Remember585

I prefer the old, but to each his own.

Date: 8/10/11 Time: 14:57 Location: 112 Main Street: Dobbs Ferry FD HQ Frequency: 46.26 Units Operating: 2091, 2092, Weather Conditions: Warm, 83 degrees Description Of Incident: Fire in basement of Fire HQ. Reporters: Remember585 Writer: Remember585 02:58 - PD dispatching it as a working basement fire. 03:02 - 60 Control redispatching the fire. 03:03 - Ardsley FAST, Battalion 12 dispatched.

Contact Luci Labriola-Cuffe at Westchester County DES if it is for courses taken at WCDES. She's been a home run for us.

It's not actually part of the Firefighter I course yet. The bulletins we see with Firefighter I w/ Survival are technically two courses, but the Instructors lump the two together so the new firefighters are getting it. You are right, however, it should be part of the FFI program. I used to be one of the guys jumping up and down saying that there's no excuse not to find time to take training, but there has to be some give. Guys work all kinds of schedules now, so flexibility has to be there. We used to run our drills and training classes strictly on Monday nights. But for guys that work Monday nights - they weren't making anything. We generally run one Monday evening drill open to all, another Monday drill for FAST, one weekend day drill and another middle of the week evening drill every month to have some flexibility. I just wish more people would take advantage of it, but I'll digress. The AVET program is only offered from the OFPC, by a limited number of Instructors. I am more than confident that if this course was made more accessible to teach like Firefighter I, then we would see it in Westchester at least 5-6 times per year. I asked these questions myself, that's where I found out. All of us in Westchester need to realize that even though it is sometimes difficult to get into a course or to find a course we are looking for offered from our training center - we still have the best and most used facility in the state as far as firefighter training goes.

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a question. At parades and such, when I am in my uniform, I always salute a passing flag. Is this right? Also, if I am not in my full uniform, say I have removed my jacket or hat, do I have to salute? Thanks.

Looks like the swivel is an intake and perhaps the bumper one is a discharge...

I have a few gripes with the way the system currently is, and I don't see it changing in the near future. Feel free to comment/agree/disagree with me. Gripe #1: I would have no problem making the training the same for both. HOWEVER, since building inspections are not part of our requirements, those 63 hours could be scratched from the program. Also, since we have jobs and other responsibilities, allow us to complete the training over a period of time, say two years. Get the basics out of the way up front, then require the remainder to be completed within a certain time frame. That would better entice folks. Gripe #2: I don't see Survival and/or FAST as required for either. This is a must. Gripe #3: Some of these courses could be consolidated, since many classes harp on lessons learned in pre-requisite training. For example, EVOC and Pump Ops could be made into one course for less time, as could Firefighter I and II. Gripe #4: I'm only lacking the building codes stuff and Wildland Firefighting training. BUT WHEN IS THIS EVER OFFERED TO ANY OF US? I'll never get into these programs locally, which isn't going to attract most of my fellow volunteer brothers. Gripe #5: Include the CPAT into Firefighter I, this would weed out the guys who may pass, get their FF I cert and go back to their FD barely able to function on the fireground! For those of you unaware of the state's certification process, in order for a volunteer firefighter to receive the NYS "Firefighter Certification", they must complete the following (first step is Recruit Firefighter II, followed by Recruit Firefighter I, than Firefighter). This "Firefighter Certification" is what the career men accomplish in their 450 hour academy. Again... some of these courses are rare or never seen here in Westchester (or nearby) except when incorporated into the career academies. Want piety for all of us? Convince the county to offer the same training to both sides of the fence. It's not like many of us aren't in favor of it! Recruit II Certification Firefighter I (87 Hours) OR Basic Firefighter Training (42 Hours) & Intermediate Firefighter Training (18 Hours) OR Firefighting Essentials (39 Hours), Fire Behavior / Arson Awareness (12 Hours) and Initial Fire Attack (18 Hours) Plus Right To Know and Local Rules, Regulations and Laws (No given amount of time) Recruit I Certification (Must be Recruit II certified) Firefighter II (27 Hours) OR Truck Company Operations or Ladder Company Operations (24 Hours) Apparatus Operator - Pump or Pump Operator (24 Hours)* Accident Victim Extrication Training (16 Hours) Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations (16 Hours)** Firefighter Certification (Must be Recruit I certified) Inspection Practices of Existing Structures (21 Hours)*** Rescue Technician Basic or Rescue Operations (24 Hours) Incident Command System (12 Hours) Basic Wildland Firefighting (12 Hours) First Aid & CPR CPAT Exam * - Prerequisite training is Apparatus Operator - EVOC (18 Hours) ** - Now included in Firefighter I program *** - Two prerequisites Intro to Code Enforcement Practices (42 hours)

I'm trying to set up a demo, if I do, I'll share our findings. I believe North White Plains FD might of purchased them, not 100% sure.

That had to be a b**** to hump up the stairs of a Cape. Good job.

I love that the labels for the old radios are still in there! That's cool. I only got to ride that a couple of times as an Explorer, as a few months after I joined is when it was retired. I remember being a kid and going with my Dad to see it being refurbed. So glad it's still out there and looks so awesome!

Me likey!

