FFPCogs

Just wanted to say to all: Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Enjoy the holiday and Stay Safe Cogs

That was almost too painful to watch. I can only shake my head and ask what in the hell were these guys thinking. My God 8 minutes to get water on the fire and then from the outside no less. Jeez, I hope some good will come out of the critique of this one. You're right ltrob, this is a good video to use to show what NOT to do and how and why NOT to do it from any number of tactical standpoints not the least of which is the complete ineptitude of that FF venting those windows without a line in place. Actually everyone on this scene appears to be an inept yard breather that needs to go back to firefighting 101. Cogs

I'll be there

Let me clarify...yes the first line goes through the front door as it should and if no other line can be quickly put into operation it goes to the basement. When another line is quickly availabe and an outside entrance is accessible than an attack can be made from there depending on the situation, (hence the need for a 360). The intial line then controls the stairs and hits any extension to the first floor. That is what is meant by preferable, but as we all know not always possible...as has been said "conditions dictate tactics". I am not advocating the intial line entering from the basement leaving the stairwell and first floor exposed and ultimately pushing the fire right up those stairs. As I was taught and still adhere to the first line goes between the fire and any potential victims from the unburned to the burned as the unburned portion of the fire building is generally the most immediately threatened exposure. Bottom line is water has got to get on the fire ASAP at ANY structure fire....as the "old" adage states "put the fire out and all the other problems go away". But at times there is flexibility, in fact there has to be, as to how that can be accomplished....this is where experience (and yes I have some too after 30 years) plays a vital role in determining tactics (as they apply to the conditions), that NO textbook can match. Cogs

This should cover everyone How "Merry Christmas" is said ..... Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden Arabic: Milad Majid Argentine: Feliz Navidad Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On! Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce Bosnian: (BOSANSKI) Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina Brazilian: Feliz Natal Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou! Chile: Feliz Navidad Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth Corsian: Pace e salute Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi Croatian: Sretan Bozic Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok Danish: Glædelig Jul Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast English: Merry Christmas Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo! Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar! Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad Finnish: Hyvaa joulua Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar French: Joyeux Noel Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier! Galician: Bo Nada Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Fröhliche Weihnachten Greek: Kala Christouyenna! Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara! Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova Hindi: Shub Naya Baras (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket Icelandic: Gledileg Jol Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay. Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha Lao: souksan van Christmas Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum! Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu! Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar Luxembourgish: Schèine Chreschtdaag an e gudde Rutsch Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa Maori: Meri Kirihimete Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Navajo: Merry Keshmish Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado Papiamento: Bon Pasco Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr! Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo Philippines: Maligayang Pasko! Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie Portuguese:Feliz Natal Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn! Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele or Craciun fericit Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom Sami: Buorrit Juovllat Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh Serbian: Hristos se rodi. Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto Spanish: Feliz Navidad Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon Tamil: (Tamizh) Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech! Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM HRYSTOVYM Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho (good New Year not Merry Christmas) Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh Welsh: Nadolig Llawen Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!

Without fail Absolutely. Actually entering a basement through a Bilco or other entrance door is preferable if it can be accomplished in a timley manner thus allowing the initial first floor interior line to be used to prevent fire spread up the stairwell. Textbooks and class curriculums are wonderful tools but rarely encompass the realities of the fireground or the variables thereof. And while it may not be an accepted pratice in your area, the tactic of facing forward while going down into a basement is a sound one. Not only because you are facing the fire and therefore better able to judge the conditions, but also you maintain control of the line and have it available for immediate use in the direction you will need it should it become necessary. If the situation warrants and you need to be on your keester your feet will be in front of you feeling for the the steps and any weakness of them as you descend. Also having the line forward and at the ready allows you to hit any fire threatening the stairwell thus protecting it (and you) while helping your decent to the bottom of the stairs. As with any other evolution training and experience are the keys to success. Never enter a fire area without a charged line and for basement fires have a control man at the top of the stairs to feed the line down whenever possible. And regardless of which direction you choose to face while descending, speed is of the essence...the last place you want to get hung up is on the stairs. All the heat, smoke and gasses are going to be headed right up that path of least resistance and becoming more and more severe for you, your fellow FFs and any victims with each passing minute

