FirNaTine

Why not spend half as much and put it towards increasing their staffing. I was told just recently that ConEd at one time had 30,000 employees and due to budget cuts, now only have about 9,000. I say increase your staffing first. It's probably alot easier and cheaper than going underground.

Best move on FDNR to run their own Class. I'd like to see my Dept. institute the same thing eventually. I think the guys are better off trained. Just my two cents.

Maybe someone should check the cage. I believe they'll find them there along with the other 20 cases of 21/2" hoseline that are collecting dust.

Jloftus, just wondering where you found that video and what year was it. The old mack TL was in service so I'm guessing the late 70's. Am I correct with my guess?

Probably what these people meant Bob, is that they no longer have any patience for some people, not that they hate people in general. I know for a fact that I no longer have too much patience for people, and it's probably a direct result of putting up with too much B/S on my job with the guys and Management, let alone the ungratefuls I took an oath to protect for the past 23yrs. I do envy you though for still being able to go to work with a smile on. I on the other hand usually only have a smile on my face when I pull up and see orange or my relief is walking thru the door. It's unfortunate to because I was the type of individual who couldn't wait to get off vacation to get back to work with the guys. Now I count the days till my next tour off. I guess what it really boils down to is the type of individuals you work with and for whom you work for and in your case brother, you've got the upper hand on me. Stay Safe Bro!

That's why we should have taken the BOSTON FD Test! I don't hate anyone in the CornerStone, especially on March 17th

Personally, I feel chocks should be used at all times. We've already had 2 guys in my Dept. retire on 207A because the air brakes failed and the rig pinned them against a fence back in the 80's. Also, if you fail to put the engine into pump correctly, and then throttle up, you can build up enough air pressure to overide the air brakes and cause the apparattus to move. This also happened to us one night and the engine slammed into a tree at a job. Thank God it was the second due engine and the fire was already knocked down. They're there for a reason. Use them! Stay Safe!

WOW! To think it just takes a calendar to boost morale. Why didn't we think of this 15yrs ago. Maybe guys would have actually liked coming to work!

On which truck?

As much as we would like it to be the Manufacturer's sole resposibility for an LOD death let's face it guys, many of us get complacent on the job, even when it comes to making sure our SCBA is fully charged with the appropriate amount of air in our cylinders. I see it all the time on my job. Almost every time I report for duty, I have to switch my cylinder for a fresh one. I can't even begin to count the number of times my bottle is at 4000psi or lower. Many LOD deaths can not only be attributed to gross negligence on a manufacturer but on the firfighter himself/herself whether you like to hear it or not. Like is always said, we can be our own worst enemy. Think about it.

From what I've heard, FDNR is working very diligently to try and increase their manning, by meeting with City Politicians and also by applying for the grants that are available since 9-11 for the sole purpose of increasing manning. I don't why more Depts. that are undermanned like mine don't follow suit and do the same. All I've been hearing for the last couple of yrs. is how much Federal and State monies are available for staffing and equipment thru grants, but nobody seems to be taking the time to apply for them or at least in my Dept. This sounds like a great job for those that are assigned to Staff positions within a Dept., that don't do much, such as a Chief, Commissioner, Deputy Comm., Staff Deputy Chief and a Staff Capt. I wish my Dept., which seems to have more personnel in Staff than you can shake a stick at, would make this their no.1 priority and make a concerted effort to try and increase our manning, by filing for such grants if they're still available. This would justify these Staff positions by giving these members such an important task for an urgently and well needed cause. Maybe this is the only recourse and the answer to everyone's question on how to end the M/A abuse by Career Depts.

I'm glad someone saw thru that above rhetoric OH, by the way, I've been a Career FF. for the past 20yrs and was a Volunteer for 3yrs. prior to my appointment to the JOB with no regrets.

I've always liked the Career guys who work in Combo depts. that are antivolunteer, but will volunteer in their own communities. One guy actually told me he does it because he gets better training than in the Dept. where he gets paid. Let's not foget all the Career guys who perform electrical, plumbing, and carpentry services on the side, who are not in these Unions and paying dues, but aren't ashamed to take these jobs away from those Union men that do! In my 23yrs. within the fire service, I have to honestly say, that I haven't seen too many so called true Union men. Many may think they are but in reality, they're nothing but friggin hypocrites. Once again, all decissions are made around the almighty do$$ar. Whether it's Volunteering in their own community to keep their taxes down and/or be eligible for a volunteer pension in the future, or working a Union related side job to supplement their Career FFs. income, but not actually be a union dues paying member within that trade or trades. Who are the real SCABS now?

