Bnechis

Assuming that the $363,000/$221,000 is just salary (and does not include benefits) it averages 42 hours per week OT. So he would be working about an 80 hour work week. I know a lot of people who between their job and side work do at least that much.

The fire chief of Mt. Vernon (or any other dept in the county) fills out their list and send it to DES. They do not have to share it with anyone else, including the deputies/assistant chiefs. I have never seen Mt. Vernons MA list.

Pelham Engine & New Rochelle L12 and MSU3 to the scene. NR E22 covering Sta #3

This is no different that the 16+ that are needed on a fire alarm. Most of the time depts "get away" with 3 to 6. But most of the time it is not a fire. Thats the reason the standards call for enough to get started if their is a fire. Just because you have gotten away with it in the past does not mean it is right or it won't come back to bite you in the future

Remove the 12 from my list that are assigned to mass decon

Thanks FDVA and great question Chris. Once you get into suits, you need to follow 2in 2out and decon must be established before you make entry into a hot zone. Having been involved in response plans and evaluating many drills/exersises the squad system was developed because we found that the Yonkers HM Task Force with approx 30 responders could not handle an incident that required mitigation and mass decon. It was sufficient if no civilians or 1st responders were contaminated before the team arrived and set up. This was reconfirmed this year at the Paladin Center (with close to 48 responders). When we drilled with the 6 squad companies we found the following personnel was needed: 2-6 entry (suits) 2 Back-up (suits- minimum) 4-8 Dressout (minimum) 2-4 Medical Monitoring 6 Technical Decon Set-up (1 squad) 6 Technical Decon (suits) (1 squad) 2 Research 2 Logistics (Meters) 6 Mass Decon Set-up (1 squad) 6 Mass Decon (suits) (1 squad) 2 Hazmat Command 1 Hazmat Safety Thats 41 to 51 Decon team also requires 1-2 engine companies for water supply Note: the Mass decon requires a minimum of 2 squads (10ff / 2off) which is also the minimum the MDU were required to provide. Now having 3-6 HM Techs responding to a Hazmat incident is sufficent for a large % of HM incidents where materials need to be evaluated and generally the incident gets better when you allow time to let it stabilize. But once people are contaminated the needs for rapid decon and/or rescue can not wait.

They were included in the Cortlandt/Yorktown team. As Chris said, every dept has their own issues and reasons, but it is clear that 8 or so depts in this group could not get someone to host.

What is its staffing level and can that be expanded with call back in an "acceptable" time?

Yes there was a written plan. It laid out where equipment should go. what depts should be assigned to each trailer. What a standard trailer response was (12ff & 2off, the trailer & tow vehicle plus 1 engine). It was thought that the 4 to 6 depts that were assigned as a unit could get that out even daytime. There was also standardized training. I believe about 250 ff's recieved the training (plus the 700+ FF's from the squad system). The plan included annual training and exercises, but I do not know if any beyond the 1st year was performed

A lot of people died for both of those "walls" to come down. It would be very sad if it took the same to solve this one. Nicely written

Does their expertise bring mass decon equipment with them? Most Hazmat trucks only have enough room to carry technical decon equipment (to decon the team). Also do they respond with enough people to handle Hazmat (recon, research, entry, back-up, suit-out, medical monitoring, instrimentation set-up, technical decon, hazmat command, hazmat safety) and Mass Decon?

