firemoose827

You need to know what type of occupancy your dealing with; is it an apartment house with rescues to be made, or a tire warehouse loaded floor to ceiling with tires? Is it an auto parts distributer loaded with "Methylethylbadsh*#"! These things would be nice to know. Jonesy

Arent wetdowns supposed to be the old truck christening the new truck? Thats how I remember it anyway, where the truck you are replacing is ceremoniously pulled out of the station and moved aside, than it wets down the new truck as it backs into quarters. Guess its different everywhere. Jonesy

Im just trying to keep an open mind with this when I say this...But I think that if this guy is what I think he is like, the guilt he is feeling right now and anguish over what he did will probably haunt him the rest of his life, and is far worse than any time he will spend in jail. My thoughts are with both of them. Its a terrible tragedy. Jonesy

Yah, you know how it is, you have to be a "Qualified Person" to get included in all of the discussions up here. It is soooo hush hush, they only mentioned what I posted at the meeting the other night and that is it. Talk to you soon. Jonesy

We have a trash line in our Engines bumper, 150' of 1 3/4" pre-connect that we can use for small fires and car fires. It is rapidly deployed and easy to pick up and re-pack. A lot of rescues have the tools pre-connected in the compartment any way, so I dont see how it would be any more convenient to have it stored in the bumper. Different preferences for different depts, I guess Jonesy

Chief, Arent there officer classes? We take Intro to Officer, Fire Officer I & II, and I believe there are more officer training classes at the academy too. We are also required to have Fire Behavior and Arson Awareness, and Principles of Investigation. I have also taken some courses at college in Schenectady like Fire Administration, Firefighting Tactics (Textbook was Normans "Fire Officers Guide To Tactics.") and Fire Investigation with the City of Schenectadys fire Chief as the instructor. They were good classes and I learned a lot from him. Jonesy

Hey, just wanted to boast a little about our new Brush Truck, 5051, in progress. A while ago someone in our district started a fundraiser for memorial bricks to be placed in our memorial sign at our new firehouse to off-set raising the taxes to pay for the new station. It worked WELL, and people just kept donating to the fund even after the station was finished. The man who started that fund approached us with the balance of the fund and said that it was ours provided we used it "For the community." He presented us with a $50,000 check!! We recently ordered a new Brush Truck ( Dont have the particulars yet, still being worked on by the truck committee, will post when I get them.) To replace our aging 1971 ford, 4WD, 5 speed stick with 250 gallon tank. So far its 95% speced out at a cost of $42,000 with $8,000 left over to equip it. Lucky brake for us, needless to say this gentleman will receive a BIG thank you from our dept. Will post more info when I get it. Jonesy

I couldnt agree with you more. In most of todays training, like ff I & II they go over a lot of those things like truck placement, fire flows, hose selection and use, water supply, ect...ect... I also agree that officers should be qualified drivers...I should have clarified it a bit more... Lieutenants in our dept are in charge of interior attack crews, hose selection and placement, ect. For this position, is it necessary that THEY be qualified on ALL equipment? Captains and Chiefs yes, they should, but Lt's? Being extremely knowledgeable and experienced in firefighting tactics and equipment, fire behavior, fire flows and formulas ect I feel should be enough for the Lt. position. Than once you are Lt you have the year in office to get qualified in other trucks to prepare for Capt and Chief Officer. I hope that clears that up a bit, thanks for your input and opinions. Stay safe. Jonesy

I know, Chief, I feel the same way. They are saying that they want their officers to be qualified on the trucks so that when a problem arises on an emergency the officer can correct it. I agree with that to a degree, but I also say that if your driver cant fix the problem, what are they doing driving the truck? Thanks Chief. Jonesy.

We get issued used gear out of the locker for our six month probation. If you are brand new you have one year to take firefighter I, when you do you get fitted for new gear. Transfers like myself get fitted ASAP provided you have the training. EMS issues you gear after your six month probation, they dont have used gear to loan yet being we just ordered the gear recently. We didnt have any prior to a year ago.

Yes. We are run by one of our county deputy coordinators who simply run drills and oversee the logistics of the team. On calls, the first team member to arrive is the team leader and runs the calls. We work well together and drill monthly. We have no flashy markings or fancy tools, the team leader stages at the command post and the team stands by somewhere close by. POSA103, sorry about your friend.

Hey all. Just curious as to what regs your depts have for driver qualifications. We are having problems and are trying to change some things. Our old SOP's say that in order to be an officer you need to be qualified on ALL trucks. We have a lot of standard transmissions with high/low ranges like our 2,500 gall tanker, and 2 of our engines, which makes it difficult for those members who do not drive standard. In order to qualify you need drive time with a line officer, and than final approval by a chief officer, as well as EVOC and Pump Ops, (Ladder Ops for our tower.) We are now thinking of having all Lt's be qualified on our rescue and brush unit, than during the year become qualified on the tanker and engine one (our supply truck with 2,000' of five inch.) Than as you progress to Capt and up you would need additional trucks each year in office, if you do not qualify on those trucks you would be ineligible to run next election until you became qualified. Any opinions or advice on this? I am interested in becoming officer this year and want to change this for the better of all involved, so some of the more qualified firefighters have a shot at being officer. We have a lot of good interior ff's with extensive knowledge that want officer, but do not want to drive trucks. They will work the pumps or drive if needed, but they would rather pack-up and get dirty. I know that there are many jobs to be done and they are all important, but we still have those stubborn members you cant get through to. :angry: Anyways, whats your SOP's like? Anything different we could add? Stay safe all and pray for an early spring! Jonesy

