SageVigiles

Yeah, they should probably move it off of the Monsters/UFO/Pawn Shop/Antiquing Channel and onto the one where they actually talk about history...

I'm a volunteer in Wallingford, and I gotta say it works REALLY well there between career and volunteer. Obviously each volunteer house is a bit different, but I'm very happy where I am. The difference I've noticed between Wallingford and other combination departments that I've been a part of and/or observed. Yeah, the volunteer officers can be in command, but that's not what makes it work, and I feel like this article focuses a little too much on that aspect. The reason the volunteers in Wallingford can be in command, and the reason that everyone gets treated equally there is because of training. Volunteers are held to a specific training standard. If you don't meet that standard, you don't get on the rig. Period. We also had a voluntary OSHA assessment to identify gaps in what we do and what we train in. Basically the way it works now is there is a database run through HQ with everyone's names. If you don't make your mandatory trainings within 1 year of the last one (365 days exactly) you go offline until you make it up. We have quarterly live burns, I believe you have to make 1 per year. Officers are required (according to what OSHA told us) to receive additional training above the Firefighters, so we do that too. Since everyone is held to a standard and that standard is non-negotiable, the Shift Commander and the rest of the career department knows that the guys stepping off the truck have a reasonable idea of what they are doing and can be trusted to make intelligent decisions. Not only that, but we train WITH the career department. That way we know what they expect from us and they know what our capabilities, equipment and limitations are. There are certain things we take active roles in, and certain things we take support roles in (some of the special ops stuff, specifically) simply because we lack the equipment and training to do proficiently. So we maintain our training in how to best support the career staff on such a scene (IE: proper sizeup of a tech rescue incident, setting up an initial system, etc) But in all honesty, we don't make a big deal out of the "who is in command" business, we don't really care as long as the person knows what the hell they are doing. Which is the way it SHOULD be everywhere. Just for informational purposes, Wallingford runs the following: Headquarters (Career) Car 4 (Shift Commander - Captain) Truck 1 Engine 2 Medic 1 Numerous Special Ops and spare vehicles Station 1 (Career) Engine 1 Rescue 3 (ALS pickup, runs from 9-6 on weekdays I believe) Station 4 (Volunteer - Cook Hill Company) Engine 4 I believe the HAZMAT pickup/trailer is stored here as well. NOTE: Station 4 only runs from 6PM-9AM, staffed by volunteers from Company 5, due to a lack of volunteers at that company. Station 5 (Volunteer - Yalesville Company) Engine 5 Squad 5 ("Medium" sized engine, used for EMS, rescue, brush, service calls, etc) Station 7 (Volunteer - North Farms Company) Engine 7 Rescue 7 (Heavy Rescue) Tanker 7 Station 8 (Volunteer - East Wallingford Company) Engine 8 Squad 8 Light/Generator Tower

Right, that's a good point. An NYPD Officer can't shoot a gang member in a shootout without being arrested by IA and investigated by the Justice Dept. for civil rights violations half the time, this would be a legal nightmare for them.

Yeah I must have slept through the CSPAN episode where Congress gave the Commissioner of the NYPD National Command Authority to shoot down civilian aircraft... Knew I should have paid closer attention in American Government...

That's affirmative Izzy. Newtown Hook & Ladder got rid of it and New Fairfield picked it up as our first Truck 4 and had Pierce refurb the ladder (no, I don't know why Pierce, that was a few years before I joined New Fairfield.) It served New Fairfield well as a "intro" truck, since we'd never had a ladder before, but we wanted to replace it and get something newer. When New Fairfield picked up Mt. Kisco's former ladder, old T-4 went up to Kent, CT to be assessed for their possible purchase. They ulimately decided against it, and it ended up in Hartsdale when they had the issue with TL-15. From what I was told, it saw work at a decent sized fire about a year or two back in Mt. Vernon as a mutual aid ladder. Say what you want about the old girl, but she can take a beating like no other. Great rig to train on, we had Capt. Morris from FDNY R-1 teach an Aerial Ops class in New Fairfield and we had some fun with it around town. That, and the Jake Brake on that thing registers on the Richter Scale. Would work well as a spare ladder in Westchester, great to train new operators with.

