firefighter36

I believe that engine 3 will be stationed at the firehouse on Hooker Ave, and replace engine 4, which will go into reserve.

This happens in my district quite often. There is a medical office building attatched to the local hospital, whose ER is accessible with a quick walk of the stretcher through the hallway. Per DOH and the powers that be, we usually have to load the patient and sometimes an ALS provider into our ambulance and transport them to the ER via the parking lot. Seems rediculous, but I guess that it is just the way it goes. What angers and confuses me more is when we are dispatched for people who are in their cars or on the ground right outside the doors (literally) of the emergency room. (No Joke!) I have arrived on scene to find little to no patient care being administered by Hospital Staff, because apparently it violates their SOPs, in that they cannot "transport" a patient from outside the hospital into the hospital. I kid you not, that was the reaction that I got when I inquired. However, It was ok for them to wait at the door with a hospital bed so we could carry the patient from where she fell (3 ft. away) to the bed on a long board so we didn't "have to worry about using our stretcher." At least that was the instruction from the MD waiting at the door with the nurses and the hospital bed.... While I wholehearedly believe in safety and following the rules, there are some absolutely rediculous perdiciments we can find ourselves in. Anyone else have a similar incident or some insight on the issue?

Right on JetPhoto. Al Sharpton thrives on ignorance and hatred just as much as the KKK and similar organizations. He without a doubt promotes a double standard, and walks an awfully fine line of free speech being a man who falsely called someone a rapist and was convicted of slander for said event. Though Imus' comments weren't in good taste, Sharpton degrades Non-African Americans much worse than that on a daily basis. How is he a Reverend to begin with? and what church or religious sect ordained this guy? Any insight?

I grew up in New Haven, and know people who work there. Hope you have family on the job or live in an "Empowerment Zone" in the city, becuase those are two big things they look at. There has been alot of tension between employees, making it not a great workplace. The job and city itself though, are awesome. Good luck!

My last post about what a few basic college courses can offfer a new firefighter made me think. We all listed our firefighting experience with x635's post. What about everyone's educational background? How many out there are in, graduated, or pursuing higher education, what major and level? As for me: Marist College Class of 2005. Bachelor of Science: Business Administraion/ Human Resources Marist College, Master of Public Administration (In progress as cash flow permits!)

One more idea... If you are enrolled in a college, take an intro to business, intro to public administration, or intro to psychology class. All classes give you an awareness of what other people are thinking, and why things are being done a certain way. In a world of public policy, budgets, and just plain crazy people, its nice to have a little extra ammo in your pocket. A large portion of what we do pertains to dealing with people, and getting information out of them. I know they aren't directly related to the fire service, but the knowledge you gain will help you in many situations you may find yourself in as a firefighter. Just my two cents....

The 4th Person on the shift stays back, and additional career/ volunteer manpower is called back as directed by on duty officer, and as each situation warrants. Also, I see alot of "Interior Qualified" but nobody is listing what their department's criteria is for being an interior firefighter. I know we talked about differences in training before, but I'm interested to see what different departments define interior as.

Here @ Fairview (Dutchess,) All of our career members can respond mutual aid. We send 2 officers and a firefighter on the vehicle. Additional seats can be filled by volunteer members with interior qualifications; FF I, HazMat Ops, FAST, FF Survival. No volunteer members may respond in POVs.

We can't make progress unless we confront issues in a fair, honest manner as we face them. Simply pretending they don't exist and sweeping them in the rug is not fair to anybody. Great job Seth, and great thuoghts and ideas, keep them coming.

x635, Right on. I think that the one thing that differentiates most carrer and volunteer agencies are levels of training, enforcement of said levels, and last but not least the testing (academic and physical.) In no way am I against volunteer firefighters. I was one, and would gladly be one again if I was not forturnate enough to make this a career. I think that a lot of tension is created through policy and how it is created and enforced in different departments. All of my volunteer experience comes from two different combination agencies in two different states, each one set up differently. The main thing I have seen reverts back to training. First and foremost, both places require FF I, FAST, Survival, Haz-Mat Ops, or some equivelent to be interior. For career guys, it is obviously the 229, or a career academy, as well as EMT, or Paramedic for EMS. This is the most important thing, a large base of knowledge and training is what sets the pace for how a firefighter will perform for real. We all know that we revert to training under stress. Continuting training for career members is much more organized and documented, as it is required. In both departments, the same exact training is freely offered to volunteer members and various times, and it is their responsibility to attend. This is great, as it allows us to have the same continuing education, and allows us to train together. There are some people who don't attend, and it is kind of hard for these people to keep up with the operations going on when on a scene, and it shows. I think turning a blind eye to physical fitness, education, and training, simply put comes from a sense of complacency. That can be a lethal mistake. The OFPC doesn't have a set standard, and NY is behind many other states in having set standards for all firefighters. For the most part, the academy seems to cater to more rural departments. One thing I find particularly frustrating is that there isn't a whole lot of hands-on firefighting class beyond the basic FF1 or recruit academy. Without being long-winded, policy. NY is still behind the times. Organizations such as FASNY, while noble in their cause are largely finded by 2% money that is supposed to be benefiting ALL firefighters, not just volunteer firefighters. FASNY, from what I have seen is nothing more than a propaganda machine that touts tradition and complacency as a way to save taxpayer dollars. There are GARBAGE DISTRICTS on long island that charge more property taxes than fire districts with career personnel! It kills me to go to Albany to talk with politicians who aren't even aware that there are career firefighters in NY, who won't support decent political policy (i.e. special districts in NY state) to provide better fire and EMS service to citizens, purely because FASNY's lobbyists told them that it isn't a good idea. (yes, I was told this by a NY State Rep) This, to me, is just a bad management tactic used by FASNY and politicians to create animosity from both sides. As for a paid/volunteer battle, I have noticed that tha majority of the bad blood is propegated by people with poor attitudes who discredit themselves with mindless comments meant to crank people up. I also notice that the majority of this sentiment come from people who lack proper interior credentials, could not pass a hiring test, or are under the age of 19. Consider the source. I work alongside a great group of volunteers. I am proud of where I came from, and I'm proud to have the best job in the world! I hope that as time goes on, they get the opportunity to be career firefighters as well. They aren't there to take my job, and I'm not there to mock them come payday. What matters to me is that my fellow career members, who operate understaffed, have QUALIFIED volunteers resonding with us or on their way to alarms as backup. I don't care who gets a paycheck when we go home, just that we all do our job, and that WE ALL GO HOME.

