Healz

If YFD had paid members to roll out immediately this station would work. Without that it is a hidden away party palace.

There are no Paid Drivers In Westchester. This is a derogatory term used by Volunteers to demean their jobs as Professional Firefighters that work in combo departments. Professional Firefighters in Lake Mohegan, Peekskill are fully trained in the NYS academy and are Firefighters, Not Paid Drivers.

There are no Paid Drivers In Westchester. This is a derogatory term used by Volunteers to demean their jobs as Professional Firefighters that work in combo departments. Professional Firefighters in Lake Mohegan, Peekskill are fully trained in the NYS academy and are Firefighters, Not Paid Drivers.

There are no Paid Drivers In Westchester. This is a derogatory term used by Volunteers to demean their jobs as Professional Firefighters that work in combo departments. Professional Firefighters in Lake Mohegan, Peekskill are fully trained in the NYS academy and are Firefighters, Not Paid Drivers.

If YFD had paid members to roll out immediately this station would work. Without that it is a hidden away party palace.

If YFD had paid members to roll out immediately this station would work. Without that it is a hidden away party palace.

If YFD had paid members to roll out immediately this station would work. Without that it is a hidden away party palace.

If YFD had paid members to roll out immediately this station would work. Without that it is a hidden away party palace.

Good Guy. Way to young.

This is the decision that each man made. They knew what the conditions that they worked under and took the risk.

It is a shame that no where in this article is this individual identified as a VOLUNTEER Firefighter. I am working to have that corrected.
The issue of reckless driving is much more prevalent in the Volunteer Fire Service than on the career side. This is not to say that there haven't been instances of career Firefighters driving recklessly. However, the overwhelming majority of these instances are on the volunteer side. That is something that the public should be aware of so that those who are served by career departments are not overly concerned and so that perhaps pressure may be brought to resolve this recurring problem with volunteer firefighters which has cost many lives and injuries.

Yes !!! The secret public elections.
For those of you that get allot of your local information by reading the lohud site. You'll notice that you can read all about every election in the county. Here is a challenge, start your stop watch as you click on Lohud.com. Time how long if you can at all find the notice of election for your district. That is without loading a specific search. The clock is ticking.
99% percent of the people that vote in fire district elections are Volunteers and their family and friends. The other one percent are people who wander in looking directions.LOL
If you think things will change, how can it?
If these election were moved to the regular election day it would.
(1)Save money instead of paying for a special election each year
(2)Be decided by many more diverse populous.
The fire district that I vote in Lake Mohegan, some voters would have to drive over 5 miles through heavy holiday traffic to vote. Then stand on line maybe outside in the cold. This district takes in 2 Townships Yorktown and Cortlandt never has a polling place been in Cortlandt. For so large a fire district with 4 firehouses to have the district elections in one corner of the district is just wrong.

Yes !!! The secret public elections.
For those of you that get allot of your local information by reading the lohud site. You'll notice that you can read all about every election in the county. Here is a challenge, start your stop watch as you click on Lohud.com. Time how long if you can at all find the notice of election for your district. That is without loading a specific search. The clock is ticking.
99% percent of the people that vote in fire district elections are Volunteers and their family and friends. The other one percent are people who wander in looking directions.LOL
If you think things will change, how can it?
If these election were moved to the regular election day it would.
(1)Save money instead of paying for a special election each year
(2)Be decided by many more diverse populous.
The fire district that I vote in Lake Mohegan, some voters would have to drive over 5 miles through heavy holiday traffic to vote. Then stand on line maybe outside in the cold. This district takes in 2 Townships Yorktown and Cortlandt never has a polling place been in Cortlandt. For so large a fire district with 4 firehouses to have the district elections in one corner of the district is just wrong.

Thank you all for opinions. While I did not mean to be abrasive, I wanted to make a point here.
If the average expected life span of an American is 78.3. Then anytime a member under that age dies from (MVA, Drowning, Household accident, Cancer, Heart, Food poisoning, ETC) then they are entitled to a LODD funeral with full honors and multiple FDs like Mahopac VFD gave.  I would image that budgets and the precious time that volunteers give would soon be strained to the point of breaking. Volunteers complain about the amount of time training takes now, add another 5-6 hours a month for funeral detail. After all they are many more volunteers then paid. (As pointed out in another post)
During my time I have seen many nice, wonderful, great guys die before their time and did not get a LODD funeral. The FD if involved line up at the wake to pay tribute. Maybe sent an engine for flowers and lined up in front of station as the Hearst and family past. There are many FFs from paid FDs(including FDNY) that are members of Mahopac VFD that I am sure could have advised on them on protocol.
As for doing this for every member, time will tell. 25 or 60 year members we'll see, I believe time is on my side. As I don't live in the Mahopac fire district and as pointed out the public's opinion doesn't matter in this event.  The taxpayers may want to vote, with their opinions, in the future at the voting booth. Oh that is if the public ever can vote at the secret public fire district elections that take place during the month of December instead of during regular November elections. (but this is another matter)
Since this was not a LODD, I would hope that no taxpayer money was used for this funeral. If that is the case that full reimbursement from the Company for all District expenses is instituted.

So when I worked in the HOUSE. I could date one of my coworkers Wives while I myself am still married. Get killed by that FF and get a LODD funeral. YEA RIGHT!!!
I witnessed this spectacle, Mahopac has forever cheapened the LODD funeral.

So when I worked in the HOUSE. I could date one of my coworkers Wives while I myself am still married. Get killed by that FF and get a LODD funeral. YEA RIGHT!!!
I witnessed this spectacle, Mahopac has forever cheapened the LODD funeral.

And at that point they would probably change over to a paid dept.

Fry him!!!!

Fry him!!!!

