SageVigiles

The lack of training between dispatchers and Firefighters is partially the cause for this. Does your department pre-plan buildings into your jurisdiction? Does your department then add the data and hazards within those buildings INTO the CAD or other management system that is accessible by units in the field or in dispatch? For many of you these may seem like no brainers, but a lot of departments are NOT doing this, and are missing a lot of key situational awareness information as a result.

PRECISELY.

I see at least two major issues here: 1. Misunderstanding or misuse of tactics. This fire is already blowing through the roof. What benefit will you provide by executing vertical ventilation here? I'd argue very little, if any, and I think most of you would agree. The question becomes was this ordered by Command or was this the result of freelancing? Either way its a failure of command. If the IC ordered it he shouldn't have, if he didn't order it he doesn't have control of the fireground. 2. Failure to take responsibility for safety at all levels. Command and Safety (if present) should not have allowed Firefighters to climb a ladder in an icy environment without someone footing it. Those Firefighters' teammates on the ground never should have let them do it, and those individual Firefighters on the ladder shouldn't have done it. Hopefully these Firefighters recover, and hopefully everyone learns a lesson here.

What I meant by "no knowledge that this was happening" was they don't have criminal intent in their actions. Fines are a different story, and I think that's a good motivation to make people do the right thing, I just wish we could teach people how to do it BEFORE it got to that point. As far as the "we only want XYZ firetruck" thing, that pretty much speaks for itself. Totally defeats the purpose of having a bid in the first place. And since state contracts aren't really great for firetrucks (due to the usual level of customization, your savings would be minimal using that system) it doesn't really allow for an alternative procurement method.

Agreed, thought it is usually not intentional on the part of the agency, in my experience its because the agency doesn't realize and/or doesn't have anyone experienced enough to notice/fix it. I'm not a lawyer, and I definitely didn't stay in a holiday inn express last night, but it would be difficult to prove bid rigging if the department had no knowledge that this is what was happening. Unfortunately there isn't a training class out there (at least in my state) that I'm aware of that teaches us how to bid legally and ethically. I got a little of it in the Fire Science program at UNH, but without specific technical knowledge of the product it would be difficult to pull this kind of stuff out.

Its VERY common for manufacturers of all types of public safety equipment to do this. Turnout gear, body armor, trucks, etc. For a few extra bucks the company can make something completely irrelevant standard for their product line and hand a department a spec sheet that includes the irrelevant part. Make it a no-exceptions bid and you've basically got a guaranteed win. If you ask me its a little underhanded on the part of the business, I think the products should be compared apples to apples.

Hell, give him 90% of the money made on Youtube from his pict... oh, wait.

Our office is trying to develop a way to market our Office of Emergency Management and be better recognized by city employees and residents when we're out in the field, so we figured developing some kind of logo or patch to help advertise our agency would be a relatively easy way to do that. I'm trying to find some examples of Emergency Management agency patches or logos, google searches didn't come up with much that "wowed" me. Can anyone post any pictures of their Emergency Management agency's logos or patches? I'm trying to get something professional but that will attract attention and reflect the various missions we support. Any help would be appreciated.

Good luck Moose, you're doing it for the right reasons, I'm sure you'll make a great Chief!

I'm glad the media and public have finally paid attention to some of the GOOD that Police Officers do. I'm glad this story has become as big as it is. Almost enough to give you hope that people out there really do care about law enforcement.

Thanks, yours was actually one that immediately came to mind when doing some research, I already grabbed to put in the idea file, I like that crest style logo in general.

I see your point, but I would pose this scenario, because I honestly don't know the answer. Assuming your rank structure is the following: Chief of Department 1st Assistant Chief 2nd Assistant Chief 1st Captain Since these people are resigning, your rank structure would look like this if you DIDN'T take the position Chief of Department (If filled by the current 1st Asst. Chief) 1st Assistant Chief (Either VACANT or filled by current 1st Asst. Chief) 2nd Assistant Chief (VACANT) 1st Captain (Moose) So here's my question. If the 1st and 2nd Asst. Chief positions are left vacant, the responsibilities of those positions still need to be taken care of, so wouldn't those fall on the Chief and the next highest officer in the chain of command (in this case, Mr. Moose,) regardless of what their official title was? Just curious what everyone's thoughts are about that.

Nice to see a few familiar faces in those pictures. Thanks for posting!

I saw that article as well. Glad to see Sleepy Hollow supporting their fellow New Yorkers. I believe Madison, CT's Ambulance Association is donating an ambulance to Broad Channel as well.

Moose, While you bring up a good point, I would have to assume the logistics people at FDNY require you to sign for your NEW helmet when you get it. How hard could it be to add a few lines to that paperwork and have the member check a box saying they'd like to keep the old helmet and signing after a sentence saying "I recognize my old helmet is no longer in compliance with the FDNY PPE policy yadda-yadda-yadda and I hereby solemnly swear to never wear the old one at work again" or something to that effect? Free solution, still covers FDNY's a** legally.

Looks like some kind of cistern to me as well. I'd be curious to know more.

I don't think that a computer will EVER be able to take the place of a knowledgeable dispatcher with a cool head on their shoulders and some good old fashioned common sense. Will they try it anyway? Probably. But in my not-so-humble-opinion there are just some things that I don't think a computer can be able to relay. Examples: -Tone of voice can tell you a LOT about the type of call you might be responding to. Do I want the dispatcher screaming on the radio as if the sky is falling? Absolutely not, but if you know your dispatchers you can pick up slight hints in their tone of voice. -Particularly in smaller departments with (relatively) quieter PSAPs, when you hear the 911 line ringing in the background... I'm not a Detective but I think they call that a clue... -Situational Awareness (particularly in busier cities) I've had a dispatcher call me on the radio as we're pulling out of the station to inform me that the cops have something going on in an area I'm responding to. Does it have to do with my call? Not necessarily, but knowing I should be keeping an eye out for Black and Whites flying through the neighborhood is always useful. Yes, I know drive with due regard and all that, but it DOES help to have a heads up. I'm not sure if technology is to the point where a computerized dispatch system can analyze that stuff in real time to warn me about it.

Rest in Peace Brother.

Contractors are not usually covered by insurance, nor does their "employer" pay Social Security or other taxes. I know because that's the crappy situation I'm in now... haha.

Never ceases to amaze me what some departments can do with the manpower they have. Tip of the helmet to Fairview.

Date: 11/16/12 Time: Approx 2330 Hours Location: 114 Oak Street, Brewster, NY (Cross of Main Street) Frequency: 46.38 (PC 911), 154.37 (BFD Ops) Units Operating: Brewster FD, Putnam County Car 2 Weather Conditions: Clear Description Of Incident: Structure Fire Reporters: Sagevigiles *PM me if I have the frequencies wrong, I'm going off radio reference feeds and database* Putnam Lake requested to relocate w/ 1 engine to Brewster FD HQ. Lake Carmel FD Rescue requested to the scene. 2333: Putnam County Car 2 on scene 2342: County Fire Investigation Team toned out to respond 2344: Operations to IC: Fire is out, checking for extension

Old Seagrave was Ex-New Fairfield Truck 4.

I saw the movie with the guys from my station Monday night. BigRed1 is absolutely right. You will leave this movie deep in thought. The conditions these guys are expected to work in is nothing short of deplorable. Nobody should be expected to operate with what they have to work with, but they do it anyway. That city looks like a third world country but these guys fight harder than anyone to protect their hometown. Very well done.

This is getting to be ridiculous.

I like the new organization, much easier to find what I'm looking for.