PeterK

This story is AMAZING. Eight firefighters, just trying to do their jobs, became the loosing victims at the hands of these chiefs. Apparently this has been brewing for awhile based on what is posted here.
 
The fact that other volunteer members as well, went along with this gives those volunteer members a black eye too.  As many know, "The Fire Service is following this story". Port Chester, NY is again (as in June, 1974) the focus of attention for the fire service. 
 
What would motivate individuals to hurt the same people they all depend on ? What will the citizens of Port Chester think of those chiefs and the members involved now ? The same individuals who were supposed to save lives and property, NOT damage it more.
 
 This leads me to ask, what are the qualifications to become a chief ? What happens if they violate the rules they are supposed to enforce ?
 
 In this case being that there is now an attorney representing those eight Port Chester Firefighters, if all is correct as posted, I'm sure there WILL be some legal action taken against those chiefs.
 
 As a Chief of a Department, it is expected that you do the right thing. You take a stand on what is right, even if its not the most popular thing to do. That's your job, putting the citizens and firefighters - FIRST.
 
 To encourage other firefighters to destroy anyones house, regardless of who it is, is way beyond me. For a group of fire chiefs to "RECOMMEND" the removal of eight career firefighters goes directly against anything taught in the fire service.
 
  Fire Chiefs should be looked at by other members of the department as Role Models. Citizens consider them the leaders of a group of dedicated individuals who are willing to even die for them if need be.
 
 These THREE Fire Chiefs, along with the volunteer firefighters who supported them, are not only a disgrace to the Port Chester Fire Dept, but to the ENTIRE FIRE SERVICE as well. Not only that, but I am sure when this is finally settled and over, it will end up costing (Not Saving) the taxpayers of Port Chester for the actions of these three fire chiefs.
 
  There is a Lesson to be Learned here. This story will go down in the history books of the fire service. If you are a volunteer fire chief who just happens to have a grudge against career firefighters, it is well worth your while to give that some serious second thoughts. You will do much better leading by good example and bringing out the best in both career and volunteer firefighters working together. Not only for the citizens you are to protect, but also for those who work together during some of the toughest, most dangerous working conditions any human beings face in a lifetime.  
 
 The sooner those laid off firefighters get their jobs back, the better it will be.

If Rye Brook presently has eight firefighters and they picked up the eight dismissed firefighters from Port Chester and paid their salaries with the million they no longer have to give the PCFD. That would give them . 16 members on the Department, the same number of career firefighters many of the smaller jobs in Westchester have right now give or take a few ===Larchmont, Pelham Harrison, Pelham Manor etc. When appropriate officers could be developed from the group, ie One Captain, three Lieutenants and twelve firefighters on 24. hours a day coverage
A four person or three person shift could take care of the vast majority of smells and bells calls before the need for mutual aid. 
 The benefit for Rye Brook would be a professional Department for about what they are paying now without having to deal with the contract and any future PCFC drama ,additionally, they would get fully trained veteran firefighters well versed in their Department and community. ( they work there now)
 The eight Port Chester firefighters would again be employed and their families protected.
  I think it would be worth a conversation. it could really be a win-win-win all around.

There's bad apples in every profession or sector, doesn't mean all are bad. I believe the point being made is that the career members have the training and maintain the training standards. Residents will surely feel safer knowing that there is someone in quarters who is fully trained and ready to respond to an alarm vs hoping that someone who is properly trained and certified happens to be available and fit to respond from wherever they may be and there are a ton of PC vols who don't live in district. No disrespect to them but they cannot offer a sufficient response time. For the money these residents pay in taxes they should have a guaranteed quick response.

The Million Dollar Caper, if the money that rye brook pays port Chester each year does not pay for the service where does the money go. Swiss bank account , somebody is getting bulls...ted. To really put the icing on this cake the other day a brand new engine demo showed up at fire headquarters you should of scene the drooling going on .Don't believe this was done to save money. PERSONAL....

It would seem Rye Brook should look at legal options.  But Vtach is right why not just take that $1mil and hire the 8 on to the small exisiting career staff RB has now.  How many professional FF does RB have?  Unfortunately if they get a fire or something big they will need mutual aid, but hey in todays Westchester County Fire system everyone calls for MA.  I know its not a solution but RB can start to build a career staff  for a small town.  If they get the big one well they have options close by White Plains, Rye, Harrison.
 
Also Pete K is correct there are PC volleys who definitely don't live or work in PC but volunteer.  I have heard sometimes they struggle to get guys to some alarms and engine can't roll.  

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

lets look at this another way  all the career  firefighters in Port Chester are National certified firefighters one and two.  they should have been doing their "in service" training of 100 hours every year. All of them  have  well over 400 hours of initial training from the career fire academy. from FF1-FF-2 -codes -haz mat- FF survival- rescue tech  EVOC - ladder ops --eng ops. ect.
 
that  my  fellow firefighter  friends means  you are well trained  and certified by not only the State of New York but Nationally.
 
This may be a blanket kind of statement--I am sure there are exceptions  but here I go adding my  2 cents    how well trained are the volunteers in Port Chester?  don't  jump  down my  throat  if you have facts please   air them  out.  I am asking-  not criticizing.   I gave facts about the career staff.  Do the Chiefs have any Officer creditable courses??   how many interior firefighters  complete with new York state Firefighter one and or Firefighter two do they have??  maybe the departments  that call upon Port Chester should take a closer look.  again  my opinion.

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal

The village board of trustees are playing games with the residents lives. The career dept has been horribly understaffed for years and under threat of disbanding.  They should be ashamed of themselves and should be held responsible for their actions which are both unethical if not illegal