SageVigiles

An hour and a half or so from the firehouse. 15-20 minutes from my parents place in New Fairfield though.

That's actually where I saw it, took the class last month so the video is fresh in my head. Good for a chuckle and drives the point home.

This video should pretty much sum things up, unfortunately its a short version but you'll get the idea: Hats of Incident Management

ARFF Fire Captain - Port Authority of NY/NJ Saw this yesterday during my endless search of indeed.com.

Sorry if I sounded like a smartass, I was having a spirited discussion regarding training with other individuals in my department and I was worked up about it yesterday... My bad. We're a volunteer division of a tiny combination department that was so strapped for cash they actually had to (GASP) consolidate with the city government, which still hasn't increased the budget, just prevented them from laying off. I'd love to throw 4-5 of my guys in the Department SUV to go take a class out in NY, but we don't have access to that for training. Trust me, its a disaster and I make my protests regarding funding and training known to both the career and volunteer Chiefs anytime I get the chance, which is probably why I'm the black sheep of our officers. As for why I'm the one fighting for training money, I'll keep my opinions on that off of a public forum... I didn't mean to hijack the topic to discuss my department's budget issues. I definitely understand why brush fire training is important and trust me, the legal implications of what might happen if one of our guys gets hurt has kept me awake on more than one occasion. But like I said I can understand taking a day or two to do some company drills on making a fire line, recognizing the hazards of a brush fire, identifying some of the other resources (DEEP, CT National Guard, Task Forces, etc) that are out there to support us, etc., I just don't think its the most economical use of my department's funding to spend money to send someone to school for a formal brush fire certification. If a free course is within driving range believe me I take the opportunity, and there are several of us who do shell out personal money for additional training, but at the company level we have to prioritize because our department refuses to provide the funds required to meet the cost of doing business.

Legally, in CT the senior Fire Officer has command of any emergency. The exception being if there is a terrorism nexus, in which the FBI runs the show. That being said, if the initial IC doesn't set up a Unified Command, he or she is setting themselves up for failure.

Trust me, with a $4,500.00 a year total department budget supplemented by meager fundraising efforts in a predominantly working-class community, I'd feel totally capable of defending that statement to anyone. If my members have to pay for their own Firefighter 1 training, there is no way that I'm going to shell out what little funds we have for something we do so little of. I can see doing some brush fire drills every year, that's definitely something that is feasible and low-to-no-cost. But to my knowledge CT DEEP only offers a few brush fire courses a year, and they're definitely not held in the greater New Haven area.

Sorry, but I can't justify sending people to school for Wildfire certification when I'm fighting to get funding for basic Firefighter training.

Not even close to the dumbest arbitrary restriction on training that I've ever heard, but it probably makes the top ten. This kind of stuff is inexcusable, and no sensible training officer would prohibit his/her members from trying to better themselves and their crew, provided they have the necessary prerequisite training.

Unless I am mistaken it is administered by DCAS as a promotional exam, as opposed to an open competitive exam. Hence the use of the term. I believe I see your problem with it, that EMS is considered a stepping stone as opposed to a separate career track. But personally it doesn't bother me at all, especially when the article is exposing the fact that standards are being lowered for a select group of people in a way that has a negative effect on the safety of those on the fireground.

In the market for a new hood. I know there's a lot of new stuff out there, including the carbon ones. Can anyone explain the pros/cons of the different options? Nomex, Carbon, PAC II, PBI, etc? Any recommendations on specific ones?

You win this thread. Well played sir.

For the majority of agencies out there, ICS consists of someone in an SUV showing up and declaring themselves "Command." True Unified Command is a pipe dream for most of us. There's a difference between checking the box and actually using ICS to manage an incident efficiently.

Chief, thank you for the complement. That was definitely the point I was trying to make. This horse has been beaten to death, and the people who fear change will still refuse to listen to common sense and logic, no matter what we say about it.

Some light reading, before we careen down this side road one more time. http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/48915-fas-team-thought/?hl=+rapid%20+intervention http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/48756-fast-requirements/?hl=%2Brapid+%2Bintervention#entry278697 http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/38681-fast-response-times/?hl=+rapid%20+intervention http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/29869-what-equipment-does-your-fasteam-carry/?hl=+rapid%20+intervention http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/35611-fasteam-member-pre-requisites/?hl=+rapid%20+intervention http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/18887-thoughts-on-fast/?hl=+rapid%20+intervention http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/49173-the-fast-fad-what-happened/?hl=fast

Now THAT would be impressive.

CT has a similar system with the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Each DEMHS Region has a Regional Coordinator who is our link to the State EOC and can request regional/state assets to assist in a major incident. I found them INCREDIBLY useful during both Hurricane Sandy and the February Blizzard. Cots, tarps, diesel fuel, sand, sandbags, sandbag machines, National Guard backhoes, Building Inspectors, Health Inspectors, Fire Marshals, I could go on. And that's just from Hurricane Sandy...

