DFD801

After tomorrow, 19 will have been interviewed and the new guys will be picked from that group. They will enter the State Fire Academy in February.

Follow this link to the NewsTimes story. http://www.newstimes.com/latestnews/ci_11430236

We all read stories all the time about members of emergency services doing stupid things that either injure or kill themselves or worse, innocent people. With an attitude like this, I'm thinking we might be reading about you one day. Maybe you should think about sitting in another EVOC class.... and pay attention this time.

You're right... with communication and with one unit pulling over so the other can safely pass it's not a problem. But that's not what was stated in the original post.

I can't answer about the legality of it but I would say it's very unprofessional and dangerous. There's no good reason for it.... I don't care what the emergency is.

I'm not saying he intentionally means any disrespect at all. In fact it's just the opposite. This guy is a war vet and wants to show his patriotism. He did a nice job on the helmet and I'm sure he wears it proudly. What I'm saying is that eventhough he has all the good intentions in the world, the U.S. Flag has specific rules and regs in which it should be displayed, and this helmet violates that. This is fact and it doesn't matter what anyone's opinion is on the matter.

The guy received lots of support for his helmet but the fact is the Chief is 100% correct in his statements and decision. First of all, the helmet is a part of the uniform, with rules and regulations, and no firefighter should be altering his uniform, regardless of how good his intention is. Second, and more importantly, this helmet is an improper way to display the American Flag. This isn't only my opinion, this is according to Section 8 of the Flag Code of the United States. This brother is a military veteran and should know better. It was stated in the arcticle that the Dept. allows small stickers on the helmet, so the proper thing for him to do if he wants to show his patriotism is to get a flag decal and wear it properly. I provided a link to the flag code for you to read. Once you do you'll see just how much our flag is disrespected and improperly displayed on a daily basis. People think they have the right to paint red, white and blue with stars and stripes on whatever they want in the name of patriotism but actually noone, including war veterans, firemen, cops, etc. has the right to change the way the flag should be properly displayed. It represents our country, the greatest country on this planet. It should be given the utmost honor and respect. flag code - http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm other interesting info - http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

The Danbury career firefighters run 3 man engines and 4 man truck company. Engines: Lt. - boss Driver - drive/pump operator Backstep - nozzle Truck: Capt. - boss Driver - drive/operate ladder Irons - forcible entry/search and rescue Vent - outside vent/roof Captain/irons go in together. Vent/driver go to the roof together. Second, third and fourth due will fill in where needed. Off duty career staff will be called back for larger incidents to form additional engine/truck companies. Danbury volunteers may be used in certain circumstances as directed by the IC.

I agree with many of you that these vests aren't the solution. People don't hit us because we aren't visible enough in our turnout gear. They hit us because they aren't watching the road in front of them... they're too busy trying to get a look at the action going on. I was at a wreck not too long ago on I84 and had a driver leaning over the passenger seat trying to take a picture of the scene with his camera phone through the back window, while driving. No amount of reflective material would've prevented this moron from hitting someone because he wasn't even looking in front of him. Sure closing the road is the safest option but rarely done on busy roads. The best thing to do is to gain control of the traffic well before the scene and merge them into a slow moving single file, while using apparatus to protect the scene. Atleast this way they'll hopefully hit the car in front of them instead of one of us. Stay safe and watch out for the idiots.

OOOOOOOOO RAAAAAA!

I scored 18.... I guess I'm a communist.

I agree with filling out the assignment... you'll need the manpower to check the exposures. I don't agree with the deck gun ... an 1 3/4 attack line will take care of the job and will put water on the fire and exposures immediately while giving your driver time to hook up the hydrant or hook to your second due pump if needed. I also don't agree with shutting off utilities. This is only an exterior dumpster fire outside a brick building. Check the windows above the dumpster for extension.... if it doesn't extend, you're good. No need to shut down an entire building.

Date: 5-21-2008 Time: 2225 Location: I84 eastbound at exit 7 Frequency: Units Operating: Car 30, Eng.'s 22, 24, Squad 23, Truck 1, Danbury EMS, Stony Hill EMS, Danbury PD, CSP Description Of Incident: MVA w/ multiple extrications Writer: Two car MVA on I84 eastbound at exit 7, one car rolled over, victims trapped in both cars. Five victims tansported to Danbury hospital w/ various injuries. Eastbound lanes were completely shut down until about 2330, the accident was cleared by 0100.

I definitely agree that the civil service process has it's problems... My career would've started years earlier in another city if the process worked the way it's supposed to work. I have to say Im glad it happened because I love my job in Danbury, but I'm sure it happened to other high scoring guys that didnt get as lucky. But if the system worked the way it's supposed to with out the BS, how else could you take thousands of applicants and break them down to a few positions? Is there a better way?

abaduck, I'm going to try and help you understand... lets see if this works. Your rescue captain earned respect, trust and a good rep during his 15 years on the job in Chicago. Now he's the man. Understand this, all that is only good in Chicago. It's non-transferable. You said any new guy on the job has to earn respect... well, he's the new guy. He has to earn the respect of a whole new crew. Noone cares what his resume says. Now he could definitely go for another job aroung here after 15 years.... I know a few who have. But he'd start all over as a probie, never as a Captain and Joe C explained why. Obviously down in Florida, if a guy can walk in and get a job, there must not be the demand to get on like it is around here. But he's not going to get on as a Captain. He still has to start as a probie and earn the trust and respect. Did I help you at all?

