PFDRes47cue

The lack of fires in Westchester could have something to do with the massive number of departments and personnel responding to fire. Even if a department is just toned out for a tanker in Westchester, 15 guys try to jump on...since they typically don't seat many people, utilities are taken, chiefs cars are stuffed, etc. It is my understanding that a department can not be its own fast team...not sure if this is true or just SOP/SOG for some departments. I do not see this done often in Westchester. Sure, department could go out and purchase super tankers or 5 tankers to be self-sufficient, but why when you can easily get a tanker from a neighboring town. There are lots of places that rely on Tanker Ops more frequently and at a much larger scale that are doing fine without consolidation. Tanker's are not a reason for consolidation, however, there are a bunch of reasons for consolidation in Westchester. If you do not have water in parts of your district, you have no choice but to have that water coming in for major alarms via Tankers, Tenders, or whatever you want to call them. Part of the concept of relocation is to relocate the appropriate resources... For example, if there is an area that relies heavily on tanker ops then they needs to relocate a tanker or two to this area if they are stripped for a working fire somewhere. Where I ride while at school (upstate NY) we have LOTS LOTS LOTS LOTS of area that is miles from any water...so if needed, we call for a tanker task force activations...this gets us somewhere between 5 and 10 tankers, several of which are super tankers. For whatever reason, these tankers come with a driver and a single crew member to help with filling, backing up etc. Incidents run very very smoothly despite a large amount of departments listed on the official rundown. Running fires with a department that has a large amount of tanker areas, I can honestly say that there is not many things more comforting than doing an interior attack knowing that you have lot and lots of water being dropped at the scene constantly for as long as needed. Super Tankers are nice and fun to have around.

I was donated a mini school bus, and I am looking to set up an MCI / Extrication drill. My goal is to have two sets of tools from two different FD's, several BLS ambulances, and perhaps a Medic. I was thinking about asking a Boy Scout of Girl Scout Troop to be the patients. Does anybody have any experience in setting up a drill like this? Know anybody who does? Does anyone have any training slideshows that focus on bus construction, attack tactics, etc. Does anyone have any videos? Pamphlets, Handouts? I would also like someone to take pictures of the drill...any of the fantastic photographers on this site interested? (I'm not sure of a date yet) This idea is in its early stages and I'm trying to figure out a good approach... Any help, advice, etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Madison Martineau Lt - Pleasantville VAC

Thank you. i will definitely be in touch with both of you. Stay safe! Madison Martineau

Date: 9-25-2011 Time: 08:59 Location: 2447 Southern Boulevard Frequency: FDNY Bronx Dispatch Units Operating: (See Rundown Below) Weather Conditions: Dry Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 2-story PD. Heavy fire U/A with quick K/D. 5 injured civilians, 2 serious. NYPD called a Level 1 Mobilization for the scene due to an assault. A man with a machete attacked the resident of the PD, striking him in the head with the machete. The attacker then set the building on fire, leaving himself severely burned. Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue NY Post Box Assignment: Engine 88, 48, 45, 79 Ladder 38, 56, 58 (FAST) Battalion 18 2nd Alarm Assignment: Engine 46, 90, 75, 42 Ladder 37, 27 Division 7

Interesting article... I have a problem with this statement. I understand that the majority of calls are medical but to lose a qualified firefighter who could potential play a huge hand at a fire or other non medical emergency, because he/she fails the EMT test is not right in my opinion. Times this by 7, as is the case in Boston, and now you are down 7 qualified firefighters.

Several people have mentioned that EMS agencies transport or have the capabilities too...what about First Responders? These people provide emergency medical services prior to the arrival of a transporting unit. We are both on the same page brother.

I do not think it is about which is more desirable, it is just about what the members want and if you can sustain agency operations with the funding you currently have. Agency operations can be funded through the budget, fund-raising, etc. Sure there is more money to go around if patients are billed, but some people would take less money over billing, for whatever their reasons are.

I'm not being defensive, I'm just trying to keep this from a paid vs. volley discussion, since we all have seen enough of that on here. I do not know how to fix the issue, I do not know if there is a fix for the issue. If there are paid personnel then they are not volunteering their time, however, if it is a combo agency then someone people are volunteering their time so... You are absolutely permitted to address conflicting information for clarification.

Sorry for the confusion... Yes, my VAC does use the word VAC, we also represent the true meaning. This is not a discussion about my agency or your profession. The discussion is about has the term VAC died out. I think that yes it has in most cases, since most places are no longer "VAC's" however, if an agency is a true VAC then the term is very much alive for them. I can see how paid personnel may feel that VAC is a misrepresentation for them and I do respect that.

Great pics! This looks like a bada** pickup. Thanks for sharing.

