FF402

Excellent job! I'm glad I subscribed!

That thread was well deserving of this honor. And this is a great idea that I hope to see continue-may promote some competition for better posts. Congrats to all!

Absolutely. Hope everyone makes a speedy recovery! Looks like the highway ramp was slick with just a sheen of moisture...I don't know if in Texas they are used to driving on slick roads like we are.

I'm not trying to be critical of this fire of which I know nothing about nor do I know anything about the departments operations, just trying to discuss what appears in the photo that was posted on the internet. Would you put your firefighters on this roof? [attachmentid=2726] http://www.firenews.org/fires/Saugus050607.jpg Fire was in Saugus, MA on May 6th, 2007 (Photo from FireNews.org)

Just curious of the various career firefighter schedules out there. It seems the 10/14 and 24hr shifts are the most popular. Which do you like and why? If you work 24's, how is your system set up? Are there other schedules out there?

Copy of an email fowarded to me. Interesting.

Did anybody notice the Westchester column is missing from this month's Fire Apparatus Journal? (Jan/Feb)

That is great news...but is there any chance that the residents of Rye Brook and Greenwich would fight this over noise concerns? I know Airtran flys the "Quiet" 717 in, but jetBlue has the A320 and E190- are those louder?

When my friends firehouse was renovated, there were leaks everywhere, dust covered everything, guys were getting sick. It got so bad that they had to abandon their plans and move into a trailer.

If anyone has today's (Sunday) New York Times, pull out the Westchester section and go to page 2. In the article about Barnes and Noble in Hartsdale closing, our very own x635 is quoted.

Even though like many I check the site everyday for new photos, thanks for yet another great feature for us. Looks like you've really been spending a lot of time on the computer lately doing all this.

Great article and some good tidbits I picked up myself,

I find it interesting that this guy didn't even reply to the topic at hand, just used it as a chance to bash EMTBravo on the board. I've been on this forum basically since the beginning, and have watched it, and its members, grow. It seems over time EMTBravo, despite his best efforts, is accused of being anti-volunteer, pro-volunteer, anti-career, pro-career, dictator, etc. I find this riciulous, and often time these comments are made by very ignorant and biased people who really have no place on this board to begin with. It seems like some people just enjoy causing trouble, and because EMTBravo won't just let them come on here and rant/bash, they make posts such as the above. I thank EMTBravo for his work, this is one of the best forums out there today. Sure, theres a lot of BS too, but that's the same with a lot of the other forums I frequent. The difference is, the admistrator of this forum really cares about making fire and EMS better. I've had an issue with this forum before, and I emailed EMTBravo, and he worked with me to resolve it to our satisfaction. Why don't you try the same?

Philadelphia FD is really going through some turbulent times with possible layoffs, contract disputes, funding issues, etc. This article, however, is a very interesting response to all of this by a member of the public From: http://www.phillymag.com/articles/philadel...ire_the_firemen

I really enjoyed and learned from the RIC article, I wish more departments summed up their drills and lessons learned like that. I look foward to more from Chief Williams

You deserve the new computer! This site is great, and keeps getting better every day! I like all the new features!

I applaud this member, whoever he is and whereever he is from, for standing up and trying to bring the department up from the old school level. The outdated mentality of the fire service when it comes to parades needs to be stopped. The problem lies in those ignorant to the fact they are there to provide the community with fire and rescue protection first and foremost, and have the highest quality firefighters and equipment possible arrive when they need them- at any hour of any day. I cannot believe the department....and the person responsible for it's manpowers behavior...the chief and his officers........actually allow a firefighter to be belittled because he wants to train. I can't even understand how outdated items like this remain in bylaws or what the reasoning behind enforcing it is? I also applaud this board and its members, I am sure that many people are learning something they thought was right for so long isn't and that this is giving those who are in this for the right reasons a place to band togethther share ideas and get stronger so that we can be the best fire service.

I think that is the point of this website.....to hear and see OTHER peoples ideas and opinions. I know I have learned things I ordinarily wouldn't have just keeping things "in-house", as you imply. I still don't understand why some are so secretive about their operations....if your confident you are doing the right thing, then what are you afraid of?

