CFI609D

Once again, Kevin Cullen of the Boston Globe nails it. I only wish we had more journalists like him in our area. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/21/remembering-sacrifice-firefighters/ZIwC2dInOiFtJPy92wuMVK/story.html

Fairfield CT Fire Department is now accepting applications. Information is available on the FFD website: http://www.fdfairfield.com/ Link to application: http://www.fairfieldct.org/filestorage/10726/11020/12415/12420/2015_Fairfield_Fire_Dept_Application.pdf

No local/regional tax dollars were used to purchase the METU. It was acquired via the Federal USAI program (see my earlier post). As to potential use as a MERV, that would be a function it was NOT intended to be used for.

The YPD METU is the only one of the 18 purchased by the U.S. Government via the grant program that is set-up for treatment and rehab. The remaining 17 (FDNY, WCDES, NJ, Nassau, etc) are only set-up for transport and are essentially identical.

METU is the acronym for “Medical Evacuation Transportation Unit”. It was designed specifically “to assist in the evacuation and relocation of stable individuals confined to a hospital, nursing home or assisted living facility during an emergency or catastrophic event.” It has the capacity to safely transport from one medical facility to another. It is not a MERV, MCI unit, or big ambulance as it is not set-up or equipped to treat, only to transfer. I believe that 18 METU units were purchased under the New York City Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and they are assigned to agencies in NJ (several cities/counties), Nassau County, Suffolk County, FDNY, City of Yonkers (YPD), as well as with WCDES here in Westchester. Again, they are NOT units designed to treat or transport victims from MCIs…their mission is very specific and it is to transfer and transport people between hospitals and/or other health care facilities. I hope this answers your question and clarifies the continued confusion regarding the METU and its mandated function.

Congrats Hap! You will be missed on the air. Enjoy a long and healthy retirement!!

Yes, in Westchester all of the CFIs and SFIs can. And any person who cannot pass this simple series of job related tasks should not be allowed in the fire service. Period.

Boston rarely tows illegally parked vehicles: instead they use the boot to immobilize the vehicle until the fines are paid. It is cheaper for the city (no tow trucks, no impound lots, fewer employees, etc.) but still generates lots of cash for Boston. While efficient from a revenue generation standpoint, the Boston approach fails to remedy these situations, which is why the brothers of the BFD tend to get frustrated and take matters into their own hands.

Prior to be placed in service people need to be properly trained in its function and operation. This has been taking place. As to when it will be in service I would imagine soon given the number of recent training sessions. It will be operated by WCDES staff.

This should be a very useful and informative event. Please keep in mind that the WCDES/ConEd foam unit is now utilizing F-500, NOT AFFF!

Most of the responses posted above are sensible, mainly because most of you are looking at this issue in a logical context. Sadly, "Chief" Ellerbe's actions are driven not by logic or even by policy objectives. Unfortunately his agenda while at the helm of DCFD has concentrated on punishing and demotivating the core of the suppression side in favor of a bias towards the EMS side of the department and political alliances within the city's Democratic Party. The two stations mentioned above (E10/T13 "House of Pain" and E30/T17 "House of Blame") have for years been not only among the busiest but the most tightly knit. They also have produced some of DCFD's best firefighters and chiefs, as well as many of IAFF Local 36's leadership, the very people Ellerbe has hated for years. Ellerbe's enmity goes back to when he got on the job and proceeded to advance in the ranks on the back of aligning himself with the right groups on city hall, not by distinguishing himself on the line. This is all about payback and intentional demotivation. Ellerbe wants these guys to refuse the crime patrol details so he can suspend or transfer them. This chief has already been chastised in the courts and arbitration for using transfers from elite units as punishments. He is trying to break the spirit of a very proud department by demotivating the most highly motivated elements and driving the more experienced officers and firefighters into retirement as quickly as possible. The good news is he is a lame duck and there is light at the end of the tunnel, when the current Mayor, Vincent Gray leaves at the end of this term, Ellerbe will be moving on with his sponsor. We can only hope and pray that DCFD gets a good chief who can help mend fences and undo the damage done by Ellerbe.

Finally! http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/06/kenneth-ellerbe-d-c-fire-chief-will-step-down-next-month-103812.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/5/embattled-dc-fire-chief-announces-retirement/ No doubt there are many smiles today at the DCFEMS DCFD!!

FDNY adopted its patch after 1976, so these pix are probably late 1970s.

Kudos to the HFD for a job well done, especially given their limited resources. The first-due crew and IC made an excellent size-up, and succeeded initiating an effective attack AND rescuing one of the occupants. Once again, the HFD's culture of training aggressively and often paid-off. To the Monday-morning quarterbacks who have posted above, I was there and this was a text-book operation. Well-trained and combat-ready FFs & officers went above and beyond, which resulted in a life being saved.

Required reading, especially for those who do not take the role or importance of FAST/RIT seriously, as well as those who do not regularly drill on FAST/RIT skills. Do not let the sacrifice of our brothers in Boston be in vain...train in their honor! http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/03/27/rescue-team-member-recalls-efforts-save-trapped-firefighters-explosion/fpaSuuNZuVVlBPOJ0H7a2O/story.html http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/03/27/when-routine-turns-crisis/VciKjCDUWGZbp8saE1jWGM/story.html

From Kevin Cullen of The Boston Globe...a very well written piece indeed! http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/03/28/boston-firefighters-singular-calling-ingrained-for-life/pwNZJAmRf6nhkyNaZmltJO/story.html

RIT and FAST are two different terms for the same thing.

Amen, Barry! Sadly, FASNY's misguided priorities (blue lights, dumbing-down training standards, etc.) only hold us back. The volunteer fire service needs to understand that FASNY and the attitude they represent do nothing to increasing firefighter safety. And it is unrealistic for the volunteer fire service in NY to get the respect that so many want as long as we have training "apartheid"!

Sadly this state is way behind the times and due to home rule, requires very little. That said, the lesson of Lairdsville is that the NFPA standards are what Chiefs and the AHJ will be held to in a court of law, both for civil and criminal trials. IMHO, it is crazy that we do not mandate FF1, FF2, Survival, FAST, TCO, etc. for ALL interior firefighters. And far too few firefighters in our area are being assigned to operate as part of a FAST/RIT unit without training in even the basic FAST skills.

The key word you used is "interpret." If you asked 15 attorneys for their respective opinions, you would likely get 15 distinctly different interpretations of the law. This is especially the case in here in NYS where so many of the laws pertaining to fire districts, fire companies, and municipal fire departments are archaic and inconsistent.

PRFD's former Rescue 22 is now Rescue 78, and Rye's old engine is now Engine 8.

Dave is an outstanding fire instructor, perhaps one of the best & most knowledgeable in our area (which is a big statement given how much talent we have in this region).

Westport (CT) FD also used to require a swim test.

Thanks chief, your words sum it up. I do hope that you will share your thoughts with the professor, who clearly needs to further his own education!