Remember585

We got the proclamation. Oh, and a nifty sign (8 x 11 piece of paper) hanging on our door. No food. They also took a "group" photo which included 3 Operators, 2 Trainees (they don't count in my book), the Commish, the Deputy Commish and our Captain. Feeling the love...

I always hope it's raining should we need decon... problem solved.

It looks like pipe bombs to me. And being that, my guess is this was one of our own home-grown nut jobs. I pray that those involved are found and killed. There's no justice for what they've done, so killing them in my opinion is the next best option. Thoughts & prayers to those killed, wounded or otherwise affected by this cowardly act.

Amen!

Last I checked: E7, E8, L7, R78 and FC1 are in the Fire Training Center. HM1, R77, U77, RACES Comm Van, and some other vehicles are up in Support Services. U3 is at the DPW building.

Croton-on-Hudson FD - 437 Calls, no EMS.

Reach out to the Yorktown FD, Somers FD and/or Irvington FD here in Westchester. I have seen the Yorktown FD SOPs and they're quite impressive.

Our department did a Santa Run for many years and for whatever reason(s) it stopped at some point. We brought it back in 2010 and it has been getting a solid, positive feedback from the residents we serve (not to mention we get a solid showing from our own members). Since I have basically been in charge of it all three years, everyone has been told that Santa either sits in a normal seat or gets out and walks off some of the holiday weight he retains. I know some people don't like it, but hey, I'm not letting someone get hurt on my watch. I know some of my own people would like to see Santa sitting on the roof of the cab or on the hosebed, but we know better and we don't do it. It's that simple. Some traditions are worth hanging on to, they just need to keep up with the times.

Just read it while eating some nice Italian Antipasto. Figures... LOL.

I don't believe that anything we signed on to do should be based on the perks we feel we are entitled to. The "I'm volunteering my time and should be rewarded" attitude is destroying volunteer FD and EMS organizations. Doing it because you want to do it and you like doing it for the right reasons should be the only reason you do it. I can't speak for anyone else, but I am sure the majority in my shoes would echo this sentiment. I became Chief of my department because I wanted to opportunity to help my department better itself. I am given a car to help me do my "job" which to me means responding to calls, meetings, training, equipment pickup/delivery and other department business. When I know I will be out of town for an extended period of time (24+ hours) I always leave the car with someone else or keep it in town so it is available if needed. If we know there's a weather event happening or something else is expected that we planned for, I will even leave my car with someone during the 12 hours I am at work. The way I look at it is that the car is my department's - not mine. The sooner all of us realize that what we do is for our organization and not for ourselves, the sooner we can make progress. /Rant

I think you meant Ken Valenti... LOL.

Would you look past this if that Chief's vehicle was delivering donations to Newtown? What if he was buying gifts to bring to a Children's Hospital here in Westchester? This is such immature, cry baby bullshit. For the record, I don't agree with the abuse of a take home car, but since nobody knows the facts here - let's stop speculating. FACT: Some municipalities issue take-home vehicles for all kinds of staff members, including PD, FD, DPW and management folks. FACT: Many of these municipalities don't have rules or regulations concerning the uses of these vehicles, and frankly don't even care. FACT: A Westchester Fire Chief in Connecticut may be closer from point A in Westchester to point B in Connecticut then if he went to another location within Westchester County. FACT: I see police officers, fire chiefs/commissioners, EMS officers, DPW bosses and governement officials using their take home cars for all kinds of things. FACT: I never lose sleep over any of this. Neither should any of us. The same guys who are union firefighters that will come here asking all of us to "put aside our volunteer and paid BS" to help them keep their jobs also commonly take jabs at volunteers for dumb s*** like this. You can't play it one way all the time then flip it around and not expect people to call you out on it. Does it bother anyone else that WE are all our own worst enemies?! Does it bother anyone else that Westchester County is literally a laughingstock to fire departments (paid and volunteer) outside of this area because of our never-ending bickering and dick-measuring contests? Ugh! Note: edited for grammar and layout improvement.

00:09 on 12/22 and we're still here...

I am both pleased and proud to announce a relaunch of our department's website, www.crotonfd.org. After months of planning and tossing around design ideas, the committee has put together a nice, modern website to reflect the great department that I am lucky to be a part of. The new site is provided by the team at Firehouse Solutions. Please feel free to check it out and give us your feedback. Thanks!

