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Oooohhhhh betcha that smells great!

Sure.....it's a long one though... I'd also like to address some "rumors" I have been hearing...and remember - these are MY opinions, NOT JHK, not Poughkeepsie...MINE..so QTIP. If you KNOW me....you KNOW where I am coming from...I wouldnt say it any differently here as I would to your face. hell...if you come to Copperfield's...we can hash it out there... I responded from my home at the transmittal of the second alarm, and living on the border of Millbrook (actually in Millbrook) I made good time...I geared up and walked up the street the fire building was on...the whole time I am looking at the building - doing MY size up....Millbrook Car 3 told me there was a person trapped inside and to go with "that guy Pleasant Valley"...I was happy to see he was referring to Brother Robison, someone I have worked with many times in the past and who I trusted 100 percent.. Being a past Officer in Millbrook, I am VERY familiar with their gear/trucks and I took a pack off of their engine. When we purchased our first TIC, we put in the compartment with the packs....so i was also able to easily grab that.. There was already a line off being used by the NYSP...yes..the Troopers..as I rounded the engine into the driveway, I heard them yell, "We got him!" and saw 3 Troops, one Deputy and a UVFD FF carrying the victim out..say what you want about cops going in burning buildings but I can tell you - those guys HAVE balls. A true display of heroism. The Rock and I made the front door and pushed in, as there were reports of another person possibly still inside. The battery in the TIC was dead...we swept the floor but had a good amount of fire rolling over our heads so Don told me to grab the line from the Trooper who gladly gave it up. He had sprayed us a bit and we were starting to ice up. We played the line in for a while in that room until we lost water, where we backed out....I ran and got another battery for the TIC and went back to the door - by this time the bulk of the second alarm manpower and rigs were pulling up... Don and I again entered the building, but with the TIC functionning, had a bit of advantage. I scanned the room where we were....advanced a few feet, swept the floor....just as we were getting ready to commit to the room I scanned it with the TIC and watched as the ceiling collapsed. Not just the sheetrock...but rafter/beams....I wish the camera was hooked to a recorder..I was awestruck as I realized how lucky we were. I have little doubt that had we just pushed in old school style, that we would have been caught in the collapse. How many of you guys there were ready to deal with the MAYDAY we would have called? Could you have gotten us out? Having the TIC easily accessible in the apparatus, and being familiar with it payed off large. Between myself and the Rock..we have nearly 40 years in the fire service...Don with about a decade on the career job - experience is a big thing in these situations... All in all...it is my opinion that the firemen that responded to and operated at that fire did "a good job"...of course the outcome was sad, but so goes emergency services. There was alot to be learned at this fire and I for one learned a ton...I know for sure a few poeple got a good eye opening. There was ALOT going against us here...going against ALL of us... First is the building....an old, somewhat unkempt 2 story wood frame...I ALWAYS examine a fire building before entering blind...ALWAYS! How many else do the same? How many of you that were there could tell me - without looking at the pictures posted here - about the second floor windows on the exposure 1 side? They concerned me...I knew before entering that house that if I needed to - I would not be able to exit via those windows...not with a pack on, and maybe not without...the downfall of being a fat a**.... The fire had strong control of the building, with a very heavy smoke condition....and even though it was self vented in several spots..inside - visability was 5 feet at best...certainly hot, but not a high heat condition where it was uncomfortable...but very, very smokey... So here is an old, obviously baloon frame construction house, tattered for years by the weather, loaded to the gills with a heavy fire condition...fire took quick control of the second floor..then the attic... What was NOT obvious was what was inside of the bays of the walls...when we cut the outside wall on the exposure 2 side we found a post runnig the length to the roof...similar to that of a post and rail fence! We also learned that the interior walls were plaster and lathe....I would be willing to bet that those interior beams added a good bit of structural integity to the building and burned fairly slow..compared to ordinary lumber. NO two buildings are the same, just like no two fires are the same... When we were doing the search, we went in to the left - the side of the building Union Vale was opering on the outside of for reference if you were there. it was layed out like a living room...I can draw you a map of it and was in it only once...entertainment center to your left going in the door...a chair to the right...then a sofa....then another chair...right near the western most first floor window was....a bed...yep...a bed in the living room....never underestimate what you may find in a house...thankfully that room was clear of any additonal victims...but again...another eye opener...a bed in a living room...not typical, but I guess not too uncommon...by the time I made it to the bed, the smoke had cleared to a light fog and visibilty was Ok...then my low air was shaking my mask so I headed out, removing my mask on the way...by the time I got to the doorway, I turned and looked back into the room, dark brown smoke was rapidly banking down...very fast...at that point we all pulled out and the signal was given to evacuate the building...just a reminder of how fast conditions can change on you.... The other large problem was the weather...it was frickin cold! EVERYTHING turned to ice....us, the gear...to change my bottles I had to hold it under the exhaust of Millbrook's Chief's car! The rungs and extensions on our truck were iced over...the handles of the tools...the ground...everythinG! THANK YOU to Millbrook Rescuee Squad for the nonstop flow of water, hot coffee, food, and most importanlty = DRY GLOVES. It was much appreciated. There was SO much going against us there it is amazing, and a credit to the Officers that no firemen were hurt. I have heard and overheard other firemen sayin this and that...hurt feelings...whatever...bottom line is that we were met with VERY challenging conditions...compounded by the urgency of possible victims, one confirmed, high emotions, water problems., the whole 9.... There is no doubt in my mind that all companies responding worked together for as postive an outcome as you can hope for - given those conditions..that is the reality of rural, volunteer firefighting. I have been to a load of fires in my 19 years....this one of the most serious...and I mean it when I say to EACH and EVERY one of you'se guys...Good job.

THANKS BROTHER.... Yes..I feel the TIC saved us from injury at the least.....

VERY cold....thats myself on the ladder with another JHK Brother in the lead..... Props to the NYSP/DCSO/UVFD FF Tom

I agree....

Are you joking me!?!?!? Interesting....

It was a reference to old black and white show on the talking picture box

I LIKE IT!!!!!

Bravo!

Going by the fire pic on the Journal - a HELLUVA save by RFD!

Could you give a little info on the dispatcher position please?

Witnessed that many a time!

God Bless the YFD and it's men.

Rename if Chief Moderator!

THAT's friggin awesome.

I worked at Empress for a long time - it was the most fun, exciting, and busy place ever. There were transports - ALOT of them - but they are what you make of them - they are good to practice your vitals, etc.... I also did a tremendous amount of "hot jobs" there....the potential for disaster in Yonkers in huge..and that shows it's head every so often...

SICK footage!

Yarrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

I told Bob to ignore the garden hose leading from taylor's to my basement!

Unconfirmed reports the deceased in a Lieutenant with 3 decades on the job.