danb

we have 3 Chiefs all from different companies. If as the chief from my company I go away for 48 hrs or more the car gets passed to captain from my house. If he doesn't want to take it/can't it gets given to one of the other captains. If they dont take it it generally gets passed to a LT but that could change to a past chief based on the current climate in the department

we have 3 Chiefs all from different companies. If as the chief from my company I go away for 48 hrs or more the car gets passed to captain from my house. If he doesn't want to take it/can't it gets given to one of the other captains. If they dont take it it generally gets passed to a LT but that could change to a past chief based on the current climate in the department

we have 3 Chiefs all from different companies. If as the chief from my company I go away for 48 hrs or more the car gets passed to captain from my house. If he doesn't want to take it/can't it gets given to one of the other captains. If they dont take it it generally gets passed to a LT but that could change to a past chief based on the current climate in the department

Monroe FD T-537 75ft rear mount Smeal should be delivered by mid December
Monroe T-538 is in committee to replace current 538 a 95 Sutphen
Woodbury FD is in committee for a commercial cab engine from what i have been told
Chester is looking for a new Fire Police Unit as well

I will pose the exact same scenario I've posed a million times on this forum:
At the exact moment that YOU call a Mayday, would you rather have:
A. The team of 18-21 year olds fresh out of Firefighter 1 standing on the front lawn, ready to go with equipment.
-OR-
B. The elite "Special Operations" FAST crew in their customized FAST rig still en route from 3 towns away.
People are acting like the basics of a RIT operation are some form of black magic attainable only by the saltiest, most senior Firefighters. Sure, would it be preferable to have a bunch of experienced senior guys to do it? Sure. But the situation isn't always going to allow for that.
Say it with me: RIT/FAST is NOT a specialized unit. It is a basic function that must be performed at ALL fires, just like fire attack, ventilation, search and rescue, water supply, etc. So ALL Firefighters need to be trained to perform it... Are some people going to gravitate towards that training more than other aspects? Sure, as with anything else in the fire service. But its not a something that any of us can say is "not our job." It absolutely NEEDS to be a part of basic Firefighter training.

Alright here in my department ( a rather large department with a high call volume) We have some basic requirements to even be on the FAST team.
1) 3 years as an active interior member in the department- thus you have to be 21 to be a official "member" of the FAST team. Although this could be waived for someone coming from another department -we haven't had that situation yet.
2) FF1 or equivalent and the NYSOFPC FAST Class
3) Our FAST team drills on its own at least 1x a month. You are required to make half the drills a year some months they drill only once others there are 2 drills.
4) A member who does not meet 3 years interior can still train with the FAST team, but is not a "member" until they hit the 3 year mark. Although if manpower is tight and they are responding to a job, and are 1 short ( our minimum staffing is 4 FAST members and officer) the officer of the FAST team, or the OIC of our response can give the thumbs up for that member to respond with the FAST
We also have a FAST team Captain who is appointed by the Chief of Department after submitting his/her training records, resume and letter of intent.
My own personal opinion especially here in Orange County I think you will see dedicated FAST teams go by the wayside over the next 3-4 years. I can think of a handful of teams that have been placed out of service permanently due to training and staffing levels. I would much rather as an officer call for a FAST team from 15 minutes away, as opposed to the one 5 minutes down the road that their training or staffing is questionable.
This past weekend our team held a drill on just one thing, our department oxyacetylene torch. How many teams train on that? Soon we will have another drill on the same topic but also include our neighboring teams. I really think teams drilling together and cross training on everyones tools is a major step in the right direction. Who's to say that they won't need it at our job, or if they are going as a 2nd FAST after god forbid we get put into operation?
Our FAST team drills with a few other FAST teams a few drills a year and cross trains on their equipment and the like.

Remember that when you take your department car to the NYS Chief's Show at Turning Stone Casino. And you guys are worried about a commissioner's car at Woodbury Commons.

Shame this does not appeare to be open to FD's. I can think of a handfull of searched for at risk subjects in the past 3-4 years that my department alone has assisted in....

Sailsbury is purchasing a 75ft Sutphen from Greensboro NC I beleive
Washingtonvilles Engines should be in any week now
Tuxedos twins went out to bid
Monroes quint is out to bid

We did it here in the Town of Monroe. Well 3 fire departments ( 2 villages 1 private) into 1 FIre District just last year.
I was heavily involved in the setup and organization on the firematic end and my best piece of advise for anyone from any of those departments that are reading this is go into it with an open mind, look at the big picture and make sure the right people are setting up the department/district.

We did it here in the Town of Monroe. Well 3 fire departments ( 2 villages 1 private) into 1 FIre District just last year.
I was heavily involved in the setup and organization on the firematic end and my best piece of advise for anyone from any of those departments that are reading this is go into it with an open mind, look at the big picture and make sure the right people are setting up the department/district.

such as cornwall