SageVigiles

Last I had heard the FD and PD were getting a boat under a UASI Port Security Grant. I know that money came into question after the UASI program got cut, I'm not sure the status of the boat project though. Engine 8, if it is ultimately disbanded, will be turned into 2 additional Emergency Units, but they will most likely NOT be transport-capable units. I believe the contract for NHFD says that an Engine Company can only be disbanded to turn into a Squad Company or 2 Emergency companies. Though the guys have been transferred back to Engine 8 that were taken off, and as far as I know EU-3 and EU-4 have not even been ordered yet. The East Rock neighborhood (where E8/Sq1 are housed) was fighting hard to keep their Engine company, knowing that Squad 1 is often out of quarters due to their citywide responsibilities. So its anybody's guess whether or not E8 really gets disbanded. 32 (Deputy) 33 and 34 (Batt. Chiefs) are all Chevy suburbans. EMS-5 (Dept. EMS Coordinator) is a Ford Expedition, and I know the training division runs some old Ford Explorers. 31 (Chief of Department) runs an all white unmarked crown vic with white lightbar. Not sure what the 2 Asst. Chiefs and the Fire Marshal run. There's also an old Chevy van used for the NHFD/NHPD Fire Investigation Task Force that's kept in a bay at HQ.

I think the Squads also run with 1 Driver, 1 Officer and 3 or 4 Firefighters, so they have a little extra manpower in addition to the extra toys and training. This rig is just SLIGHTLY longer than Squad 1, and also has a different cab configuration. Where old SQ2 had 4 rear facing seats and a large compartment on the rear wall of the cab, this one has 2 rear facing seats with a compartment between them and two forward facing seats. Gives the guys a little more elbow room I believe, though I haven't yet seen the rig in person. I believe that HAZMAT 1 is a second piece for Squad 1 as well, They have a Sterling cab with rescue body for that rig, painted in the classic all white traditional for NHFD. The other HAZMAT rig that SRFD18 is talking about is the state Mass Decontamination Trailer and Prime Mover, which I believe is stored at the Fire Academy, and is red. I'm not sure if they were also issued one of the "beer truck" style rigs that the state also hands out to the teams. New Haven FD (and particularly the Squad Companies due to their Special Ops configuration) is part of the New Haven Area Special Hazards Team (NHASH) and comprises the South Division (1 of 5 divisions) with New Haven Police ESU, Yale Police ESU and the FBI New Haven office. NHPD, YPD and FBI are an important aspect of the team due to the fact that they comprise the Hazardous Devices Unit and provide NHASH with the ability to mitigate explosives incidents. Also I believe South Division is the only division with a law enforcement component, allowing tactical operations within the NHASH team.

I'm sad to hear Ex-NFVFD Truck 4 failed its ladder testing, that truck served us extremely well. Glad to see MVFD is helping out Hartsdale though, in the end that's what its all about.

What an idiot... glad none of the Brothers from YFD were injured.

Got any pictures of Marlboro (38) in Ulster? I used to buff that firehouse by bicycle back when I was really young.

Wow, sharp rig. Any idea how many it can decon in an hour? What company is responsible for the rig?

Funny, no stated requirement for EMT. I mean its sort of assumed, but you know what happens when we do that...

Thanks, just curious. For those of you familiar with NFIRS, is there a way to search for that kind of information on a regional/statewide basis without going to the state or feds?

Interesting, don't suppose there's anyway to search the NFIRS data for CT/NY to figure out if more car fires involve that car, is there?

Sending you a PM.

Great shots. I'm SURE this has been asked before, but isn't one of those ALF/Salisbury rescues the current Putnam County HAZMAT 1 rig?

Absolutely agreed. Our numb you-know-what "Governor" has already said he's against the death penalty and will sign a ban against it. Hopefully our Legislature is afraid of what will happen if they do such a stupid thing, but its Connecticut, so I'm not holding my breath for intelligent actions by our state government...

