Monty

Was curious to see what happened here. Seems like there has been some compromise - although it's unclear what other than continuing service for another month. http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/southern_tier/Understanding-reached-in-fire-contract

Just guessing - but maybe Fire??

My first thoughts were the same. But I've also seen on the 'net multiple different versions of the story - some including that it was after patient treatment had concluded, and the vehicle was hooked up to a tow truck. I'm sure all involved will be using radio time stamps, dash cams (if available) etc. It will be interesting to see how it plays out ....

and I thought you were joking ..... So, does this mean this drags on for another month with no change?

The department I was with in Albany county had two stations, one built in the early 90's and the other was remodeled prior to that. Both had bunk rooms with fold up beds. The rooms doubled as training / meeting rooms. About 13 years ago the department started an optional overnight duty crew program (counts to the departments requirements for active membership) to supplement staffing. With that foresight, the crew could bunk at either (or both) stations. As others have said - a small investment up front that can have a massive payback down the road.

I've seen this elsewhere, however I don't believe it is the whole truth. One thing is that the Fire Department budget will be short these taxes. You could argue that it won't need to staff the apparatus in North Stamford, so it's budget should be less - but even if that were true does that match the lack of revenue? Unlikely, so, that lack of revenue needs to be made up by other residents - and they get a tax increase. The response I've seen to that is that why should North Stamford residents pay for services they don't use, or for duplicate services. Well, I would say looking at the Christmas fire, they do use the services of SFRD. Lastly, regarding the Christmas fire, the Mayor was quoted as saying that under the plan they would still use mutual aid. Ok. However mutual aid is usually giving and receiving. How often do the Big 5 give mutual aid to SFRD? I see this as being a very one sided mutual aid pact and so then the South Stamford residents would be paying to send SFRD members to the North .....

I'm pretty sure that there is no stipulation that this training has to be done by OFPC or any other particular entity. There are private organizations that will do it. there's probably something somewhere that states the qualifications needed to train but I'm sure someone that is a career educator, Fire Instructor 1 or better trained can complete the OSHA training. Of course, you wont get any state certificates - but that's not what this is about. In fact OFPC used to have a train the trainer class for annual Hazmat Ops refresher training - I know because I took it many years ago ....

I've no doubt that many departments believe they have a program in place, FIT Testing, medical, 15 minute explanation of how to operate, change a bottle etc - but there is more to it than that as Jack mentions. Well, first of all in this case it seems the Village leadership decided, as Captain Bnechis says. I do think that this is one of the higher priorities - personally I was thinking that maybe some of the NFPA standards should be lower down the list. Ideally, you should be able to meet all the requirements / standards, or be able to explain why not - but as mentioned, there is a tremendous reluctance to change. And not just in the fire service.

Date: 12/17/10 Time: 20:10 (approx) Location: 3 Dows Lane, Irvington Google Maps Frequency: Fire 14, Fireground 1 (453.0375) Units Operating: Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford FAST - 2092, 2093, E47, TL23 Weather Conditions: Cold and dry Description Of Incident: 3 Story single family home. Fire in the first Reporters: monty Writer: monty 20:11 1 + 1 from Dobs Ferry, Elmsford FAST 20:12 Batt14 to 60 Control Reports 3 Story Single Family house with fire in the first floors, checking for extension in walls and second floor. 20:16 TL 23 responding 20:19 E47 On scene 20:29 Batt 14 reports no extension, Elmsford FAST to respond with caution. 20:30 Request C&O to the scene 20:44 Dobbs Ferry Engine and ladder released with thanks. 20:55 Releasing Elmsford Ladder (FAST)

I do think there are many people that could benefit from reading this report. A lot of the regulations are CYA - however if having a training program on the proper use of respiratory protection saves one person then it is worth it. Of course it's very difficult to prove that you saved someone because you had proper training on having the SCBA secured properly to your self ... I'm sure that there are some that would disagree but I think there are some regulations that are more important to follow than others. Not to say that others should be disregarded but concentrate on the most important ones first. PESH is liking adding insult to injury - they really only seem to come in to the picture once something bad has happened.

The income tax for commuters was removed several years ago. Now of course, all of us in Westchester, Rockland (and other counties I think) pay taxes for MTA .. but that's another story.

Interesting - seemingly one sided perspective. Quite a mess. Not sure what the 'Brown Plan' is but it's interesting that there is nothing else in the section about other proposals made to the Task Force. I thought Cogs had presented a plan? - and of course there's been no input requested or allowed from the SFRD leadership or Local 786. It seems that 3 (Springdale, Belltown, Glenbrook) of the agreements could be terminated by the City unilaterally. Also, the city charter section says that the BOR can redistrict through an ordinance by 2/3rds majority. So, for the 3 departments, they could have their management contracts terminated, and 3 months later have their fire districts reorganized so it only includes their property It's interesting that it is a 'fallacy' that there is a new fire tax. Maybe not for the residents in that part of the city. How about those int the A/B/PP who see their 'Mill Rate' increased by about 30%? I don't know what that means but I'm sure it means that those residents pay more. I know there is an argument that says these residents have been paying for services they haven't received - maybe they've been paying more than their fair share? Possibly? But someone has to fund the volunteer departments don't they? As mentioned elsewhere, aren't there SFRD crews stationed in those areas - and certainly available to respond. It will be interesting to see what the full BOR does with it and whether there are questions raised - or whether the 'recommendations' are accepted as is.

In this case, I'm not sure how involved the residents are in this discussion - however it's interesting to see how residents could terminate the district. It seems that as few as 200 voters (or 10% if less than 200) can cause a referendum to be called on terminating a district and with a 2/3 majority cause the district to be terminated. Now, what happens after that I don't know ....

