babhits16

They do mutual aid/ 2nd due response in Mahwah.

 
This is brought up EVERY parade season.  The answers never change, and neither does the inadequate level of response.

Does this mean when they do 911 calls in the future that Empress will be out of business? Because what makes you think that AMR isn't going to take Empress out of the big cities in Westchester?
 
    What makes YOU think that they ARE? 
      In the past when cities have done business the new big guy in town, (Affiliated, Transcare) they have had issues- like the company disappearing.  No Empress ain't perfect but we have never just said AMF YOYO and gone home.
    As a 29 year Empress guy, I heard similar stories about two decades ago when some other big multi-state company came in. Called Transcare.  Anyone remember Careline?  Another big company that bought up little ones and then died.
    
    Anyhow, these guys are EMT's and medics just like anyone else. I welcome them to the street. Plenty of work for everyone.  I hope their bosses are good to them. Almost as a gag, I bought some Envision Stock so I  get their corporate shareholder reports and stuff.(so welcome, my new employees!) I also hope that down the road they may join our Union (IAEP) to help make sure their bosses don't unfairly tilt the playing field. Maybe we can do some charity events together.
 
Bill Rothschild
 

A sneak preview....what an awesome truck! Loving the specs and the new solid red paint scheme!
 

 
 
 
 

Their is a science to fleet management and many departments have no idea about this.
What is the best time to replace a rig? Much depends on its condition, wear and tear etc. A small department that runs 300 calls a year vs. a busy one doing 10,000. etc.
But their are a number of factors to consider:
1) NFPA standards list 25 years max life, but only if the vehicle has a safety upgrade at 15 years. How many safety updates has the industry seen in the last 25 years? seatbelts, antilock breaks, automatic traction control, tilt testing, etc.? What is the liability on keeping rigs longer than this?
2) Resale value. At 10 years and 1 day the resale value of apparatus dramatically drops. Their are some large depts. that have a very progressive program to remove all rigs from primary service at 8 years and place them into the spare fleet. They are sold before their 10th year. The maintenance costs avoided, plus the resale value mean these departments actually spend less (over a 30-40 comparison) than those depts. that keep the rig until its only value is for scrap metal.
3) Maintenance Costs. Most apparatus components are covered under warranties, almost all run out by 8-10 years. The cost of maintaining older apparatus is dramatic compared to new (particularly when many costs are covered by warranties). Experience shows that in a fleet of 20 vehicles, the 2 oldest may take up to 80% of the maintenance budget. And it is not uncommon for depts. to spend 5-10%/yr. of the cost of a replacement on older apparatus. This does not take into account the down time which is hard to measure financially. As many major manufacturers have gone out of business these costs and time goes up.
4) Budget Cycle - Most depts. never set a long term replacement cycle. This creates major financial stress and causes delays in purchasing which will increase costs (particularly interest costs for bonding). If you have 100 apparatus in your fleet and you determine that the average life you want is 10 years, then every year you need to buy 10 new rigs. If you have 4 rigs and you want 20 years than every 5 years you need to buy a rig. This pattern must continue forever. If the rig ages get to close together, your costs get piled on in a very short period. If you have a steady pattern it is easier to budget and maybe even save for.
Replacement cost (average):
2 engines $500,000 each
1 ladder $1,000,000
1 Rescue $250,000
Your average is $562,500. If you buy one new rig each year you need to budget $112,500 every year (plus inflation) and you will maintain your fleet at no rig over 20. and a new rig every 5 years.

 
 
Firstdue...while I understand where you're coming from, you must think rationally. 
Why call Fairview (or any other career dept)? Because you know exactly what you're getting. No matter what you request (Eng, truck, rescue), you'll get it with a full compliment of QUALIFIED FF's.
Call a volunteer Dept (especially on a weekday), you may get "uncle Joe" the 70 year old chauffeur with an 18 year old "officer" and god knows who else on the back step. 
There may be 1 or 2 vol FDs "closer," but a career dept may get there much faster even if they are "farther" away.
Look, I'm a volly and know where your thought process is. But you have to think logically and choose M/A wisely.
We have Newburgh on our run cards because we know exactly what we're getting when we call them. That is a very reassuring feeling. 
 
Stay safe 
 

Sounds like to me that this incident was appropriately handle and no more criticism should be made.  This seems like a isolated incident that required a special resource and that was requested and responded and handle it as needed,  end of story.
 
Those with criticisms, if they are so involved and have such expect opinions and knowledge ought to think about joining their local fire department if they want to help out so much.
 
Don't criticize those who decide and make your lives safe everyday by these proper decisions, but embrace that they are doing a job and doing it correct.
 