I agree capt. That is what animal control is for. We could assist them with ladders for good PR but I would stay in service for the next call. Where is his harness and safety rope? (the firefighters', not the cats )

Here is an old saying...KISS...Keep It Simple Stupid. I keep just a few small things that you always seem to lose out of your gear bags on the rigs. Pen Light, Shears, Pens, Gloves, and a small carabiner. They are great for hanging IV bags for the medics, you can attach it to the bag and hang it anywhere it will fit including on your shirt or jacket while carrying PT to the rig. Hemostats work well for that too. An old medic/fire chief told me once..."I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." But that doesnt make me weigh myself down with a bunch of useless S#@%! Also, a CPR sheild might come in handy and some alcohol pads or something to wash with in case you are one of those that might respond to the scene. We have a large district with two rigs out of one station, so some of our members are "First Responder" EMT's. Just a thought.

Mr. Johnvv, I believe what he was saying was any Class "B" firefighters. Or those who can not wear a mask due to health or fit test reasons.

HERE is our patch!!! :angry: (finaly figured it out) Or just look at my avatar.

My first call was a structure fire. I just joined about a month prior, and the only gear I had was an old canvas coat given to me by a friend of my fathers from the Island, hip boots, a brand new metro style helmet ( I got on my birthday a few weeks earlier). I was everywhere I could be helping any way I could, and I went for 9 staight hours!!! My father, ( Also in the dept.) finaly came and dragged me off the scene and when I got home I crashed on the bed. I only did exterior stuff, and it was a fully involved 2 story wood frame P/D that gave us nothing but trouble. We found a huge, atleast 10-12 inch steel I-beam running the length of the first floor that had bowed into the basement.

WHOA WHOA!!!! Time Out. I simply stated I was TOLD by a DOH rep. We had an argument in our squad about the shorts issue and I called the office and spoke to someone who answered my questions. I never stated it was policy, or written in stone with the ten commandments of EMS. Just contributing what little I knew on the subject of shorts. I personally dont want to gamble as highly as you are with the no open skin thing. Just wanted to offer the best knowledge I could to my squad at the next meeting and called DOH for advice. We ended up buying coveralls, and putting reflective trim on them with our patch so everyone had something to wear in the summer over their shorts. That was cheap, and effective, just another option instead of turnouts.

We just use 35' of rope and a biner with the bail out method ALS mentioned; we just wrap the rope around our backs, hold it together in front of our body and controll descent with squeezing the ropes together. It works well, its fast, no system to put together and no excess equipment to carry. A little hot on the hands though!!! Even through your gloves.

I would like to reply to your post and ALSfirefighter. I was captain of my squad, and was told by the NYS health dept, ( Back in '95, '96) that it was necessary to wear pants when in ambulance. I enquired why, and they stated that when sitting on the squad bench providing care, the knees and legs are MOST vulnerable to bloodborne pathogens. EMS providers use gowns and facemasks on bad calls, but do not realy think about their legs. I was a believer in wearing some type of pants for calls after that, even though I get in some heated debates with my wife some times!!! But I hope that adds to this conversation. I am not saying its right or wrong, just saying what I was told by a health dept rep back then, and I thought it kind of makes sense. Does anyone else get issued Squad Turnouts? Just curious cause its new for us. Later.

We have a county team with members from all over the county, and departments who have "donated" their rigs for our use. If theres a call in the north end of the county then all members whos depts aren't on scene respond to the closest "donated" engine and respond with atleast a crew of four. It works well and the longest response time was 10 minutes. A lot of orur depts dont call us though, they think they dont need us. Stupid, Huh?

These are all great games, thanks everyone for sending them. Jonesy PS- That one game you sent pfd950 was a little sick!!!! But fun!!!!!

Hey 585, I just wanted to ask if you read my whole post, and how I am pro-assesment? I agree with you about the machinery usage, and how many EMT's are relying on them ONLY, I do a complete assesment on my patients and I also get them off scene as quick As I can whereas most of my squad will set up a portable ER and be on scene for 20-30 minutes!! I was just trying to say how nice it was to let us at the BLS level check the BS level so that when ALS arrived they did not have to spend the first few minutes checking it, they can use our readings and treat accordingly with ALS intervention. I do agree with you though, too many EMT's are becoming too comfortable with their machines and diagnostics. I am old school though, I rely on my senses and my gut impression, I am either saying "OH s***", and going, or just saying "Another free ride to the ER!" Have a good one.

Hey, great game. Thanks for the tip. Keep 'em coming! Jonesy

The Cobleskill Fire Department and Rescue Squad where I volunteer, issues us structural and EMS turnouts. We just got the EMS turnouts not too long ago and they come with jacket, and pants. Reflective with radio pocket, glove pocket, CPR Mask pocket and hand warmers. They meet all of the biohazard specs and are a source of indetification, and offer protection at accident scenes and for those "Bodiliy Expectorants" someone mentioned.