I can't speak to the policies of the NY ART Teams, but in my experience with OEM in the New Haven area, CT's State Animal Response Team for Region 2 only takes domesticated, household animals. They just don't have the resources to house some of those more exotic or large animals. Its not perfect, but they can accomidate most people. It should also be noted that they are to be housed SEPARATELY from the families, and those families can visit with their animals during designated hours. Only those with a specific wristband given at check-in may enter the pet shelter.

I'm going to have to report you to ASPCA for cruelty to animals. Its not right to beat a dead horse...

RIP Cezar!

Maybe purely Red Cross run shelters don't, but if the Red Cross comes into New Haven county to run one of our shelters, there will be a pet shelter set up, regardless of ARC's policies. Red Cross may not OPERATE the animal shelter, but it really isn't up to them whether or not we run one out of the same location. They aren't an authority having jurisdiction, just a supporting agency. We have the State Animal Response Team (SART) supplemented by local Animal Control Officers to handle this side of the operation. The idea is that people won't come to shelters if they can't bring their pets, who they consider part of their families. If we don't accept pets, those people will stay home, and we will have to send manpower out to get them as the incident escalates. Either that, or we can't send people out and they are put in harm's way. So pet sheltering (which operates under ESF-11 instead of ESF-8 like regular mass care/sheltering) does play an important role in shelter operations. I cannot recall whether or not Pet Sheltering was required by FEMA post-Katrina, but I know it was strongly suggested. I would be wary of saying it was a "federal law" without actually citing a US Code that says so.

I'm sorry, but I have to completely disagree with you here. I've heard Chief Goldfeder (the founder of FFCC.com) speak before, and he makes it very clear that the entire purpose if his site is to let us learn from others' mistakes and to generate discussion on issues of safety and survival, whether it be on the internet, on the rig, or at the station. He wants dialogue on these issues, and for good reason.

How about Oklahoma City? A lot of people aren't aware of the radical Islamic connection there... Terry Nichols was married to a Filipino mail-order bride and took a trip over there, bringing his buddy Tim with him to "meet the parents." Look into her family's affiliations, and who else was in the same city at the exact same time. The answers may surprise you. WAY too crazy to be a coincidence. Anyway, on the actual topic, I'm glad the Rangers were not seriously harmed, particularly since one of them is a friend of mine. Sounds like much ado about nothing. They were told they violated rules and made a big incident by assaulting Peace Officers for media attention/lawsuits/whatever. I won't lose any sleep over the plight of these Muslims not being able to wear headgear on rides.

Mass. State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) en route for search and rescue operations. MSP has highways into Springfield shut down to non-emergency traffic Numerous MA and northern CT Fire Departments setting up Task Forces and Strike Teams to assist. 1927: Reports of people kicking in doors (possible looting) on Winthrop Street, Springfield (PD Live Feed) Large crowd found but Officers reported on the radio "nobody saw anything" 1933: Springfield PD sounding alert tones, NWS reporting possible touchdown of another tornado within the next 15 minutes. Advising units to use caution and shelter in place if necessary. 1937: Springfield PD Narcotics reporting a completely leveled house at Cambria and Pennsylvania. Attempting to assess if anyone is inside. 1938: MA National Guard on scene, heading to 50 Maple Street for Staging and Liasion. 1939: Update from NWS, another event predicted for approximately 8:00PM. "Eyes to the sky." Units advised to shelter in place if necessary.

2 firehouses and the Fire Chief's house destroyed, which is sure to throw a wrench in rescue operations. Any word on donations being set up to support the guys down there?

Great work by the Parole Officer who tipped off LAPD about the whereabouts of this perp. Also nice job by LAPD on the arrest. Hopefully they can get the scumbag to talk and give up the other mope.

