JBJ1202

What is the reason for the double axle on the tractor? I haven't seen that before on a TDA... what are the advantages and disadvantages of this? Beautiful truck BTW... JBJ

Another option is to relocate an ambulance to Purchase FD from 8am to midnight... But that is me just thinking out loud... JBJ

Help support the Purchase Fire Department by joining us at our 2nd Annual Golf Outing at Old Oaks Country Club on October 19, 2009 For more information, please visit our website: Purchase Fire Department No Registration Deadline $190/Person Price Includes: Cart & Greens Fee - Beverages on Course - Brunch - Cocktails - Dinner - Prizes Schedule: 9:30 AM - Check In 9:30 AM - Brunch on the Terrace 11:00 AM - Shotgun Start Cocktails & Dinner to Follow @ Purchase Fire Dept. Contact Information: (914) 253-9044

Yes...

What are the qualifications for this training? JBJ

When I was in Vestal for the flooding a few years back I was assigned to an Engine with a seatbelt system with at least an audible alarm. I think systems like the product below are a homerun in regards to safety, especially in apparatus that the drivers and officers cannot visually confirm that all the passengers are secured. Do any departments have something like this in place? Likes/Dislikes? http://www.fireresearch.com/seatmonitor.php JBJ

Purchase FD Engine 239 (1979 Seagrave/Refurb '90) Pre-connected Lukas Combi-Tool Engine 240 (2003 Seagrave) Pre-connected Lukas cutter and spreader Additional Combi-Tool Composite Cribbing Lukas Ram Sawzall Rescue 30 (2004 Seagrave) Pre-connected Lukas cutters, spreader, and combi-tool Battery powered Holtmotro combi-tool Portable hydraulic generator Lukas Ram Wood Cribbing: 8x8, 6x6, 4x4, 2x4, wedges, and step chocks Rescue Jack Stabilization System Partner Saw with metal blade Two Sawzalls and more... Rescue 30 and Engine 240 respond to all motor vehicle accidents JBJ

We have been very pleased with the service from Fire One. Pumps, hose, and ground ladders are all done by them in a day or two. http://www.fire-one.com/ JBJ

Hi, Three separate fire districts run through Westchester County Airport property. Rye Brook/Port Chester, Armonk and Purchase. All three are the primary fire agencies for aircraft emergencies. All other fire or EMS incidents are only responded to by a single agency depending on which district is it in. Greenwich, West Harrison, Chappaqua, and Banksville are the secondary fire agencies for major emergencies. Armonk Fire, Port Chester/Rye/Rye Brook EMS, and Harrison EMS are the primary EMS agencies. JBJ

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Date: 7/17/09 Time: 13:56 Location: I-684 Northbound MM 2.3 Frequency: Fire 19, FG 2 Units Operating: Rescue 30... Dispatcher 605 (Thanks) Weather Conditions: Hot and Humid Description Of Incident: Purchase FD was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arrival Rescue 30 observed a Chevy Van that uprooted the guardrail and was wedged underneath it. No pin was found with the patient, but the door was spread back for better patient access. Harrison EMS transported patient ALS to Westchester Medical Center. Writer: JBJ1202 (O/S)

What are some documents that discuss the proper methods of washing personal clothing/station uniform vs. structural firefighting PPE. I am looking for something that says you should not wash these two in the same machine (common sense aside). NFPA 1581 5.5.4 "If structural fire-fighting equipment is to be cleaned at a fire department facility, a separate and dedicated machine for the sole purpose of cleaning structural fire-fighting equipment shall be provided." This is good enough for me, but I am also looking for something in OSHA that states the same thing. I have searched through the CFR 1910 Occupational Safety and Health, as well as other areas, but I am not finding the similar writing. I might have completely passed over it, so if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be great. Thanks JBJ

CAN'T is a strong word that I should not have used. It will make it more difficult to become a firefighter with those standards. It's not like we are trying to reinvent the wheel here. Some of these departments have the same standards for volunteers and career, and other have separate. I am not a member of either and cannot comment on the quality of firefighter these departments have. And yes...FF I should be longer, it is not too long already Capt. You can call it a volunteer academy if you want, but I believe it is possible to be successful with separate standards. If the only way for the hard feelings to go away is parity in training for then that is what has to be done. Unless there is more involved then stated, it seems like the only state certificates received from this academy is FF I, FF II, Haz-Mat Ops, and FF Survival. JBJ

To my knowledge the volunteers do not have to go through the same fire academy as the career firefighters. I am sure that there are people on this site that can speak more on the specific operations of the PGFD then I can. How can any volunteer commit to a four month, nine to five, five day a week academy? The answer is they can't. I do agree that there should be standards, but how can volunteers match the hours of training a career academy produces. JBJ

