Remember585

The newer units, which are considered "Discovery Cove" have sprinklers. They also have lightweight truss construction, in case anyone on here ever finds themselves responding to a fire in this complex.

We were on Fire 10 from Thursday afternoon until this morning and it worked out well. My biggest concern (as it always is) with being on Fire 10 is how will responding members know what's going on. Apparently it doesn't matter (or it works better then actually knowing??) because over 50 members made our first fire yesterday.

Well said! I have two gripes with this story. One, I can't believe a municipality would nickel and dime the deaths of two employees, especially firefighters killed in the Line of Duty. Secondly, and I am only asking a question and not stirring a pot, do unions, such as IAFF Locals, have fund raising events to set aside funds for things like this? Don't a lot of IAFF locals have benevolents or something so they can take care of their own when something happens? If so, wouldn't this be a * issue? Honestly, I am annoyed and sickened at the fact that expense is being discussed following two deaths. It doesn't matter who they were, what they did or how they died. What's wrong with society that everything has a price tag now? What ever happening to doing the right thing?

Anything for you pal! Last I knew of, Fire 13 is linked to a low band frequency in the South Salem area, Fire 16 is linked to possibly both a UHF and a low band frequency in Katonah and EMSjunkie712 & mymack1 already covered their respective links. I don't think it's a bad idea to have something setup to broadcast your communications on the trunked system so your responding members can hear what's going on over their pagers. We're still talking about our future communications plan, and I wouldn't rule out anything, so long as my members can hear what is going on.

The Deaprtments that use the Trunked System "full time" are (if I remember correctly): Ardsley - Fire 14 Armonk - Fire 16 Banksville - Fire 16 Bedford Hills - Fire 16 Bedford - Fire 16 Chappaqua - Fire 16 Croton Falls - Fire 13 Fairview - Fire 14 Goldens Bridge - Fire 13 Hawthorne - Fire 11 (EMS 11 for EMS) Irvington - Fire 14 Katonah - Fire 16 Mamaroneck Town - Fire 15 Mount Kisco - Fire 16 Sleepy Hollow - Fire 12 North White Plains - Fire 19 Pleasantville - Fire 11 Purchase - Fire 19 South Salem - Fire 13 Thornwood - Fire 11 Valhalla - Fire 11 Vista - Fire 13 Yorktown - Fire 17 Westchester EMS (45 Medics) use EMS 13 or EMS 16 depending on where the call is) Katonah-Bedford Hills VAC - EMS 16 Mount Kisco VAC - EMS 16 Pound Ridge VAC - EMS 13

We need to talk...

Nice. Generally, News 12 is the only thing on here and since it is the same thing over, and over, and over again... it drives you crazy. Infomercials are awful, I want to kill Vince with a Slap Chop!

Was it missing a wheel?!

In regards to "taking equipment off an apparatus to clean it," this is probably one of the BEST WAYS to inspect things and give them a good cleaning, grinding, adjusting, etc. When else does it get done?

I think Stinson is driving!

Except for that one time...at band camp...

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that the last drill Metro-North had in our area was about 20 years ago. I remember it vaguely, because I was still in Middle School and couldn't go.

Are we hitting Sonic on the way back?

