houlidsa

Try finding a stock windshield

Thats me and the wife's current Sunday night show. Truly hard to express what I think and how I feel about it, other than I'm into it.

They are not unsuspecting, they are uneducated, ignorant, or lazy. The other thing is most of the stuff is not a gimmick its designed for a specific scope or practice which was over stepped or misunderstood by a FD. The big problem is guys don't look to solve their own problems they think there is a magic bullet in one nozzle that will make fires instantly go out. The nozzle is only one component of many in putting a fire out. Remember putting the fire out starts with you!

Those aren't just any plain silly airhorns, those are train horns!

Portable radios with Emergency Alert Button capabilities including the mic. This coinsides with the radios that can display the member talking/alerting.

Let's be adults here. These rigs will have as many or as few problems as the next guy. The big question is the support behind it. What I mean by this is KME substantially under bid the competition. But the competition understood the FDNY demands and had at last some resources already in place to accommodate the service/warranty requirements. I personally hope that these engines don't turn into a ponzi scheme, meaning the future rigs' profit are covering these rigs' warranty work. If that's the case what happens when KME doesn't get another order? Does that mean unit 75 and greater don't get properly taken care of; then I'm stuck on the floor above someday making a deal with God because there is no water? I have my doubts of how these units will last but I'm sure they will initially go into pumps at least. Sorry meant also say it all comes down to the $. Remember you get what you pay for.

This is not just Toledo's loss, this is a loss for all of us. Honor them by learning from their sacrifice.

The article says they had a performance bond. As for buying the incomplete apparatus, yes it has happened. When Hahn closed their doors former dealers went and bid on the rigs they were set to deliver. Some were delivery ready, some not so.

Anyone note the load? With so little hose how about just dropping the divider heights and make wide low loads. With narrow tall packed loads the guy standing on the back step still is loading over his head. By lowering the loads its safer for more than just one guy. Plus if they are stretching off the back step easier for the nozzle FF. Also is that a walkway or just a currently unoccupied section of hose bed? The hose is not or not entirely pre-connected so just maybe currently vacant storage

The real story is they evacuated a store. And the secondary story is the use of emergency lights for a nonemergency (MVA liability). Not to have future questional judgement they should review their bylaws & SOPS, check with their lawyer and make changes as needed. Good luck & best wishes on the marriage.

Schenectady is in NY. Outside Albany as a reference. They very busy with a lot of fire duty while being under staffed and sometimes under equiped. I have always loved their metallic gold over red. It really popped on their ALFs.

You are correct this is not paid vs volunteer. Its someone career that they diminish by allowing someone else volunteer to do it. Problem or perception depends on which direction you look at it from. From a unionized outsider it appears as a problem when looking at from the unionized labor side. Which the LE may not always see, you know the whole tree for the forest saying. Tax payers, whom sometimes don't even know that the FD is volunteer, would look at this as a good thing. But these are the same tax payers who have never given a minute back to their community, whether its directing traffic in a storm or joining a rotary club. This particular article is a perception issue. These actions do not put the FD the best light with every citizens. Even though many firefighters are swore peace officers the position of neutrality allows us to do our jobs better. We are perceived as the good guys who come to help. I've had little kids say "hi police man" and their parents so "no he a firemans, he a good guy". As for every cop being trained, that is a very strong statement. Wasn't this an issue after a little girl got run over in the city a few weeks back? Not having enough LE available can be a budget issue. But how do you build a case for more resources, manpower and bigger budget if the menial jobs are always past off? Remember your 30 year career and my 20 year career will never be the same. Different times & different places. So I can only give observations on incidents I have been present for. Union shops take time. We don't close, we take time. You get back from a fire (or washing off vomit) and are OOS showering and another run comes in, you miss it. As explained to me there will always be more. If the numbers show 1 firehouse can cover every call & every fire then you don't need 2 firehouse.