Go to school. I didn't want to either but got talked into it and I don't regret it. Just received my Bachelor's from University of New Haven in Fire Administration and I'm about to start a great emergency management/planning job (which I NEVER would have had a chance at getting at my age without my internship and program at UNH.) UNH is pretty big on "experiencial education" which is a fancy phrase for "get off your dead butt and get involved, make some connections." That part was pretty helpful. A lot of the guys I went to school with all got great fire jobs down in Maryland, Virginia, etc. I was a volunteer while in school which gave me a great opportunity to put some of what I was learning to practice. I stayed pretty busy with that but I definitely agree with the guys who said make sure you spend some time as a STUDENT. Some guys got caught up too much in the firefighter side of things. If it works out, you'll be a firefighter for at least 20 years. Spend some time as a college kid. The local bunking program for UNH does have GPA requirements and makes it easy to balance between the two. I don't disagree with the advice of learning a trade though. Always good to have a wide variety of skills. I just stuck to landscaping and selling uniforms. Neither of which I particularly enjoyed.

Is my choice between the guy who has been interior for a year and the FASTeam coming from another town ten or fifteen minutes away IF they can get a full crew on the rig? Because then there really isn't a choice, is there? Fecal matter occurs... sometimes you have to improvise with what you have. I don't care if its a probie or a Chief that drags me out if I'm down, just so long as I get dragged out.

Interesting the different "Cadet" programs that are around the country. I know LAPD turned their Explorers into Cadets for name purposes (the city council didn't agree with Boy Scouts' policies on discrimination, etc) but they still perform the same tasks. That was the biggest program in the country. A TON of CT and MA posts are calling themselves Cadets as well because they're tired of BSA. The Cadet Police Academy for the Northeast has been created to replace the Explorer Police Academy, because BSA used to take a significant portion of the profits and give them to regular Boy Scout groups. Its just interesting how there's so many different definitions of Cadet.

EVERY CT Trooper does stops in unmarked cars. Because just about every CSP car is unmarked. There are a few marked units per Troop, mostly older Jeep Cherokees which I believe were intended for special units and details including (but not limited to) Dive Team, Child Safety Seat Education, etc. Every once in awhile you'll see them used for a road job or in a snowstorm or something. Mass uses a lot of unmarked cars as well.

Yes Chief, I do remember those things. And yes, the teacher fed me the peace and love line, but I was too angry to buy that BS, because I watched the people of Palestine dancing in the streets burning the American flag that afternoon on international television... Great post.

Stupid things I wish I thought of... add it to the list.

If that were true, I think they might get stopped by NYPD Harbor Patrol in NY Harbor for "security screening." A Boston Fireboat with a Red Sox logo? "You boys ain't from around here, are ya?"

3 firefighters hospitalized, 2 were released last night and one of the released returned again today from complications. Best of luck to the injured Brothers on their recovery. Glad to see NHPD charged these two knuckleheads for climbing out there. Anyone who knows New Haven knows East Rock is not forgiving, and there's a reason you're not supposed to climb there.

Exclusive: Firefighter Injured in Climber Rescue Speaks Out Good to see LT Schwartz still has his sense of humor!

Which is funny, considering in the Northeast where tiny streets are a major issue, everyone and their brother has a midmount TL whereas down in Texas, where I'd imagine you have more much broad streets since there's less of a space issue, they use rearmounts because they are shorter...

From what I'm hearing on other forums they will be assigned to 2 of the Squad Companies as additional pieces (I don't want to say second pieces since they already have multiple pieces)

Got my test on Friday in North White Plains. Anyone else taking it? Does anyone currently in communications have any advice? This will be my first dispatcher exam.

Seth, its too late for that but thanks for the heads up. Should be useful for next time. The study guide they gave isn't too bad, I guess its mostly video scenarios that you take notes on and scenarios where you prioritize fictional calls. We'll see what happens.