Since I'm one of those guys who has taken multiple companies out of our jurisdiction for training, I can tell you this - every time I do it I can't help but wonder if it's a bad idea. But, every time we've done it, we have two Engines and a Ladder covering us, whether it's all Mutual Aid or a combination of our own units. As a multi-company department, it is important for us to work together often and keep up our skills. We can only do so many drills in our own area, but we don't have much to use. The Fire Training Center is a great facility with so many options for people to fine-tune their skills. It is of the utmost importance to us, as a department, to drill on a regular basis, especially because our call volume isn't that high. We used to try "Department Drills" using only one or two rigs, and those from the other companies wouldn't come because they remained in town to staff their apparatus for any calls we might have. This is why we now have multi-company drills and department drills involving all companies, and depend on Mutual Aid help to cover the home turf while we improve ourselves. It's a pain in the a**, I can't lie, because most of us here (volunteer and paid) don't have the proper facilities to do live fire training, so traveling out of town isn't an option, it's the only way we can do it. We all want to be better firefighters, fire companies and fire departments, so if that means occassionally pulling companies out of service / out of town to train, that's what we have to do. Pulling resources out of town for a parade or other parties and not keeping people behind to mind the shop, that's just begging to get caught with your pants down. I have nothing against parades, I LOVE THEM, but what I hate is how to some people it's nothing more then a chance to put on their uniforms, get hammered and embarass those of us that actually still give a s***. I've said it before on here, uniforms & booze don't mix. It's these public displays of stupidity that make all of us have to defend ourselves to everyone as not being a bunch of drunken firemen! Be proud, but be smart. Remember our priorities in the fire service - response, training, prevention and education.

Wow, really? Cops apparently can't prove a car has been parked somewhere for a period of time if there's no chalk on the tire? LEOs, correct me if I am wrong. Don't you do this thing called "patrol" where you drive around and make notes of things, and (here's a crazy thought) pass it on to your relief??? This woman is nuttier then squirrel poop!

I can't speak for any other departments, so I'll stick to ours. In the past, certain Chiefs were more concerned with our appearance at parades then covering the home turf. This practice is finally over, as our current Chief has already made it clear that covering the home turf is more important than anything. (What a concept!) We will only be attending parades in our neighboring jurisdictions, and the plan (unless it changes) would be to only send one rig to each parade, with minimal personnel, and keep personnel in quarters / in town to cover calls. In the past I have responded back to cover calls either in my Chief's car, POV or on an apparatus because of dumb decisions made by "top brass." It's embarassing and it's dangerous. While it wasn't a parade, we had our Biennial Dinner Dance in January, and we had our own personnel in quarters as well as a Mutual Aid Engine from Montrose to cover calls. This practice is also used when we go out of town for drills. At minimum, we always keep at least one Engine and one Truck staffed in town, whether we're at a drill, parade, etc. And to answer the question about cost - yes, we looked at that. Some people wanted to do away with all parades, however because we live in an imperfect society, if you don't go to some parades, those Chiefs take it personally then don't call you for anything in the future. Same stuff happens when you don't go to Friendship Nights, etc. For whatever reason, some Chiefs / Departments take it personally and will remove you or move you down on their Mutual Aid plan. I know others know exactly what I'm talking about. It's all a game - a stupid game - but it does happen!

How often do people walk into a police station with what might be a bomb or an old military explosive device they've found? I know here it has happened more than once.

Date: 2/16/10 Time: 18:02 Location: I-684 NB, N of Route 172 Frequency: 46.26 / Fire 16 Units Operating: 2043, 52B1, R44, 45M1 Weather Conditions: Snow Description Of Incident: Reported rollover with entrapment Reporters: Remember585 Writer: Remember585 18:02 - Bedford EMS, FD and 45M1 dispatched. 18:04 - 2043 responding. 18:12 - Bedford retoned for personnel. 18:13 - 52B1, R44 responding. 18:15 - E110 responding.

This is so dumb. I don't understand why those in emergency services are always scrutinized because some public servants are dirtbags. Seth, are you serious? That's an outrage! Maybe fire engines should be done like unmarked patrol cars...