Hey Chief what was that again...CRAWL???...LOL ok enough comedy Here's a few other tips when operating at basement fires in most PDs. First off stretch enough hose inside the building on the floor above or flaked out in line with the basement steps to make the basement, you don't want to come up short on the stairs or only get a few feet in and have to manhandle the line to get at the fire. Next when advancing the line down the stairs face front, even if that means going down step by step on your a**. Face the fire, nozzle at the ready in case it comes at you. You can hit it and advance or worst case make a hasty retreat under the protection of the line Also when going down the stairs to search go down with your back towards the fire. With no line for protection if it comes at you, you are facing the direction you need to be to get out. Cogs

I have to side with the "older" crowd here. Technology is great, valuable and even necessary, but NOT the end all be all of the game. As mentioned a 360 should basically ALWAYS be done even with limited manpower, except when the building's construction prevents it or makes it impracticle Knowing where the fire is will greatly influence the use of that manpower as well as help idicate any unexpected circumstances. (Anyone remember the LODD fire in Pittsburgh where the front was at street level but the rear was a couple of floors below and no one knew). Once the line gets in action if the crew has a TIC great, but they should be trained to operate without one. When advancing the line stay low on one knee, the other foot out front feeling the way even in light smoke...listen to the stream as you make a sweep of the floor...look for any fire or smoke coming up from below and learn to know what a spongy floor feels like. Use the TIC if available by all means but don't come to rely on just that. Of far more value to me is the combined experience of the crew I'm working with and the training of how to operate without technology that has proven invaluable. Cogs

Belltown FD in Stamford operates 2 "canopy cabs" as described by Izzy as frontline rigs, both Mack CFs E-42 1986 1000gpm pumper (no doors in the jumpseats) TL-45 1972 Aerialscope served as FDNY Truck 157, bought by us in 1983 and refurbed. Refurbed again in 1996. (Now has jumpseat half doors as of the '96 refurb) We also operate E-433. 1949 Mack 1000 gpm pumper as a muster rig with a semi-open (per Izzy) cab. Glenbrook has their Maxim "S" model Springdale owns and uses as a parade piece a fully restored 1920's era Buffalo open cab LRFCo owns a late 40's-early 50's era semi-open cab Seagrave pumper SFRD maintains a 1950ish Mack semi open cab as well used by 786 at events/fundraisers All are still in working order to the best of my knowledge Cogs

They don't say built like a MACK truck for nothin'. While CFs are great and true workhorses, I loved our old open cab '63 C model. Of what's available today it's a toss up between Seagrave and Pierce...both are generally dependable, well built and relatively durable, but both are costly as well. As for least favorite: Either of the "ME"s (K or H), Smeal or any other bargain basement hunks rolling around. Cogs

I've never been a fan of POV responses, but like all else in the fire service there has to be flexibility. Speaking for our specific circumstances there really is no need for POV responses initially..we have 4 rigs sitting ready at the house just waiting for crews and our district small. Now for us the general rule of thumb is you respond to the FH unless you are passing the scene or it is very close by and then only if you have gear with you which most guys do not...it is kept in the FH. Now if all 4 rigs sign on well then it is acceptable to get your gear from the FH and respond in your PV to the scene. I do understand though that other factors apply hence the need for flexibility. Many FDs cover large districts in which having every member respond to the FD is far too time consuming, or they have a limited number of rigs on which to respond. So for them POVs make sense, so long as someone gets the rigs out the door.