The Westchester Fire Advisory Board is having a quarterly meeting tonight at 4 Dana Road, Valhalla, NY beginning at 7:30 p.m. I expect to see all you Monday Morning Quarterbacks there ready to explain how you'll fix the entire county fire service like you claim you can on here.

As long as you have these volunteer chiefs, wardens, commissioners running the show no county run dept will ever exist.  As I have stated before imagine the tax dollar savings to this county.  Yes local tax would go down and county tax which Yes we know is high would go up. But you won't be eating tax dollars on 20heavy rescues. Instead county could have 2. Not counting the cities of yonkers, white plains  and New Ro. Ladders- ha with some small towns having 2 ladders that only need 1 that's more savings.  5 pumpers to a small town. It's a joke a complete waste.  Oh because it's tradition since 1880 you have 5 companies?  Come on.  

 
LCFD has a decent budget from my understanding.  Very 'upper middle class' area, with certain neighborhoods bordering on wealthy.  They current have paid EMS staff, including paid ALS- but I don't know any specifics.  The bottom line is they should have the money to sustain this in the future. I'd highly doubt they'd try to get this grant if they knew it couldn't be sustained long term.
 
Nassau County Civil Service has a firefighter exam, but it is specified for Garden City (as far as I know)- Garden City is the only other paid FD that uses Nassau County Civil Service (Long Beach uses the cities civil service).  Not sure whether they would be able to use that list or have to create a new one.
 
IMO, I think this is really intended to fund paid EMS services.  They have a very active FD with no issues getting out.  I'm going to guess they'll be hiring FF/ EMT's or FF/ Paramedics.  This will be interesting to follow- hopefully more places will follow suit.

Lawrence Cedarhurst FD in Nassau County, LI is now only the third municipal FD on LI to hire career firefighters (officially that is).
 
http://liherald.com/fivetowns/stories/Supplementing-the-firefighting-manpower,83896

Lawrence Cedarhurst FD in Nassau County, LI is now only the third municipal FD on LI to hire career firefighters (officially that is).
 
http://liherald.com/fivetowns/stories/Supplementing-the-firefighting-manpower,83896

One thing that must be considered about these 'heavy rescues' is that they are often nothing more than scene support + basic extrication, and are not considered a special unit.  The hurst tool makes them 'heavy'.  Beyond hydraulic tools, airbags and cribbing there is nothing that makes them 'heavy'- the rest of the truck is filled with scene support gear such as spare SCBA's, generators, extra handtools, speedy dry etc.  There is no special training, just pass FF1 like anyone else.
 
In my opinion a true heavy rescue is a special unit, comprised of experienced FF's that are TRAINED and EQUIPPED for vehicle extrication, technical rescue, SCUBA (if applicable), minor hazmat, and most importantly FAST/ RIT. Not scene support.  Remember first rescue company in the nation (FDNY Rescue 1) was created for the sole purpose of firefighter rescue.
 
Another good point was made- most heavy rescue are apart of their own companies.  As unnecessary as they are they will never go away, remember a fire company in NYS can technically be considered a legal form of government.
 
There are a few departments in Nassau County that operate 'heavy rescues' in the traditional sense.  They are well trained and can be used as a regional asset and their record of providing mutual aide to other agencies for special situations proves it (Bethpage, North Bellmore).

 
But then not everyone would get a take home car and be able to maintain their silos of excellence!

One thing that must be considered about these 'heavy rescues' is that they are often nothing more than scene support + basic extrication, and are not considered a special unit.  The hurst tool makes them 'heavy'.  Beyond hydraulic tools, airbags and cribbing there is nothing that makes them 'heavy'- the rest of the truck is filled with scene support gear such as spare SCBA's, generators, extra handtools, speedy dry etc.  There is no special training, just pass FF1 like anyone else.
 
In my opinion a true heavy rescue is a special unit, comprised of experienced FF's that are TRAINED and EQUIPPED for vehicle extrication, technical rescue, SCUBA (if applicable), minor hazmat, and most importantly FAST/ RIT. Not scene support.  Remember first rescue company in the nation (FDNY Rescue 1) was created for the sole purpose of firefighter rescue.
 
Another good point was made- most heavy rescue are apart of their own companies.  As unnecessary as they are they will never go away, remember a fire company in NYS can technically be considered a legal form of government.
 
There are a few departments in Nassau County that operate 'heavy rescues' in the traditional sense.  They are well trained and can be used as a regional asset and their record of providing mutual aide to other agencies for special situations proves it (Bethpage, North Bellmore).

This has been an interesting situation to me.  I have heard great things about Rye Brook FD.  When they started their own service I'm glad they recognized the value in a career department.  There is nothing wrong with a department being volunteer, many do a great job.  However, my personal experience in the tri state reigon has really left a poor taste in my mouth and I assume Rye Brook recognized the boys club/ political climate and wanted to put guaranteed protection and citizen safety first.
 