That is true, PVRS does still have the crash truck with tools, so do some other Rescue Squads (Tri-town, etc). I am sure that there are some Rescue Squads that do not have tools but are still labelled Rescue Squad. I see you point withe having "paramedic" on the ambulance, however, couldn't this mean that this mean that the unit has the capabilities of having ALS on-board? Chris - Billing has nothing to do with the term VAC. IMHO the term is not nearly as important a the services offered and more importantly, the quality of the service. As long, as you get the bus out in a timely fashion, act in a professional manner, and give the best patient care possible, I don't care if the side of the vehicle says Good Humor, and frankly, in a time of an emergency, I don't believe the patient or the patients family even notices what the pretty writing on the side of vehicles say.

I can see how this kind of bothers you...this could easily be fixed with EMS instead of VAC.

Date: 9-23-2011 Time: Location: 196 4th Avenue @ Sackett Street. Frequency: FDNY Brooklyn Dispatch Units Operating: (See Rundown Below) Weather Conditions: Rain, cool Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 2-story 80 X 100 Auto Parts Store. First due companies found heavy fire on the #2 floor. Fire extended throughout the entire building and through the roof. Firefighter removed from the building to move to exterior operations. 5th alarm called @ 15:20 hours for relief. Special call for relief called @ 18:00. Staging was Union Street and 4th Avenue. Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue Box Alarm Assignment: Engine 239, ? Ladder ? 10-75 Assignment: Engine 219 (H2O Resource), 226 Ladder 105, 122 Squad 1, 18 Rescue 2 Battalion 31 Extra Tower Ladder: Tower Ladder 111 Extra Engine & Truck: Engine 220 Ladder 132 2nd Alarm Assignment: Engine 279, 210, 224, 207 (w/ SAT) Battalion 57 (Safety), 48 (RUL) Car 7 (DAC Leonard) Field Comm Safety Battalion Rescue Battalion TAC-2 Extra Tower Ladder: Tower Ladder 114 2 Extra Trucks: Ladder 101, 110 3rd Alarm Assignment: Engine 235, 249, 230, 214 Battalion 41 Battalion 2 (Staging) MS-1 Car 1E 4th Alarm Assignment: Engine 259 Battalion 40 Car 4 (Chief of Operations Sweeney) 5th Alarm Assignment for Relief @15:20: Engine 216, 205, 282, 211 Tower Ladder 149 Ladder 113 Special Call Two Battalions: Battalion 28, ? Special Call for Relief @ 1800: Engine 222, 221 Tower Ladder 161 Ladder 194 Battalion 42 Special Call for Relief @ 21:00: Engine 206, 241 Tower Ladder 119 Battalion 39 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzIcMLMqVXc&feature=player_embedded

Is anyone paid?

My agency still proudly uses VAC and is 100% volunteer...doesn't even bill. I do believe that the term has died off, however, I see no problem in using it if it is a true representation of the agency. Now I have a question... What about the term "Rescue Squad"? A lot of agencies in upstate NY use Rescue Squad... (IE: Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad)

Date: 9-22-2011 Time: 12:00 Location: 2400 Johnson Avenue Frequency: Bronx Dispatch Units Operating: (See Rundown Below) Weather Conditions: Warm, dry Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 200 X 50 14-story OMD high rise. Fire in apartment 14E. One 10-45 Code 2 and one 10-45 Code 1. 87 y/o female and 91 y/o male residents of the apartment were transported for respiratory burns. The 87 y/o female was pronounced at the hospital. 2 firefighter were transported with minor injuries. Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue; 16fire5 **First due units were working an All Hands @ box 3553** 10-75 Assignment: Engine 52, 95, 43, 42 Ladder 52, 36, 33 (FAST) Battalion 17 Division 6 Rescue 3 (Delayed) 2nd Alarm Assignment: Engine 93, ? Ladder 56, 32

RIP Officer Cezar.

If true, I too applaud Somers FD and their commissioners for this progressive step. It is nice to know that there are some departments out there that are taking progressive steps to get away from dismal response times, poor turnouts, or the public image of FF's standing in house in their turnout gear waiting for someone to drive the big red trucks. I am not saying Somers FD has these problems, these are just examples.