As expected I have my $.02 to throw in here. Although I posted the following on another site it fits just as well here so..... As hard as it may be for some to believe, many of Stamford's volunteers are not opposed to the idea of a consolidation (at least on some level), just in our illustrious previous Mayor's method of trying to accomplish it. But all that is in the past now, and with a little effort on all our parts it will stay there. I for one look towards the future as an open page full of promise in finding a mutually acceptable solution. There are some ideas that have been floating around here for a few months now, all of which deserve closer examination. If the new Mayor is able to follow through wth his stated goal of establishing a "task force" to resolve our issues, I can only hope that it will have the full support of every firefighter in this City. Cogs

Now THAT'S how you fight fire.... Progress is great but sometimes I sure do long for the "good ole days" of backstepping, 3/4 coats, pull up boots, optional SCBA use and tingling ears. Cogs

All I can say is that here in Stamford we are optimistic that our new mayor-elect will be more adept at and open to dealing with the issues in our fire services than the outgoing administration. Based on my knowledge of him I am confident he will. Unfortunately if things do not improve economically it is sure we will all suffer due to circumstance more so than the man. For now most guys I know paid and volunteer look to the future with wary anticipation of better things to come. Cogs

I don't find the cartoon offensive at all. The fact is there IS animosity between career and volunteer sectors and it is the egos on both "sides" that perpetuate it. Let everyone have their say, no matter how offensive, for that is the only way to cut through all the BS and deal with the issues that divide us...and there are issue which divide us. Maybe something good can come from all the bashing, since most of it has at least some validity behind it. Critisism even when hostile is usually based, at least in part on valid identifiable and correctable problems from both sides of the coin. So yes while it is critisism it is also valid so it needn't be feared. Taken in that light it can lead to progress on alleviating those problems which divide us. 2 very common cases in point: 1) Different standards for career and volunteer firefighters. A difference based in separation not unity which itself breeds acrimony. If we all are here to do the job of firefighting than we should all be held to the same standards...period. As is often said fire doesn't know the difference between career or volunteer firefighters, why then do we? If VFDs have trouble meeting the standards then they need to re-evalute their operations and formulate plans to effectively meet them. We no longer live in a time or place where firefighting is a secondary service stemming from a social organization and we must rise up to accept this fact, otherwise it is the community that suffers. Standards exist to help ensure not only competent but equal service for all, which they rightly deserve. When we hold ourselves to different standards we help to create the divisiveness which seperates us and in that we all lose. 2) The IAFFs assertion that volunteer fire dept.s are "rival organizations". This policy is to me is not only divisive, but offensive. How in God's name am I a rival to a career firefighter? I am here to do my duty and serve my community, just as they are. I take my responsibilites just as seriously as any career firefighter and carry out those responsibilites just as professionally. I do not "take food from the mouths of their families" for my organization has been in existence since long before any of us were in the fire service, or in most cases even born. It an established entity duly chartered to provide fire protection to it's assigned district. Anyone hired here knows we are here just as we have been for 81 years. They are fully aware that we have been and are a part of "the system" that exists since before they were hired. A system that exists is not a threat to those who enter into it knowing it exists. Also, I do not know of any volunteers who seek to take the jobs or livelihoods of ANY career firefighters anywhere. So how then am I or we, a rival? Hammer me all you want, for airing dirty laundry allows the fresh air in...and sometimes with it new thinking. Cogs

Thanks Joe, I actually found pics of it on FH.com this morning. Some of us here at the BFD are following this with interest as this type of refurb is just what we need for our TL 45. From what I can gather this rig is basically the same size as the old Mack style which, given the limitations of our firehouse, fits our needs perfectly. Of course there is always the issue of $$$. How's Mohegan's treating you? I saw too that you guys up in Ansonia had a bad one back on the 3rd..what a shame he was a nice guy. Kudos to the guys for the hard work done on a well advanced job. By the way I saw Nick G. last week at Sirkorsky during a FF2 class tour. Good to see another Charter's boy doing well. Keep in touch. Cogs