Actually, you could probably do lots of retro fitting cheaply - now I don't know what it does to NFPA standards, warranties etc - but buy a bunch of cheap lights from ebay - put them in compartments, on ladders ....

Interestingly, I wonder how many MVC's involve residents? I bet there's a very good proportion of them that do not pay city taxes. Not that I'm necessarily advocating this approach though. I'm sure most of these non-residents do pump some money in to the local economy through sales tax though.

I vaguely remember something from some SEMO or NIMS training that Nuclear facilities are the only (or maybe one of very few) facilities that are exempt from local jurisdiction control. Maybe defense facilities as well? Would they let in a lcoal FD to a secure area? I understand the questions being asked. Maybe someone with more information can clarify? Also, Indian Point is different from the VA, different from Metro North and different again from a public company like GE. I'm sure each has their own set of rules .....

While I am not as knowledgeable on this topic as others here, my understanding is that a lot of this overtime is driven by staffing levels in the contract. I heard that SFRD was about 16 members short when the FF test was first announced earlier this year. I believe it is now about 20 under strength. As such overtimeis used to fill those minimum staffing levels. Personally I suspect the Mayor is barring any hiring so that if the PLAN goes through, those 40 or so SFRD FF's that would be impacted by the new plan would fill those spots. Maybe if it really turns out that this plan is less likely to go through, then the city can hire to fill those spots and in turn reduce the overtime costs.

Date: 11/10/10 Time: 21:00 Location: 238 Saw Mill River Rd, Elmsford here? Frequency: Fire 14, fireground 2 Units Operating: Numerous, including .... Elmsford 2111, 2112, 2113, Engine 237, Engine 137, TL-21. L-55, U-86, 58-B1, Fairview E174 and U7, , E192, Valhalla FAST R9, Batt 14, Ardsley EMS, 2123, 2193, Hawthorne TL-12, Irvington L36, 2202, 2203, U-7 Fairview, Greenburgh Cascade U-446 Weather Conditions: Cold Description Of Incident: Working fire Reporters: monty Writer: monty, efdny2003 21:06 Irvington Ladder and Hartsdale to standby 21:09 Command reports 50x50 brick building, heavy fire 1st floor rear. All units working 21:11 Confirming Con Ed notified. 21:13 TL 12 responding 21:19 2 story brick building, 50 x 50. 2 lines in operation, main body of fire knocked down, Coned on Scene 21:23 Batt 14 reporting search in progress. Gas shut down, Coned working on shutting off electricity. 21:24 60 control to B14 - Ardsley EMS on location 21:25 L36 on location at Elmsford FD 21:27 requesting C&O to the scene 21:36 U-446 responding to scene 21:40 Batt 14 - checking for extension to basement and 2nd floor. fire mostly held to first floor. 22:08 Releasing Valhalla and Fairview units.

Not too well publicized but November 8th, 19:30 the County Board of Legislators is holding a public hearing on the consolidation plans. http://meetings.westchesterlegislators.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&ID=3365&CssClass=

Just seen this story on the Times Union: I heard that AFD were still there yesterday. I also heard that they estimate over 2.5 million gallons of water was flowed.

Date: 10/22/10 Time: Approx 16:00 Location: City of Albany Frequency: http://www.radiorefe...n=cwp&ctid=1825 Units Operating: Albany - all hands, Cohoes M/A, Waterviliet to scene, Troy to scene Weather Conditions: Wind from the West, partly cloudy, @40 degrees Description Of Incident: Working fire 12 story warehouse Reporters/Writer: monty, pasobuff Called in via portable radio to Albany FD of smoke from the roof and window of the old Central Storage facility (reporter didn't know exact name - if you've been there - can't miss it!).....visible from I787....Batt 7 (or 8) first on scene transmitting a box alarm for a working fire. At approx 1650hrs heavy smoke from the roof, fire visible from South/West corner window and roof. Defensive attack from the start - no FF's in the building. Collapse zone set up. Extension to RR bridge/track on South side of building - train traffic requested to be stopped. Issues with water pressure at scene, approx 1650 hours Albany Water Dept looking for separate main to feed apparatus off of. Yes - this warehouse if very reminiscent of the Mass. fire......first 5 floors or so have/had windows - above that is almost solid block with small mostly blocked up windows. Very hard to fight - AFD is expecting to be on scene an extended period. AFD checking into access via roadway next to railroad tracks on south side to get better access to visible flames 12th floor window. 18:45 Car 1 to South Sector check rail road bridge for extension to sleeper 18:45 Dispatch to Portable 1 2:45 since original alarm Fire showing from floors 7, 8 and 9. Several ladder pipes in use. This building reminds me of the warehouse in Worcester ..... very difficult job ahead of AFD. http://www.fox23news...oPg.cspx?rss=39 Update Seems like AFD took a break in operations overnight. Listening to the Radio Reference scanner, they have been on scene for 2 hours 45 minutes as of 7:45am with fire out the windows on multiple floors.

It will be interesting to see it with the other rigs, the paint job looks great - but it looks BIG!!!

These things don't come for free though. Ossining just instituted an 'ambulance district' tax - or something similar to help with funding OVAC (should that be OAC? ). Another increase to the taxes we pay .... although I didn't hear much noise about this one though.

Many Connecticut departments don't have residency requirements. You may get preference, a couple of points if you happen to be a resident. Some departments do have a limitation such as 30 road miles - bit of a problem if you live in LI! Another area where Connecticut seems to be much more civilized

Why doesn't that surprise me Wouldn't it make more sense to just repeal the law and remove those 53 pages?