Remember585

Date: 1/2/04 Times: 10am - 11am (approx) Location: 500 Route 129 (Yorktown Road) (Camp Discovery) Frequency: 46.26 / 453.025 Units Operating: 2084, 2087, E118, R18, 55B1 Description: One car MVA, single occupant. Driver went off road, struck and snapped tree in half, up on guardrail, vehicle on its side. Driver was extricated within 5 minutes without hydraulic tools, vehicle stabilized with cribbing and ropes, handline stretched and charged due to a ruptured fuel tank. Patient taken BLS to WMC. Route 129 was closed in area for approx. 40 minutes. Writer: Remember585

Some thoughts on the subject..... One County Fire Dispatch Frequency One County EMS Dispatch Frequency One Operations / Command Frequency per Battalion. (Unless in a larger, busier region) Fireground Frequencies NEED TO BE USED!!! Even if multiple channels are used (interior, FAST, water supply, etc.) its better then jamming up the important communications! ALL OF US, FIRE AND EMS, SHOULD BE DISPATCHED FROM THE SAME PLACE!!! TOO MANY DISPATCH CENTERS IN THE SAME SYSTEM PUTS PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK!!!!

Amen! Millwood has always been one of our Mutual Aid units, and us one of theirs. We're both smaller Departments, and we both have the same issues. Millwood FD is a great group of guys, with a rich history of being "pioneers" in many different Fire Service upgrades. As for the Journal News, they are like most other publications, fabricating stories from only ONE SIDE of the fence. I'm sure that the Millwood FD could step up and speak their opinions and openly attack the media, but that isn't their style. Don't believe what the press says all the time. If you did, you would go insane with fears and phobeas!!!!

ALSFirefighter is right, too many people out there want to be on their respective FAST / RIT Units just to feel like one of the big boys. Want to feel good about yourself when you aren't confident in yourself? Step up and say "Hey, I'm not ready for this kind of work." More people will respect someone who admits they CAN'T do something rather then tease them. A real man, check that, a real FIREFIGHTER will realize their limits, do what they know how, and learn what they don't. Like I always say, a good Firefighter makes themself a student of the science FOR LIFE! Leave the FAST / RIT work to those who should be doing it. God forbid you're ever the one in need, do you want someone at your side asking themself "Now what do I do?" I don't think so!

Speaking from experiences from the dispatcher side and the responder side, highway incidents are harldy ever where we're told they are! Those Departments who handle the Sprain, Bronx River and the NYS Thruways have it the worst. People are not in the normal state of mind when reporting an accident or other emergency. Therefore, they probably won't give you the right location, but the one they most recently PASSED! Think about this - how often have you been driving along and suddenly said "Wow, I'm at exit 67, I swear we just passed 45!" Driving along a highway, people lose their grasp of where they are. Sending units from both ends to limited-access highways is a great idea. Luckily, our Chief instituted a two-engine response on all our highway incidents recently, one engine responds from the north end of the district, the other from the south. Now, if only our PD remembered to follow this.... #-o

Doug makes a good point (like usual). AS 1075 said, education is key. Those of us in the FAST business need to reach out to our neighboring Departments and inform them of a few pieces of information... How many guys you usually role with. How long it takes on average to respond both DAY and NIGHT. What rig you use primarily and what other rigs you can bring if needed. What you expect of them in terms of staging area, equipment, personnel, EMS < this is important. A command freq., operations freq., and EMS Freq. I will go into further detail and discuss the FAST Theory and its Roles in the Training Section after the New Year. To all my brothers and sisters out there, stay safe, and have a hell of a New Year's!!!

You know you can always count on me to help out!!! I'm in it for the long-haul, so you can count me in!!!

Good luck to Seth with the Forums! For those of you who don't know me, I am a Captain with the Croton FD, as well as an EMT and member of the FAST. I also work at 60 Control as Dispatcher 642. I am a forum moderator for fire apparatus and training here at emtbravo. I feel that in no way should any of us, paid or volunteer, ever think we can't possibly learn anything more. We are in an industry (both fire and EMS) that will kill you if you let your mind go numb. Always remember Lt. Mike Neuner - Brewster Fire Dept. "585" Died during the line of duty on 6/22/97.

More info from the frontlines..... Units on scene: Ossining on scene with all companies. Croton's FAST Engine 119, 2081, 2082, 2084 Standing-by: Millwood E248, Briarcliff E93, Sleepy Hollow TL38 Fire in Garden-style apartments, approx. 150x50x 3 stories. Fire in basement, extension to #2 floor. Outstanding knockdown by Ossining's Bravest!

Date: 12/17/03 Times: 19:40hrs - Ongoing Location: Yonkers - 149 No. Broadway plus exposures Frequency: 484.7125 Units Operating: All Hands Description Of Incident: Fire with multiple exposure problems, attempting to get more info at this time. Writer: 642 Relocations: Yonkers Sta. #1: E151 & E31 Greenville & Eastchester Yonkers Sta. #12: E22 & L13 New Rochelle Yonkers Sta. #13: E206 & L62 Mount Vernon Last Progress Report stated aerial streams on main fire bldg,, muliple lines in exposures.

It was made an official LODD by the NFFF. For the most part, if you are to die doing anything for your Department, it can be justified as a LODD. Personally, I think some limits should be applied. On a side note - I'm proud to say that my parents serve on the NFFF Annual Ceremony Committee, something they have done for several years now. And I have attended this ceremony and can honestly say that it is one of the most organized events in this service, and it makes one proud to be a firefighter.

