Remember585

Tim, You're leaving out South Salem FD on Fire 13 as well as Pound Ridge VAC on EMS 13. So far it seems to be working out well, maybe someone in the field from these agencies can throw in their two cents.

I always wondered how you guys slept on your hogs....

What's that mean? As far as I can tell the FDMV gets along with their neighboring departments.

Been doing it for almost 16 years, I don't feel burnt out. At one point I volunteered at two EMS agencies, an FD and worked two EMS jobs in addition to another job as a FD Dispatcher. "Burnout" in many cases is short for "inability to multi-task." No reason anyone can't step up and say to their EMS bosses that they can't perform their duties safely and feel as though they are a risk to the crew, patients and public. I said it and it got me off of my 36's and 24's.

Rehab is for quitters, right?! JUST KIDDING.

Michael Jackson is now very disappointed.....

Yeah, but if you're within 6 feet of him all he has to do is reach out and grab ya!!!!! LOL

God bless, very sad.

That would be my guess too, although 19 is still open. The other vacancies were filled not too long ago. (15 & 18).

Our new "Ambulance Corps." or "EMS Department" or whatever it is going to be called will not be Croton VAC - just Croton EMS. We went with this figuring that if (when) the time comes to pay someone we won't be lying nor will we have to change our name with DOH. But in all honesty - I don't think Joe Public pays any attention to us - an ambulance showing up to their emergency is all they care about - not what it says or where it comes from.

We should wait until it is public knowledge and all parties concerned are notified. Very sad, thoughts & prayers with the families, friends, coworkers and colleagues. As a former ESA employee myself this is all the more tragic. GOD BLESS.

Date: 11/5/07 Time: 14:25 Location: 42 June Road (Forget Me Not Farm) Frequency: 46.26 / Trunked Fire 13 CFFD Units Operating: 2073, E147, E149, T8, R28 GBFD Units Operating: 2143, T1, E140 SSFD Units Operating: 2452, 2453, T2, R21 Brewster FD Units: FAST, EMS Somers FD Units: 2441, T16 WCDES: Battalion 13, C&O Zone 5 (1405) LVAC: 67B2 Description Of Incident: Working fire Writer: Remember585

Very sad. God bless them, their families and their brothers in the FD.

So first they went to a RESCUE 134, being the first three-digit Rescue in Westchester. Did they crack up and add this to the fleet? Of course I am only kidding, saw the pic and thought it was kinda funny.

Hey Ed, will it look similar to this:

First off, I think a lot of it has to do with the way you spec it out. People complain about the apparatus but when you really look into it you see that their specs weren't very specific leaving room for "cheaper" design. In the past few years we have taken delivery of a Pierce quint, an ALF pumper and a Seagrave pumper. Here's what I can tell you. Pierce The rig was a demo unit and was an emergency purchase. It's a 2002 all stainless steel construction. The overall construction of this apparatus seems very solid, the welds seem tight and clean, the body is sound, and overall it's a decent rig. BUT, being it's a demo and the drivetrain of this unit was made more for highway driving (to show it at shows, etc) it has no climbing power. Additionally, there have been a couple of problems I remember concerning the hydraulics in the bucket and the outriggers not nesting correctly. A couple of other things were more "our doing" and in one case the service rep forgot to put a cap back on spraying oil all over the place. So far the Truck has been dependable, being out of service maybe only a couple of days total in the five years we have had it. American LaFrance We got this shortly after the Pierce. When it first arrived it was delayed going into service due to electrical problems. Over time I recall a few celanoids being replaced, fuses and other electronics equipment. It too is made of stainless steel. Aside from my personal "quams" about it's design, the apparatus has been fairly reliable since the beginning and it's hiccups. I don't really care for how much plastic was used in the cab, specifically in the back where handlights mounted to the back wall had already cracked it and started pulling it away from the cab. A piece of aluminum was put in to make it more sturdy to mount. There have been a couple of electrical problems since - I seem to remember at least two times where the whole apperatus electrical systems crapped out going to an alarm. Additionally I found a lot of the welds to be poor, a lot of burns were seen and most welds weren't made the full run, instead you have welds in several spots with filler in between. Overall I am not a huge fan - maybe it's just ours, maybe not. Seagrave This is the newest rig, a 2006. It also is stainless steel design. The cab is like a tank, solid as hell. The body is the same. I am impressed with the apparatus, we haven't had a single thing wrong with it thus far (knock on wood). It's only been out of service for usual punch-list things and routine maintenance. I'm not crazy about the paint job but that's not important to the functionality of the rig. It's also the loudest motor in the fleet - the inside cab noise is very LOUD. I am told it's mostly because of the engine itself (Detroit series 60). Overall I like this apparatus and would recommend it to others. The things I would change aren't who built the apparatus, but are design things we chose ourselves. If you ever want to come over and see what I am talking about let me know. For my money and in my opinion I would stick with Pierce or Seagrave - of course my experience with them is limited and others may have more to offer.