x635, Right on. I think that the one thing that differentiates most carrer and volunteer agencies are levels of training, enforcement of said levels, and last but not least the testing (academic and physical.) In no way am I against volunteer firefighters. I was one, and would gladly be one again if I was not forturnate enough to make this a career. I think that a lot of tension is created through policy and how it is created and enforced in different departments. All of my volunteer experience comes from two different combination agencies in two different states, each one set up differently. The main thing I have seen reverts back to training. First and foremost, both places require FF I, FAST, Survival, Haz-Mat Ops, or some equivelent to be interior. For career guys, it is obviously the 229, or a career academy, as well as EMT, or Paramedic for EMS. This is the most important thing, a large base of knowledge and training is what sets the pace for how a firefighter will perform for real. We all know that we revert to training under stress. Continuting training for career members is much more organized and documented, as it is required. In both departments, the same exact training is freely offered to volunteer members and various times, and it is their responsibility to attend. This is great, as it allows us to have the same continuing education, and allows us to train together. There are some people who don't attend, and it is kind of hard for these people to keep up with the operations going on when on a scene, and it shows. I think turning a blind eye to physical fitness, education, and training, simply put comes from a sense of complacency. That can be a lethal mistake. The OFPC doesn't have a set standard, and NY is behind many other states in having set standards for all firefighters. For the most part, the academy seems to cater to more rural departments. One thing I find particularly frustrating is that there isn't a whole lot of hands-on firefighting class beyond the basic FF1 or recruit academy. Without being long-winded, policy. NY is still behind the times. Organizations such as FASNY, while noble in their cause are largely finded by 2% money that is supposed to be benefiting ALL firefighters, not just volunteer firefighters. FASNY, from what I have seen is nothing more than a propaganda machine that touts tradition and complacency as a way to save taxpayer dollars. It kills me to go to Albany to talk with politicians who aren't even aware that there are career firefighters in NY, who won't support decent political policy (i.e. special districts in NY state) to provide better fire and EMS service to citizens, purely because FASNY's lobbyists told them that it isn't a good idea. (yes, I was told this by a NY State Rep) This, to me, is just a bad management tactic used by FASNY and politicians to create animosity from both sides. As for a paid/volunteer battle, I have noticed that tha majority of the bad blood is propegated by people with poor attitudes who discredit themselves with mindless comments meant to crank people up. I also notice that the majority of this sentiment come from people who lack proper interior credentials, could not pass a hiring test, or are under the age of 19. Consider the source. I work alongside a great group of volunteers. I am proud of where I came from, and I'm proud to have the best job in the world! I hope that as time goes on, they get the opportunity to be career firefighters as well. They aren't there to take my job, and I'm not there to mock them come payday. What matters to me is that my fellow career members, who operate understaffed, have QUALIFIED volunteers resonding with us or on their way to alarms as backup. I don't care who gets a paycheck when we go home, just that we all do our job, and that WE ALL GO HOME.

polishing them makes the leather soften up nice. I have also seen people put soda bottles, (2L) in the boots to stretch out the back ankle area, as they tend to get stuck easily. also, Haix makes a great leather fire boot, i would urge you to check them out. very comfortable, and a series of insoles incase you have no arch, a high arch, etc.

They do, an MTA officer came upon an auto accident when I was working (Fairview: Dutchess). He raised the bars up and all, was a great way to mark the scene (and make apparatus drivers blind!) Totally worthwhile though!