Getting on the job is extremely competitive no matter where you go and it usually takes most of us years of testing and waiting. Hiring is done through civil service testing... thats the law and thats the fairest way to do it. Plus each department can set their own standards like age limits and such because thats the type of recruit they want to bring in. They are going to spend a lot of time and money to train a new firefighter and they want him to put in a full career. Honestly bro, your scenario is unrealistic. I highly doubt a 15 year veteran, rescue company captain is going to leave his job. Once you earn a position, you keep it, period. But if such a scenario did happen, that captain would know that there's a slim to none chance he'll get on the job again, regardless of his past.

My question is how does anyone even attempt to make comments on a fire or a firefighter's performance based on 48 seconds of video? How do you know he was alone? He could've already done his size-up before the camera started. You can see right as he goes in he drops to his knees to mask up and you can hear his irons hit the floor. Maybe he was going in to save a kid which to me would justify all his actions. This video shows us nothing and it's pointless to try and speculate whats going on.

The first station, the stair master, is the hardest part of the test. You'll be wearing a 50lb. vest with an additional 25lbs. attached. Leg strength and endurance is the key to getting through it so your efforts of running and lifting (if you worked your legs) should help you out. People who go to a CPAT unprepared come off the stair master with their legs totally exhausted and end up not being able to finish. With only a week left before your test, you're cutting it close if you still need to prepare. Below is a link to the Connecticut Fire Academy CPAT. You'll find some tips there. Good luck. http://www.ct.gov/cfpc/cwp/view.asp?a=826&Q=246722

As Dondestro was refering to, if we come across a bad hydrant during our tests, we paint the top black and note the location. That info is passed on to the Lt. in charge of the annual hydrant testing, who then passes it on through the channels to the water dept. who will make repairs or just replace the hydrant. But the black paint helps us in the event we go to use it at a fire. Atleast we know right away it has a problem and we need to find another one. The color codes we use annually tell us its been checked within a year and should work fine. Seems to work for us. As far as snow removal, our crews go out if possible while on duty and clear hydrants in our districts. Anyone else do that?

Date: 2/28/08 Time: 1130 Location: 19 Mabel Ave. Frequency: Units Operating: Engines 23,21,25,24, Truck 1, Car 30(IC), Car 34(SO), Volunteer Tankers 10,11,13, Danbury EMS/Medic 1 Description Of Incident: Working fire Writer: Car 30 was first on the scene and gave his size up, reporting smoke coming from the eves. He requested a fourth Career Eng. Co., Safety Officer and EMS. Shortly after he requested the tankers due to no hydrant in the area. Here's a story and pics from the News Times. http://www.newstimes.com/latestnews/ci_8392425

Seth, it's interesting that you brought this point up. I haven't seen anyone get in trouble for their posts on this site. But when I read this, the first thing I thought about was you and your situation. Don't get me wrong... what happened to you really sucks and I feel for you. I don't know you nor do I know anyone in the Hartsdale FD, but I followed your posts about your situation. You kept saying that your Chiefs wanted you out, the union wasn't supporting you and your brother firefighters weren't backing you either... and you had no idea why. My personal opinion is this site may have had something to do with it. I first joined here in 2004 under a different name. It's no doubt that you have a lot of opinions on a lot of things and you post eveything here or on your other sites. You have every right in the world to do that. But when you have chiefs, officers and veterans with 20 plus years on the job reading it, they're going to look at it and say "who does this guy think he is talking all this trash with only 2 years on the job". Whether it's right or wrong, that's how it is. Like I said, this is just my opinion, take it for what it's worth. I just think that if you want to post something on the internet for the world to see, go for it. Just don't act surprised if it comes back to bite you in the a**.

All the volunteers in Peekskill respond directly to the scene. All the stations are manned with one career firefighter who is the driver/pump operator. When the FF responds to an ALS call with the flycar, that engine is taken out of service for all responses until the driver returns. No volunteers in Peekskill drive the apparatus. When Rescue 134 went into service. the old Pierce engine it replaced was sold.

What's this all about? Care to elaborate?

Date: 12-29-07 Time:1015 Location: 128 E Liberty St. Frequency: Units Operating: Engines 21,22,23,26, Truck 1, Car 30, Car 45, Volunteer Eng. Co. Description Of Incident: working fire in the roof Writer: Units dispatched to an automatic alarm encountered a fire in the roof of 128 E. Liberty St. Here's the News Times story and video. http://www.newstimes.com/ci_7825140

Feeding people bad information? I don't think so. They tried them in both training and real fires and didn't like them... what more do you want? If you don't agree, that's your opinion. You say the super gloves are a joke, yet I know several guys that love them. Are you on Pro-Tech's payroll?.. because you sure sound like a salesman.