cman473

Tonight @ 21:00 the Plattekill Fire Department was dispatched for a PIAA on the NYS Thruway at mile marker 71.1 South Bound. Car 1, Car 3, Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 4, 645 and 47-36 where all responding when @ 21:11 We were advised that Engine 4 was involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident, roll over with entrapment. I have a been some sort of a chief officer for 13 years now, in the fire service for 21 years and never once did I instantly feel like I was going to vomit while responding to an incident...not until last night. I can tell you there are so many things that are going through your head after receiving an alarm involving your own... What do I do? Whom do I call? How difficult is the extrication? What Happened? What did they hit? Who is in the truck? But the toughest question, the one that still rings in my head is "Are they alive?" I will not speak of specifics. I will not release the details of this incident and I will let the authorities finish their investigation. But what I can tell you, 4 of the 5 firefighters have been released. Engine 4 is a total loss and the definition of brotherhood was re-taught to me through the actions of area fire departments and fire departments through out the state. Cronomer Valley whom handled the incident...Thank you!!! Your professionalism went a long way tonight. You are our brothers and for you I am thankful. With out getting into every department that has reached out to us, because I can guarantee someone with be forgotten, whether it be at either at our stations or through phone calls, I had 132 missed calls, Thank you!!! Never have I had such an out pouring of support just for us. I ask you, do you know what it is like to have to sit at the back of your vehicle trying to coordinate different responses while your Firefighters need YOUR help? Not something I EVER want to handle again. For years we instill into our memberships heads...Seat belts, seat belts, SEAT BELTS... and on November 2nd 2013 @ 21:11, those seat belts saved their lives. At St. Francis Hospital...the support continued. Fairview, Roosevelt, Arlington Fire Departments, with Engines, and Lisa Gardner, whom provided me with very informative updates, met the inbound ambulances to assist with ANYTHING we needed, ANYTHING. Tears is the word that best described how I was after I was notified of your support! I cant say thank you because thank you doesn't cover your actions. I owe you... period. At 1:21 we called back in service, My membership continuing to want to help the community, knowing that what we seen tonight could have been completely different. We will continue serving the community, we are Plattekill. We ARE Plattekill Strong. I ask no one post NO Photos or post no details until the investigation is complete and I approve of such postings. Thank you Everyone. Chief Christopher Mancuso

Does this mean I am just a Chiefs Car Driver?

Every department has its own issues, EVERY department, paid or volunteer the issues exist. My advice to you, after having being in your shoes one point or another, is to run, take the position, and do what you can possibly do with it. Put your heart into what you do, train, take many classes and try to the best of your ability fix the current and your past issues. Treat people with repect and you WILL get repsect in return. Adress the problems at hand and try to repair them, your membership will be thankful...eventually. If you take heat, take it, use it as a learning tool while resolving what ver the issue at hand is. Talk to other department heads, ask for help, guidance and you will come up with a solution. Make deciscions, make then as wise as you can and when you make a poor one, own up to it. Do not look for a scape goat, only you can admit to the unadmitable. Work with everyone, as a team, socialize as a team, do things together as a family. I am not telling you to go to someones home, that you wouldnt normally go to, but when you guys do something social, include who ever you can. Make the people that have "issues" feel included. Asking for outside help makes you a better person, doesnt make you unknowledgeable, makes you wise to realize you need additional help. Good Luck!

Yesterday November 19th 2012, The Plattekill Fire Department was faced with another 2 tragic losses to its community during a time of year that is supposed to be filled with family memories, happy celebrations of what you are thankful for and the anticipation of another great holiday season, but was shattered by 2 separate fatal incidents who had us running on our feet. I can tell you one thing though; through out my career in the fire service, I had the chance to work with some of the best professionals in the field. For this I am thankful. The 1st incident was difficult, difficult because when you are called to an incident; your mind set tells you what you have to do. Your mind runs through scenarios and ways you can mitigate the situation, quickly and safely as possible…and then you get there. And anyone knows who have had the chance or the job as a commanding officer can tell you everything you could have thought of while en-route WILL be changed in an instant and you must adapt to the current situation at hand. Did we know it was going take so long to get into the scene? No… Did we think we were going to pull him out quickly and send him off the hospital to get his wounds treated? Yes… Our members, Cronomer Valley’s members and Clintondales Members treated the scene with respect and professionalism that in my opinion goes unmatched by other incidents I have seen or read about. Again, this is something else I am thankful for… to have an extended family who wants the same professional outcome I do. To Cronomer Valley, Clintondale and Modena FD, I say thank you as once again you have gone above and beyond assisting the Plattekill Fire Department and personally me when I need you most And then the second incident… it hits Cronomer Valley pagers and you can tell by the sound of the dispatchers voice that this was not going to be an easy incident, period. It rang through the command post like the wind, and people moved and shuffled, all while keeping the integrity of command post in tact. With in minutes our pagers opened up as the request for the Plattekill Stand by’s to respond as part of this MVA is in our district… I can tell you through years of stand by’s in other peoples quarters its not often you catch a fatal incident that you knew from the get go was serious. To our Mutual Aid department stand bys last night, Modena and Orange Lake, thank you for covering us at this one as your help does not go unnoticed. Wallkill and Marlboro thank you for filling in for both incidents… for all of you I am truly grateful. I have to tell you; lately Cronomer Valley and Plattekill have seen a lot in the last few days, almost like we have become one agency, working together like we are a very well oiled machine. It’s been a rough month for both agencies and all I can say to you is, keep your head up, like I tell our members, we are here to help the community. We are here to help each other. And while doing so, may run across an incident effect you and how you look at things, the people you may help may even be some one you know. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with you guys as we would do anything for you and you have done anything for us. Car 3

