CTFF

ANN DeMATTEO New Haven Register (Connecticut) Sep. 24--HAMDEN -- When 60 firefighters from across the country come to Hamden Thursday, they'll be part of a cutting-edge experiment that will test a new piece of rescue equipment, as well as the gases firefighters inhale when they run out of air. Firefighters from Los Angeles, New York City, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dallas, Bergen County, N.J., and Montgomery County, Md., as well as ones from New Haven, Middletown, Hartford and Naugatuck, will be going into a burning building on Putnam Avenue while wearing the Last Chance Rescue Filter, a device conceived by New Haven firefighter Eric George. Simultaneously, the Yale School of Medicine will monitor the oxygen, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide levels in the environment. Fire temperatures also will be gauged. The meter readings and the data are expected to be published by Dr. David C. Cone and the National Fire Protection Association. "We are using a non-invasive breath analyzer to measure carbon monoxide levels in the participating firefighters," said Cone, associate professor of emergency medicine and public health and chief of emergency medicine at Yale. Fire Engineering Magazine will be filming and reporting on the exercise. The fires will be set on the second floor of the house and in the automotive repair shop once owned by the Dadio family. The town has recently acquired the 11-acre site at 466 Putnam Ave., consisting of the buildings and vacant land for the new home for the Hamden Fire Department. "The whole thing is a survivability study for the Last Chance respirator and the conditions firefighters encounter" on the job, said New Haven firefighter Frank Ricci, who is coordinating the event in his role as the director of fire services for the Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health. "Traditionally, firefighters and victims are just treated for carbon monoxide poisoning when they have smoke inhalation. So now, with this study, it will enhance awareness for the medical community and firefighters about gases and the products of combustion that firefighters face," Ricci said. The new device has only been tested in laboratories, so the trial run Thursday will determine how effective it is in a real-life simulation, Ricci said. "The data from the meters will help firefighters better understand the environment we operate in and the environment we find victims in," he said. B. W. Honeywell is providing the meters for the experiment. George, a New Haven firefighter for close to 21 years, said he wrote to several manufacturers about the idea for the device, which he has patented, before Essex P, B & R Industries of St. Louis, Mo. came forward. The Last Chance Rescue Filter, a Thermos-looking canister which attaches to an air mask, provides 15 minutes of oxygen to a firefighter who is trying to escape a fire and is facing an "out-of-air emergency." The product is being advertised and will be available Oct. 1. "We're trying to get it to be standardized equipment for fire departments," George said. The canister filters out gases firefighters encounter and changes carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, George said. "Carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide is what's been killing firefighters," he said. Firefighting remains one of the nation's most dangerous jobs, with 100 killed and 81,000 injured in the line of duty annually. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 264 firefighters lost their lives in structure fires from 1995 to 2004. Two New York City firefighters recently died from smoke inhalation. "Firefighters continue to run out of air and we're trying to find a way to protect them," Ricci said. The results of the study will provide the academic and practical communities with information on oxygen levels in a structure fire, Ricci said. "Never has this been done anywhere. We're hoping that if this is validated, we will see the tangible result of a firefighter going home to see his kids instead of his kids going to his funeral. And that's why everybody from all over the country is coming to participate in this burn," Ricci said. Ricci said the event wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the cooperation of Hamden Fire Chief David Berardesca and Mayor Craig B. Henrici. Hamden firefighters will put out the fires and the New Haven Fire Department will provide equipment and other resources. The burn will take place at 466 Putnam Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., so motorists are being advised to avoid the area during that period. In recent weeks, Ricci and others, including Hamden public works employees and firefighters, have been getting the former Dadio household and auto repair shop ready for the event. "It's been complicated, but (the study) will be so helpful to all firefighters across the country," said Berardesca. "It's been a huge undertaking." "It says something for Hamden when you have major cities all coming here to participate in a study. That speaks to the quality of the department," Ricci said. As a follow-up to the burn, the Hamden Fire Department on Friday will sponsor a lecture by Ricci and Dr. David G. Penney, a foremost expert on carbon monoxide poisoning from Detroit. The lecture will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the New Haven Fire Training Academy on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard.

