lt411

In the early 1940's, FDNY had a couple of Squad companies. They were manpower units only. They reported to incidents and were utilized for whatever was needed. In the 1950's through the late 1960's FDNY Squad Companies were equipped with step vans. They carried basic truck company tools and were again utilized for whatever functions were needed. In the late 1960's, The squads were assigned pumpers and responded as engine companies. Eventually the Squads were disbanded. In 1977, Squad Company 1 was reestablished in the former quarters of Engine 269 which had been disbanded. They were assigned a pumper and also carried Truck Company Tools. They were used for whatever the Chief needed when they arrived at a fire scene. In 1990, Squad 41 was established in the former quarters of Engine 41 in the Bronx. They were assigned a pumper and they along with Squad 1 were part of Special Operations Command. in addition to engine company equipment, they carried truck company tools as well as Hurst Tools, Air Bags and some other rescue related gear. In the late 1990's Engine 18, 61, 252, 270 and 288 became Squad Companies and all squad personnel were trained to the Haz Mat and Rescue Technician level. All Squads were then assigned a second rig (step van) designated as Haz Mat Support Units.

A traditional fire service squad is a rescue pumper. 
 
Typically, a fully functional engine company with a tank, pump and full compliment of supply and attack line. In addition, a squad will be equipped with rescue tools, struts, cribbing, ropes/hardware, etc.
 
Essentially it's an engine that can be detailed as a 2nd rescue if needed.

They "DO" look like "Clown Cars" and I know I wouldn't want to be the guy driving it. I have trouble getting out of a full size SUV, let alone this little midget.
 
BUT, maybe for practical purposes, it's use will be very good getting around tight traffic spots of Manhattan, or as those scooters were sometimes used, for the parks and maybe a few housing projects.
 
The plus side of it for the officers is that they are heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer. New York City is the Proving Ground for anything new. Whether it be the police dept or the fire dept.
 
 As I look back on the years, at least as I remember, with few exceptions, it was NYC that changed from OPEN CAB fire apparatus to ENCLOSED CAB fire apparatus. After that we all just followed. Or from three quarter boots to bunker gear.  NYC was the first place to have a designated fire company as a FAST Co, despite what others might like to take credit for. Which in the beginning was referred to as a FAT Company (Firefighter Assist Team).
 
 Whether the "Clown Cars" work for the NYPD is something that NYC will test for any other major city before they have to spend the money for themselves.
 
 All kidding aside, any police or fire chief, police officer or firefighter, that wants to learn from the most experienced department in the world, "they are very often willing to share the information they have to others who may need it. For those who live just outside the NYC area, you have a pretty good opportunity to learn from the most experienced. Just don't go in there and tell them how to do their job. I know on a few occasions, and ONLY A FEW, I had such a character with me. He ended up making a fool of himself and it just didn't go over too well. 
 
 In this case, if your a Police Chief, let NYC do the work for you. If your department might have an interest in anything like this, give them a year trial and see how they work out. I know before the fire dept made any commitment on bunker gear, that's just what they did. A trail period of one year in some busy companies before they made the final decision to buy about 10,000 sets of bunker gear.

When I first got on and worked in South Queens where there was lots of private dwelling fires and a fair share of vacant buildings this was very common.  The vacants then had the plywood HUD windows which the the chauffeur would take out.  The outside teams were very aggressive and operated independently.  So the ladder chauffeurs (who were very experienced firefighters from very busy trucks) would routinely take the attic window for VES.  SOP at time was to place the tip against the top of the window or wood and lower the stick.  It really wasn't that long ago but I feel as if we know a lot more.  First of all most people have embraced two in two out to the point that VES is done as a team.  As a firefighter in the Bronx we teamed up for VES (Roof and OV) and I thought it was better.  
 
