jcoppola

Norwalk has powered stretchers, but they aren't powered by electricity, they are powered by FIREMEN. ...a joke, people, just a joke...our medics and cops are great, we all work together.

I agree, 9-11 should definitely be the next federal holiday, without question. A problem with it as I see it, is that the last thing our horrendous economy needs right now is another day people aren't working. JVC

Nice FDNY rig pictures. I agree on 45 engine, although I am slightly biased to 75 Engine AKA ANIMAL HOUSE. JVC

By all accounts, this training is awesome! Worcester__Fire.doc

Funny you should say that...its what I use!

I missed the article in the local newspapers, but I have been told that Belltown and Glenbrook each received a $20,000 operating budget allotment for 2008-2009. Seems to me that this is a message from the mayor. I think we all realize here that you cannot run a volunteer department on $20,000 per year. Utilities alone on a building the size of Belltown's will cost that much in only a few months. Not to mention the training budget and needed equipment purchases. I guess the saga continues. JVC

I used to go to these things when they did them regularly many years ago. I can tell you that they are ABSOLUTELY worth the $25 donation and that is a real bargain for what you get, and...the price didn't even go up since the last ones! Anyone who has time to attend will be really happy they did. No worries about space, they always packed in and never turned anyone away. The significance for me was hearing many 9-11 heroes speak and present before they were taken from us on that dreadful day. Plus, I can vouch for Captain Bob Morris' forcible entry presentation, you wont get a better one ANYWHERE. Joe C.

My vol. organization (Belltown FD in Stamford) still has a functioning horn. I believe they still test it at 4:00 PM as has been tradition since I was a little kid growing up near the station and long before that. Frankly, I cannot see the significance of holding on to the horn when we are in an age of such sophisticated communications equipment. I know, I know, it can fail...Other than a civil emergency, when is it's use warranted? Most volunteers work during the day outside of the district and wouldn't hear it anyway. But...I can't argue with tradition even though its annoying. JVC

Norwalk CT covers I-95 from Westport Exit 17 to Darien Exit 13, and beyond when needed. We cover the Merritt Pkwy (Rte 15) from Exit 41 in Westport to Exit 38 New Canaan and the Rte 7 connector. All motor vehicle accidents get the Rescue, the closest engine, and the command car with Norwalk Hospital Paramedics. Due to long responses to the Merritt, E1 (Silvermine/New Canaan Ave.) has a full hurst tool compliment and cribbing, basically enough to get started on an extrication. E2 and E3 cover 95 depending on the location and E1, E2 & E3 cover the connector depending on the location and direction. Car fires and EMS calls (non-MVA) get the nearest engine and the command car for protection and lighting. JVC

Fox News (NY affiliate) is reporting a weather-related fire at which a firefighter was killed in the line of duty, reported to have collapsed during the operation. FF Raymond Barrett of the West Milford Fire Dept died while fighting an apparent kitchen fire. According to Firehouse.com, the man was a decorated Viet Nam veteran. Condolences to the family of the fallen brother. JVC

My brother Chris is a LT. in 75/33, The Animal House, and they are constantly getting flack for thier name. People on the outside just cannot understand the meaning of company pride or esprit de corps. The link: http://www.animalhousefdny.com JVC

Date: 03-09-2008 Time: Approx. 20:00 Location: Northford Grocery Store Frequency: ? Units Operating: North Branford and many surrounding towns on mutual aid Description Of Incident: Fully involved wood frame building that serves as a grocery market. Many surrounding towns providing mutual aid. www.wtnh.com has further details. Writer: JVC

Suppose you throw your back out (or worse) while shoveling the hydrant in front of your house...would that be considered a line of duty injury (or worse)??? I write this tounge-in-cheek, but seriously, who else but civic minded individuals like us here would do this? I guess it depends on the location. And, while on the topic, I shovel the hydrant across the street from my house as well as the one in the cul-de-sac on which I live. If I did not do it, it would not get done. Also, the hydrants in my town are all marked with a stake that can be seen in the event that the hydrant is buried under snow. JVC

Since I spent a good chunk of time browsing those links, I guess I am a road geek. I especially enjoyed the pics of the Bear Mtn. Bridge. Any more sites with just bridge pictures? I have been a "bridge-geek" since I was a little kid. Thanks for the links! Joe

I just saw this story on CT FOX 61. The news said he was a CSP Troop A dispatcher. Since this is a state charge, I wonder if the troopers had to take him into custody. JVC

I have found that a regular partner saw equipped with an aggressive blade will go through plaster and lath too. One singular cut from ceiling to floor in the middle of a stud bay and the stuff pulls out really easily. The down sides are the sometime absence of strong studs in the bays and the generated CO, but if you are chasing fire in walls, does the CO really matter? I like the sawzall way too, as PJ mentioned. It is a lot easier to move a sawzall around than a bulky saw. A good way to pull a large amount of lath and plaster in a stud bay would be to put a hole in the wall and drop the haligan into the hole fork first then pull the tool towards the room and a whole mess of the stuff breaks free.