As someone who has worked more EMS jobs then I care to remember, I can tell you this. Every VAC / FD-EMS has changed in the time I've been involved. Some agencies should be proud of themselves, others need to check their egos at the door and come up with a solution FAST! I'm not going to use any agency names, but I will share some examples. One VAC that I used to belong to is almost not a VAC anymore, rather it is nearly all paid. Part of the problem here was that certain people seemed to want it all to go paid and made it almost fail completely as a VAC. Luckily, some of the volunteers are still there as volunteers and others are there to get paid. Either way, the level of care is one of the best in Westchester. Another VAC I belonged to barely covered anything for a while. Then some new members came and they were the dependable ones in the area. A change of officers made some of the die-hards almost vanish, and Mutual Aid became more frequent. Another change of officers, back up to covering calls again. Yet another change, and probably one of the worst periods in this VAC's history. A recent change appears to be helping, but I really don't think it will sustain, simply because it seems like more of a "proving a point" thing then anything. Once these people get tired of what they're doing, it will be back to three tones and out. My current EMS affiliation used to be FD based. People literally raced to get the ambulances out for calls and would stay at the firehouse waiting for them. Some leadership problems, personality conflicts and a lack of trying to resolve things by our leadership sent us down the toilet. I still believe that if certain Chiefs put forth some effort, we could of improved things, but I firmly believe there was always a personal agenda involved and now EMS is on it's own. Ironically, EMS is doing much better. In the beginning it was mostly FD people who were waiting for something to change in order to motivate them, so we were getting out all the time. The open membership started, and the new influx of people have been picking up the ball and running with it. The biggest problem, however, is that the call volume keeps growing, especially during the day when most people are working, and it truly taxes the agency. Especially when almost one call a day is Mutual Aid to someone else - you get tired of bailing others out. If every VAC could crew every rig they have, then this wouldn't be an issue. It kills me to see VACs with 3 or 4 rigs that allow calls to go Mutual Aid 3,4,5 times a day. Why not sell a rig and hire an EMT/Driver?! ALS knows exactly who I am talking about, and so does anyone with a scanner. My time in paid EMS revealed all kinds of agencies to me. Some VACs always covered their calls, others were almost non-existent. Sadly, this goes back about 10 years and in some places, IS THE SAME NOW!!!! I remember waiting over an hour once for an ambulance for a nose bleed when working in Heritage Hills. When we finally had an ambulance responding, the gentleman stopped bleeding and said, "Forget it, I'll f---ing drive myself to the ER." I have heard and been there to dispatch calls that have gone as far as six, seven, eight and even NINE agencies until we covered them. But as long as the rigs are washed, people have new t-shirts to wear and they win parade trophies, they'll never see a problem. I've seen some VACs have 20-30 people at a parade, but two hours later they need Mutual Aid for a nursing home FDGB call. Nah, keep on wishing on rainbows and eating the magical cupcakes....everything is fine.... But I will say this. If ever a family member needs EMS, and that EMS doesn't respond and/or there is a major delay they couldn't avoid (bad weather, etc.) then I guarantee my name will be in a load of letters to the agency, municipality and media. This much I promise! I know a lot of you commenting on this thread, especially ALS & JJB - and I know how tired of this s*** you are, and being the professionals you are, I know it's getting to a point where you just can't bite your lip anymore. Stay strong brothers!

Date: 2/12/10 Time: 16:25 Location: 5 Indian Hill Road (Cross of Pinebrook Blvd.) Frequency: 33.96 / 460.4625 / Fire 18 Units Operating: E25, E23, E21, E22, TL11, L12, L13, 2302, 2301, 30A3 Weather Conditions: Cold Description Of Incident: Fire in attached row of townhouses Reporters: Remember585 Writer: Remember585 BING MAP 16:28 - E23 10-84, 10-75. E22 & 30A3 added to box. 16:32 - 2302 reports 1 L/S/O. 16:35 - E24 relocating to Station 3. 16:36 - 2302 reports 2 L/S/O, Truck is opening up. 16:37 - Pelham L2 to relocate NRFD Station 3. 16:41 - L2 relocating. 16:50 - 2301 advising fire in townhouse, companies checking remainder of row for extension. 16:52 - 2301 reports fire is "Under Control," companies overhauling for a while. 16:53 - L2 at NRFD Sta. 3. 17:03 - E22 10-8.

The info provided on lmfdpro.com is good, however when you talk about "being honest," some changes need to be made to your website. (I know we all overlook stuff). Take a look http://www.lmfdpro.com/ops.htm

Nice, LOL.

Why doesn't it say "QTIP" on it?!