Monty

I'm sure that people realize it but I'll say it anyway. Just because you've disconnected a battery doesn't mean that an airbag will not fire. You still need to exercise caution around all airbags.

Given the sentences some people receive, paying $33,000 and spending 6 months in jail doesn't seem like a great deal to me. I guess time will tell when he gets his day in court.

I know many drivers and Chiefs are very diligent about operating equipment and alcohol. However, there are some that aren't - and sometimes it catches up with them .... From the Times Union

Fair enough. However, I was thinking of EMS manpower. In a typical suburban / rural area, how long is it going to take to get enough resources to handle 5-10 patients (with physical injuries)? And numerous more in shock? How are these resources going to be organized / staged / utilized etc. It would seem to make sense for a countywide protocol - however, of course in NY (most) everything is Home Rule ....

Hearing about the Ohio school shooting made me think. First off, I'll say that I'm not an active EMS provider. However, I was wondering if any of the organizations have a specific or general procedure for this type of event? Or would it be a spur of the moment, hotline type incident and an all call to everyone? I'm sure the local schools have policies and have worked with PD, but have they worked with EMS? What about a shooting at a community event, similar to Tuscon AZ? In most areas, a school shooting would probably have significant manpower issues given that it is most likely to be during the typical school / work day. Hopefully others have already thought about this .....

I guess this is your departments policy to swear on this oath. Now, I don't see any reason they can't swear by that. Interestingly, I don't know what would happen if a US Citizen Buddhist wanted to join and didn't want to swear on this oath for religious reasons. Also, you don't have to be a citizen to join the US Armed Forces and I'm sure there is an oath of allegiance that is sworn there.

Just seen that Yonkers Engine Co 306 is one of the 5 finalists. Take a look and vote!

Here's some stuff in addition to the incident alert. Twitpic http://twitpic.com/87pbr4 (some of the) audio from radio reference http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=wp&feedId=5944 Several tweets of partial collapse (and unconfirmed) reports of missing firefighters. https://twitter.com/#!/search/cornwall%20fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtL5n4QuKp8&feature=youtu.be&a Wonder if they've considered bringing in the bulldozer / track-hoe to raze the burning buildings? Got to be tough out there in the dark and with these temperatures. Stay safe!

Used to work for an IT company that did work for AFD. Chief Abriel was a great guy to deal with. Looks like that hasn't changed.

I was reading stories about turkey fryers at http://firegeezer.com/2011/12/27/turkey-fryer-update-5/. In one of the stories they used a FIT-5 to extinguish the fire - apparently quite successfully. These obviously aren't a magic pill that's good for every situation, but there are certain cases where they are. However, don't they run at over $1000 a pop? Compared to water, that's quite a big difference. I was wondering if insurance companies or anyone else would reimburse departments for use of these and reduced damage? I suppose in a career department it could be justified by a reduce time on scene. How about some of these other additives? Class A foam, F-500, Fire Ice etc? They all cost much more than plain ol' water? Do we as firefighters want to encourage the use of these tools? Maybe not so much? We don't trust new fangled technology? We don't believe that it will make the firefight easier? We don't want the firefight to be easier?

I was just catching up on reading Firehouse and flicked through their volunteer run survey. Looking at some of the figures for different departments made me think about how much/little other parts of the country have in way of fire protection compared to what we are used to here. All the talk of consolidation, high taxes, number of firefighters required for the job, response times etc, whether a certain city should have 1,2,3 or 6 departments. For example: Union Fire Co#1 in Carlisle PA has a population of 59,000, covers 165.5 sq miles with a budget of $250,000 40 members from 1 station with 5 apparatus running 810 calls a year. Lumberton Rescue in Robeson, NC has a population of 50,000 covering 225 sq miles, a budget of $600,000 35 members 1 station, 6 apparatus and runs 3,760 calls (inc ALS) A little bit more like home: Wayne Township FD, Passaic NJ, pop 54,717, 27 sq miles, $150,000 170 members 5 stations 22 apparatus and 1453 runs (not sure how they support all those stations and apparatus with 150K) How NPFA compliant are these places? Wonder what their ISO ratings are? I wonder if their insurance and taxes are lower than here though .... Not exactly sure what my point is here - other than it's a nice quiet Friday night with a beer I guess it's just good to know what other places are like.