Fry him!!!!

All Mohegan has to do now is hire enough paid firefighters to man it. Their numbers have been cut so badly that they have more apparatus then people on duty

I have been an EMT since 1974 and have taken Recert courses and CMEs.
I personally got more from the participation of a Recert course. It is more hands on then sitting at a lecture or in front of a computer. I enjoy tossing around a subject and getting as much in put as possible. Recert courses bring together more people and generally a more diverse group. Yes EMT courses were allot tougher in the old days it was more intensive and a true anatomy course. Most of the reading on the subject matter was done outside the classroom so you were well versed in the subject when the discussion took place in the class. this was after a test was given about past covered subjects. You also performed in front of the instructors and were judged each and every thing you did during assessments and other evolutions. During the first 6 weeks we lost over 20% of the class because they could not keep up with this curriculum. This may be due to bad study habits, motivation or maturity as many young people including myself were in the class. If this was done today 70% of each class would be lost and if CME was the only way to study for EMT tests 90% would fail.
Over the years I have seen to many people that are unqualified to be EMTs.
Let me explain, many EMTs do not use the correct terminology for simple terms that used to be standard. While terminology may seem a small thing it is the method that we transfer information to each other clearly. The written word on reports must be clear and undisputable. Another thing if you are not tested for the subject matter then you are not familiar with it. If you are just a warm body signing an attendance sheet you are not getting the training and this is what is going on in this State. The State should have instructors that are paid well and teach in geological areas where they don't live or serve. These instructors can also test for physical and legal compliance that is not being done now. Everyone know EMTs that cannot fulfill the physical aspects of being an EMT this could be pickup by testing from state instructors that is not being done now. There isn't anyone out there that hasn't heard "Oh I have a bad back, so I can't help you lift the patient". You are endangering your patient, your crew, and your agency. Drivers should also be capable of handling patients and have a minimum amount of training. Writing reports 101 should be part of the training, not study how to write reports, actual writing of situational reports. There is so much wrong with NYSBOH training CMEs its hard to know where to start.
Sorry I got off subject a little

Thanks Chief may speak to you in the future
Kurt if you are calling for other Depts from the get go doesn't this call for consolidation now. If you are on Auto Mutual Aid now how many depts will be called before a firefighting force is raised in the future. Lets think ahead for a 2 year plan and 5 years and 10 years. This is forward thinking and all depts will be better by the planning that is done today.
We should all stop thinking about stop-gap measures. The actions that are taken today will have consequences tomorrow and for years to come. True leadership is taking care of the people that we serve and FFs & EMS that work so hard to provide this service. Having enough response now and in the future is for most.

Hi everyone
I am a recent retiree from the Dist in question. You all know by my nickname, who I am. I have read the post on this subject and can agree with some and wonder about others.
I went to the Commissioners meeting last night and was surprised at the conversation that took place. Since this was a public meeting I can discuss what most of the meet was about. There are training problems here, the Commissioners have tried without success to train 100% of the volunteers FFs. They have tried for over 2 years to get everyone in sync with the state and federal standards. They have let FFs go and now they have the wolf at the door and must expel members and notify them by certified mail. These infractions are mostly for noncompliance(OSHA, Repritor test, bail-out, policy, Etc) The Commissioners discussed at length and were disappointed that not all volunteers made the grade after 2 years.
I can no longer make suggestions as a FF, but as a concerned citizen. I can only tell you how I feel and my experience with this district. As a CFF I did not like when Police Officers or Career firefighters from other Depts volunteered here and I knew that if I went to thier jobs to volunteer it would be a differant story. I was told by one career firefighter that he volunteered because he'll never make rank at his job, but could be a chief here. The one eyed man is king in the land of the blind. This CFF also had better benefits then I and better pay, but did not mind stepping on my toes when it came down to benefits for me and my family. Which made me very defensive of my job.
After speaking to some CFFs and VFFs I now know that there has been problem at most of the recent fires. The blame game is going around in circles. There was a shortage of FFs to launch an interior attack and the few VFFs that could respond at least you were there. I am not going to second guess any decissions that were made by IC because I was not there. He made decissions on what he had and what he seen.
Standard staffing at this time is:
2 CFFs @ HQ(L35,E25?,R32)
1 CFF @ Sta-2(R75,E253,L10)
1 CFF @ Sta-3 (R80,E254)
1 CFF @ Sta-4 (U11,U50,E25?)
There has been cutbacks and there has not been any CFFs hired in almost 7 years. Is this a sign of the times I don't think so. Times were good and they still refused to hire. Guys say here that CFFs shortages are a sign of the times, well stand back and think are you working more, maybe a second job, whatever, your availablity to respond is alot less. They'er 7 positions that should be covered 4 shifts and 3 vacation floaters. There used to be 3 till 60c took dispatch 1 was dropped from HQ. As CFFs retired or transfered to other depts vacation floaters were put in permenent posts all openings are now covered by OT. OT will probably be the next complaint that the CFFs make to much. We all know that we went into this career for love and not the money. The CFFs that work @ Sta 2,3,4 are alone for their entire shift. The work force is shifting from 20s thru 40s to late 30s thru 50s, this is a problem. Without that shot of young blood more injuries and more absenteeism will happen causing a financial problem for the district.
As a concerned citizen I would hope that the career ranks are returned to there full strenght. That the second Lieutenant position be replaced so that the strain of training 32 CFFs and 60 or so VFFs to standards could be accomplished in a timely manner. They are other concerns that I have but these seem to be the most pressing at this time. By bringing the training standards for VFFs up to regulated specks this would make a more harmonious fire district for everyone.
There are facts and opinions in this post if you wish to call me out on any of these please do. I will try to answer your intelligent questions.