So how is this going to work? Plattekill Ambulance 647 gets on the thruway at MM 67 Crash gate, tends to the incident and then transports to either St.Lukes, Kingston or Poughkeepsie. They will have to exit the thruway through a toll plaza. Now being no ticket was issued, will they have to pay the entire toll for the entire NYS Thruway system? Sounds kind of ill thought out... Just saying... Can Albany say DUH!?!

Are you kidding me??!! We have protesters at military service personnel's funeral services disrespectfully protesting the deceased involvement in the wars at the saddest and last time these families get to see their deceased family and this nimrod is going to order flags at half staff for a drug addicted superstar??!!!! Shame on you New Jersey!

You 100% Correct...

Poorly worded statement.. many Larger city's run EMS, many mid sized city's run EMS and a crap load of VFD's run Medical. When you run a MVA w/ Injuries you are "doing" EMS. Keep this in the back of your mind... a fire call can and has turned into a large EMS incident and an EMS incident can and has turned into a large fire based incident. The basis that "we are a fire department" is * and void being that fire department is in the field of Emergency Services and you WILL do some sort of patient interaction with in your career, whether it be at a structure fire down to the measly public service pump out. No matter how you look at it, the 2 of them, fire and ems, must work together . The 2 of them have worked together and some are very successful in doing so. The attitude that One is better than the other needs to stop because going into an incident with that attitude and mind set, you will: 1 Make your self look like an A*&, 2 Hurt Someone and 3 Possibly Kill Someone. Open your mind, train with each other and don't let 300 years of tradition impede modern progress. Just my 2 cents...

And THIS is what it is all about..Period! Great Job HFD!!!

Nope...station 3 IS cronomer valley...1 truck k!

Plattekill Station 4!!! Modena is filled with Men and Women who will drop what they are doing to help us out at any given time! Their membership is thriving and have been a huge success to why I was successful as a chief for the last 11 years... Thank you Modena! Plattekill Car 3, Past Chief Mancuso

Shouldn't this be one of your first concerns when building a specification for a new apparatus and furthermore also once you actually get a final spec don't you review them prior you putting it out public to bid? I mean it is not rocket science. In my opinion the apparatus not fitting in your fire house, ya know the fire house you BUILT it for, is Unacceptable. :angry: Now If the truck didn't meet your spec...don't except it until it does.

Nice to see the Old 47-20 catchin' some work!

Yesterday March 23rd 2011 The Plattekill Fire Department suffered a tragic loss with the sudden passing of Active 1st Class member Thomas Zgrodek at age 23. Thomas started out as an explorer here with a small group of individuals that became known as the "A Team". He was a big part of making the explorer post successful allowing young future fire fighters to see that being a volunteer firefighter was much more than just red lights, sirens and a title. Thomas loved the Plattekill Fire Department. His out look for the department was that of pride and dedication through being extremely active, being a top responder since he has been a member, to rigorous training. Many of you would recognize Thomas from every parade picture taken in the last 6 years as he was part of our award winning color guard, he carried that axe and guarded that flag like he chose to guard any one of our lives. We watched Thomas grow, grow into a young man who's heart and sole was in saving lives, from a young explorer to a driver on the apparatus, Thomas Zgrodek gave it his all. Tom is a big part of why Plattekill Fire Rescue has become successful and he will be sorely missed. Please keep Thomas and his family in your prayers. Services have not been decided as of yet but it will be a full firematic service. Chris Mancuso Car 3

Are we going to be this up again?!