I wonder/ hope that when the lawsuit settles Rye Brook settles the suit they hire the rest of the PCFD8 and become a fully staffed 24/7 agency and take the opportunity to become a premier FD in the region.
 
Question- does anybody know their annual call volume and what their normal staffing during daytime hours is?

This has been an interesting situation to me.  I have heard great things about Rye Brook FD.  When they started their own service I'm glad they recognized the value in a career department.  There is nothing wrong with a department being volunteer, many do a great job.  However, my personal experience in the tri state reigon has really left a poor taste in my mouth and I assume Rye Brook recognized the boys club/ political climate and wanted to put guaranteed protection and citizen safety first.
 
I wonder/ hope that when the lawsuit settles Rye Brook settles the suit they hire the rest of the PCFD8 and become a fully staffed 24/7 agency and take the opportunity to become a premier FD in the region.
 
Question- does anybody know their annual call volume and what their normal staffing during daytime hours is?

This has been an interesting situation to me.  I have heard great things about Rye Brook FD.  When they started their own service I'm glad they recognized the value in a career department.  There is nothing wrong with a department being volunteer, many do a great job.  However, my personal experience in the tri state reigon has really left a poor taste in my mouth and I assume Rye Brook recognized the boys club/ political climate and wanted to put guaranteed protection and citizen safety first.
 
I wonder/ hope that when the lawsuit settles Rye Brook settles the suit they hire the rest of the PCFD8 and become a fully staffed 24/7 agency and take the opportunity to become a premier FD in the region.
 
Question- does anybody know their annual call volume and what their normal staffing during daytime hours is?

You seam to be the only one with a real problem.
 
sure lets take Port Chester out, I can change the name to many many other communities that believe the local FD is properly staffed when it is operating at such low numbers it can not even meet two in two out without mutual aid. These depts include volunteer, combo and career. My fight has always been about under staffing and calling people something they are not folks the public and the department.
 
last year acity councilwoman in another Westchester community made the comment that she was so proud of the 120 volunteers in their department. The Fire Chief almost fell out of his chair. He had to explain to her that most of the members were in their 70's and 80's and no longer responded to calls, but they were still "members". That brought the total number down to about 50, with only 18 or 19 being interior he said. And of those only a few were really active. In fact they average less than 2 interior firefighters responding to calls. 
 
Not too worry, their are plenty of members!

The misleading term is firefighter, because the public expects a firefighter. When your kid or parent is trapped inside and a bunch of people show up with turnout gear, they expect them to actually do something.
 
Recently, the Mayor of Port Chester claimed that the PCFD had 300 members, 150 interior. But we know that they only paid for 75 bailouts (required by NYS Law) but 16 were for the career FF's of both PCFD and RBFD. So they only have 59 at best. To many depts lie, even to themselves about the number of members.

"We have 31 fully qualified, completely trained and certified firefighters, 22 of which are also interior qualified,” said past assistant chief and 53-year member Bob Harford. "
 
I know there's differences from state to state regarding training and certification, but how can a department claim a member to be a "fully qualified, completely trained and certified" firefighter when that person is not "interior qualified"?
 
When did being "interior qualified" as a firefighter become a bonus skill set rather than the standard? 

They have more Rescues upstate where I  live now an they have the T- shirts to prove it

This has been an interesting situation to me.  I have heard great things about Rye Brook FD.  When they started their own service I'm glad they recognized the value in a career department.  There is nothing wrong with a department being volunteer, many do a great job.  However, my personal experience in the tri state reigon has really left a poor taste in my mouth and I assume Rye Brook recognized the boys club/ political climate and wanted to put guaranteed protection and citizen safety first.
 
I wonder/ hope that when the lawsuit settles Rye Brook settles the suit they hire the rest of the PCFD8 and become a fully staffed 24/7 agency and take the opportunity to become a premier FD in the region.
 
Question- does anybody know their annual call volume and what their normal staffing during daytime hours is?

This has been an interesting situation to me.  I have heard great things about Rye Brook FD.  When they started their own service I'm glad they recognized the value in a career department.  There is nothing wrong with a department being volunteer, many do a great job.  However, my personal experience in the tri state reigon has really left a poor taste in my mouth and I assume Rye Brook recognized the boys club/ political climate and wanted to put guaranteed protection and citizen safety first.
 
I wonder/ hope that when the lawsuit settles Rye Brook settles the suit they hire the rest of the PCFD8 and become a fully staffed 24/7 agency and take the opportunity to become a premier FD in the region.
 
Question- does anybody know their annual call volume and what their normal staffing during daytime hours is?

Wow !!!
 
But it's all done for FREE right. On a smaller scale kind of reminds me of a place I am very familiar with in Eastern, Ct.