JBE

I think it's because the pin jobs are so few and far between that departments train for them. They may feel that the little accidents are so routine that the time taken practicing simple stuff is a waste of time, when they could be playing with the big toys. Just an opinion, of course.

My only advice to you there, doug, is to maybe suggest a change in policy to the people running 60, or whoever dispatches you. Real simple, either not advise responding units of the false alarm, have all units with exception of the Chief respond on a 10-20(no lights or sirens and obeying all traffic rules) or, advise units the alarm company reports an unwarranted alarm and all units continue in normally. We simply just don't tell them so we avoid a situation that others have explained here, or so we don't have a situation where the Fire officer comes over the air and asks if they should continue in. Too much liability for us. They're the ones with the bars and stars on the collars, let them make that call.

Well said als. If an alarm company calls us back and advises it's a false alarm, the units are not advised. We still keep them going to check the premises.

Not to toot my own horn here, I can give you a little bit of info on the book.(Nice being friends with the author) He has most of the cast lined up, except for Randy Mantooth and Kevin Tighe. He just tracked down Capt. Mike Stoker. There will be a section in the book containing short stories from fans/people who were influenced by the show. And in another shameless plug, if you haven't picked up TV Firefighters, give it a read. I think you'll enjoy it.

I thought cataracts were something you got in your eye. (insert rimshot here)

If it is a situation where they will beat the first due truck in, yes they operate as a truck company.

Looking good.

Truly sad, but if they saw the train, why did they try to cross??

I can tell you this from experience. ADT STINKS!!!! AFA and New York Merchants are two of the best I have dealt with. USA Central out of Port Chester is still pretty good at times(I'm biased,I worked for them prior to working for FDNY). Most of the operators at ADT and a few others have no idea what you're talking about when you ask them questions, they pay peanuts so the turnover rate is high, and they also have no idea how to pronounce half the places they are dispatching to, but this is what happens when you're a corporate 800 pound gorilla and have accounts nationwide and about 6 different central stations scattered through out with people who have no clue about an alarm they transmitted 5 minutes prior to a dispatcher calling up for information.

You are correct, but I have no idea why they are called Recon.

Sure, If it was in their First Due area, they responded. The late Captain Hatton of R-1 crunched the numbers and was able to show that if they took away all the activated alarm responses, and replaced them with auto extrication incidents, the total amount of runs would be about the same. When it came to the extrication responses, Rescue 1 and Rescue 5 responded to any reported pin job in their entire response area. This policy has been modified over the 6 or so years since.

OUTSTANDING!!!!

Photo from LCFD site All other photos taken by yours truly July/October 2004

Automatic alarms in private residences, 1 and 1. This also covers CO detectors. The wording in the directive is vague, but apartments are supposed to get 1 and 1 with a BC. Any public facility 24/7 gets 3 and 2 and a BC. (Any type of alarm) Class E and J alarms, covering Hi Rises with a Fire command station and hotels, get an engine or a ladder and a BC, in Manhattan only, in certain battalions.(This is the test of a true dispatcher) anywhere above I think 96th Street in Manhattan(and the other boroughs) gets 3 and 2 and a BC. Valve alarms get 1 and 1 and a BC(except where previously noted) Manual alarms get 3 and 2 and a BC. The Rescue Companies were removed from alarm activations citywide in the late 90's, although I believe R-5 is the exception. Marine Companies were removed by orders of the late Dep. Comm. Feehan in the late 90's.

Cross your fingers, hold your breath and hope for the best.

This is great, my brother wrote number 7.

That's because they're always calling you guys or Put Lake for M/A!!!

I'll hold my opinion on it till I meet you in person.

I'm surprised to hear it. I didn't even know they had enough members/activity to justify it.

Guess I struck a nerve, huh? Not so much as struck a nerve, but I think ride alongs are beneficial to all. You get to see how the other half lives, so to speak.

I grew up in this firehouse, and I now tell them where to go. Sentimental value I suppose.

he is a bean counter and a yes man to the Mayor. Hence his position at 9 Metrotech.

It's just a sign of the times folks, as it has been for years. The Department is reactive as opposed to proactive. Something bad happens, rules change. I can think of a number of incidents in my short time in the job that something happened where policy changed almost immediately. Scopetta is clueless. Simple as that. The blame for the ropes, or lack thereof, should be placed simply on the shoulders of the Can Man. (Von Essen) The recorders are a new asset and they will come in handy when investigating any incident, but I am sure we are all in agreement, the ropes should be placed in service ASAP!!!! It may or may not have saved the lives of the members we lost, but it would have given them a fighting chance instead of just bailing out the window.

TB pretty much nailed it. There's a bunch of factors an IC has to be aware of on an incident. Personal note, it's just us dispatchers holding the hand of the incident commander.

When was 3-3 moved?? 2-2 was the first rig I learned how to drive/pump. 4-4 was the last rig I was assigned to before I left in 98. Any plans on possibly building another firehouse?? Maybe over towards Hill and Dale?? Or possibly a second Brush truck at the Taj Mahal???