nysff

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Latham-fire-company-settles-case-restores-cuts-5605240.php
Story about the paid firefighters that staff two of the 12 volunteer departments in the Town of Colonie. This decision was involving the Latham Fire Department. The union represents both Latham and Shaker Road/Loudonville paid firefighters under one local.

These two fire departments are Fire Protection Districts and do not fall under civil service status as they are private corp. that contract with the town. There is however a civil service test for Albany County that would cover any fire district or village that would want to hire firefighters, such as the Village of Green Island.

If you've given up, get the hell out of the classroom. I've sat in classes taught by instructors that have "given up" and they usually suck! The best classes, and those that fill up the fastest, are taught by people with passion for the subject and their job as the instructor and more than just a little knowledge/experience. If you've got the knowledge and experience, dig up some passion and keep trying to educate the youth in the fire service. You may not be able to change the minds of other dinosaurs like me but we're not the ones that you have to pass the baton to.
We've all banged our heads against rock walls when people simply refuse to change or adapt. But as I read this thread you're doing the same thing. You're saying that we can't increase the standard because volunteers simply don't have the time and we should further water down our training and make it on-line. Most on-line training sucks. Most people don't actually train, they just look for the answers to the test questions and their fancy certificate. That's not training.
We need to cut the BS and establish a real standard for FF training in NY. Virtually every other state has done it and we can too. There's no reason for career FF to have one standard and volunteer FF to have another (that may not even be enforced). The time has come to do away with this interior/exterior crap and make everyone a firefighter. Can't do it? Fine, we'll find some other role for you but it won't be called firefighter. We've been whittling away at this stuff for too long and it makes me sick.
There's one standard for everyone else. Cop, EMT, paramedic, barber, cosmetologist. All one standard. FF, there's nothing. Unless you're a career FF and you have to meet the 229 regs. Other states do it, we can to. We just have to stop making excuses and start making changes!
Let's say the standard is 400 hours to be designated a firefighter. There's no reason why you can't break that down into courses that volunteers can take on a part-time schedule.
Time to stop the nonsense and start fixing this problem!

Yes. This is new and was posted on their website on the 21st of June. I feel this was a long over due document, however they are only recommendations as NYS is a "home rule" state as stated above by firecapt32, and these are minimum as well. It would be nice to have a legislative law like the career side has to mandate training levels for all firefighters to be trained to the same minimum standards.

OFPC has developed a Fire Department Best Practice document that is available on their website. The link to the document is below. This document outlines what they consider to be the "best practice" in regards to minimum training requirements for the fire service.http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/training/documents/training-best-practices.pdf

Eli,
The Albany/Menands talk was just that, talk. And it wasn't for full time coverage anyway. It was for either a truck or an engine depending on call type and location for mutual aid in addition to what Menands gets from the other town departments. Menands ended up using the Arsenal instead after formal discussions took place with the leaders of the village and the arsenal department. There were also informal meetings to become a joint fire district with Schuyler Heights, but the village officials and Schuyler Heights commissioners were not involved.
Back on topic, Troy and their mutual aid did a great job with the jobs. It has been pretty busy upstate since the new year began with multiple jobs in all three of "big" cities as well as the smaller ones. Cohoes has had three or four already which is not the norm.
Everyone stay safe.

Ground ladders is a basic firefighter skill overall...not just a "truck company" focus. Most departments in this area do not have the resources to run as function based crews...but rather have to operate as skill based. So no matter what you may wear on your shirt or what "company" you belong to....basics are basics.

The minimum legal requirements for volunteer firefighters in NYS are set by PESH, not OFPC, and Firefighter 1 is not the standard. As I have posted before, NYS is a home rule state, so your AHJ sets the plan and training requirements on how you meet the PESH law. OFPC has sent out guidance on what equivalents are for FF 1, but again these are not laws.