I tend to agree with x635, and again it is not to bash or belittle volunteer firefighters. Just as a point, I believe that there is a federal law that says combination fire depts. can compensate volunteer members in the form of stipends, gas reimbursements, etc. for no more than 10% of a career member's salary. These are all incentives aimed at retention of members. Someone also mentioned NYS Constitution and Countywide Depts. Here in Dutchess, we have tried to have home rule law applied to change that, and cries fell on deaf ears in Albany. Also, we have had meetings considering consolidation, however, people liked their kingdoms and could not swallow their pride and admit that a problem may exist. Lets not forget that Cities and Villages, under the NYS constitution are required to provide police, fire, and other services. Towns are not. I think the root of the staffing and carrer/ vollie issue is that if you work in a department that is understaffed, it is uncomforting to know what you face and how long it may take to get more qualified people there. Personally, I don't care who gets a paycheck, just that my a#$ is covered when something goes down. I really believe that Countywide Fire and EMS can be a great tool. It can make the best use of career and volunteer personnel, provide ALS transportation, thus solving the concerns that may come along with commercial EMS services (response times, etc.) More importantly, it will get bodies to the scene in a consistant, well organized fashion. That alone can greatly increase public safety. Good thoughts, and great discussion. Just on a side note, every county north of NYC has more heavy rescues in service that all of NYC... and they probably only run a fraction of calls. Does anyone else find that to be a misappropriation of tax dollars?

I think education is paramount. A Chief wears many hats, as some of you have hit on.. financial officer, operations manager, incident commander to name a few. Without a public administration backgound, can a Chief really have a good handle on public budgeting? Without a management/ business background can a Chief work to resolve personality conflicts or effectively deal with the public? It can be very hard for a Chief to Manage Day-to-Day operations with just alot of firefighting experience. Also, what does the fire service provide to officers beside initial officer (FLIPS) school? What is required on the volunteer side? It varies all over. I don't envy the responsibility a Chief hold, as they have to make the biggest overall decisions. What does education give us? More important than any book knowledge, it gives us the skills needed to effectively communicate with each other. Additionally, it gives us Critical Thinking Skills, not just to solve problems, but to constructively implement policies that make sense. I think there is a lot of micro-management in the fire service, and overall, delegation should be considered as well. It also depends on what kind of Chief the powers that be want.. Some departments hire a Chief to wear a suit and sit in an office, while others give them the more traditional role of running a small department, and being a more street-level operations manager. What is expected in your various departments by the comissioner(s)? Just a few thoughts.

Excellent points, Capt. Benz. I think the idea is that even as much as he/she may not like it, as Chief, they are to be outside and be an IC. If there isn't enough manpower, call mutual aid or get people there. Although it is tough, an IC needs to be outside to continously re-assess the big picture. Everyone on the fireground has and should know their job and responsibilies. This varies from scene to scene, call to call, and dept. to dept. Ultimately, everyone from Top Brass down to Probies should know their job, and trust each other to know that they are doing it. I think a Chief going into a fire and not remaining out for IC is both irresponsible (who is outside to watch the men inside?) and in the eyes of the people inside, somewhat of an insult (can't we be trusted to do our job?) Ultimately, we must risk alot to save alot, and the gravity of certain situations may force us to think and work outside of normal guidelines.. The idea though, is that if all goes according to plan, our safety is paramount, officers guide firefighters, and we get the job done in the most efficient and safe manner possible, and all go back to the firehouse to reflect over a cup of coffee on doing one hell of a job.

A person on my job has a hybrid Toyota. The car has a "Proximity Key" it looks like one of those wacky VW keys, however, it stays in your pocket or purse, and instead of starting the car with it, you hit a power button inside the vehicle. There is an actual key to use in the event that the battery inside the proximity key loses power. It is a pretty cool concept, and I have not heard of any problems or defects so far with use of the key.

Do trucks need to have a pump? No, trucks, by virtue of their name have no water and no pump. This dillema is along the same line of CAFS, among other technological advances firefighting. Do I believe in quints? ABSOLUTELY! We are short manpower where I work (combo. fd w/ 4 FFs to run 2 ambulances, 2 engines and a quint!!) and in several instances, the quint (truck, ladder, whatever..) has proven itself invaluable, especially on college campuses, large buildings, etc. In fact, our quint has a larger pump than our engines! Most of the time, however, we stick to tradition with engines pumping, and here is why: The only real drawback is that the ladder runs slower when the pump gear is engaged, even with high idle, which in theory, could interfere with a quick rescue if a handline is in operation. Though these instances are rare, all it takes is one to make you wonder. Anyhow, the pre-piped waterway and the ability to quickly get water into it is great for watering the back lawn of the firehouse when we do checks, or for knocking down a fair amount of fire very quickly. Obviously, engines and trucks are different for purposes of doing the job, there really isnt a big problem with having a pump on a ladder, unless you are in a larger city where rescues would be slowed down by pumping water, something politicians and penny pinchers may not take into account when trying to "streamline operations" or "increase efficiency." Moral of the story: every dept. is different, and if it meets your needs, use it! Tradition is great, but stick with what gets the job done! "America's Fire Service: 100 years of tradition unimpeded by technology and progress"