crk830

Ny10578. Do you have any children?

Norwalk's headquarters is slated to be demoed starting in December (hopefully)so all of the companies from here will be moving over to the shops were the tanker was stored. So the number one reason we gave it back to NC was to create room for the front line pieces. It also sat idled for the last three years or so not going on one call and the plans that we did have for it in the beginning all sort of fell through due to time and money reasons.

We're using the Hastings Tiller as a training unit right now. Norwalk hasn't had a tiller in over thirty years so a lot of driver training is being done on the spare (which is mint condition). Our new KME tiller will hopefully go into service in May or June once we get a large enough pool of drivers. Once that happens the Hastings Tiller will stay as a training unit and became a spare ladder as the second or third back up if needed. The Rescue that Hasting is getting is our number three spare for rescues. We are very lucky to have a talented mechanics division, Scott Plank and his crew can make almost anything out of nothing. This rescue is on a spatan chassis (1990 maybe) we had three of our engines refurbed in 2005 (guessed at the year). This was the best of the old chassises and Scott got a hold of an old New Canaan rescue body and had it placed on this chassis. The rescue is in good condition and am sure will serve them well for a long time to come. Am not sure if this link will work am trying to find a better picture will post it when I find it check on page 2 bottom left. http://local830.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_pics.cfm&viewmode=thumb&galleryID=2196&gallery=Norwalk%20Fire%20Apparatus%20Shots

This is from the Bridgeport FD facebook page in case anyone wants to order anything. I stopped by today and a few of the guys said that there is at least one other T-Shirt design and possible a third one in the works. When I hear or see anything about the other ones I will let you know or if Lt. Esposito aka FFNick knows when or how to order am sure he'll post it also. Stickers - $5.00 EACH The Memorial Stickers for LT Velasquez and FF Baik are available for purchase for $5.00 EACH. LT Giovanni Sanzo is the person responsible for distributing the stickers. To purchase the sticker, please send him all your information (Name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, quantity of stickers) and any other correspondence to Gman339@gmail.com or he can be contacted at (203) 231-0766. . ___________________________________________________________________ Memorial T-Shirts - $15.00 EACH The LT Velasquez/FF Baik Memorial T-Shirts are available for purchase. Each shirt is $15.00 EACH, with assorted sizes available for men and women. All proceeds will be to support the Baik and Velasquez families. FF Ceferino Rivera of the Bridgeport Fire Department is the person responsible for producing and selling these shirts. FF Rivera has been active with the department for the past 22 years, and has been supplying Bridgeport firefighters with work and novelty t-shirts and hats for many years. FF Rivera is known affectionately throughout the fire department as the "t-shirt man." To make a purchase, please send your name, mailing address, telephone number, eMail address and any other correspondence regarding your purchase to jriverafrn@comcast.net.

The Local834.org web site is now taking on line orders. Here is the link that should bring you to the page. http://www.local834.org/index.php/2010/08/last-alarm-memorial-t-shirts-now-for-sale-online/

I just returned from the first service. Couldn't make the second one due to child care issues. There were many departments there that had members attend. Charleston S.C. must have had at least ten or more. Quite a few from DC and Kentland . A few from Toronto, Calgary. Along with Boston, Worcester. FDNY had a great turnout along with Yonkers and other Westchester departments. I would be surprised if any Ct. departments were there. So many others that came to show what a brotherhood we have (Policer officers were well representative in the crowd also). FDNY had a team there (along with Waterbury) that seem to run the funeral at the churches. Talking to one of the Lt's from that team he estimated that 3,500 to 4,000 people attendee the first funeral. The first mass didn't get over till almost one o'clock but considering the amount of people the transportation seem to go fine. It is always a sad day when we have to bury a Brother and two on the same day is worst. May the two brothers Rest In Peace and always watch over the rest of us!

I'm going to try and change the direction of this thread for a bit here...does anyone have any POSITIVE feedback on the subject? Yes something positive out of this video was that no one died this time using these tactics. In ten or twenty year when cancer sets in we can revisit this and wonder why no SCBA was being used.

