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THE END IS NEAR

It's not a soapbox - it is reality - our livelihoods! Our cities/counties/etc try to put the screws to us as it is - imagine how much worse it would be WITHOUT Union representation! Yes, the Unions DO help to keep those who screw up and don't deserve these jobs keep theirs occasionally, but they do so much other good for their respective members! (I know...I am preaching to the choir for the most part..LOL) My union paycheck keeps my family healthy and lets me own a house and two solid cars. There is no way I could afford to own a home on my private sector paycheck at the job I had before this. Not saying it could not be done, but in MY case...it could not, not in the town I live in. I am proud to be a city employee, but even prouder to be a part of a Union Brotherhood, as I know the majority of you all are.

Sorry, "No" to the original quaetion; "Is your department ready/equipped to respond to a water rescue" We have a smallish river in our district and this time of year it gets angry. I could not send my guys into it..we just dont have the equipment/training/manpower to do so. I pray we never are in the situation where we consider it.

No.

You are in the wrong place to be spouting anti-union rhetoric. UNION STRONG!

Amen!

MOS moral in camden is the worst ever. Even guys who live, eat, and sleep the fire service are calling the job "BS" now....I really feel for them.

He is a career Captain with New Rochelle.

I guess New Rochelle...just a hunch..

Excellent point! I agree...wholeheartedly. However - on my rig - it was ordered before me, so I am looking to make it useful now..other than holding the Federal, and being a good place to sit on sunny days as mentioned, which it totally is..LOL Also - our rig has no grille on the front of the cab, so blocking airflow is not a concern. It IS a "quint", but has no trash line. That would have been nice to have spec'ed..

I am a BIG E-One fan! LOVE thier ladders, aspecially the mid-mounts!

Negative. Amber LEDS emit amber...regardless of what color lense is over it.

THAT...WAS...AWESOME! STRONG WORK YFD!

Thanks Chief....ALL of the YFD are THE BEST!

FTM - PTB

So was R1SE one of the rescuers?

Ha! It's been awhile but I knew it was that building!

Beat me too it...........

Hahahaaa..Holy crap! http://www.coedsportswear.com/cgi-php/store.php?search=yes&detail=yes&category=4&subcat=7&item_no=CG229N

Am I alone in thinking this 10 year rule is BS?

I hope they sell department t shirts!

WOWWWWWWWW!

We spotted this Tower on the Throggs Neck today headed North...absolutely beautiful!

No personal attack Brother. Not at all....I am just curious of what you meant by "use your own men"? FAST is something that I feel is very, very important, and honestly - there is no excuse for not having one at a fire...they might not get there within 10 minutes, but in more rural areas, that is common. While it is OK in the intial stages of a job to use your men to satisfy 2 in 2 out, a seperate FAST TEAM, an actual group, complete with training a tools should be on the way. Oh - and given your scenario, be it that one, or a few rooms off on an upper floor.....I don't twiddle my thumbs at any fire... But enough thread jacking...I was hoping to give you an experienced point of view, and satisfy my curiousity of your statements/SOP's....I try to never stop learning and was interested to learn what you meant...stay safe.

I read it and I disagree with it. FAST is not an option...it is a necessity. Does your department have a first alarm FAST? Any FAST? Do your members provide FAST as you stated? I respectfully disagree with the statement and/or notion of using your own men as FAST in today's smaller and manpower challenged departments. Period. I also strongly disagree that we should let buildings burn and fight them from the outside, in situations that would otherwise call for interioir attack. In the name of safety, we often forget who we are and our mission. We are firemen...those who are depended on when no one else can handle a situation or in times of peril. Our job is dangerous, and we know that. We are not wrapped in a bubble, nor is this kindegarten. The fireground is deadly, and we MUST walk a fine line between safety and our job. Firefighting is dangerous. Keeping your men outside of a burning building doesnt keep them safe. Being well equipped, well trained, well practiced, and well lead keeps them safe.