This is from another site but I thinks it's important here too. (posted with the author's permission) FDNY Rally and Press Conference for FDNY There are many many rescue workers that are sick and dying from recovery at the world trade center after 9/11. In the past week 3 have died all under the age of 44. The city of new york is denying these brothers benefits and line of duty death status. One firefighters dying wish last week was to be carried to his final resting place on the fdny caisson and was denied because they said he wasnt a lodd. (39 died of brain cancer, richie mannetta) There is a press conference and support rally for a call to action that has been organized for October 24th at 11am, 7 World Trade Center. We are going, Are You? Come with us. We're taking an 8ish train outta new haven then taking the subway right there. Many of you dont know the support the New Haven 20 got from the fdny, but this is not a request we could deny. The fact that these brothers are dying, makes our situation pale in comparison. More deatails to follow.

A single axle refurb is excellent news. Great looking rig to boot. Good luck with it Just a couple of questions: 1. Was TL3 previously an open jumpseat model (Mack CF)? 2. If so how much longer is it overall now with the enclosed cab? 3. How much for the work? Cogs

Here Here !! 40 or so. How about computer regulated multiplexed pumps and aerials. Give me a manual throttle any day. I'm not too fond of having a little silicon chip decide whether or not I'm gonna get water or make the window for a rescue when the time comes. But that's progress I guess... :angry: By the way anyone still using a Pompier (scaling) ladder out there?

30. RIT/FAST 31. Tower Ladders i.e. Aerialscopes as if there are any others 32. Automatic Mutual Aid Even in 1980 when I joined it was almost unheard of to call another department in unless it was a MAJOR fire...picture at least 3 alarms today.

The fire service like so much of our society today, has become a culture of ME instead of one of WE and with that shift comes all manner of "problems" dinosaurs like me find distasteful to say the least. Cogs

4. Certification and training standards In today's service it is commonplace to have firefighters certified by the State through an accrediting agency such as ProBoard or IFSAC to a standard level of competency (on paper anyway...lol) 5. How about preconnected lines on the rigs Although this practice has been around for at least 30-35 years in general, back in 1949 most lines were pulled from a dead load and then connected to the pump 6. ICS, IMS, NIMS or any other nationally recognized alphabet soup of an Incident Command System Here again IC has been around since the beginning, but now we have a standardized and nationally recognized "system" that in theory puts us all on the same page 7. Terrorism and WMD training As a sign of the times we have now taken to training our members to handle emergencies never dreamed of back in 1949 8. Medical response / EMT/MRT-CFR certification Probabably the most noticable change has been the rather recent (circa mid 1980's) general adoption of medical responses as a matter of course for FDs nationwide. This has led to an increase of call volume especially in smaller dept.s to a level far in excess of anything imagined back in 1949 There's my $.02 for now On a side note in relation to bunker gear. In a discussion on this subject yesterday it struck me how contradictory these recent developments in our turnout gear are. What I mean by this is that we now have gear that let's us get further into burning buildings in a relatively safer manner personally, yet construction practices have come to the point where many of these very same buildings are far less safe for us to be in faster, thus making entry farther into them more dangerous overall. Stay Safe Cogs

Good to see I'm not the only one who remembers "Frank the fixer" "Gimme a Balboa and a beer" RIP Capt Lou Cogs

Not to steal your thunder G but, Word is TRFD has won their lawsuits against the City of Stamford. Stay tuned Cogs

I would say a backdraft. From my perspective it is a fire in the wall space around the chimney possibly caused by the extension of fire from flue or firebox, although I really can't tell if the chimney is involved. The heat and smoke follow the natural path upwards with most of the heat remaining confined within the wall space behind the chimney. I would bet the wall was opened to look for extension in that void space and they found some. The pressure built up from the confined fire coupled with the abundance of air circulating because of the PPV caused a backdraft in the wall when it was opened and resulting collapse of the chimney only. I agree 100%. Fire science 101 heat rises and fire seeks out oxygen. Release the heated gases and smoke from the highest point before introducing more oxygen. Better to pull it where you want than push it God knows where. Cogs