http://www.news12.com/NJ/topstories/article?id=199163 08/23/07) WOOD-RIDGE - A firehouse tradition led to swift suspensions for some firefighters in the all-volunteer Wood-Ridge Fire Department. Five members were placed on suspension after they allegedly drank alcohol and drove a fire truck back to the firehouse Saturday. Firehouse officials say the men, including the driver, smelled of alcohol. Fire officials say the five members went to Pequannock for a celebration, known as a “wet-down,” to mark the arrival of new equipment. The borough administrator says the five off-duty firefighters had permission to take the truck to the party, but violated department policies. “The rule on designated drivers [is] they cannot have anything to drink and firefighters under the age of 21 cannot have anything to drink,” Wood-Ridge Borough Administrator Christopher Eilert said. The fire chief said Lt. Mark Rella, who was behind the wheel, had alcohol on his breath when he returned. Rella was given a 90-day suspension. Two underage firefighters accused of drinking were suspended from all departmental social activities for 30 days. Another lieutenant was given a 30-day suspension and Captain Ron Phillips, Jr. was issued a 60-day suspension, both for failing to enforce department rules. Eilert says the men all have good records of service with the department. He says this is an isolated incident, but the department is taking it very seriously.

www.stamfordadvocate.com Firehouses feel the heat By Natasha Lee Staff Writer Published September 11 2007 STAMFORD - On average, less than one Glenbrook volunteer firefighter has responded to emergency calls since the layoff of paid firefighters there, according to the paid firefighters union. Belltown's volunteer fire department, which lost a third of its paid staff in July, does not fare much better. An average of one Belltown volunteer responds to calls, the union's figures show. The remaining paid firefighters are left to staff the two volunteer firehouses, sometimes with only one on duty. Volunteer chiefs have not disputed the union's estimates. Stamford has five volunteer fire companies that, under the city Charter and agreements with the city, operate independently. But there are not enough volunteers. The firehouses are supplemented with paid career firefighters working for the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department, or who work for volunteer companies but are paid by the city. Belltown Fire Chief John Didelot said volunteers can't carry the load. "Sometimes we have to make do with what we have," he said. Yet Didelot and other volunteer chiefs refuse to allow the city to move Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters into their firehouses, saying they will lose the autonomy given to them under the Charter. The city and the Belltown and Glenbrook departments have been feuding for five months over how to increase manpower at the two understaffed volunteer firehouses and cut overtime spending. Belltown and Glenbrook rejected a city proposal to consolidate their firehouses, along with the Turn of River Fire Department, under one labor contract, creating layoffs and costly legal battles. Belltown and Glenbrook took the city to court to try to reinstate the paid firefighters. Turn of River went to court under similar circumstances and won; the city is appealing. "I want to have four firemen 24 hours a day in those companies. That's what I want," Mayor Dannel Malloy said. "What they (volunteer fire chiefs) need to do is explain to the citizens of their district why they are safer with fewer people, when they have aptly demonstrated that there are insufficient volunteers to respond. "The fact is that Stamford Fire & Rescue has been carrying the load for a number of years. If we didn't have Stamford Fire & Rescue, these companies would really be in trouble." Paid firefighters say public safety is dangling by a thread. According to numbers provided by the Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association President Brendan Keatley, who represents paid firefighters in five of the city's six departments, the Belltown fire district received 61 calls from July 11 to July 31, and an average of 1.3 volunteers responded per call. During the same time, three of the department's seven volunteers had no medical training or expired credentials. Didelot, the Belltown chief, said the three volunteers were certified as of Sept. 6 and the lapse happened because some were away at college when their training expired and it is difficult to schedule certification classes. During the same period, Glenbrook responded to 55 calls and an average of 0.72 certified volunteers showed up per call. Glenbrook Fire Department President Edward Rondano did not return two calls for comment. Glenbrook now has two paid firefighters working eight-hour shifts and one paid firefighter working a 24-hour shift. The firehouse is down to seven career firefighters after it lost two to a layoff and retirement within the last two months. Fire officials say about three certified volunteers are trying to cover the shifts left empty. Ted Panagiotopoulos, a Glenbrook paid firefighter and fire marshal, said he's lucky if one volunteer shows up to help. Most of the time he responds to calls alone, he said. "Who's going to explain it to my family if something happens?" Panagiotopoulos said. He wrote to Rondano about his concern for both his safety and that of residents. "I agree with you, a single-man engine is not in anyone's best interest but unfortunately Mayor Malloy and a recent Superior Court judge's ruling do not agree," Rondano wrote back. Last month, a state Superior Court judge in Stamford ruled against reinstating the five Belltown and Glenbrook firefighters the city laid off to make up for a budget shortfall. The city laid off the firefighters after Glenbrook and Belltown pulled out of a proposal to merge with Stamford Fire & Rescue. Career firefighters say residents may not notice the shortage because when they call 911, an engine always arrives. Firefighters have mutual aid agreements that allow the six departments to call each other for help. In some cases, help is sent automatically. But when firefighters rely on mutual aid, they must wait for help to arrive, Panagiotopoulos said. How many trained firefighters respond on an engine is crucial when every second counts," he said. "It's difficult for one firefighter to assist a person in cardiac arrest, let alone try to rescue someone from a burning building." A federal standard requires two equally trained and equipped firefighters at the scene for every two who enter a burning building or other hazardous situation. "Having one firefighter respond to a call puts everyone at risk," Panagiotopoulos said. "The public needs to understand how much I can do by myself. "By putting us in this situation, you're almost asking us to sit and watch a situation until additional help arrives. Meanwhile, we're wasting precious minutes needed to rescue someone or attack a fire." Didelot does not dispute the union's findings. The Belltown firehouse is staffed with two career firefighters working 24-hour shifts, after losing three of its nine paid firefighters. According to union statistics, most calls that required Belltown to assist other departments generated one to two volunteers, and there was little difference between turnout in the day or at night. On July 14, a daytime fire in a trailer at King & Low-Heywood Thomas School brought nine volunteers to Belltown firehouse and two to the fire scene. "I'm not trying to justify the low turnout. The facts are what the facts are, but you need to know the reasons why they happen they way they do," Didelot said. Belltown volunteers do not respond to calls for assistance unless there is a shortage of paid firefighters, he said. Most calls are false alarms and volunteers don't always respond to those. Didelot did not provide figures for how many volunteers respond when they are needed. Keatley said volunteer fire protection is a myth in Stamford. "They can package it, say what they want. The system is failing and they don't want to be the person at the helm of the ship as it's sinking," Keatley said. "They're only interested in protecting their little clubhouses and using it to fight the city." City Public Safety Director William Callion said he has answered questions about staffing and volunteer response and would not comment further. He is scheduled to meet with the two departments at the end of the month to discuss the merger again, Callion said. Keatley said he sent Callion a letter about his findings but did not receive a response. Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.