Date: 9-21-2011 Time: 21:38 Location: 2173 State Highway 58 Frequency: St. Lawrence County Central Dispatch (154.355) Units Operating: Edwards FD; Edwards Rescue; Newton Falls (Engine & Tanker); Star Lake FD (Engine & Tanker); Fine FD (Tanker); Harrisville FD (Tanker); Hermon FD (Tanker); Russell FD (Tanker); Gouverneur FD (Tanker); Degrasse FD (Tanker); Pyrites FD (Tanker); SLC Car 33 Units on Standby: Degrasse FD (Engine & Manpower in own HQ); Cranberry Lake FD (Tanker in own HQ) Weather Conditions: Cool, dry, slight breeze Description Of Incident: Working fire in a PD. Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue 21:38 - Edwards Fire/Rescue toned out for a structure fire. 21:45 - Tankers from Fine FD, Harrisville FD, Newton Falls FD, Hermon FD, Russel FD, Gouverneur FD to respond to the scene. 21:55 - Mayday called for firefighters trapped. 22:11 - IC confirming all victims are out of the structure, the Mayday is being cancelled. 22:13 - Pyrites FD and Degrasse FD toned out for tankers to respond. 22:34 - Car 33 is on scene.

Date: 9-20-2011 Time: 10:40 Location: 76 Willoughby Street Frequency: FDNY Brooklyn Dispatch Units Operating: (See Rundown Below) Weather Conditions: Dry, chilly Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 5-story 50X100 commercial structure. Heavy fire on the #2 floors with fire out the windows. Ladder 105 was the original FAST but was put to work for a person hanging out the window. Ladder 102 came in as the new FAST. One 10-45 Code 4, One 10-45 Code 1. 2 L/S/O. Fire placed U/C by Division 11 @ 11:35. Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue Box 431 Assignment: Engine 207, 224, 205 Ladder 110, 108 Battalion 31 10-75 Assignment: Engine 210 Ladder 105 (Original FAST) Rescue 2 Squad 1 Battalion 32 Division 11 Extra E & T: Engine 226 Ladder 101 2nd Alarm Assignment: Engine 202, 211, 279 Ladder 119, 102 (New FAST) Battalion 35 (RUL), 2 (Safety Officer) Engine 9 w/ Sat 1 TAC 2 Field Comm Two Additional Trucks: Ladder 131, 104

Date: 9-16-2011 Time: 19:30 Location: 1904 Bathgate Avenue (Between Tremont Ave & E 178th St.) Frequency: FDNY Bronx Dispatch Units Operating: (See Rundown Below) Weather Conditions: Chilly Description Of Incident: Working fire in a vacant 25x60 3-story frame dwelling with an attached 2-story private dwelling on the B-side. 2nd alarm transmitted for fire thru the roof on arrival. 3 L/S/O . 3 Tower Ladders operating. Extension to exposure #2 and the "roof membrane" of exposure #4. Primary searched of the fire building delayed due to partial collapse. Fire placed U/C @ 21:29. Reporters/Writer: PFDRes47cue @ 19:30 Box 3107 Assignment: Engine 46, 88, 42 Ladder 27, 38 Battalion 19 Rescue 3 @ 19:34 10-75 Assignment: Engine 48 Ladder 56 (FAST) Squad 41 Battalion 18 Division 7 @ 19:36 2nd Alarm Assignment: (Staging is E Tremont Ave & Washington Ave) Engine 75, 43, 82, 50, 72 (w/ Sat 2) Tower Ladder 33, 58 Battalion 26 (Safety Officer), 17 (Resource Unit Leader) Rescue Battalion / Safety Battalion Fieldcom 1 Tactical Support Unit 1 Command Tactical Unit @ 19:46 3rd Alarm Assignment: Engine 45, 92, 90, 81 Ladder 59 Tower Ladder 44 Battalion 27, 46 (Staging Manager), 43 (Air Re-Con Chief) Mask Service Unit #1 Car 15 "Adam" Deputy Assist. Chief John Mooney @ 19:50 Additional Tower Ladder: Tower Ladder 31 @ 20:55 Special Call Truck w/ Dewatering Pump: Tower Ladder 46 @ 21:47 Special Call 1 & 1 For A "Watch Line": Engine 93 Tower Ladder 51

Pleasantville VAC has set up a "Supply Drive" to help the people of Scholarie County that were devastated by flooding. See the attached flier. SCHOHARIE COUNTY NEEDS YOUR HELP.pdf Please spread the word and feel free to pass the flier around. Contact Captain Conley (Kelli_Conley7612@yahoo.com) or myself (MadisonPVAC@yahoo.com) with any questions.

I came across a car fire on the Taconic State Parkway while driving up to school last March. After checking the car for passengers, I stepped back and began to film. While the NYSP had the Southbound lanes closed, one impatient citizen decided to drive up on the shoulder to get around. Listen to the commentary from a retired FF who stopped at the scene as well. I personally like the comment "Gotta get back to the city" at 00:57. **WARNING DOES INCLUDE SOME CURSING** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqv43VBHGOc

I wish I remembered for sure, but I believe it was Columbia County...don't quote me on that though.

If you have a few minutes, read this...It is truly amazing. Story