The funny thing is so many threads turn into paid vs. volunteer. But the ones that diminish their own career by continually relying on volunteer FDs is the PD. Most people don't realise it but here is an example: MVA, LE fly as fast as they can to the scene (most w/o any EMS capabilities) they do some paperwork and then leave the VFD to control traffic. I have never heard LE ever say hey I got this, they just want to be available for the next job. But if LE was always tied up on this stuff then they would be forced to have more units working. Which means when the SHTF backup maybe just that much closer. This is why sometimes it hurts my feelings but career FD companies that are Union houses take time and occassionally miss fires. Its a double edge sword because LE doesn't want to do certain tasks and VFD is sometimes all to willing to "help their community". But don't these guys pay taxes too? I know I pay taxes so I shouldn't have to stand in a foot of snow. Close a road in a winter storm, VFD will do it because PD does not want to. Even though if LE did they may be forced to call someone in to staff another radio car.

I'm not sure about that dept on the news clip but I know in another article a few months ago also in Saugerties it stated the same thing. However the FD was participating by providing the use of the district light tower and members to operate it. It is of the big tow behind Wacker style. I feel that if you want to let them use the light tower, give them a tutorial and off you go. But by guys standing around I feel it sends the wrong message. Many guys on here can relate to showing up to a EMS run and say "we don't care we're not cops, what's wrong with them?". After people seeing this it maybe harder to gain the public's trust, especially in some communities.

Nice job. Had this conversation on Monday. What if was leaving station for FAST and there was an open seat, would I leave a probationary guy back? I said no because as long as they are not brandy new because every member should be able to put up a 24' ladder so there are even exterior FAST jobs. They could have 2 years in and still be probationary.

www.salamanderlive.com they have the card style and even have the smart phone / tablet accountability apps

Every FF should have the basic skill set of FAST / RIT. It has been proven time and again that the FFs already operating are going to be the first to a downed FF. Because of this FACT what transpires in the first few minutes may be more important than after the fact. Also it kills me that guys get so caught up in niche training but a lot of guys may not have the true master skill sets in basics.

That's some salty Explorer. I see he purchased the helmet with the extra salt package which includes melted bourkes and for show only wrap behind chin strap. It sucks to lose something of such value. Hopefully it will reappear or someone will show up at the fire house saying that they found it on the side of the road. I know of a few times when helmets have literally fallen of rigs.

While the subject is on ambulances. If anyone is aware a used larger Type I ambulance for sale or donation please PM me. My buddy's tiny upstate FD is looking to replace their 1990 Ford ambulance that they use for EMS, rope rescue and accidents. They got it on its last leg from a commercial provider almost 15 years ago but now its shot. Thank you in advance.

Sorry it didn't work out for you. I had ordered one a year ago and had it shipped to a Commercial address and it cost me about $17 in shipping. Keep us posted of any great deals you come across.

check out www.rbfab.com go to the closeout section. they are usually a little over priced but the close outs like the "Squad Bag" is one heck of a bargain

If you are worried about the shirt under your gear melting, you have bigger things to worry about. Like your facepiece melting or inhalation burns. Its also not just a comfort thing, its also the lubricity that the garment provides. Lubricity is the ease of motion when wearing the garment, directly relates to how silky the facecloth of the liner system is. Not all FD's gear have a ton of lubricity so an UA style garment makes up for where the TOG lacks. I've been exercising wearing a UA style shirt and gym shorts when the tones go off and I don't think twice. You will be living in a world of S for the rest of your life even if you survive a fire that is so hot it will melt the shirt to your body. As for the FR ones, they are out there. I was gifted one made by Lion which I like during the Summer. Not as silky as an UA style but it has the anti stink materials in the design. I know MSA use to carry ones, but I think they may have sold with their LE/Military division of ballistics. I have also seen Power Dry FR shirts on Wildland Warehouse's website.

If everyone keeps suggesting $100 / hr artists, this year's operating costing are going to go up for the site. I also suggest you explore something on your lower back, I hear that is in style.

Another option is refurbing those old Haix, check out www.nushoe.com This ways you get to keep your made in Germany boot but employ someone in the USA to extend their life

Or because we are in denial that EMS is a big, if not bigger part of our scope of operations.