With jeeps and vehicle laws the only thing you might need to worry about is if you have to have side view mirrors on a car? I think in CT you need mirrors, of course a jeep owner with no mirrors told me that. But the major question is why would you want to ride in a rig with no door?

It is a very cool burn building. The Connecticut fire academy uses this building for the live burn evolutions for the recruit classes. Pretty much has everything you could want to simulate a typical residential fire.

If these stickers save one life, remind one person in the rig to check if everyone is belted they are worth it. There are many levels of responsibility when it comes to firefighters buckling up. First is YOUR responsibility to make sure YOU are buckled. You owe it to your family, and fellow firefighters we don’t need to go to one more LODD that could have been prevented. Second it is the Drivers responsibility, they are in charge on what is going on with that apparatus. If a rig was not safe would you drive it? If it ever gets to a legal issue you think a lawyer is not going to pick on the driver? Then it falls to the officer, lets face it not every rig leaves the station with a officer today. The officer is responsible for making sure the firefighter sunder his command are as safe as possible. Again if YOU BUCKLE UP hopefully it will never be an issue.

Wow is there alot wrong in that video.

Typically people only complain about the level of service a fire deptartment provides after a "bad" call. That is when people complain about how long it took a fire dept to get there or why did a city close a particular firehouse. On at least two occasions leaders from the volunteer companies have stated they have concerns about the level of service they can provide. I guess that means there are no issues with the volunteer system in Stamford, right?

5 firefighters from the big five (excluding longridge, I think) made over $100,000 in 2006. The range was from approx 119K to 108K. 1 firefighter from SFRD made over 100K ( not including officers, marshalls and the mechanic), it was around 110K.

Call the Fire academy and expain the situation. They may not make you wait the eights weeks they normally do.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local...local-headlines Belltown to join fire department merger By Natasha Lee Staff Writer Published June 30 2007 STAMFORD - The Belltown Fire Department joined a city plan yesterday to consolidate three volunteer fire companies into Stamford Fire & Rescue, leaving Turn of River Fire Department the last department standing. City officials said the merger will move Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters into Belltown and Glenbrook fire departments to improve fire coverage and cut overtime costs generated by the understaffed volunteer departments. Turn of River filed an injunction against the city blocking five layoffs at its department until a July 9 hearing at state Superior Court in Stamford. Glenbrook Fire Department agreed to the reorganization Thursday. The volunteer companies receive city funding, but are autonomous under the city Charter and have their own methods of managing and staffing their firehouses. Threatened with losing three of its nine paid firefighters, Belltown signed a tentative agreement with the city yesterday that must be approved by the department's membership, Belltown Chief John Didelot said. The union, Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 786, and the city's Board of Representatives must give final approval. Didelot will maintain authority over his volunteer staff and the firehouse, and work with Stamford Fire & Rescue Chief Robert McGrath on daily operations and assignments for the paid firefighters. The nine Belltown firefighters, who operate under a separate labor contract, will be honored under the same contract as Stamford Fire & Rescue. "We will work together as far as what their day-to-day operations are and try to move forward in a cooperative manner," Didelot said. The plan, announced earlier this month by Mayor Dannel Malloy, is expected to save the city $560,000 next year. No changes are expected at Long Ridge Fire Department, which operates under a separate agreement from the other volunteer companies, and Springdale Fire Company, which is already staffed with 16 Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters. Public Safety Director William Callion said he was pleased with Didelot's decision. "We are going to get consistent, reliable coverage in most of the city and we have averted laying off professional, highly trained firefighters, and I remain prayerful that the other department will reconsider," Callion said. Turn of River Fire Department attorney Mark Kovack said that decision is in the hands of a judge. "The court will probably decide whether that order stays in force and if it's modified or amplified," Kovack said.