We respond "Non-Emergency" for the following types of calls: CO Alarms w/ no reported symptoms Trouble with an Alarm Fluid Spills Tree Down in Roadway MVA w/ No Injuries Animal Complaints Appliance Troubles (no smoke/fire) Boat in Distress (stalled motor, etc.) Lift Assists Lock-Outs Pump-Outs Relocates to another Fire Station

Just some additions / corrections to the IA. Date: 12/11/2012 Time: 1323hrs (1:23pm) Incident Type: Residential Structure Fire District: Croton Fire District Location: 96 S Mt. Airy Rd (Between Glengary Rd and Georgia Ln) Units on Scene: Croton FD: 2081, 2082, E118, E119, E120, T10, R18 Ossining FD: 2331, 2334, TL42, U51 Montrose VAFD: 2571, 2574, E225 Buchanan FD: 2551, U12 Croton EMS: 55B2 Cortlandt EMS: 88B2 Ossining EMS: 74A1, 36M1 WCDES Units: Battalion 10, C&O Zone 4 Other: Croton PD, NYSP, Croton Water Department, Con Edison Units on Standby: Montrose FD: 2273, E121 Yorktown FD: L51 13:23 - Croton Full Department Response for Reported Structure Fire. 2081 responding. 13:24 - 2082 responding. 13:25 - 2081 on location, heavy fire showing from a 1.5 story wood-frame structure, 10-75. 13:27 - Ossining FAST, Buchanan Cascade, Croton, Cortlandt and 36M1 EMS units dispatched along with Battalion 10. 13:29 - Command reports 1.5 story wood-frame dwelling, heavy fire in basement and first floor, all occupants are out of the house. 13:40 - Bat 10 reports heavy fire conditions, 4 L/S/O, requesting E225 from Montrose VA to the scene. 13:46 - TL42 from Ossining to the scene. 13:49 - Bat 10 reports heavy fire conditions, now has 5 L/S/O. 13:50 - Con Ed Electric on scene, killing main. Bat 10 reports unit operating from exterior. 13:55 - Interior operations resuming. 14:17 - 88B2 to Phelps with one for possible smoke inhalation (civilian). 14:34 - Bat 10 reports all visible fire knocked down, probable will hold per Command. 14:45 - Bat 10 reports fire is under control. 15:07 - Ossining FAST & U12 released. 15:35 - TL42 released. 16:01 - E225 released. 16:19 - All Croton units in service, Command terminated. On arrival, we had heavy fire coming out of the D-side basement windows, the C-side entrance to the basement and fire showing on the first floor. Crews mounted an aggressive interior attack along with a brief exterior attack, using handlines in the basement, first floor and attic as well as the exterior. We pulled the men back briefly to hit it from outside and regroup, then pushed on with coordinated roof ventilation. The occupants of the home included two elderly parties that were assisted from the home by other family members and a work crew at a neighboring house. I give credit to these guys for getting everyone out of the house, as this fire took off with great intensity and speed. The report from the occupants and C&O indicate candles in the basement fell and created a fire involving the bed, books, and other combustibles in the room. The gentleman in the basement ran upstairs and got everyone out of the house. (Thank God). I'd also like to point out the understated usefulness of our Mutual Aid Coordinators - not just ours (Battalion 10). As the IC I was able to worry only about my units on scene, and anything I needed relayed to 60 Control or any apparatus requests, all I had to do was have Battalion 10 handle it. I know a lot of Chiefs and Incident Commanders feel the need to try and do everything, but this way worked SOOOO MUCH BETTER than other times where I tried to juggle both task. If you have a fire in this county and don't have the luxury of an Aide, take advantage of the MACs (Battalions). That's what they're there for - not to run your call but to help you manage it. On behalf of the Croton Fire Department, I'd like to thank our Mutual Aid partners from Ossining, Montrose VA and Buchanan for their assistance on scene, as well as the coverage units from Montrose and Yorktown. Also, thanks to Croton, Cortlandt and Ossining EMS for being there. Lastly, thanks to the men of the CFD that were there today. You guys always make me proud. Thanks. Chief John Munson Croton FD

It says the promotional list will be certified first. And from what I see, the OC exam is just a way to make money, IMHO.

That's awesome!

Moving video. I don't mean to sound like a dick, but they didn't say where to send the stuff to help them. Does anyone know?

One has to wonder if there would have been more calls had people not lost their phones. Great job not only to the FDNY Communications folks, but to those Comm Centers in all affected areas. I know we (Westchester County Emergency Services / 60 Control) were quite busy for a few days. I wasn't at work during the height of this storm, but I know how busy it was. Here's to hoping Comm folks, FD, PD & EMS people aren't put to the test AGAIN today/tomorrow with this dang-blasted Nor'Easter.

Here's a few photos of our new Tanker 10 being built at Seagrave in Wisconsin. Our final inspection trip is slated for 6/4. Photos courtesy of Seagrave & Excelsior.

With power outages expected to last for a few days, we all can expect a load of CO calls. Either actual CO incidents from generators operating indoors or too close to the building, makeshift heating appliances or from the batteries dying in hard-wire units that people fail to change every six months. Personally, my biggest fears are of those using candles, and what will happen when power starts being restored. As long as we're all still running calls caused by this storm, it's not really over yet. Remain dilligent, remain alert and most of all, remain SAFE!

It's not going to hit us. Beach volleyball on Tuesday, anyone?

Where does Sandy compare to previous storms such as Floyd and Irene?

2081 has the red stripe and LED bar w/ colored lenses. 2083 wasn't at the open house, but has a white stripe with clear LED bar.