Date: 03-06-2008 Time: Approx. 17:45 Location: 10 Glover Ave, Reproductive Medicine Associates of Norwalk Frequency: 151.445 Units Operating: Norwalk E4, E1, C2, Fairfield County Hazmat 1 (FULL TEAM RESPONSE), Connecticut D.E.P. Description Of Incident: Norwalk E4 was sent to the location to investigate a broken BP cuff in a medical office specializing in infertility treatment. Initial crews recognized the large possibility that many occupants were exposed and contaminated so FCHM was requested to assist with metering and decontamination of numerous persons. No injuries were reported and the scene was secured by Norwalk FD and DEP. Writer: JVC FCHM requested at 18:06 FCHM recall of incident at 19:30

Seth, Through my moderation duties, I have seen many really good posts from members who have only a small number of actual posts. I think a member's post count could be flawed, but we all are who we are, so we should let that be known. Just some input... Joe C.

Check this out. I participated in the teaching team for this class and I can vouch for their determination and dedication to wanting to be firefighters. It was quite inspiring. JVC

All: Picked this up off of a listserv...here you go boys (and girls I guess): Examination Announcement – Firefighter – City of Bristol CITY OF BRISTOL - TESTING ANNOUNCEMENT - FIREFIGHTER Fire Employment Application Deadline: Salary Range : 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2008 $45,019 – $53,476/year (No application fee) See the attached notice for additional information. firefighter.DOC

This article appeared in todays Connecticut Post. I particularly take issue with the politicians calling the FD helpless on scene without scuba gear. I feel that this is the political process trying to spin the responsibility away from them and putting it on the emergency services. What happened at Bunnell's Pond last summer is without question horrific. I cannot imagine the pain that the families have to endure from their loss. But, being a firefighter myself, I have to also feel for the BFD and BPD brothers and sisters that were on scene that day. By all accounts, valiant efforts were made to rescue these victims by Bridgeport Fire Fighters and Police Officers. The underwater terrain in that pond is noted for being extremely dangerous. The politicians need to be educated in how long it takes to get personnel in scuba gear and how long someone can survive without oxygen. The fact that there were no gaurdrails in place and the dangerous pond floor are what killed these people, not the Fire Department's lack of scuba gear. I am glad, however, that something is being done to improve safety at Beardsley Park & Zoo and BFD is getting some gear that may save lives. "Plan for guardrail at pond reiterated" Article from Connecticut Post, March 4, 2008 Due to an error made by me regarding site policy posting news articles, I had to edit the content out of my original post. The only glitch is that the site, www.connpost.com does not archive. Joe

To give some history, our boat was a barnacle barge donated by the Norwalk PD. A great group of our guys restored it with some help and it is a nice looking, usable and versatile vessel now with 2 new motors recently installed. You can check that out on our website photo gallery. The PD has been really supportive of our efforts and we are kind of working together with the marine ops as well as the dive stuff. FD Marine 24 has co-responded to several incidents in 2007, since the boat's official in-service date of July 4, 2007. NPD has a lot of years of experience protecting the NFD waterfront and harbors, so they are helping us and they deserve a lot of credit and respect. I attached before and after pix.

Lew, The NFD dive team is somewhat still in the development stage. The Rescue Co does not have divers on it, but we do have cold water capability en route. Our dive gear is in a separate truck that is located at our apparatus maintenance garage, easily deployed when needed. The FD divers are pretty much supplimenting the PD team, but I am really not sure of the response time of PD and if they have divers on duty or not. You gotta remember, NFD has recently gotten into Marine Ops with our new boat, so I think that we are still developing and should be squared away soon. It basically works like our hazmat techs on duty, if they are on, they respond to start the first step of the 8 step process (Site Control) then go from there when the FCHM team arrives. The shift commander has a list of all certified divers and hazmat techs. If one or 2 are on duty, all the better, if not, then they wait for a few to arrive. Again, still in development. It is heading in the right direction though. Hope that helps. As a sidenote, PD/FD divers worked a joint operation a few months ago, check our photo gallery under "other emergencies" or this link: http://www.local830.org/index.cfm?zone=/un...mp;starthere=21 for pix. It was a vehicle recovery with no confirmed victims, but the possibility was there. Joe

It seems pretty easy to me to get a word in edgewise. Heres how: Click reply, type your message, then click add reply. No one is holding you back. On a more serious note, sorry the topic went a bit off scope, but, the discussions were enlightening. Joe

Here Here.