Remember585

Croton uses our own UHF Fireground channel right now. Our FAST utilizes Fireground 3, but that probably will change soon because our neighbors to the south, and their neighbors to the south are also suppose to use FG 3 - whose plan was this?!

Honestly, the Westchester way of numbering makes more sense. Is 3392 and engine? I don't know, but I sure as hell know that Engine 104 is!!!!

Is that a dead link?

Initial size-up shouldn't be limited to only structural calls. First arriving units on EVERYTHING should give a quick synopsis of the situation. The information they pass along could dictate response modes, assignments, hazards, potential issues, etc. For example, auto accidents, brush fires, outside smoke conditions and vehicle fires could easily be sized-up on arrival without having to pull out the ol' fire service dictionary to look for big words to use! Get in the habit at the little calls, so at the big ones, you're good at giving the Initial report!

Croton's E118 has a 100 gallon foam tank and a proportioner throughout. It's a great rig, too bad it's forgotten when it's needed...

I've read the book from John Norman "Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics." I loved it!!! Highly recommend it!!

I don't even want to touch on this subject. But I will. Just listening to some Departments out there makes it clear to me who they elect as Chiefs. Units getting on scene and making a decision, then changing it, then changing it back again. I also hate listening / watching Chiefs not establish a Command Post. Remember, it all starts from the time of dispatch. From this point, the initial size-up and declaration of an IC lay the groundwork for a good operation - regardless of what it is! If you have positions that you can't fill with QUALIFIED PEOPLE, then DON'T!!! Our Department has 5 companies, to each a Captain and 2 Lieutenants. Too many in my opinion! I sometimes think 3 Chiefs isn't needed too - but I'm only a guy who "doesn't understand how the system works." Know what my new motto is going to be? "F tradition!!!" It's only holding us back from safer, more aggressive and strategic operations. Oh, my short answer for the question at hand - popularity.

The Croton FD (my Department) uses only two response modes. Code One - Emergency / Lights & Sirens. Code Two - Non-emergency / No lights or sirens. Code one responses are for fires, accident with injuries, most EMS calls, and other life-threatening incidents. Code two is for CO calls (no symptoms, elevator calls, confirmed false alarms, fluid spills, public assistance calls). It's been this way for a while, and seems to work well.

"Dude, where's my car."

I wouldn't be responding on this call, however I would think that foam may help?!

Yes, we would like to cross-train. We drill the first Monday of every month as a Team. We recently revamped our team a little as well. Our team is under the command of DC 2084, that is why you'll hear him sign-on for FAST Calls. We have 3 Team Training Officers. We have 7 Unit leaders. We have a total of 18 members, 8 probies. More info can be found at www.engine119croton.org.

Having one "Q" has always caused major power draws on apparatus. Adding a 2nd has got be a nightmare on the alternator!!

I think Mike (E290/L103) must of stood on the NY/NJ border to fit that baby into his shot!! In all seriousness, specialty rigs that are designed to handle special emergencies tend to be larger to accomodate all of their specialty gear. If this was a "10 call a day rig," then that may become problemsome. But for a regional response unit, I am sure a lot of planning and logistics went into this unit. I hear some of the local PDs are getting one to handle our calls..... ](*,)

I think I got confused between E247 & E248 because of their similarities. Thanks for the update, same to the PCFD gang.

All good points! The one thing that sticks out the most to me is the comment DG795 made about the "channel lotto." Every department in Westchester is different when it comes to the low-band radios and which frequency is where. But here's one that truly BLOWS MY MIND!!!! The county's UHF Fireground channels and frequencies were setup so anywhere in the county if I say "go to Fireground 3," we should all be turning our knob to channel 3. I can't for the life of me understand the concept that some departments have decided to come up with. On some radios out there, FG 5 may be channel 12. Some other radios I've noticed have SOME OF THE FG CHANNELS, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM!!! I understand there is a BILLION channels out there, but for Christ's sake, at least make your first 8 channels the county Firegrounds!!!!!!!!!!