Perhaps a bayonnet? I have to agree with Seth, why not admit that there is no trust in law enforcement and let society police itself. Being a Cop in a situation where they have to draw and fire their weapon has to be the toughest thing anyone would have to do. Let the bullets tell the story, not a camera!

If I'm not mistaken - it was actually red and painted slime, I mean green, in the late 70's / early 80's. I'm sure someone can answer this for sure!

As a minimum there should be one thrown to all sides of the structure. With that said, I agree with the poster before me about getting them to the windows. We have to think of ourselves and how are our guys getting out in a hurry should the caca hit the fan. Aerials are great but they don't reach everything. Everyone is hell-bent on "the Truck" doing all the "Truckee" work - but in many departments around we don't have that luxury, do we? Call in a Mutual Aid Truck or assign another Engine or even Rescue company to get this important task taken care of. Many times we respond as a FAST and find ourselves throwing ladders. Some criticize us for doing it but it's for their benefit and ours should we need it.

I have a question for everyone, both PD and FD. If you are in your fire station, paid or volunteer, and you hear your PD responding to something that you should be dispatched to, such as outside smoke or an MVA - can you respond? I know of many times this has occurred around the area and I just want to know - is this kosher? I guess the best way for me to put it - is it a LEGAL response? HYPOTHETICAL: For example, I am in my firehouse and hear the PD going to a report of a car smoking, and my FD is dispatched by ourselves or 60 Control. I either tone it out or have 60 do it - is it illegal to do so? I am not trying to stir anything up, I am merely asking because it's one of those things I always wondered and if it is ever asked of me I would like to give an answer. I hear it happen quite often and wonder what happens when the FD gets there, does PD flip out? And worst yet, what happens if God forbid someone gets hurt going or the rig crashes? Thanks guys!

If an Officer is out with the rig and says, "Let's take that call in," that's thier choice, problem is their's. Notify dispatch you are going, end of story. The main point I am driving at is the scanner issue, and I appreciate all of the feedback, thanks!

Ahhh, now I got ya! Our Department rules state that we only respond to calls we are dispatched to or at the request of an Officer / IC. Apparatus must have a minimum of a driver and two firefighters to respond, with some exceptions. Personnel can go to the scene or to the apparatus, most members go directly to station unless the scene is on their way. We've had plenty of times when we will be out Driver Training and take in a fire or EMS call that isn't assigned to us. Usually it is at the request of other responding units or if the Officer on the apparatus feels it is warranted. One example I can think of off the top of my head - I was driver training someone when I was Captain two years ago, the PD dispatched a Minor Alarm for a chimney fire on the street we were crossing....so obviously we took it. I agree with you too Chris, we should all get along but we also know attitudes and egos generally screw things up from time to time.

One of the guys in my FD was going to check that out I think, not sure if he made it.

I'm not sure which angle you are going with this Chris....can you elaborate? I didn't make the post based on things here - just a generic question for everyone. I have been a part of incidents like this a few times whether as a FD member, VAC member, Dispatcher, etc. I am merely trying to get a real answer for this should, for some reason, it happens in my jurisdiction and I happen to be the IC, I want to know what foothold I have in case there are any issues. If PD wants to go, let them. Everyone wants to be dispatched to these calls but as soon as a PD unit arrives offering to secure the scene, it's rare that offer is declined, right? If PD responds and determines that the hazard is something serious then you can call us. Let's face it, in many cases, if not most, we the FD will arrive, ask for the utility company, rope off the area and leave....it isn't rocket science. Con Edison themselves state that FD should be at any suspected gas leak, if you don't believe me ask them. We have hosted several classes over the years where Con Ed comes and tells us how they want us, FD, to respond and handle gas calls. Can PD decipher an odor of gas as an LPG or perhaps only Mercaptin? FD has spent thousands of dollars on metering equipment to determine what hazard, if any, there really is. I know of two spots in our own Village where there is a constant odor of what many believe is gas, but it is only Mercaptin. FD really needs to go to gas investigations to make sure that the explosive ranges aren't in jeopardy, that there isn't a major leak in the vicinity and to create a perimeter as dictated by the hazard. These calls are a prime example of incident types where we (FD) and them (PD) need to work together for the best interest of our public's safety.

Nobody mentioned the wrong-doings of EMS personnel.....remember the NYC EMS members and their film?! If priests are touching little boys' no-no spots, why are we so alarmed that firefighters light fires? It's the human urge to defy the laws we live by, firemen aren't suppost to light fires but they do - I don't think any background check, reference list or anything we can do will ever prevent this.