Condolences to his family and friends. RIP.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20111207/NEWS02/112070321/New-Castle-woman-55-found-dead-near-home?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

Interesting comments. I guess there are many ways this can be looked at. I read helicopper's post as meaning long duration mutual aid incidents, such as the Irene/Lee flooding. I know members from Westchester and other counties went for 3 days or more. I doubt those volunteers will see any reimbursement. What about career firefighters that go to such events? Their home department is still paying them (Don't know how they would count the duty hours - I suppose through the 12 hours period they are 'working')? However, with antiquefirelt's post, what about those 2 or 3 hour jobs that you get called to? What about those departments that are giving more than they are receiving? (Hypothetically SFRD and SVFD?) I remember seeing some comments about the overtime that Westport FD had due to the mutual aid rendered to Bridgeport. It was bit of an anomaly due to the LODD. Are we going to see a change, especially in these hard economic times of charging for mutual aid? Would that effect calling Mount Vernon instead of New Rochelle? Would departments cancel their mutual aid agreement if this happened? How would that work if none would give you mutual aid .... Given past history, I don't see anything changing soon - however there may be someone out there that decides to try something along these lines - I know in the last month or two there was talk of a city manager withdrawing mutual aid to the surrounding volunteer department.

Without going too far off topic - my comment is that you can somewhat be taken care of. Yes, you'll receive some immediate life saving treatment. However, if you fall ill with a chronic disease - your quality of care is much, much different if you jhave no health insurance compared to someone with health insurance.

Skimming through, I may have missed it, but I'm pretty sure Ossining VAC has paid staff (EMT and paramedic?) and doesn't Briarcliff have a daytime paid EMS worker?

Just a very minor point, the definition of 'assume' according to google allows 'begin to have' command, so while I agree establish is clearer - I wouldn't say that assume is completely wrong.

Mine doesn't In fact most of my compay is exterior, so if you're interested in joining somewhere in the eastern part of town PM me ....

I heard that they were requested to monitor an exposure (with a surveyors transit) for collapse risk.

From The Daily Ossining

Tradition Each company needs it's own piece ... Of course, if you are good for 2 incidents, what if the 3rd happens? Do you plan for the 100 year flood, or the 500 year flood, or the 1000 year flood? What's your level of risk you are willing to accept? And how much do you want to pay to mitigate that risk? (Seems very similar to the Somers thread). I don't know the answer; but if we have 14 tankers in Westchester, how many are in Putnam County - or in Connecticut to respond to that 2nd or 3rd incident? I'd wager that one side effect of this kind of incident is that all those 'buffy' types are 'tuned in' to this and any subsequent calls will get a faster response because folks are expecting it more, hanging out at the firehouse etc. Again, like many I definitely think there is room for improvement and reduced costs - but I don't think there is anyone these days that has access to a blank checkbook.

Wow - that's really got to suck

http://oswegocountytoday.com/?p=70526 At first glance, reading the article it might seen that the Mayor has a point. .... if true, the Union must have a great contract.Then reading the comments, it seems that the city is getting mutual aid as well as giving it. Another half-baked idea, half-correct story?

Seems a bit like the variable speed limits they have in the UK. Basically on some highways, notably the M25 ring road around London, they adjust the speed limit according to traffic flow. Rather than the accordion / shockwave effect of people speeding up, then braking and causing more people to brake harder, they move the limit down. http://www.dft.gov.uk/itstoolkit/CaseStudies/m25-controlled-motorway.htm One difference there is the number of speed cameras used to deter people from ignoring the limits. Basically, the registered owner of the car gets points and a fine if caught by a speed camera. Unless they can prove someone else was driving and then they get the penalties! Can't see that flying over here .....