It has been busy upstate the last week. Several volunteer FD's have gone to work in addition to the career departments. Schenectady has had 3 two alarm fires today alone, including a fatal this morning at 5:30 am and one that is going on as I type. Troy had a multiple alarm Tuesday and again today at 12:15, and Albany has had their own share of work. Eli Gill has some photos on his website, www.10-75.net of one of Albany's and of one that happened in Colonie in Shaker Road.
Here is a link to the Times Union about the fatal this morning.
LINK
The fire in Troy today also had a ceiling collapse. The home owner is a local volunteer in a Troy suburb, and lost everything from what I have heard.
Here is a link to the Troy Record.
My link

Obviously there was interest in a merger/ consolidation or else the study would not have happened. Green island was not part of the study, nor was the Maplewood Fire Protection District that separates Watervliet and Cohoes. Green island's mayor wants to remain independent. The green island fd is staffed by 6 full time firefighters including the chief and assistant chief witht the remainder being call men. Watervliet provides the ambulance and ladder to Green Island so they run in the village around 2 times a day, sometimes more. The study has not gone anywhere as far as I know. The Cohoes union had issues with the study as they would be downsized with the recommendations.
Back in the late 90's there were talks of Troy and Watervliet merging, but that would be a nightmare as the two cities are in separate counties. Ironically, Watervliet was at one time the largest town in the state, comprising all of Albany County back in the 1800's and whatis currently the city of Watervliet was known as the Village of West Troy. That town fell apart in 1898 when the Town of Colonie ceded from Watervliet and green island formed their own town to maintain their own village . Now there are 12 independent fire departments covering Colonie, 1 in green island and1 in Watervliet.

Troy actually responded to all four fires last night. Watervliet has auto aid with Troy on all working fires. Troy Engine 4 was sent to Watervliet, which is short on the normal auto aid response of 1 engine, the rescue squad and medic 4.
Times Union

Watervliet runs with 7 or 8 per shift. They staff 1 primary engine, 1 tower, and 1 als ambulance with recall shifts staffing a reserve ambulance and reserve engine, plus they have a utility truck (formally Medic 1).
Troy called Albany in for a cover assignment for a truck company. Troy also had Green Island covering at Troy Station 3 and Colonie EMS with an ALS ambulance at Central Station plus recall members staffing reserve engines. Cohoes usually is not the first call into Troy for M/A due to what I can best describe as an argument years ago. Cohoes will go over on occasion and cover Troy station 1 in Lansingburgh (North Troy), but Cohoes only staff 2 man engine companies. When they go they take a man off Ladder 1 so there is an extended response time, although it is only 3-5 minutes delay.
Watervliet has been calling Cohoes on all working fires since they started a consolidation study about two years ago. Again, Cohoes has to shuffle some manpower around to provide a three man company. Watervliet also has the Watervliet Arsenal FD on the fire box as a FAST, however they are always put to work, leaving no dedicated FAST.

Your information is pretty accurate. There are 7 engine compaines in the city with engine numbers 3,6, and 8 being disbanded. There still are 4 ladder companies and 3 rescue units plus the Rescue Squad (heavy rescue company). The Rescue 1 that is heard in the audio is the Rescue 1 (Paramedic Rig) which is portable 301. The heavy rescue is identified in all communications as either the Rescue Squad or just simply the Squad and its officer is portable 401. All riding seats have a portable with the officer being xx1 followed by the crew of xx1 A, B, C, etc...
Ex: Portable 401 is the Squad OIC, portable 401A is a member of the crew as is 401B.
The Deputy Chiefs no longer have drivers, nor do the battalions. The Battalion numbering system has changed over the years due to the modernization of the communications department. CAD was introduced back in the 90's and assigned the former battalion chief numbers of battalion 1 and battalion 2 as Car 7 and Car 8. This was recently changed (5 years ago) to Battalion 7 and Battalion 8.

Albany Mayday
1 Cuyler Street, Albany NY 2nd Alarm with Mayday transmitted. Mayday transmitted at 17:54 of audio. The mayday was transmitted after the roof collapsed during mop up operations in the attic. There were 4 injuries due to the collapse with 2 firefighters being transported to Albany Medical Center with minor injuries.

