ex-commish

I dont think in our life time you will see it and it is not just as you say the career chiefs are against it. I have been and am still in favor of a town wide department in my town but that will never happen because you would have to convince 8 fire districts which equals 24 fire commissioners to relinquish and be willing to go with this and that is not going to happen, especially in the volunteer sector....let alone on a county level with 58 fire departments rangin from cities, towns, villages, and districts. IMHO however, I do believe we need some sort of consilidation.

Hmmm...I guess being exposed to hepititas, aids, and other diseases not risking thier lives? Wasn't one of the first reported MOS fatalties during 911 an EMT? What about trying to treat a violent EDP enroute to the hospital? I am not fulltime EMS but don't demeanor those who are or also volunteer by saying they don't risk thier lives. The issue that 635 presents is so true and needs to be addressed.

A while back on an ems discussion something I had stated in a general topic which was strictly my opinion was copied and pasted by certain cowards who than mailed it attached to a letter to various govt officials. I say cowards because these parasites did not have the guts to sign thier name. This cowardly move was an attempt to bring my department down but it backfired because those whoit was addressed to were people of integrity would not honor an anonymous letter sent by cowards. I too have no problem speaking my mind and stand behind what I say so what is stated on here should never be an issue if you are credible and telling the truth...something certain former members of my department and a couple of misinformed cowards have a tough time doing ( both you and I know who you are )

Best of luck in your promotion!!!

Many years ago the state decided to come up with mandated training for firefighters ( creation of the 229 hour minimum). FASNY, an organization that represents volunteers fought and won ( if you want to call it a win) to exempt volunteers from the law. All you had to take was essentials and that wasn't mandated because volunteer depts operate under home rule so the only requirement is 15 hours of safety training and 8 hours each year of the same. ( Note I mentioned safety training). The thought was more training will drive volunteers away and eventually put us out. I heard that rhetoric in 1980 and still hear it today. Nonsense!!! When FF1 was first proposed it was supposed to be in the relm of 150 hours which I believe is on board nationally. FF2 would bring you up to 200 hours. FASNY again fought and the end result was the 78 hour FF1 class which I will admit is better than essentials but not enough in my opinion. My friends the time has come to put the word volunteer aside. We signed up to protect our communities and that has a price which is training to do the job we have volunteered for. Wether you fight 100 or 1 fires per year the risk is there and the only way to minimize the risk is training not only entry level but in-service. This is my list: FF1 FF2 Survival and FAST HAZOPS AVET Truck OPS

All of our emt's are assigned a set of EMS gear which like fire gear, hangs on a peg and you come in the house, suit up and get in the bus. We also have an abudance of gear at all different sizes for drivers and others who ride. We also carry helmets and turnout coats in the rigs.

If any depts or vac's are hosting an ASHI sponsored CPR refresher can you please contact me @ AManc2196@aol.com...thanks

May he rest in peace.

This topic may of come up before but I wish to ask what departments require the driver to stay with the rig they drove regardless if the rig is committed ( lines laid, ladder up, etc) or are there exceptions to the rule. With my dept it is pretty clear....you stay with the rig.

Spend more time in the gym

So you don't think I am hiding I have changed my username from Asstchieffd to HFD219. I felt it was appropiate being I am no longer a chief. I am the same old Andy .. Happy New Year to all

Time to get Osama......

We have mechanisms that conform with GML and also Town law with respects to fire districts. As always we try to handle things before they escalate unless it is a serous issue. We have suspended and dropped people for various violations ranging from failure to make training to being disordely

Santa rides in the cab or walks with the other members.

I always regarded him as a voice of reason. Good president IMHO.

Look for the vehicle that has the coffee, donuts, etc....

The feds held money over our heads...either comply with NIMS or look elsewhere for grants. As far as it being necessary, you can use the system to fit your needs based on the size of the incident.

When I was a chief I would get to the scene, grab my radio, coat and helmet before I got out of my car than do my size up. Many times I got so wrapped in the incident I didnt thinkabout putting on my bunker pants but my place was outside at the command post where I felt all PPE wasn't necessary. Wether I was right or wrong is open for debate and I look forward to other coments on this.

I concur with ALS. If it wasn't for expert fireground photograpy/video such as yours, how would we we learn anything. As far as the Greenville Fire, great shots. I hears some members were hurt...hope the injuries were not serious and wishes for speedy recoveries.