So, what should I have done with the photo? Kept it to myself, and then when something happened to one of those guys, felt horrible because I knew I had evidence to spark change and didn't? I feel confident that this time the heat on this thread will spark change and am very glad it was kept up......this department chose to take this action, in public, at a parade, with a lot of cameras around. And from what I have learned, they have taken heat for it in the past as well, and keep it up. We need to redefine what we consider "bashing". A department takes an documented action that universally outrages their peers, and we bring it to their attention using in my opinion on of the best resources in this area to communicate with each other. However, those who stand up to try and progress the fire service and make things better are always accused of "bashing" and having alterior motives. Why must people get so defensive and confrontational? It's NOT about CONFLICT, it's about CHANGE Doc. And by the way, this topic is NOT beaten to death, since people are STILL particpating in the action in question.

I just got another PM from another member, asking ME to stop "making the department look bad". I was also accused of being jealous because I didn't want them to win so therefore I felt the need to bash them. Please note I wasn't even at the parade, nor am I a member of any department that participates in a parade. Unreal.

I just got a very interesting PM from a (from the tone I would think a younger or immature) member of that department, calling me an explecitive, accused me of doing it myself (which I do not), and saying it doesn't matter because a trophy was won....and implying that it was going to continue to spite "everyone who is against them" on this issue. WHY is this member, or probaly even members, getting so defensive???? Don't bother taking responsibilty for this error, and now I'm sure it's going to happen again. I'm not bashing this department, I just would feel guilty if something happened to one of these men and I saw it happen and didn't say anything. The photo was taken of that department while they were in the public eye. They chose to take that action in the public eye, in front of so many who work and try to keep us all safe, so what makes me the bad one for posting it? Who cares what department it was, the fact is is that it happened. This department I'm sure is a great firefighting agency, and thats not whats being discussed, but their peers here are trying to tell them something. And just because you reconize the rig because it's familiar to you, not everyone will....and this is a probelm that goes on in many other departments as well. As I said before, I hope this photo sparks change.

"Does My Chief Or Driver Care About Our Safety?" That's what I'm wondering if these guys riding atop this rig last night were asking themeselves, while the rigs was going about 30 on Route 117 toward the Parade lineup. Surely, someone from this department has read the numerous topics about the danger of this on this forum, and still I see it happening again and again. I'm NOT looking to bash any specific department, I just think and hope this is a good method to get this nonsense to stop once and for all for us all. Leadership is influnential, and knowing what we do about this due to past incidents, how can it still happen repeatedly in 2006? Is no one else but me seeing this? Is not one of those members thinking "Gee, this is kind of dangerous, and makes us look like unprofessional yahoos, let me stand up and say something". If something was to happen to anyone on top of that rig, I hope the driver and chief could live with themselves. I know I'm sick of the parade topics, but I hope this photo changes something.

I noticed the photo on EMTBravo.com of Squad 6's Technical Rescue Support Unit trailer. This is the first I'm seeing of it, is it new? What kind of equipment is carried in it?

Can someone tell me more about the West Harrison FD training center that's on EMTBravo.com? What does the building feature, where is it, what other props and facilities are on site? Can you burn in it? And is it going to be open to other departments in the area? The building looks great, good luck with it!

I'm interested to know who comprises a new apparatus comittee in your department, and who you think should comprise that comittee? My department is currently spec'ing a new apparatus, and the firefighterS who use it basically have no say, or no oppurtunity for input. Since we're out there with the apparatus everyday, and are going to be using the end product, I think we should have more of a say. On our comittee, we have chiefs, assistant chiefs, commisioners, and others who haven't seen the line in years, much less driven, had to ride, use, or take care of the apparatus. They know "What's best for us", even us that have been on the job for 10 or more years. I feel a rig designed for and by the firefighterS who use it is best. It's sad to see departments design a rig that the commisioners or a chief wants. Keep firefighters in the loop, they may have an idea or two. By the way, has anyone had experience involving professional "apparatus architects"? With apparatus becoming more and more complicated, maybe a professional to become a liason between the department and potential manufacturers to help design a truck and write a spec is a smart move. What do you think? Is involving firefighters in designing new apparatus important?