Most importantly hopefully we think a lot more about coordinating ventilation and it's effects on the overall operation.  The fact is ventilation without water being applied to the seat of the fire is going to make the fire bigger and create flow paths.  So we need to think about why we do it.  If we're going to search for life we will need to isolate the area we are going to search or the fire is coming for us.  If we are going to VEIS we want to minimize the amount of air we are feeding the fire so we should not vent until we are fully geared up and in position.  To me this means facepiece on hood on on the tip of the aerial with your haligan.  This way you break the window, enter, find the door to the room, close it and search.  If you break it with the aerial and then climb up you have given the fire air for probably another minute minimum that will have a high potential of growing the fire.  I will be honest and say this is not how we used to do it but in the past 10 years we have been given some good information that we should use to refine our tactics and work smarter and safer.  Many say we are not thinking about potential victims when we refine these tactics but it's not true.  
 
If you're venting for fire then we need to have water on the fire and I'd argue it's not so critical that we need to use the tip of the aerial.  
 
I guess my point is that I'd rethink the tactic more based on our better understanding of fire dynamics (behavior) over concerns for the health of the aerial ladder.  

Yes it does and if we'd get back to understanding and teaching this instead of trying to regulate every move on the fireground in the name of "safety", the fireground would become a much more productive place.
 
Know your tools...including your rigs, how, when and where to use them to the best effect and then use them as the situation dictates to get the job done.
 
There was a thread on here a few months ago about radio etiquette with a video in which a "bad" word was used. The issue has also appeared on Statter 911 recently. Now the use of "bad" language is not why I bring this up here, I do because the short sweet and concise content of that comment is the point. Early in the video of a 2 alarm job in Queens(?) a member notifies an interior officer that he has a line in place at the top of the second floor stairs and asks that officer what he wants him to do. The officer replies "put the f#ckin' fire out"!!....and THAT my friends is the point. 
 
Our job is to "put the f#ckin' fire out" in the quickest and safest way possible using all the tools at our disposal, is it not? That million dollars worth of equipment sitting out in front of the fire building isn't there just for show. Those big red trucks with flashing lights and sparkling chrome are more than just glorified taxis and parade pieces...they are one of the many tools at our disposal, nothing more, nothing less. And when the situation dictates they should be used as such to put the f#ckin' fire out!!! 
 

Agreed. Especially in area's where the volunteer turnout is dismal on a regular basis.  Westchester has changed over the past 40 years and many departments have failed to keep up with the times and its come home to roost.  The AHJ has an obligation to provide fire protection to its residents and if it means conversion from volunteer to combo or a fully career department, that's what is going to happen regardless of opinion.
 
My suggestion to fire commissioners/city managers would be when a member of your department appears before you to make a suggestion that they would feel improve recruitment/retention/participation that you give it serious consideration; the mindset should be how can we make it work as opposed to why it won't work.  A positive outlook usually works better then one of negative as people tend to support what they help to create, something I think many departments have forgotten over time.  Younger members bring enthusiasm, dedication and Ideas; the older members offer experience and wisdom; combine both and you have a chance to allow the fire departments mission statement to succeed. Just my opinion.

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

If you are not being sarcastic, the drone  goes to second alarms and above-is carried/operated by the Command Tactical Unit.

Anytime we had the President stay in the city, there was a detail assigned to the hotel at night. Usually POTUS stayed at the Waldorf Astoria (not anymore, since a Chinese company bought the hotel recently) when he stayed in Manhattan (obviously Trump will stay at his "place"). We hired manpower for an engine and a ladder, and we staged in a hotel room one floor below POTUS, with standpipe "roll-ups" (hose) and truck tools and PPE/SCBA. Also there were 2 F/Fs stationed at the fire command station /alarm panel. It was an OT night tour, but not as nice as being in your own station. One night tour I worked the Presidential detail, we had a member of Ladder 2 on the crew. Since it was his company's  administrative/building inspection district, he knew the fire safety director. He asked him to have the hotel staff bring up as many folding cots as could be fit into the room, so we could all have a "resting place" during the night. The beds filled the whole room- when there was a smoke detector activation at 0200,  and the brothers at the alarm panel called up to us, it was chaos as  11 guys tried to find their bunker gear and Scotts under the beds! Also, the deputy chief was pissed several days later, when the Waldorf sent the dept. a bill for all the food/snacks ordered from room service and used from the mini-bar. Ah, the good old days!

If you are not being sarcastic, the drone  goes to second alarms and above-is carried/operated by the Command Tactical Unit.