One thing that I see in these combination departments is that living in the vicinity of the station is not necessary. You have people from all coming to volunteer shifts at these stations. A person's residence is not an issue when they give a certain amount of the time to the firehouse. So in theory communities with little or no volunteer base would still be able to provide a few volunteers. These communities would no longer be asked to provided manpower for an entire department but simply enough to help staff a piece of apparatus. This is something that I did not get the opportunity to discuss in detail with the career men on my visit down to PG County. Rigs down there can be all career, combination, or all volunteer... but they all rely on each other. If volunteers aren't on the same rig as the career personnel they most likely will be on the next rig to pull up. How does such a large system work so well without a minimum training standard for all firefighters? JBJ

I failed to mention that the volunteers in this combination department would be doing assigned shifts. I do not expect the career staff to wait for the volunteers to show up. That being said I would expect strong opposition from these departments receiving volunteers to complete their staffing when a past all volunteer department is getting career members. JBJ

I recently took a trip down to PG County in Maryland and had the opportunity to see first hand the "county combination fire department" that we all have heard so much about. Overall I think it is a great system and something I hope one day can be implemented up here. All of the concerns and issues have been thrown out there on this and many other forums, but one question I do not recall reading. How would the career side of this combination fire department handle the possibility of working along side volunteers in a historically all career station and/or department? We always seem to focus on the volunteer departments improving their staffing by adding career firefighters. Isn't it possible in a large combination department to have an existing career department supplemented with volunteers also? Example: TODAY: The ABC Fire Department is a career fire department with no volunteer force. Current staffing is three engines and one ladder with two firefighters on each. TOMORROW: The ABC Fire Department is now designated as Station ABC of a combination fire department and has the same amount of career staffing BUT now has volunteer force to help staff the three engines and one ladder with four on each. I am just trying to look at all the angles here and hopefully will get some good feedback... Thanks JBJ

I was asking about the out of state restriction just the other day. I was reading through firehouse magazine and saw all of the hands-on training and lectures and felt it would be a good opportunity. Because I am a member of a fire district does that mean I cannot attend at the districts expense? How do I show that the course is not offered somewhere closer? What if I was unable to attend the closer course and this is the next available? I can play the “what if” game on this all day… The whole thing is very gray to me... JBJ

Purchase has a siren that functions from 8am-8pm, it also goes off at noon monday through saturday.

Date: 4/29/09 Time: 21:05 Location: Westchester Avenue/Webb Avenue Frequency: Fire 19, FG 2 Units Operating: 2411, 2412, Engine 238, Engine 240, Rescue 30, Utility 10, HEMS, HPD Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy 60 degrees Description Of Incident: Purchase Fire Department was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with extrication at the intersection of Westchester Avenue and Webb Avenue. Responding units were advised by 60 Control that HPD was on scene confirming one still trapped in the vehicle. Members observed a Chevy Cobalt resting on its driver side in the left lane of Westchester Avenue. The vehicle was stabilized with the Res-Q-Jack system and a partial roof removal was executed to remove the patient. Two patients were transported to Westchester Medical Center ALS by Harrison EMS. Writer: JBJ1202 (O/S) Full Story: Purchase Fire Department

I still have '97 buses at my station. They are still in circulation... but are finally on the way out. I will not miss those old buses one bit.

Date: 4/06/09 Time: 18:16 Location: 85 Tower Road (Behind Hanger M) Frequency: Fire 19, FG 2 Units Operating: 2411, Engine 240, Rescue 30, Utility 10, Harrison EMS, WCPD, WC Airport Ops Weather Conditions: Overcast 48 degrees Description Of Incident: Purchase Fire Department was dispatched to a person trapped between two garbage trucks. Units arrived on scene to find one driver trapped inside a 70's Ford dump truck. The vehicle had collided with another dump truck on the taxiway. The collision had caused the drivers leg to be pinned by the steering column as well. Rescue 30 operated for 10 minutes to disentangle the patient and then assisted EMS with packaging. The driver was transported ALS to Westchester Medical Center. All units were cleared at 18:48 hours. Writer: JBJ1202 (O/S)

Without getting into the discussion of 'Why Westchester County does not have a centralize 9-1-1 system'... My question is how have departments communicated with its local PD to assure they are dispatched to the incidents they are required. I feel that in general most police departments in Westchester act as 9-1-1 call takers, but do not have any official dispatch training. Is their a solid agreement between the two agencies of what your FD is requesting to be dispatched to. I can see MVAs being the biggest gray area because of the degree in severity. PD might not think FD is needed at a neck and back pain MVA as opposed to a pin job. Thoughts? JBJ

two thumbs up!

Date: 3/27/09 Time: 22:11 Location: I-684 SB MM 1.0 Frequency: Fire 19, FG 2 Units Operating: 2411, Engine 240, Rescue 30, HEMS, NYSP, HPD Weather Conditions: Overcast 46 degrees Description Of Incident: Purchase Fire Department was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injuries on the Interstate 684 southbound just south of the Anderson Hill Road overpass. Engine 240 and Rescue 30 arrived first on scene to find a two car collision with one victim trapped. Members began to stabilize the vehicle while EMS gained access to the patient. Extrication was complete in under 10 minutes and one patient was transported ALS to the Westchester Medical Center. Writer: JBJ1202 (O/S) Full Story: Purchase Fire Department