks.

Still waiting on my LCFD shirt!!!!!!

I didn't get to ask when I visited P-911 a few months back, but does P-911 do the Sunday test anymore? Hitting everyones tones and then making the announcements.

10-codes have their place. For the major incidents, I agree with the idea of clear text, especially with the interagency operations. As for M/A, if you are going to another municipality/frequency, use clear text. I'm sure the dispatcher will get the idea. A solution to this whole 10-codes mess could have been solved years ago. STANDARDIZE THEM!!!! Standard PD Codes nationwide, Standard Fire Codes, EMS codes, you get the idea. Get everybody on the same page. I happen to like the 10-codes, especially since I use them every day. If that makes me a dinosaur, so be it. I agree that people using 10-75 where it's not a standard code is BS. Either use the proper code, or proper clear text, or get the hell off the radio. Kinda like how certain dispatchers at P-911 back in the 40 Control days used to get bent outta shape anytime I said, "K".

oops, my bad. Well, the JFK Hosewagon needs to be replaced. As does the one for LGA. Who knows, you'll probably see one of the old ones replacing them. Thanx for the correction TB.

She's a sweet girl, and very cute. Met her and Randy a few years ago at a ceremony in LA. Randy was very gracious and a pretty nice guy. I think I put away like three shots of JD before I could talk to him. I mean here I was talking with one of my childhood heroes. I was like stunned.

They aren't. The Satellites being built are for Satellites 2-6.

One of the houses they use is a set they built over in Long Island City. I think it's an old warehouse. I remember meeting some of the guys from the production staff a few months back. Leary was a @$%^& but Daniel Sunjata was pretty cool. I stopped watching the show.

Since I have no life, I'd like to volunteer my services as a chatroom Mod.

Unfrigginbelieveable!!!!

I think this is a Jersey thing. There aren't too many other places I know where the EMS provider also handles heavy rescue/extrication.

Let me first explain where I am coming from here. I am a supervising dispatcher with FDNY. I have just about 8 years in the job and am a former member of Lake Carmel FD(4 years explorer, a little more than 6 as a firefighter, in between leave periods from the USCG). I would like to pass on some ideas I have that would make the lives of both the Firefighter/EMT/Medic and Dispatcher easier. 1) GEOGRAPHY!!!!!!! I can't stress this enough. Although we all work with a CAD, don't allow it to be the be all, end all. It's only as good as the person using it, and the CAD Street files. Learn landmarks, use them to your advantage. Granted NYC is a large city with plenty of Landmarks to choose from, you can use some in your town to help learn your job much better. This also helps when giving directions to mutual aid units not familiar with the area they are heading into. Example: I'm working at 60 Control one day and I hear a report of a fire on Route 100 near the Elephant Hotel. I know from living in that area, or having relatives close by, it's the end of 100 where it meets 202, just down from the Somers firehouse(Somers). I'm going to know right off the bat who to dispatch. Get out and see the area you protect. Get in the car and drive around. Use points of interest to associate with a specific department or firehouse. It could be something as big as a 6 story multiple dwelling, or something simple, like a store you frequent. 2) ASSETS Know what departments you dispatch bring to the table. Have a current, and occasionally updated list of what apparatus each department has. If a chief asks for mutual aid and isn't specific in what they want,(I want a tanker and an engine to the scene and a tanker and truck to my quarters to stand by) and if the mutual aid agreements are a little fuzzy, get them what they want fast. Putnam Lake asks for a tanker and engine to the scene, depending on where it is, you can tone out Patterson or Brewster for those units, or one engine from Brewster and a tanker from Patterson. Knowing who has an aerial and who has a tower ladder is also a plus. This comes in handy when you have a situation where elevated streams are going to come into play, such as a taxpayer or a large vacant structure. 3) MAKE SOME FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RADIO There are dispatchers out there, in lots of different jurisdictions, that really don't know, or don't want to know, in some unfortunate cases, the difference between an engine and a ladder. Throw the buckets and rescues and tankers into the mix and heads spin. This rule works both ways, as I will explain later. If you're new at the job, and you don't have much of a background in the fire service, this can be a challenge. Yes, there are people out there who just see the flashing lights and have no idea what that truck, or its crew, does. For people who dispatch in areas where there are plenty of Volunteers, head over to a firehouse on a Sunday morning when they are drilling. Introduce yourself and ask to go over some of the equipment. ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS!!!!! It will help you have a better understanding of why you're sending a unit to a particular type of incident, other than, "Because that's what we have to send". If you're training dispatchers, set something up to make a trip to a firehouse to see the equipment, or have the units come to you. People react better to visual stimulation. As time goes on, you can explain the more complicated stuff, such as responsibilities of units by order of arrival. (For firehouse trips, NEVER go anywhere empty handed. Bring cookies or cake or a bag of fruit. Fliet Mingon is nice too) :wink: GET A SCANNER It can be something as simple as a twenty channel base, or the super pimped out mega buff jobs with more bells and whistles than the newest luxury sedan. Listen to that radio every so often. I learned more about talking on the radio by listening and taking cues from other dispatchers than actually being taught by my instructors(Both of whom are legendary for their radio style). Mentally note the good habits, and listen for traits that make one sound bad, or unprofessional. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE You may hear something totally out of the ordinary, or be dealing with someone who may not be too sure of their surroundings. Try not to lose focus of the job at hand. Keep your wits about you, as it will help the one in need. And now, my advice for the Firefighters and EMS folks. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Please understand, that we have our fingers in everybodys pie. Granted, you may be monitoring that scanner or radio and hear something that you may be going to, or you think you should be going to. But, once that alarm goes off, you concentrate on the assignment in front of you. We're not always perfect and we are far from omnipitent or clairvoyant. We have to keep track of everyone as so not to lose someone in the mix when it gets busy. DON'T COMPLAIN!!!!!!! If you have a question about an assignment, or a concern, please call the dispatcher and ask about it. But unless it's something totally off the wall, wait till you get back. Please, when you call, remember the honey/vinegar analogy. BE POLITE ABOUT IT!!!!! Nine times out of ten, we will be more receptive to your concerns and will get you the answers you're looking for. If we can't, we'll figure out a way to get it to you. Confrontation is no good, because we're all working toward the same goal. I have hung up on people who have spoken to me like I am garbage and will continue to do so, or I will politely, but with force, put them in their place. I have the utmost respect for those of you on the other side of the radio, but don't abuse that respect. If you're not going to a fire or emergency, there is a good reason for it. Either, you're not normally assigned on the incident, you're too far away, or the area is thin on units and right now, you're stayin home because you're needed there. There will always be another one where you will be first due. MAKE FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RADIO!!!!!!!!!! I can't stress this enough. Go to your dispatchers office, either on your own time, or with your unit. ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!! Not just, "Hey what does this button do???" But ask how things get done, how we decide who goes, and who relocates. Spend time looking over the office. Spend time looking over response protocols. Ask us about the equipment we work with. Nothing makes me happier than a firefighter come up to me and say, "I had no idea you guys have to do all this stuff." That tells me that they not only have a better understanding of how and why we do things, but it also lets me know that maybe, just maybe they won't get too upset when the big one comes in and they're not assigned. NEVER show up emptyhanded. Bring me a bottle of Diet Cherry Pepsi and I'm your friend for life!!!! Please feel free to comment on what you've read here and add to it. Thanx for your time, stay safe and enjoy the new year.