The Major Injury call type is a BLS call in NYC as is Ped Struck and MVAs without more info.  I think this is based on the fact that the vast majority turn out to be BLS and there are limited ALS resources.  There are probably too many call types so and amputation and a long fall would get ALS.  They're moving to a new triaging system and they're attempting to work on the miss-classification.   
 
As to the IV interventions in trauma patients study after study shows this does not help and may actually harm the patient.  It really bugs me when I see transport delayed for it.  Anecdotally I find the experienced medics that I see and who I would like treating me if I was hurt bad never delay transport.  It's the same as the young guy on the roof who's going to cut the hole no matter what compared with the experienced firefighter who knows when it's time to leave or a lost cause.  

While these statements were true a few years ago.  Engine Companies are increasingly being dispatched BLS calls.  The Major Injury calls are a good example.  They have added to the CFRD matrix a few years ago.  While the non-FDNY people on here will think yeah they should go on major injury calls, major injury calls are anything but major injuries and that's why they only send BLS.  Engine Companies have been increasingly sent on runs when the BLS unit reports responding with a delay.  In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing new the LAFD has used a matrix based on response times for a while.  The issue is the workload on some FDNY engines is pretty high.  My company has done well over 5K runs for quite a few years.  While it sounds great to work in a busy place and we do enjoy it, a company that is that busy as mine is is out of service over 20% of the time.  When people have real emergencies they have a 1 in 5 chance of the first due engine being unavailable.  

 
Good question, one that I don't have a definitive answer to.  However, I can say that EMS runs are coded 1-9.  Engine Co's are dispatched on all 1-3 coded runs.  Those are: Arrests (cardiac and resp.), all cardiac and resp. distress calls, major injury/bleeding and obstetric emergencies.  Grouped in there would be runs related to Seizures, Unresponsive, ect..
 
Eng. Co's should only respond to runs when Medics are assigned, with the exception being car accidents/trauma runs.  So, I'd assume that the Fly Cars are assigned in a similar manner to Engines.  Any run that would normally get two busses (one ALS, one BLS) is eligible to have a fly car replace the ALS bus that would normally be assigned.
 
I did work a few days ago for a cardiac arrest run.  The first unit to arrive after my engine was a fly car.  The medics began working up the patient while we continued CPR, ventilations, ect.  The BLS unit arrived some minutes later with a scoop, ect.  They tranasported.

There is more positive news to report regarding the Fractured Fire Service of Norwich.
 
A SECOND incident in another Fire District (Yantic FD) brought the Norwich Firefighters to the address of 114 West Town St per the Yantic Fire Commander.
 
The Norwich FD responded as the FAST CO, with a Truck consisting of one Lt and three Firefighters (All Norwich FFs are trained in FAST Co Operations). A total distance of 2.9 miles.  Something that has NEVER happened.
 
This is a FIRST for the Yantic FD and there is no doubt that they did the right thing. Just as another Volunteer Fire District did, the East Great Plains FD, when they had a working fire recently.
 
 I believe full credit goes to Norwich City Manager, John Salamone. He took the time to listen when no other city officials did. He apparently realized that a fire department from some 8 or 15 miles away can NOT be called before the much closer, 24 hour staffed Norwich FD.
 
 This has been two years in the making which involved some very serious incidents. This entire campaign began with a grease fire two years ago at a nursing home located at 93 West Town St. Just down the street from this current incident. In that incident the Norwich FD was never called. However, three other unstaffed, volunteer fire departments were called from farther away.  
 
 I would like to think that this story is over. I hope that the two recent examples involving the East Great Plains and Yantic FDs will end this long on going nightmare. The Citizens of this city need to come first, not how some fire dept feels about each other.
 
 Tonight (2/8/2017), there is reason to be proud of these FDs within the City of Norwich, Ct.

 
YOU'RE finding out now, because experts are telling you.  WE'VE known for some time now, seeing as we work in this system and have been for quite some time.  This flycar thing AINT that new.

This is pretty old info being rehashed.  There is no official discussion of any changes.......THANKFULLY.  Our structure and staffing, on both the fire and ems side, are our greatest asset