I do believe as you will see below that the funerals are not private any more. As I get more "official" information I will try and pass it on. City's all through lower Connecticut from Greenwich to West Haven up to Danbury are covering the Bridgeport stations so that all of their personal can attend the service. All personnel who plan on attending the funeral should stage at Steele Point at any time after 0700 hrs. Members will be bused to the two funerals from Steele Pointe and will be transported to the post funeral gathering at Harbor Yard and final transport back to Steele Point. Directions from I95 Northbound Take exit 28 for CT-127/E Main St 0.2 mi Turn right at CT-127 S/E Main St Continue to follow E Main St 0.2 mi Turn right 240 ft Steel Point Bridgeport, CT 06608

(Guys from CT, if you hear the offical word from BFD, please feel free to post it up. Thank you) Private funerals for our fallen BFD firefighters will be held separately on Friday afternoon, July 30th. Calling hours for the public will be held on Thursday, July 29th for both firefighters: Wake LT Steven Velasquez: 12 PM - 4 PM at Klein Memorial Auditorium at 910 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport. Funeral: St. Augustine’s Cathedral 359 Washington Avenue Bridgeport, Connecticut Friday, July 30, 2010 10:00 a.m. Burial: Lakeview Cemetery Boston Avenue Bridgeport, CT FF Michel Baik: 4 PM - 8 PM at Abriola Parkview Funeral Home 419 White Plains Road Trumbull. Funeral: St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church 5458 Park Avenue Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Friday, July 30, 2010 2:00 p.m. Burial: Lawncroft Cemetery Black Rock Turnpike Fairfield, Connecticut The Congregation of Firefighters, a service open to all firefighters, will be held Friday, July 30th at the Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main Street in Bridgeport after the second funeral service.

I believe most of the replies were about his know it all attitude and I know more than you do. He set the tone for this discussion and now has to face the criticism. As for the residence issues,each company has it own policies. I believe he is talking about Darien Ct and knowing members in all three of there departments I know first hand they all have some what liberal policies. It sounds as if he made his bed and now has to sleep in it by pissing people in those departments.

This isn't a good way to win many friends here on this board or in any Department. As for your town and the three departments I know many people on all three of them and you must have pissed off more than a few people to get "black balled". It has been said many times here at your age it is best to just shut up and learn take in everything you can even if you think you may know more than they do. How do you "know the job" if you aren't on a department? Watching TV shows doesn't count

Congrats to Lt. Coppola who will now be know has Capt. Coppola. Joe was just promoted to Captain On Monday April 19. Good Luck Joe....less firefighting more desk work and more headaches..... http://www.thehour.com/story/485215

As of right now we have 8 vacancy's. Over the next 24 months there will be at least 10 to 15 retirements, that doesn't mean that the city will hire to fill them all. The powers to be say it is cheaper to pay overtime than fill all of the vacancy's.

Seth, I was working last night and once I heard the call I had the scanner on. The Ct. State police chopper was OOS. The next resource that PD IC asked for was Westchester Country with an Appox. 45 minute ETA. I believe that Westchester Country suggested calling NYPD who had an 30 minute ETA. We sent an engine to the closest high school to light up the area for both landings. Norwalk PD sent an officer up in each bird and each chopper left a portable that was sent to the command post. Our FD had an engine and our rescue on scene for the duration, our last unit cleared today around 14:30 hours.

One more tradition that is leaving with Jim. Red Suspenders, Jim always wore them with his pants during the day. The only person that was left in the department that did. GOOD LUCK Jim

In Norwalk we have to hire (overtime) rank for rank Ie: Capt for a Capt, Lt for a Lt, often the officer has to move from one station to another to cover the job. If we are unable to fill the vacancy that way we than go to anyone that is on that promotional list. After that we will go to the seniority method, senior Capt to DC, senior Lt to Capt, than Senior firefighter to Lt. Anyone who acts in a higher rank receives a small amount of extra pay in addition to their regular overtime rate, $12.00 from Captain to Dc, $11.00 Lt. to Captain and $10.00 FF. to Lt. As a last resort we will hold over someone in that rank position. In my twenty years we have yet to run short all of the jobs get covered one way or another. Having minimum man power in the contact is a great thing, at least until the city over hires which can be another whole topic. Chris

engine one is going to be the first new red engine in the city than the rescue and truck co's i believe are going to go out to bid if they allready havent yet. ← Engine 1 (Spartan) will be be in the city sometime in April and yes it will be solid red with the striping still to be determined. The Rescue should be going out to bid early summer and hopefully a new truck will survive the buget cuts and start the planning stages soon. As for the new Ferrara "soda" truck it is coming from the state or a homeland security grant, we already have a "Prime mover" (Pierce / Freightliners) and a state decon trailer. Hope that helps a little Chris