FF402

If I'm not mistaken, this was discussed before when another (or maybe the same?) department after they won a trophy, sped away with people on the roof, hosebed and hanging everywhere else. This bothers me too, you see guys getting hurt and killed everyday, all the training and safety information and all else that goes on, and this still occurs? Have the department officers been living in a cave? I hope they are reading this, they should be ashamed of themselves. AND, so should any department that sees this happen and doesn't say anything. Let these "firefighters" with wreckless disregard for their and everyone elses safety know it's wrong and not tolerated!

I'm curious what steps could be taken to give EMS the parity it deserves with Police, Fire, and EMS. If you look back in Fire and PD history, the pay, benefits, and working conditions haven't always been that great at all. It's the unions- specifically the IAFF and PBA and their predecssors, who have brought the compensation and working conditions to where they need to be. Same with unions for nurses, hospital workers, ironworkers, etc. Why can't EMS do the same? If EMS workers- especially when they work for private industry- don't want to band together stand up for themselves- then they are going to be stepped on. And EMS shouldn't be privatized. We never would privatize Fire or PD- even DPW, so why do we contract out EMS to commercial providers? EMS also needs to be clearly seperarated from the medical transportation sector of things. Nothing's ever handed to you.

I'm happy for you, best wishes!

I was wondering if any career departments in the area were allowed to wear shorts as part of their on duty station uniform? It's getting hot, and my chief doesn't think it's appropriate....except where they are worn in Florida.....we obviously think they are, and want to wear them. Anybody with a similar issue?

I could have swore I heard a new voice on 60 today, and the number 650? Are we welcoming new dispatchers?

I have family that is in the volunteer service, and was recently at an event in which I saw the department operate at a call while visiting. I saw a newer member of the department, 19 years old, basically give his "opinion" which sounded more like orders to a Chief, and the chief obliged. The way he interacted with the chief is what struck me most, especially when their are Lt's and Capt's on scene. This is not the first time I have seen this. The kids in this department have the firehouse as their social club, fill the rig at every call, and think they have the run of the place. They seem to have this sense of power in their department and rule it. It seems a lot of Chiefs and officers in the volunteer service are buddy-buddy with the younger membership, primarily because they are so similar in age, and more importantly, they want votes. This IS NOT healthy! This department is also, like many local departments, has their active membership almost all early 20-something and under. Who do these guys learn from? Senior men are important, they teach us much more then we think. Officers, you command your troops and are responsible. They are not your friends on duty, and they need to know that. If they don't like you for doing your job, too bad. It's my opinion that this is where some of the attitude Pressure speaks of comes from. I may have digressed from the topic but this is where I think the problem comes from, poor leadership and modern parenting.

I'm curious how many departments require their apparatus drivers to wear turnout gear when responding, more specifically bunker pants and boots? I personally feel that in some situations, this isn't ideal, and the driver should get dressed when he arrives at the scene. Wearing bulky turnout gear makes me feel cumbersome, and I can't be as agile while driving as when in uniform. Any thoughts?

Being a member of these forums for a while, I've seen several common themes on here. One of them being, members of departments coming on here, speaking about problems in their departments and countywide. Now, their are message boards all over the net, and every department has its problems, but why are so many in this county afraid to get together, speak up, and resolve the problems. If they truly believe that things could be better, then why don't they do something beyond chatting about it on here to make them better? Now, I love this message board because I've learned a lot from it, and have been able to communicate a lot of things, we're able to speak and share with our peers, a lot of good has come from it and will continue to come from it. But there's a point where hearing the same problems over and over year after year and nothing getting done, or something slowly getting done about it is making me concerned about the new generation being able to progress the emergency services to where it needs to be. So, these are the problems I see come up over and over again that are common to us all, not just one department. Poor staffing levels. Slow EMS response times. Overuse of Mutual Aid. Rampant unnecessary spending. Poor and unorganized communications systems. Lack of unity and standard countywide operating procedures. Poor command structures. Crappy funding. If these are truly significant problems in our communities that so many are speaking out about, then why aren't our departmental officers working, or working faster, to get them resolved? And more importantly, why don't I see more organized groups of responders getting together to show unity and strength to muscle through the "red tape", educate and mobilize the citizens, and get these issues resolved? Why are so many afraid to step away from the keyboard and into town hall or your chiefs office and stand up and fight? Local, County, Or State politics? Lack of conviction? Fear of persecution? Overwhelmed? Don't know where or how to begin? Don't you want to make your communities and departments better? DOES ANYBODY TRULY CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR SERVICE? My feelings are, if we can organize social events, etc....we can organize for better fire and EMS countywide!

So, basically what I get from this is that a couple of Mount Vernon guys want to come on here under the protection of anonymous screenames and rant about their problems. Nothing else, just rant. How do I know this information you are presenting is even factual? You can come on here and say anything you want and dont have to worry about people finding out whos saying it. I don't doubt they exist, it just seems strange that people would come on here and complain, yet not want to do anything about it. Especially this capt415 who has a problem with everything it seems. Who are these "others" you speak of? I think that everybody's who matters to this is well aware of this situation.... And how are the members "limited"? Isn't there a union? Can't you guys fight for whats right? Can't the members band together? If you hate the job so much, why not quit or transfer? What do you define as "abusing mutual aid"? Whats wrong with communities with limited resources, as are many in that area, working together more? One would also think that buying three new apparatus is a step in the right direction, yet thats still criticized. In case I'm not making myself clear, how do you reccomend this problem get resolved? Or are you not interested in a resolution, because then youd have nothing to complain about?

Learning about the problems? Sounds like whining and ranting about the problems....again....unless you're going to stand up and do something about them. These posts come up over and over again, often by the same people, and the same rants, yet we never hear of an attempt at a resolution. Why is it so important for us to "learn" about this????? Why don't you do something about this? Are you even a member of MVFD? If so, what do you do to get this situation resolved that doesnt involve posting on an internt forum? I want to read this thread, but I want to read something actually new.

And I repeat my question. What are you doing, through the proper channels, to make your problems known to the public and get them resolved????? I think everyone in the fire service is aware of this, this issue has been beaten to death on this forum, yet some keep dragging it up, and it's always the same old thing on here. I haven't read about Mount Vernon Firefighters planning a demonstration/protest at city hall, or thier union president writing a letter to the mayor or news. It seems like a few just want the opptunity to rant and rant only. And is it that the citizens of Mount Vernon, or a majority of them, really don't care too much about their fire protection or community, or aren't registered voters?

Well said, HFD23! It seems select members come on here thinking this is their personal MVFD bash board, even though this issue has been adressed by the moderators numerous times. What is the point? Everyone knows the situation. Why must we go over it again and again and again if nobody wants to figure out a solution? My question is, are the people posting taking action to improve the situation???? Or just whining on this board? LETS HEAR HOW TO IMPROVE THINGS!!

Anyone catch this in the Daily News yesterday? Wow.

Did anybody catch the Letter to the editor in today's New York Times from the Greenburgh Town Supervisor, Paul Feiner??? He wrote to say he supports a new NYS law that would give Volunteer FF's and EMT's extra points when taking civil service exams for fire and polices. He also went on to say how important it was to keep volunteers, because if not they would have to hire more paid staff. Kinda wierd that you would use that as a recruitment incentive then.

Bruce Willis was recently quoted saying this. Either that or he's desperate for these guys to come see his movies.

Oh No!!

Tarrytown House used to be really good. Haven't been there since the new owners took over, though.