You're right Monty. It all depends on the amount of structural damage that has occured or the location of the job within the house, such as the basement, where a large amount of CO can be found due to its lack of ventilation. However, once again the other side of the coin is, why not put the Fast Team to work overhauling and give those initial attack guys a blow, so they won't collapse on the roof or in another part of the structure requiring the Fast Team to be deployed. Guys should be rotated to prevent injuries from occuring. I can't tell you how many times I 've come out of a Bldg. exhausted, to have the IC ask me to do another task, only to see 2-3 guys standing fast and fresh, doing absolutely nothing. This is what really pisses me off, especially when the job consisted of only 1-2 rooms with partial structural damage, if that. Let's face it, the only reason the IC will not utilize them is from fear of the reprocussions he may face from OSHA and/or the Unions, for not following a Fast Team Policy. I'm a big advocate of the Fast Team Policy and as I've stated in previous posts, I can't believe it wasn't instituted years ago, when fires were an everyday occurence. However, I personally feel one negative aspect of this Policy is, now the 1st Alarm Assignment is taking an unnecessary beating, just to satisfy others from fear of being held liable. I love how pencil pushers(OSHA) dictate to us on how to do our jobs and you better do it their way or else! I'd love to get them in full PPE and have them fight a job on the top fl. of a 6 story walk up, with extension into the cockloft. Especially when your in a Career Dept. like mine, that doesn't comply with NFPA 1710! Anyway, enough of beaten this dead horse. Stay Safe Brothers.

Take it with a grain of salt guys. This knucklehead is no different than those other incompetent, ignorant so called politicians like Sharpe James, Marion Barry, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton. Oh, and let's not forget Ernie Davis. The list goes on and on. They all do nothing but finger point to cover up for their lack of skills in administration and leadreship. What's even more frightening, is their number of followers who hold them in such high esteem and are to ignorant to see thru their BULL SH$T. They only see one thing and we all know what that is.

True to some extent Bob. Then there's the other side of the coin. If you don't put that initial fast team to work to carry out an immediate vital task, whether it's venting a roof or stretching an additional line, you just may in the long run have to use this fast team to rescue one of our own, as a direct result of waiting for the latter units to arrive to carry out these tasks, which needed immediate attention. Especially if a Depts. so called Fast Team(SMOKE SCREEN= So We're NOT held LIABLE by OSHA), consists of only 2-3 men. Just another way of looking at it.

Couldn't agree with you more. I always said I'd hate to be the guy at the 7th fl. or higher window who desparately needed that extra 20-25ft. to get my a$$ out of a jam.

Unfortunately Hudson, it appears the rigs are more important to some Depts. than our lives, especially if they're brand new. What I always couldn't figure out though, is why a Dept. would send a truck co. on a vehicle fire on the roadway, but not on a highway. I've always liked FDNR's policy of dispatching 2 eng. cos. in either direction, not only for the reason stated which for the most part seems to be the rule rather than the exception, but for the simple reason that I don't know of to many parkways/highways within the area that have an established water supply. God forbid you need more than the 500 gallons on board or the 1st due engine has mechanical problems once on scene! You're going to look pretty foolish standing around watching a vehicle burn, unless it's still within the extingiushing capabilities of a can or two. Just my 2 cents.

A cool head and common sense for the most part.

Why not purchase a tiller, if street width is a concern? That's what use to respond out of Station 12 during the 70's and early 80's? Just food for thought.

I hear ya 144. Unfortunately, it took a pin job with 2 fatalities to get our highway response changed. That's par for the course though!

Enough of football. When the hell are we going to Boston? :angry:

Hopefully, this will be the year finally, for the real N.Y. NFL Team that everyone seems to forget about. You know guys, the team from up north, where real football is played under adverse conditions. Lets Go Buffalo! Screw those N.J. Jets and N.J. Giants! Playing in the Meadowlands is like playing in a septic tank.

You know what's funny or should I say sad. With all that rhetoric you posted as your so called observations to my comments, I have seen the exact opposite done quite a few times for every statement you've made in my 23yrs. of firefighting. And you know what? Nothing was done about it and nobody was reprimanded including the IC in charge of an incident or the neighboring towns Deputy Chief or Commissioners. I don't recall anybody being arrested and interrogated by the Mutual Aid Police. Unless of course it was you, being that your a Police Officer as you have mentioned you are. Maybe you can enlighten all of us as to what these Laws of M/A are and the reprocussions someone will face if they're broken. I know I'm interested, because I've never seen nor heard of them in my career. While you're gathering up those M/A Policy Laws, look to see if there's any infraction there with regards to the issue of M/A abuse. Maybe we can incarcerate all our powers to be, including some Politicians. P.S. I wish I worked in a glass firehouse. It would probably be cheaper and quicker to repair than the railroad flats we're working in!

You better be careful with who you tell Chris. They may just detail you to cover an engine now. Congrats anyway!