I have to agree....his jaw would be tested

I am glad to see some objective comments and not bashing. I am a 27 year volunteer and am very disgusted with how the volunteer system has become in some respects. We do need a more standardized form of both basic and in-service training. Unfortunately for us the standard is voluntary and while the powers to be in our system think they are doing us a favor by making things easy they are not by any means. For starters, do away with the election process of officers. It is terrible. I have seen in my own dept where people not capable of the position get the job because they were popular or the other candidate was not liked. The same goes for taking people in. A thorough background screening which includes drug testing, criminal checks, etc is a must. The arson check isnt enough. I also am in favor of some sort of agility like CPAT. Why not???? As a former chief who fought hard for rerform I can tell you we are still buried in tradition that is someday going to kill someone. Lets work towards it? And for the cowards who in the past who copied my post here and attached it to an anonymous letter sent to some elected officials ( i know who you are) if you choose to do so again at least make sure what I post here jives with what you write.

Do you guys favor time based training or training based on skills performance. With time being tight as it is is it better to test our members annually or semi-annually on all skills or is the traditional way of monthly drills still the way to go.

I say they got off easy or is it just my harsh stance on criminal justice. Former Pennsylvania Firefighter Gets Prison for Arson Dec. 12--In May, John Kehler, then a Kidder Township firefighter, doused a vacant building with flammable fluid, set it afire and then, when a fire alarm sounded, returned to the building to fight the blaze. A few weeks later, Kehler used two containers filled with a mix of gasoline and oil to set fire to another vacant building, and again returned to fight the blaze. But Kehler didn't set the fire for the thrill of it. He wanted to die. "He said he wanted to kill himself in the fire," Kehler's mother told Carbon County Judge David W. Addy during sentencing for her son Monday. Addy sentenced Kehler, 26, of White Haven, to 11/2 to 4 years in county prison for the arson offenses. Another firefighter who participated in the arsons, Louis J. Troell, 21, of East Side, got a 2- to 4-year sentence in county jail. "You violated the trust of the entire community," Addy told them. A third volunteer firefighter, Ronald G. Kearns, 19, of Dennison Township, Luzerne County, has pleaded guilty to one count each of arson and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and is scheduled for sentencing next week. The three men, while sitting at the firehouse on May 21, decided to start fires. That day, they twice tried to start a brush fire on state game lands along Route 534 using a gasoline and oil mix, but failed. On May 23, Kearns dropped Kehler off near an unoccupied building along Route 940, where Kehler started a blaze. They returned to the fire hall and were among the first to respond to the fire. Then on June 7, Kehler filled two containers with a mix of oil and gasoline. Kearns went off to wait for the alarm, and Troell drove Kehler to a vacant structure known as the Bear Necessities building, where Kehler started a fire. The three firefighters eventually confessed to Kidder Township Detective Matthew Kuzma and state police Fire Marshal David Klitsch. In court, Kehler and Troell, the brother of Kidder Fire Chief David Troell, apologized and said they hope their actions don't reflect on other firefighters. "I am sorry for the dishonor I placed on Kidder Township Fire Department and my brother firefighters," Kehler said. That apology drew a sharp rebuke from Lake Harmony Fire Chief Ralph Lennon, whose company also is based in Kidder. "He's not my brother and he's not a fireman," Lennon said. Addy called Kehler a "quandary for the court." Kehler's mother and his public defender, Gregory Mousseau, pointed out that he was struck by a car when he was 13, suffering severe head injuries that required years of treatment. "From that point on, we noticed ... lack of judgment," his mother said. She said her son tried to set himself on fire on another occasion. Making matters worse, Kehler was distraught over the breakup of his marriage. He had three children. Addy said the accident and divorce explain some of his actions. But Troell had no explanation for his participation. "There's no logical reason why I did this," Troell said. Addy quickly dismissed any idea of sending Kehler to state prison, saying he would be "eaten alive." But he considered sending Troell there because he has a record of convictions for receiving stolen property and drugs. Addy noted that Troell has been on probation and served about a month in county prison. But he listened to pleas from Troell's mother, Dara, and his pregnant fiancee, Melanie Landry, to keep him in county prison. "I don't want to sentence your fiancee and your baby to the state," Addy said. In addition to the jail time, he ordered both men to pay about $95,000 in restitution. He ordered Kehler to get a mental health evaluation and follow all recommendations. Addy pointed out that Kehler refused to take medication in the past. Finally, he ordered both of them to stay away from fire companies. "I don't think I would want you protecting my back if I was a firefighter," he said.

What an incredible work of art. Congratulations to those who worked on this. God bless those children.

May he rest in peace.