WHFD204

You would think so, but at the incident I am speaking of there were over 40 incoming mutual aid companies from 2 counties. The area for the command post was ideal to stage the 3 units. Each unit had a specific area of responsibility with the appropriate rep from the host dept in their particular IC role. Each unit had all the necessary freq's and the communication between the 3 went well. I think this system worked well especially when there was a chance to be operating for a few days.

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

Assuming that the $363,000/$221,000 is just salary (and does not include benefits) it averages 42 hours per week OT. So he would be working about an 80 hour work week. I know a lot of people who between their job and side work do at least that much.

To begin I am one of the members of the program and we have 4 advisors total for 16 members. The program started with 4 original members and 2 advisors, since then one of the original members has graduated. We practice once a week, which is alot compared to some other organizations that I know of. Mostly our practices consist of basic evolutions taken from the FF1 book, but during the summer when school is out we go to our training base and do lots of hands on training such as VES, raising ladders,forcible entry, streching lines and flowing water. Also during the summer we are put in rotation groups, and when it's your groups turn you can attend the regular department drill, to either spectate or participate (only if the CO permits us to) within the drill. However for when school is in session we will mostly hold in house drills, like wide area search or firefighter entrapments. When we wanted to start the program the 4 members and 2 advisors all met up and we created an application for membership (a modifiyed version of the departments application with a parent sign off ) and a program by laws booklet (a code of conduct and an outline of the program does as well as another parent sign off sheet at the back. After creating this we brought it to the chief and after we received his approval, he then brought it up at the department meeting, and they voted upon it. Every member of the program is issued their own PPE and a gear bag for storage, most of our gear issued is 10+ years old, other members and I have also purchased other pieces of equipment (new gloves or radio holsters) we are also issued a work uniform and a dress uniform (both portrayed in the video). Lastly, the program has a chain of command going from Advisor to Probitionary member, It goes Advisor, 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, J.F.F, and Probitonary Member. To become a Captian or Lieutenants you must be elected to that position.

To begin I am one of the members of the program and we have 4 advisors total for 16 members. The program started with 4 original members and 2 advisors, since then one of the original members has graduated. We practice once a week, which is alot compared to some other organizations that I know of. Mostly our practices consist of basic evolutions taken from the FF1 book, but during the summer when school is out we go to our training base and do lots of hands on training such as VES, raising ladders,forcible entry, streching lines and flowing water. Also during the summer we are put in rotation groups, and when it's your groups turn you can attend the regular department drill, to either spectate or participate (only if the CO permits us to) within the drill. However for when school is in session we will mostly hold in house drills, like wide area search or firefighter entrapments. When we wanted to start the program the 4 members and 2 advisors all met up and we created an application for membership (a modifiyed version of the departments application with a parent sign off ) and a program by laws booklet (a code of conduct and an outline of the program does as well as another parent sign off sheet at the back. After creating this we brought it to the chief and after we received his approval, he then brought it up at the department meeting, and they voted upon it. Every member of the program is issued their own PPE and a gear bag for storage, most of our gear issued is 10+ years old, other members and I have also purchased other pieces of equipment (new gloves or radio holsters) we are also issued a work uniform and a dress uniform (both portrayed in the video). Lastly, the program has a chain of command going from Advisor to Probitionary member, It goes Advisor, 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, J.F.F, and Probitonary Member. To become a Captian or Lieutenants you must be elected to that position.

Just saw a video of the West Harrison Fire Department J.F.F. Video that I found on you-tube. West Harrison Fire Department program looks well run and well organized. These young J.F.F should be proud as well as the Department. I have a few questions how is the program run, how many advises does the program has to keep it well organized, how was the advises pick to start a new J.F.F. program in department. Keep up the Great Work guys