From a volunteer view, If I have "the time" to run out for a AFA that could be a fire I most likely don't have the time to then to sit and train. If I am an employer letting a worker run out for a legitimate call I don't want the person to then say well since I'm out I might as well train. If it's not an emergency then I should be back at work or at home with family I don't have much time to see.
Set a drill up and I'll show up, where I am able to make the time for that event. If I'm the home owner / business I don't want you climbing roofs ect if it's not necessary. Think of the possible damage and the fact that an apparatus sitting out side of the business does not look good to customers.

Here is a link to the OFPC website and the MTO/In-Service training requirements.
OFPC MTO Link

Albany gives tests every three years, unless the eligibility list is exteneded. They just gave a test in January and have been holding the results until they hired this group of 15. The results most likely will be releasesed with in the month, meaning that a new test will not be given for at least three years.
As far as mass retirements, there is a possibility of this happening if the city changes the insurance package given to retirees (which is proposed to take effect Jan.1 2012) which would require retirees to contribute to their medical benefits. If this happens anyone with 20 years can go.
Also, Albany is an ALS agency. You do not have to be a medic to get hired, however you can not reach top of grade until you are a medic. You are required to be an EMT prior to hire. Some of the new hires that started their academy this morning are medics, which I would imagine helped their chances of getting the position.
As far as staffing, the last class that was hired completed their academy in 2009. The city will still have vacancies once these 15 get out of the academy and will still rely on OT to fill the vacancies. There are 8 engine companies with 3, four ladder companies with 3, the rescue squad with minimum of 4 maximum of 6, and 3 stand alone rescue (medic) units staffed with 2. One of the engines is also a primary ALS unit (Engine 10).

Date: 4/14/11
Time: 23:51
Location: 30 Ballina St.
Frequency: Troy Fire 1
Units Operating: Engines 3,6,2, Truck 2, Rescue Squad, Car 4
Weather Conditions: clear 50
Description Of Incident: Report of fire in rear of structure. Engine 3 on location with heavy fire. Car 4 transmitted 2nd alarm. Engine 4 and Truck 1 to scene, Engine 1 to HQ. Green Island Engine, Watervliet Truck and chief, Colonie EMS 641 cover to HQ. Car 1 request recall of 6 from 3 rd platoon. Watervliet recalled 2nd platoon.
Ranch style residence heavy fire. Multiple lines and crews to roof.
Reporters/Writer: NYSFF

Date:3/3/2011<BR>Time:Approx. 5:30 PM<BR>Location: Freeman's Junk Yard, I787 at Tibbitts Ave.<BR>Frequency: Multiple Frequencies<BR>Units Operating: All Green Island Units, Cohoes Engines 2,3, Car 1, Ladder 1, Watervliet FD Engines 1,3, Truck 1, Car 1, Watervliet Arsenal FD Truck 1<BR>Weather Conditions: Cold, 31 degrees<BR>Description Of Incident:Fire in 3+ story mill on property Freeman's Junk Yard. Fire showing on all floors. Several ladder pipes in operation as well as multiple 2 1/2" lines and ground monitors. General Alarm for Green Island, Watervliet, and I believe Cohoes as well. Troy Fire will cover Cohoes from their Lansingburgh station.<BR>Reporters/Writer:NYSFF

Date:3/3/2011<BR>Time:Approx. 5:30 PM<BR>Location: Freeman's Junk Yard, I787 at Tibbitts Ave.<BR>Frequency: Multiple Frequencies<BR>Units Operating: All Green Island Units, Cohoes Engines 2,3, Car 1, Ladder 1, Watervliet FD Engines 1,3, Truck 1, Car 1, Watervliet Arsenal FD Truck 1<BR>Weather Conditions: Cold, 31 degrees<BR>Description Of Incident:Fire in 3+ story mill on property Freeman's Junk Yard. Fire showing on all floors. Several ladder pipes in operation as well as multiple 2 1/2" lines and ground monitors. General Alarm for Green Island, Watervliet, and I believe Cohoes as well. Troy Fire will cover Cohoes from their Lansingburgh station.<BR>Reporters/Writer:NYSFF