Ding...Ding......Ding....That is the plan and your prize is an all expense paid decon plan and team in the tidewater region

Actually the plan is we keep toning out for ambulances and then for mutual aid to cover the 1st (2nd & 3rd) due and by the time we get crews there the pts are dead and the flycar medics are contaminated. I'll go further than saying it is not a good idea and say its a very bad idea! If the pt. off gasses the crew could be killed. Depending on the chemical you may not be able to decon the ambulance. All the little compartments and sliding door tracks, plus cusions etc. 20 years ago I saw ambulances in Germany that the rear was 100% stainless steel and was sealed in such a way they could and routinly did decon them. I also remember about that time reading about an ambulance that was contaminated and got EPA "baged" for disposal. Try explaining that to the tax payers, owners or chiefs. 15 years ago there was an incident in lower Westchester where 20+ contaminated pts were transported to SSMC, MVH & LH. None were deconned, they were allowed into 2 of the 3 ER's and EMS crews bitched that the 3rd ER would not let them in till the pts were deconned. NYS DOH fined the 2 hospitals for allowing entry. You are correct, the plan for chemical emergencies here is to "hope for the best"......but that is the same plan as for staffing for everyday events.

Yes and it could also handle the day to day calls that many Westchester depts can not. But, if we did that we would not be able to buy all the rigs that fill our stations and make us proud of how well we are protecting the public. Must be nice to be retired and able to see whats going on But we want understaffed units covering small areas so we never get the call volume (read experience) needed to hone our skills.

I agree with what you are saying and would be glad to discuse it in more depth offline. but since I was replaced as a rep for that I do not know why or what happened, but I was told that as of last week they had reinstated the 2 squads. The MTA plan for a NYC event was to have only 3 stops, one on each of the main lines (NH, Harlem & Hudson). The planning was not based on hospital locations per say, but on stations that would be best for setting up decon and controlling the movement of people.

As do the squads

No they were reduced because 58 FD's cant cover the day to day job of maintaining its ability to respond to fires. The different departments could not maintain them. You are correct, we wanted 8 teams (plus the 6 squads) I do not know They are much easier, but we do not have that level of funding.

I have no knowledge of this incident and if decon was or was not needed. It is not a "somebody" who allowed it....The agencies that agreed to do it or in at least one case agreed they would not do it have dropped the ball.

Great question. The original plan was as follows: MDU #1 Town of Greenburgh (Incorporated Villages): Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Irvington, Hastings & Tarrytown - MDU #1 was never deployedMDU #2 Sound Shore Chiefs: Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck (Town & Village), Port Chester, Rye & Rye Brook - MDU #2 was originally housed in PCMDU #3 Central Westchester: Armonk, North White Plains, Purchase & West Harrison - MDU #3 is housed at AFDMDU #4 Briarcliff Area Briarcliff, Millwood & Ossinging - MDU #4 was purchased by BMFD with grant fundsMDU #5 North Central Westchester (Towns of Bedford, Mt. Kisco, Somers) Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah, Mt. Kisco & Somers - MDU #5 was originally housed in KatonahMDU #6 North Western Westchester. (Towns of Cortland & Yorktown) Not sure if this unit was ever established, there was talk at one time that Montrose VA would handle

1) The county HAD numerous decontamination resources. It is my understanding that 3 of the 6 Mass Decon Units (MDU's) are no longer active and/or returned their trailers. 1 unit was never deployed and one unit stopped training and maintaing their unit years ago. 2) the only system that was purchased was "tent" based.

So does this mean that they (and other public safety agencies in the region) have funded personnel to the levels we had pre & post 9/11? Many depts are at a lower level since the politicians have laid off or attritioned their agencies to the lowest levels in decades.

The NYS courts just confirmed that it will cost you if you do not follow it. They awarded $4.2 million to the widows & children of 2 firefighters, Because Buffalo fail to follow 2in / 2out

Excellent, they should evaluate it. We have full size engines and we carry 500 gal and 800ft of 5" as most urban units do. You need to be carefull with dropping from 1,000 to 800 ft, based on hydrant spacing and driveway lengths. If they may be more than 800 feet. ISO will drop the rating to 9 for all properties that fall in that increased spacing. This could cost your taxpayers millions.

If the risk is so severe and it keeps getting worst, why do they keep buying mini attacks instead of a unit that can actually go kick wildland butt?

When you buy on government contract and do not have to pay the 35-45% sales tax its not that bad. But it is not a comparison, since now they have to maintain both.