:-k We don't have commissioners, but we're in the same boat! Fearing rivalry, vendettas or a war, our "top brass" seem to be dragging their feet on a problem that continues to get worse. I really think it will take a death in our case to change things. And no, I don't mean killing off the Chief!!!! Seriously though, all incidents begin with the initial dispatch. If things go wrong from the start, they will continue to suffer throughout. Having people on the other side of our radios whom are trained and dedicated to provide us with as much as they can is something we should all take advantage of. I can't believe that 2005 is knocking on the door and we're still having this discussion!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE. If your local dispatch isn't cutting it, do something now before it's too late!!!

Why not worry about covering our BASIC calls before wet-dreaming an ALS service???

Hide the gavel. Good luck bubba. =D>

FASTs I know of; Ardsley uses E165? Bedford Hills uses TL57 Croton uses E119 Dobbs Ferry uses E47 or E48 Irvington uses R49? Larchmont uses R1 Millwood uses E248? Mohegan uses E255 or E258 Mount Kisco uses U13 Sleepy Hollow uses ??? Ossining uses U51 & E98 Peekskill uses E134 or E130 Valhalla uses R9 Yorktown uses E270 or R16 I know some of the career FDs will provide a FAST too, unsure which and what rig(s) they use. I also believe the Montrose VA will provide an "initial RIT" of 2 or 3 until a larger unit can be deployed. Perhaps a VAFD alumni or member can hit on this....

Got this from "The Secret List." A D.C. Fire recruit was charged with DWI in a crash that killed a New Jersey Fire Captain's family yesterday. The father (a Vet. Jersey City Fire Captain) watched the horror unfold as his family was killed while they were pulled over on the highway. The car, a 1994 Honda Accord carrying four people, had pulled onto the shoulder of westbound I-66 according to the cops. Maureen O'Callahan, 41, had been driving, but about 2:45 a.m., she had grown tired and decided to pull over and let her husband drive. Tim O'Callahan, 42, climbed out of the Accord; his daughter, Tara O'Callahan, 20, and his nephew John Oldigs, 23, were in the backseat. As Tim O'Callahan watched, a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck smashed into the Accord, destroying it. Police further said that Tim O'Callahan was outside the car and saw the whole thing but he wasn't physically hurt. "It was awful," the police spokesman continued. "Daughter and wife and nephew right there, and he actually saw it. He was outside the car when the truck almost literally ran over the top of the car." Maureen O'Callahan, Tara O'Callahan and Oldigs were pronounced dead at the scene. There was nothing Tim O'Callahan, a veteran fire captain in Jersey City, N.J., could do. Police said Jonathan Conner O'Neal, 24, of Delaplane, VA, a firefighter trainee in Washington, DC, was driving the pickup. Police charged O'Neal with DWI. Troopers will meet with Fairfax County prosecutors this week to decide whether to add charges of involuntary manslaughter. A spokesman for DC Fire & EMS stated "We extend our deepest condolences to all members of the families who were impacted by this," For additional details and followup-go to www.Firehouse.Com. Words can't express my opinions about this one.... My sympathies to Captain O'Callahan and his family.

Congrats and good luck. Too bad Seagraves won't be making their appearance in Pleasantville though.

Croton Company Mottos. Chemical Engine Co. / E118 - "Anytime baby." Washington Engine Co. / E119 - "First In, Last Out." Tower Ladder 44 - "Never a dull moment." Department slogan: "Simply the best." (coined by former Chief G.A. Munson)

60 Control is the primary dispatch agency for Mamaroneck Village. However, their PD has a tendency to dispatch it themselves....why, I don't know.

M A C K MACK MACK MACK DAMN, I'M GONNA MISS OURS.... :cry2:

The one about "raising and lowering the flag properly" is a good topic to cover. I can't tell you how many times our flags are not flown properly. My personal peeve is when they are left flying all night with no light on them. I like this guy, I hope to sit in on his class one day.