Hey Res20cuE - I hear you man! We're suppost to be replacing 55B2 with a PL Custom hopefully. We were going to go with a white over red scheme, but to cut down some costs, I hear it will be white with red stripes. Still better then our "Good Humor" look on 55B1.

"Engine 411 is 10-19, 10-20 all incoming, apparent 10-16." Got it? Thats an easy one for most of us in Westchester. Now, take the same codes and relay them to your Police Dispatch. They make think you have an auto accident with injuries, requesting a tow and have a fire at the same time. Personally, I feel that Clear-text is the way to go. It eliminates the potential for confusion, and it is something WE ALL CAN UNDERSTAND. Take Putnam for example, they do not use 10-codes in the Fire service and you know exactly whats going on all the time. Why go through the trouble of reading off a "code card" when you can say what needs to be said? Just some food for though... Until next time.

Bastardized construction is a bad move!!! Our Grand Street firehouse which is home to E118 and TL44 has had more makeovers then Joan Rivers. Back when the 1963 Maxim was replaced with the 1993 HME/Saulsbury pumper, much work was done to "strengthen the floor." All they did was add more support columns to an already crappy floor. In 2002, additions were made to the firehouse to accomodate our new Tower Ladder ('02 Pierce), which is close to double the weight of the old Ladder 44 ('71 Maxim). Overall, the firehouse which originally served as the first Croton Schoolhouse is better suited for storing dust. The men of Chemical Engine and the Hook & Ladder got screwed, and are stuck with a station that I really can't see lasting more then ten years. Over a million dollars basically to add stress to the already crumbling foundation...

If any of our neighboring Departments ever want to get together and train with Croton, whether its for FAST, Tanker ops, etc., feel free to reach out to me. E-mail me @ jmm221@engine119croton.org. I'd be more then happy to work with all of you.

I think we are all missing the big picture here. Just because your Department may not have an Aerial Rig doesn't mean "Truck Company Work" can be ignored. Furthermore, the Departments out there with those HUGE aerials that don't exactly fit everywhere, this is for you too. The Incident Commander is ultimately responsible to put out the fire, and at the same time keep his/her men safe, minimize the loss of property and eliminate the risk to life, when possible. This is achieved by well coordinated fire attack procedures. The basic tasks of Primary and Secondary Searches, Extinguishment and confinement, overhaul and salvage, and ventillation and forcible entry must always be done. (Unless of course, conditions don't warrant it.) A good example is my Department, we run with 3 engines, a quint, rescue and tanker, as well as 2 ambulances. Many of the homes in our district are up those long, windy driveways that are so narrow you actually have to butter the sides of your bicycle to fit. Obviously we can't fit TL44 in their, so assignments are given to the Engine companies. If say, E118 is first in, they drop the supply line and the 2nd due engine picks it up and feeds them. The crew of 2nd due and / or 3rd due can be used as an attack team, vent team, search - whatever the IC decides. Just because the TL can't get there, doesn't mean the jobs of the Truck Company aren't completed. Another point - if you don't have an aerial or your aerial is never on scene as quick as the engines - consider cross-training your people. In this day and age, manpower is at a minimum during the daytime, and getting every rig to an alarm may not happen. Make sure that your people know what to do if assigned a Truck Company's jobs. In our Dept. we tend to drill it in everyone's mind that the possibility is always there where not every rig won't respond promptly. We train on all aspects of fireground ops on a regular basis. One of the biggest things we work on is learning the rigs of the other companies, you never know what you're gonna get. Hopefully, some of you agree with me. Until next time....

Getting older has made my memory smaller. Which type is what? Type 1 is a van, 2 is a modified van and a 3 has no passageway right?

More news is at firehouse.com

Thanks Mike! Good luck with U-12, it is a sharp looking rig and I am sure you guys will be benefiting us all in the years to come!!

Did I say Mohegan had 4 quints? NO! I am saying the concept of putting one in each house is a good idea - and they are 3/4 of the way there. So settle down people!

What are the capacities for that cascade? Is it in service yet? (By the way, its a sharp looking rig.) Another thing, how do you guys decide which members do engine work and who does the utility? Is everyone trained to use U-12?

I actually attended the Patterson wetdown - it is a gorgeous firehouse. I was there not to long ago for a graduation party too, still in great shape!

I would guess Hank Reynolds, Mary Chopyack and maybe John Bischoff were on that first call in 1984, my guess is Springvale. The rig was a van I think too, white w/ green on it.

A full crew for E161 only consists of TWO people, correct? Do others respond in their cars?

Date: 12/9/03 Time: 08:47 - 09:31hrs Location: 1 Old Post Road North (Cross of Grand St.) Frequency: 46.26 / 453.025 Units: C2082 (IC), C2087 (Ops) E118, E119, E120, TL44, R18 Description: CFD dispatched for a General Alarm, smoke in residence. First arriving CPD units and C2082 found a small kitchen fire in progress. Fire was tapped quickly by CPD and 2082 using dry-chem extinguishers. FD units overhauled, salvaged, checked for extension and medically assessed the homeowner for smoke inhalation. (Damage was minimal.) Total personnel on scene: 27 Writer: Remember585