SageVigiles

Rumor has it that since Mike Rowe ended his relationship with Ford they're looking at a former 49ers player as the spokesman for the new Bronco...

That's common. The flu shot is developed to combat the most likely strain for that particular year. If you contract another strain you're still going to get sick.

I agree with the basic logic you're pointing out, that if you put the fire out everything else goes away, but the point I'm trying to make is that being able to rescue one of your own should be considered one of the basics. Obviously not everyone is going to be a RIT "expert" but its nonetheless a critical set of skills to be comfortable with.

Welp, Captain Nechis opened the flood gates... He's 100% correct. EVERY single Firefighter should be trained in RIT/FAST. Do we have Firefighters who are only trained to do fire attack but can't do search and rescue? Do we have Firefighters that can only do forcible entry but can't do fire attack? Sure, certain companies specialize more in one than the other, but come on people, its 2014. This is an ESSENTIAL function and everyone needs to know at least the basics. Maybe your department doesn't have the manpower to have a full RIT/FAST (beyond the OSHA required 2 out) but we can certainly automatic aid a neighboring company. What I don't agree with is the idea that only certain departments can be RIT/FAST. Especially when that department can be responding from 3-4 towns away from your scene. Sure, you could make the argument that you don't want inexperienced people on RIT. But let me ask you this, when its YOU in the basement calling for help, which would you rather have? A. The 5-6 relatively young Firefighters with basic RIT training and skills, standing on the front lawn ready to go. -OR- B. The Super Elite Special Operations FAST truck coming from 4 towns away that's still 10 minutes from the scene? I realize that I'm talking in extremes here, because usually you'll have something in the middle of both of those scenarios, but its the easiest way to illustrate the point. If EVERYONE is qualified to be RIT/FAST, then you can use anyone for the function instead of relying on a resource that's further away when time is critical.

Ella Grasso Boulevard near 95. There's some ball fields on the left just before the highway. If I remember to stop next time I'm in that neighborhood I'll snap some shots.

I'll do one better. Right now in New Haven they are building a apartment complex out of connex boxes.

Boston Fire Department has confirmed the Line of Duty Deaths of Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, both assigned to Engine Company 33 on Boylston Street. Rest Easy Brothers, RFB.

How long should the companies assigned to these functions stay on scene? -Search and Rescue -Fire Attack -Water Supply -Ventilation -Salvage and Overhaul -Incident Command See where I'm going with this? Guys can (and often do) get hurt/trapped/killed during the salvage and overhaul phase of the incident. Look at what happened in Bedford Hills, guys are pulling ceilings and 8 people end up getting transported...Thankfully they had FAST assets in place. ltrob nailed it, if you have people in IDLH you should (and Capt. Nechis can correct me if I'm wrong) and legally MUST have a FAST/RIT of some kind ready to go. Don't even get me started on the RIT/FAST Training issue and the "Its not my job, that's a Special Ops thing" attitude people take on that essential fireground function. I think I've made that rant once or twice here already...

We've had the same protocols out for about a year now in the New Haven Sponsor Hospital area. I'm not EMS so I don't know how it has/hasn't been working, I just saw it posted at the station.

New Haven has 3 engines on order. Engines 5, 9 and 11 I believe. New Fairfield has a replacement ambulance for 91-2 (formerly known as Squantz Ambulance) on order.

Maybe its just me, but I'm much more concerned that there are towns that have 9 Chiefs cars in service but only 5 Engines than I am with a PRIVATE company buying a large military tow rig. Last I checked the owner of a private company can spend his money as he pleases. This being America and all.

Shame on your Officers and Chauffeurs for not enforcing the seatbelt LAWS, raised roof or not.

Milford, CT is one of the only departments around here that I know of with a swim test.

Rest in Peace Brother. RFB.

That's what I meant, it's a full time unit staffed out of specific quarters as opposed to Detectives out of a traditions precinct office.

Is the Bomb Squad staffed in a similar fashion to ESU?

Just a clarification. This incident occured in Wallington, New Jersey (the fallen Brother is Past Chief of that department as a volunteer) He served as a Captain for Jersey City but I believe he retired from that job. Absolutely unthinkable that his two sons were on the call with him... I can't even imagine. My thoughts and prayers go out to them, the rest of the family and both the Wallington and Jersey City Fire Departments. Rest Easy, RFB.

Maybe the DC Metro County departments? That's a good question.

Its a tool that certainly has its uses, if you understand its limitations. But its also really easy to get tunnel vision with it as well, depending on how you train with it. Anyway, since my current department doesn't have radio straps on the rig, I typically recommend new guys get a radio strap and wear it inside the coat, and pass them the link to the study if they want to read up for themselves. I also tell them to practice gearing up WITH the radio rig so they place it correctly every time. That seems to be the missing link a lot of times.

Thank you, that's exactly the point that I made... and why I chose to continue what I was doing despite their strong suggestion. When the study came out I let my crew read it and make their own decisions...

And protects the majority of the comms wire

So far here's what I have for a department rundown. If anyone can add feel free: Westchester County: Golden's Bridge South Salem Somers Croton Falls Bedford Hills Katonah Vista Mount Kisco (FAST) Westchester County Dept. of Emergency Services - Battalion 16 (Mutual Aid Coordinator) and County Cause & Origin Team Westchester EMS North Salem VAC Putnam County: Brewster

My previous department "strongly suggested" we didn't use radio straps because the placement of the radio could interfere with the pak-tracker transmitter. Personally I'd rather have my radio, works way more often... I was more than a little excited to forward this study to the bosses a few months back.

Our department switched from I Am Responding to Spotted Dog a few years back. Couldn't be happier. As long as your CAD is modern enough to be hooked up to it you should be good to go. MDTs with GIS capability are nice and all, but don't let them become a crutch for knowing your district and hydrant locations. I've fallen prey to that before. No. Just no. Not even a little bit.

Barry, I'll double check the tank size for NF but I'm pretty sure it was 10k. Maybe they couldn't sell the 30k to the board, I'm not sure. I've been out of the game there for awhile so my numbers on some of this stuff may be off... I now volunteer in a place with a much higher percentage of hydranted occupancies and no cisterns, so they do things a little different. New Fairfield also parks the 3000 gallon "nurse" tanker and drops the folding tank behind that, giving you 750-1000 on the first due engine, 3000 on the big tanker and an empty 3000 tank for the smaller tankers. If you can't put it out with that it's gonna be a long night anyway so it at least buys you time. Nice thing is that in NF you're never too far from a huge lake or pond in the event that you aren't in a neighborhood with a cistern.