Date: 5/13/11 Time: 2110 Location: 23 Christian Street Frequency: Units Operating: Initial Dispatch: Engine 1, Engine 2, Truck 1, Medic 1, Car 4 (Capt/Shift Commander), Rescue 7 (RIT) Added to assignment: Engine 8, Squad 8, Car 1 (CoD), Car 2 (DC), Car 7 (Fire Marshal) Outside Agencies: Hunters EMS, State Fire Marshal, United Illuminating, Wallingford PD Weather Conditions: Cloudy Description Of Incident: Working fire in a 3-story wood frame dwelling Reporters: Writer: Sage Vigiles Multiple calls to Wallingford Fire Dispatch for structure fire in the rear of 23 Christian St. Car 4 immediately requested volunteers to cover stations, volunteer Engine 8 added to the assignment upon calling in staffed. Heavy fire in the rear of the house and the attic, self venting from the roof on arrival. Primary and secondary searches negative. State Fire Marshal requested to scene. Fire Displaces Five People on Christian Street Photos will be up on Wallingfordfire.com at some point.

With some creativity, it can be done, but it takes a lot of work. In Wallingford they recruited several UNH students to cover engine companies during weekdays. We're up to about 2 days a week of coverage, working on getting more organized and being able to cover more days. To set up this program took alot of admin work, training (since everybody comes from different departments with different SOPs) and communication (with the Chiefs, the volunteer companies we're working at, and the student firefighters themselves) but so far its been an awesome program. "Bunking" programs have been pretty effective down South, and they are starting to make a foothold in CT. Obviously not every community has a college nearby, but its just an example of things that can be do. No grant money was harmed during the creation of this program...

In CT, municipal and state departments can purchase vehicles and equipment off of "State Contract Pricing" and not have to put things out to bid. This ensures fair pricing (the bids go to the state who publishes all dealers' bids, that become public record) and then the department can pick and choose what they want. Not sure if it works for custom firetrucks, but uniforms and cars its good for.

God Bless the Special Operations warriors who undertook this operation. I hope they release their names and hold a parade for them. Finally justice for the FDNY 343, NYPD 23 and PAPD 37 as well as all of the civilians who were killed that day. They should drag his body from 10 House to Shanksville, PA to the Pentagon behind Engine 10 and 10 Truck.

I would also like the address to send a check for the legal defense fund for PO Hess. Somebody PM me please.

Rest in Peace Brother! I have a few buddies at Windsor FD, very sad to hear about this.

I've seen it too, but the same department also picked up a couple of Tauruses as D.B. or ranking officer unmarked units. I can understand being skittish about a new type of car that hasn't been extensively tested in the field, and the maintenance costs that are related. But couldn't that money be used to buy extra parts for the Taurus P.I. fleet that they are going to have to build up?

That is absolutely awesome. I got to ride on one of CT Environmental Conservation Police's SAFEBoats, they are really incredible machines.

That actually brings up a question I have. I don't do EMS therefore I don't know much about how it works in various areas. I know that in New Fairfield the town pays the private company for the contract to provide ALS services. Then the private company comes in and responds to calls and bills the patients insurance. Is that the normal way its done? Does it seem fair that they essentially get paid coming and going like that?

East Haven, CT Police - Alleged "racial profiling" because POs are pulling over more illegal immigrants is being investigated by the FBI. Well illegal immigrants don't have drivers licenses, right? So its reasonable to believe they would make more mistakes driving. Cambridge, MA Police - Obama says a CPD Officer "Acted stupidly" when he arrested a man who appeared to be breaking into a house that ended up being his, igniting a national arguement. These are just two that I followed, I'm sure a google search would find you plenty more.

There's a difference between "indicted" and "convicted." DoJ under Obama/Holder LOVES to second guess police officers. Hats off to the PPD PBA, Officer Hess deserves this award.