I'm not sure. I think you would have multiple laws/rules that would come into play in this situation, DOH and ADA for example. I would think it would be best to make sure you explain that the crew is allergic to dogs and you will be happy to make sure she gets to the hosipital. She could be transported via, fly car, PD or another bus.

NEW YORK New York Statutes: Civil Rights Law, Article 4-B, Sections 47 through 47c, 1986; Transportation Law, Section 147 New York law guarantees a blind person the legal right to be accompanied by a dog guide in all public accommodations, in employment, and on public transportation. No extra charge can be levied because of the dog guide's presence, but the dog must be in harness and the dog guide user can be asked to produce an identification card. A blind person who possesses a dog guide is entitled to equal housing accommodations and cannot be charged a fee because of the dog guide. Public accommodations include resorts, theaters, restaurants, stores, hotels, places of recreation, and all other places to which the public is invited. (Sect. 47) Public transportation includes taxis, subways, trains, buses, boats, airplanes, and all other modes of conveyance offered for public use. (Sect. 47) Housing accommodations include public and private rental properties designed as sleeping quarters or residences. (Sect. 47) Employment includes state service or that of its political subdivisions and all other employment activity. Equal employment opportunity includes prohibition against discrimination based on blindness. (Sect. 47a) Violation: Any owner, manager, or employee who interferes with the above enumerated rights is subject to prosecution under several New York State statutes. (Sect. 47c)

ZACHARY R. DOWDY Newsday (New York) Volunteer firefighters yesterday chased down and subdued a man after he tried to rob a man in front of the Brentwood firehouse, Suffolk police said. Police said a 47-year-old man was walking by the firehouse at 4:25 p.m. yesterday when John Monroy, 27, of 44 Bruce Lane, Brentwood, accosted him and demanded money. Several Brentwood volunteer firefighters who witnessed the fight saw Monroy pick up a metal rod and chase the man, said police. The firefighters followed and saw Monroy hit the victim with the rod at the intersection of Fourth Street and First Avenue, police said. The firefighters subdued Monroy and held him until police arrived. Monroy was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted burglary, police said. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in First District Court in Central Islip. The victim was transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore where he was treated for contusions to his left arm, police said. *** I guess these guys did not read the thread we had here earlier this week!

Actually it could have been better. They came all the way down the ladder head first, they could have made a pivot at the top of the ladder and come down feet first. I'm pretty sure guys have been killed coming down head first. Also the window they bailed from still had the sash in it. I do have to agree that things were done right leading to a sucessfull outcome in regards to bailing, and it was a good job by all involved.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — It's called "battle dancing'' and it's killed a man in Connecticut. Police in New Britain say they were told Robert Stitt said he wanted to outdo a dance move another man had done by flipping in the air. The two were in a parking lot with a James Brown tune playing on the radio. Stitt's friend says the 48-year-old man tried to do a forward flip, and landed on his head. According to police, Stitt went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police say there were several people in the parking lot, drinking and playing the game in which people try to one-up each other with dance moves.

http://www.filecabi.net/video/confiscated_dirtbike.html

Example one: No, it is not overkill to send both Dept's to the call you described. How are the people going to feel about your fire Dept when you don't even resond to their calls? If I am paying taxes to a an city/town and they provided fire service yet those guys never show up how happy am I going to be? example two: Sending units coming from opposite directions on a highway MVA is a very good idea based on all the reasons you gave. When people are in real trouble they want help, they are not that concerned where it comes from.

Not trying to sound cold but why was the oldest and highest ranking firefighter driving a responding vehicle?

I saw a stretched Range Rover sport in time square this past weekend.

They were at the big warehouse fire Stamford had last year.

nobody is going to touch this topic...

Seeing as the depts did not have any equipment I doubt they had a pen to fill out the form out or a stamp to send it back...