Geppetto

The Baltimore Sun Peter Hermann, April 2, 2011 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-md-volunteer-fire-suit-20110331,0,2958367.story *** There's obviously more to this than what's in the newspaper article - read the commentaries.

Stltoday.com BY DAVID HUNN • dhunn@post-dispatch.com Tuesday, March 15, 2011 "In addition, said chief of staff Jeff Rainford, the city will cut 24 more positions through attrition, bringing the cuts to nearly 10 percent of the department's 600 firefighters. Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson vowed the layoffs would not affect public safety. "It's going to put a strain on us," he said. "It's my job to get through it." Firefighters said they had heard the rumors but were surprised to hear the decision. Chris Molitor, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 73, said the news would be tough to take. "First, it's going to completely destroy morale," he said. "Number two, it's going to harm the citizens. There will be fewer firefighters to respond to fires...." http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_bdd20e68-d7fb-553d-b5b8-2a963a040eda.html

Washington Post By Jeremy Arias The Gazette Thursday, March 10, 2011 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/08/AR2011030805539.html

February 23, 2011 Marnie Eisenstadt The Post-Standard http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/concerned_about_its_protection.html

Elbridge won't abolish fire department 03/08/11 YNN http://binghamton.ynn.com/content/top_stories/535904/elbridge-won-t-abolish-fire-department/

YNN News Elbridge fire chief resigns 03/03/11 http://centralny.ynn.com/content/all_news/central_new_york/535470/elbridge-fire-chief-resigns/?ap=1&MP4

Appointments Committee questions, then approves Valentine as safety director March 7: Board of Representatives to vote on appointment Jeff Morganteen And Kate King, Stamford Advocate Wednesday, March 2, 2011 "If I'm in Stamford on a Sunday night, I'm going to be on TV," Valentine said after the Board of Representatives' Appointments Committee meeting at the Government Center." http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Appointments-Committee-questions-then-approves-1037107.php

Maggie Caldwell, Editor February 17, 2011 Greenwich Post Online http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/greenwich-post/news/local/85941-fire-officials-support-bill-to-indemnify-volunteers.html

Volunteer fire police patrol members push for law change Frank MacEachern, Greenwich Times Monday, February 28, 2011 http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Volunteer-fire-police-patrol-members-push-for-law-1035081.php

More firefighters die of heart problems than in fighting fires Michael P. Mayko And Brian Lockhart, Stamford Advocate/CT Post Wednesday, February 23, 2011 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/More-firefighters-die-of-heart-problems-than-in-1025045.php

The Hobbit - Danbury Style http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/history-channel-will-highlight-conn-firefighters

Does Bobby Valentine cover the bases as public safety director? Field of candidates included some heavy hitters Jeff Morganteen Stamford Advocate Saturday, February 12, 2011 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/Does-Bobby-Valentine-cover-the-bases-as-public-1010979.php#page-1

Danbury firefighter reinvents handy firefighting tool John Pirro, Staff Writer Sunday, February 13, 2011 http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Danbury-firefighter-reinvents-handy-firefighting-1011872.php & http://www.freepatentsonline.com/D244252.pdf

Subcommittee considers mayor's proposed fire service plan KARA O'CONNOR Stamford Times 02/10/11 http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/story/499148

There were some thoughts earlier, regarding minimum training standards per CT law. CT Dept. of Labor has issued this and it's posted at the Commission of Fire Prevention & Control web site: http://www.ct.gov/cfpc/lib/cfpc/Required_Minimum_Training_-_OSHA.pdf#49547 It is very similar to NY's requirements. Enjoy.

Lisa Chamoff Greenwich Times Tuesday, January 25, 2011 http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Backcountry-residents-exploring-temporary-977261.php There's something you don't see everyday - people besides firefighters giving a darn about fire protection. Where's the rub?

I think you mean "futile" Capt, but I like your word better.

Instead on spreading manpower out to see what apparatus fits best, maybe the "god-forbid" quint concept, similar to what St. Louis does may be more appropriate. If every piece can (almost) do everything, then what else would you need to roll? Maybe equip some houses with rescue-pumpers, some with aerial-pumpers, and some with pumper-tankers. But I'm sure the individual companies would not like to have their equipment dictated to them either. Wait a minute, I almost forgot. It's the MANPOWER that puts the fire out. Nevermind.

No responses? It's tough when there is no conjecture, theory or opinion to give rebuttal to. This is a political payback; fact.

In regards to appointing a qualified Director, the adminstration put out this announcement a while back - Is EVERYONE'S memory that short? Director of Public Safety.doc

Maybe x152 can identify the officers for me? (From Long Ridge Fire Company website)

As Navin Johnson once said - "Things are going to start happening to me right now." Stamford Patch 01/13/11 Bobby Valentine Takes Public Safety Job in Stamford, Will Keep ESPN Position The former MLB manager starts in his job as Stamford's new director of public safety, health and welfare. http://stamford.patch.com/articles/bobby-valentine-takes-public-safety-job-in-stamford-will-keep-espn-position http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Pavia-names-Bobby-Valentine-as-Stamford-public-954664.php

We can justify everything I suppose. But it's the same wherever you go. How many districts down in Westchester now have Tower Ladders?

OK - adjusting the numbers that would be 28 Engines, 8 Ladders, 6 Rescues, 2 Tankers. How much of this equipment was purchased with the original thought that "we can/should be self-sufficient" and we can get in on the road by swapping drivers? Any major truck traffic on the Merritt requiring a "heavy rescue"?

I think the point is made. SFRD maintains the reserves for obvious reasons. ISO (BNechis could probably expound on this)requires a certain minimum reserve fleet to be maintained. But other than that, most of the rolling stock rarely gets on the road; Belltown excepted. That's a pretty expensive hobby to maintain, for apparatus that shows little mileage and less fire duty.