That is absolutely not how law enforcement is trained nowadays. The biggest lesson learned from Columbine (and this is pretty well publicized, so I'm not touching on any OPSEC issues) is that Officers CANNOT wait for SWAT/ESU before making entry on an active shooter incident. During the Columbine incident the shooting was over in about 20 minutes, the first SWAT elements didn't arrive until 45 minutes in. Aggressive, well trained Patrol Officers on the street stop these types of incidents, not specialized teams that take time to mobilize. I understand that many departments in NY/NJ have ESUs on the road 24/7, but they are usually not a full complement of tactical officers for a traditional assault. Without getting into specifics, the training and tactics of Patrol Officer responding to an active shooter are noticeably different than a "traditional" building search or hostage rescue performed by a specialized tactical team.

Suspect killed himself, no injured civilians or MOS. Sounds like a good result to me.

Interestingly enough Connecticut just cut the Troop that protected Bradley Airport out and made them part of Troop H (Hartford), eliminating at least a Lieutenant and Master Sergeant, and I think a few line positions as well. It also means that the shift commander at H Troop can pull some of the Airport guys off to help on the highway or streets of Hartford if things get nasty, but that never happens right?

"Expedite the Medic/Bus/Whatever" is one of those phrases that only (read: SHOULD only) have an effect on the person saying it. When the fecal material has contacted the oscillating climate control device beyond a level at which you are trained to handle, its reassuring to say that and hear that help is on the way. Example: Department dispatched at 2AM on a weeknight for marine units to assist the PD with an ETOH threatening to drown themselves (a whacky enough call as it is.) Two fairly inexperienced, non-EMS trained Firefighters respond to the firehouse, only to find that there are 2 very serious stabbing victims parked on the front, one unconscious, one losing consciousness after driving themselves to the station. After ensuring the scene was safe, the Firefighters requested EMS and additional personnel on the radio. Yeah, I definitely said "expedite the medic and ambulance" on that call, for four reasons: 1. This needed to be a higher priority call than the drunk wannabe Jacque Cousteau. (Were there better ways to communicate that? Definitely, but see #4) 2. It definitely made me feel better knowing the cavalry was on the way and realized how serious this was, even if they weren't going any faster than before. 3. I had no idea how to take vitals and communicate the seriousness of their injuries as Seth described, we just stumbled upon this medical. 4. I was young and dumb and thought that's just one of those things you say on the radio. I'm still young, just a little less dumb... Realistically the phrase is completely useless to anyone other than the person saying it and shouldn't really be used anymore.

Chief, glad to hear all of your guys are okay and that the departments around you stepped up to the plate to help out your department. Would it be alright to share your update with others off this site?

Just because the distinction is important, but the news won't take the time to explain it to you...A little background on TSA's organization: The Officer that was killed yesterday was a Transportation Security Officer, not an Agent. TSOs are NOT law enforcement officers, have no arrest powers, and are not trained, equipped or authorized to use force. Think of them as a federal security officer force. That being said, it sounds like some of these TSOs did a GREAT job evacuating civilians from the area and they should be commended, especially given that they have no weapons or body armor to protect themselves with. For TSOs to be issued firearms they would probably all have to be sent to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA for the Uniformed Police Training Program also known as UPTP (Amtrak PD, US Capitol PD, Pentagon PD, Federal Protective Service, are all sent here) but that means a SIGNIFICANT increase in training time and pay for the employees. So I don't think you'll see TSOs get that kind of training. Most, if not all, of the TSA employees with the "Special Agent" designation are members of the Federal Air Marshal Service, who I'm sure most of you are familiar with. They go to Glynco for the Criminal Investigator Training Program (think ATF, US Marshals, Postal Inspectors, NCIS, etc) which is significantly more advanced than even the UPTP. Special Agents are, by federal law, criminal investigators, and the distinction is very important in the federal system. Contrary to popular belief they have absolutely NOTHING to do with the United States Marshals Service (which is assigned under Dept. of Justice, not Homeland Security/TSA as the Air Marshals are.) I believe the only other "Special Agents" in TSA are Investigators for their Inspector General, but they may just use the IG for their parent Department, Homeland Security. Despite being called "Air Marshals," they are also used in "Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response" (VIPR) Details at land and sea based transit hubs as well, assisting other federal agencies in providing high-visibility security. Aside from that, if some whackjob came into the airport looking to kill FAMS Agents, he would have had a hard time spotting them, much less killing one in a shootout. The word "Marksman" doesn't even begin to describe these guys and gals. This is the first LODD that TSA has suffered in their 12-year history, and it sounds like they were the direct target of the suspect, reports are saying he was asking people if they worked for TSA and sparing anyone who said no. My thoughts and prayers are with the Officer's family, friends and coworkers. Thank you for your service.

So then call up the Commissioners of Jericho FD and tell them what you saw. I'm seeing a lot of anger and frustration but not a lot of action. If you're really that concerned do something about it. Otherwise whats the point?

All volunteer companies in Wallingford, CT do annual drug testing as a part of our annual physicals, exactly the same as the career department. Its part of a larger program to ensure OSHA compliance. If an officer reasonably believes you are under the influence you will be asked to take a test. There's a whole process to it but it does exist.