Croton Fire Patrol No. 1 is the name of our Rescue Company. In it's beginning and earlier years, it was a Fire Police unit to assist with crowd control at fire scenes. Many of the "rescue companies" in Westchester were or still are considered Fire Police units as well. I loved that truck and am so glad to see it's still in mint condition. For the 30 years it served us, the men and women of that company really took care of it and it still shows today.

Sorry I missed you when you swung by 60 Control. Great photos, thanks for sharing. One question, what firehouse is that with the Truck Co. 1 and Engine Co. 1?

The Westchester County Fire Training Center is holding the National Firefighter I and Firefighter II exams on August 20th and 21st. Information can be found below: Firefighter I Firefighter II Does anyone know what the written and practical exams entail? Thanks.

Good to know - how does one contact them?

Not 100% true. Using the above mentioned departments as an example, if their primary tower (Hen Hud HS) is down, they will be dispatched from a backup tower (Croton, Peekskill or Mohegan) from a further distance. The signal strength may not be strong enough to open pagers as well as the normal tower does, but the house sirens usually have an antenna on the firehouse which works better than the antennas inside our pagers. They're not the only ones with tone-activated sirens. Almost every FD that has a siren now has a tone activated controller. This is why most departments get two different tones when they're paged out (one for the pagers, the other for the siren/horn).

WCPD has several vessels now, and I don't see why they couldn't post one to cover from the TZB to the BMB. If Rockland is also in the water they could theoretically split this coverage. Also, Yonkers PD could handle their region (if it still exists). Since WCPd is already out in the Hudson (and starting to make appearances in the LI Sound) I don't think picking up the tab is a problem. I also don't think the mounted unit would of worked out well in the river... Not saying they do or don't know more about maritime law now, but dedicating a specific unit vs. putting whatever cop picks up the OT on a local level would be more beneficial. Bottom line, specialized services shouldn't always be repeated, but perhaps left to one agency to take the lead or a combined effort of several agencies. Well, that varies from department to department. A fire alarm may mean an actual fire which is a legit emergency. Other factors such as life hazards, occupancy size/type, water supply, etc. usually gauge apparatus assignments. A stalled out boat because some hammerhead didn't check the fuel before setting sail isn't an emergency, just like a car that's run out of gas isn't an emergency. Many of the calls the FD's respond to on the Hudson River could and probably should be handled by either a PD vessel and/or SeaTow.

The Hudson River has been a jurisdictional pissing match for fire departments for years. Police patrols of the river were slim to none up until 2-3 years ago, for the most part. For what it's worth, the river is a large body of water that is well traveled by all kinds of vessels. The rules/laws of the river are probably not fully understood / enforced by local police departments, and because of this, IMHO, it should be left to WCPD and/or NYSP to patrol (on our side). For each smaller municipality, such as my own, to pay officers OT to patrol the local water, which for us is mostly off of Croton Point, ergo technically WCPD's area if you think about it, is a waste. Let local PD handle their roadways and, like us, if they have smaller bodies of water requiring patrol, then do it. I'm all for diligent enforcement and prevention, but a line has to be drawn. For the fire side of things on the Hudson... 9 out of 10 calls we all get dispatched to could be handled by a police agency. Stalled boats, sailboats with mechanical problems, etc. are nothing more than a disabled vehicle and unless it is in a precarious location, then let PD boats handle them. Save the local FD vessels for fires and rescue calls. Service calls are getting 3,4, 5 or more agencies now which is an enormous waste. I don't understand why every call on the Hudson River requires the response of three fire department boats, WCPD, usually Rockland Sheriffs and/or FD boats from Rockland - we're sending more stuff then is needed the majority of the time. And in addition to all of the stuff on the river, you have to figure at least 3-4 emergency vehicles are driving to their local docks lights and sirens for non-emergencies. It's a recipe for disaster that needs evaluating.

I think cops pull too many cars over. I'm staging a protest on I287. Morons...

OVAC 7A-7P M-F

Units on scene: VAFD: 2571 (Command), 2572, 2573, 2574, E225, MA28, 48B2 on scene. Montrose FD: 2271, E122, TL8 Croton FD: 2081, 2082, E119 Cortlandt VAC: 88B3 Cortlandt Medic: 35M1 Battalion 17 Relocated to VAFD: 2551, E161 (Buchanan FD) On Stand-by in own HQ: 2492, E126 (Verplanck FD)

On the transmission of a 10-75, at minimum we get two ambulances and a Paramedic. For a 2nd Alarm (or at the direction of the IC) we get a rehab unit from Cortlandt or Pleasantville EMS. One ambulance is expected to bring their crew and equipment up near the scene for Firefighter care. The other ambulance is expected to transport one of us if needed, leaving one rig on scene. The EMS OIC is also expected to remain at the CP so if we need them, we don't have to hunt them down. Often times, the Paramedic assumes the EMS OIC role and will call additional resources as he/she sees fit. It's been our SOG for almost five years and has worked well for us.

I guess my sarcasm didn't convey on to my last post... Sorry Joe.

Ugh... more OVAC people... swell.

It looks like the Village of Croton has found a solution for the paid EMT at Croton. Has anyone heard of the "Mid Hudson EMS District?" I have no clue what it is, but it seems like they'll be paying them $16.92 an hour. Hope it helps. Village resolution attached. EMS_TEMPORARY_SERVICES1.pdf