One other thing I was thinking of, and didn't mention. This is more for prospective dispatchers. Just because you are a volunteer, or a buff, doesn't mean you're going to be a great dispatcher. Does having an enthusiasm about the emergency services help?? YES!! It may give you an advantage over some people, but I have seen a number of people who are buffs, who couldn't handle one or two working fires at once. They can tell you history up the wazoo, and may be able to rattle off other bits of useless info, but when it gets busy, I'd just as soon have them washing dishes. On the flip side of this, I worked with a gentleman up in the Bronx. Fella by the name of Phil Mitchell. The man was no buff by any means, but he could run circles around some of the most well known super buffs in our job. That's someone I would much rather have working with/for me, as opposed to someone who knows how many halligan bars a truck company carries. I say this more as advice rather than a warning. That was my rude awakening when I came in the job. Thought I knew a lot about the job, being a buff, and an ex-vollie. I didn't know a thing. But you can bet yer @$$ I learned.

Class of 12 just got hired this week. The residency requirement should be going bye bye upon Bloombags' re-election. We're hiring provisional dispatchers(no test). Not sure when the next dispatchers test will be given, but if you come on as a provisional, this gives you time to learn what's going on before the actual test. I'm not teaching right now, and I'm not sure I will be teaching any time soon. But, I will be available to assist anyone who might possibly be interested in the challenge. Also, we're short bosses as well, and we're having at least 4 promoted to provisional supervising Dispatcher within the next few weeks.

Take a look in the communications forum, under Making Life Easier. It's very simple though. If the dispatcher tells you to go, you go. You don't agree with it, fine. You wait till you get done with the incident to voice your concerns. If the dispatcher is being a d&*% on the radio, you wait, then go speak to the boss later. Tune ups, if warranted, will be handed out. You guys deal with the BS on the street, we deal with it on our end. There isn't really time for infighting or any of that. LET'S GET THE JOB DONE!!!! I can sum it up for you in one sentence, taught to me by a grizzled old veteran, now one of my bosses. Unless you get flagged down or someone comes knocking on your door, you don't go anywhere unless we tell you to.

I was wondering which is the one that you can see from 84 just before Lime Kiln road?? Also, refresh my memory but Sub Station 2 is on Stormville Mountain road, just off of 52??

I'll do my best to be there...need to take some pix.

You are right if I remember correctly. Church and Lispenard is a second due box for 8 truck.

That rescue you see is a spare, and not Rescue 6. That's the old Rescue 4. Nice pix, though.