firecapt32

I belive the new guiedlines call for annual inspection and cleaning of gear. In the third year the gear must be cleaned inspected and tested. After 10 year the gear must be turned over and new gear issued.

am i seeing right is that a bow string truss with a build over roof??

When I first got into the Fire Service ohh so many years ago. we had a fire in a building at the top of Beekman Ave. I was in the ladder company (lad 38) and working at venting the roof-after venting we were going back down the aerial ladder when I noticed a whole lot of fire apparatus, I went to the Chief who I knew pretty well actually very well I asked him what all the trucks wwere there for. answer was short and simple. [b]"I CAN ALWAYS EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE HERE AND TURN THEM AROU ND IF I DONT NEED THEM BUT I WILL HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING WHY THEY ARENT HERE IF I REALLY NEED THEM" I have always thought that they were pretty good words of wisdom.

great idea but knowing us we will find some way to screw it up--redo it get extra parts out of it or somthing.

Capt Demps I only know what I was told and it had to do with Westchester and the Yonkers Check in point. As I stated the agreement is between FDNY/NYS OFPC. There are much bigger and brighter brains then I have figureing this out. Westchester is "supposed" to cover the Bronx and thats it. FDNY has made the other arrangements. After all its the FDNY mutual aid plan. They have set the standard and the criteria. Sorry Capt I left out Eastchester in the list of Departments that have particiated in the joint training.

The plan in place was developed by NYC and the State of New York. It calls for a "montoring/assigement" check in at Yonkers Raceway. This check in is for ALL/ANY fire apparatus going into the city including Fire Chief vehicles. The plan call for each department so submit names at the check point so they can be run through the computer system so that only those with the proper training can respond. FDNY will be at the Yonkers checkin point as well as State OFPC. Again the Plan was made between FDNY and the State of New York. It calls for 5 man engine and 5 man truck companies and 5 man rescues. Those with FF1 FF2 safety/survival FAST will be allowed to respond.I believe there are other requirment. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE NEW YORK STATE CREDENTIALS YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE CITY. All personnel will be computer checked. If you cannot suply a 5 man apparatus you might have to join forces and team up with another department. Westchester will only be assigned to Bronx fire stations. There is another check point set up at Citi field and another in Staten Island. No one will be allowed in the city unles you have the "proper cerdentials" issued only at the check in points. Again this system was a combined FDNY NYS(OFPC) joint undertaking. Westchester units from suthern Weastchster-Yonker/Mt Vernon/New Rochelle/Greenburgh/White Plains as well as units from Pelham/Pelham Manor and the FDVA have all participiated in this intra departmental training. I am sure that we all hope and pray that we will never have to implement this plan.

the more things change the more they stay the same

The two pretty much go "hand in glove" don't they? I am not sure you can talk about apparatus responding to report of fires in Westchester without considering who will put out the fires. I will leave it with this thought: Bigger apparatus isn't always better, and neither is more apparatus, its the quality not the quantity of both men and apparatus.

Good question Seth Good luck getting answers I think things will work out in the future==more and better training makes better Officers--better Officers will make better Chiefs... better Chiefs will make better Department better Departments will make smarter Departments. Smarter Departments will ease egos out. We are not alone all over NYS the fire service is facing the same things.. we will have to compromise and make adjustments or some one will do it for us. We all know it is better to do it our selves then having it forced on us. The citizens that we are sworn to protect demand that we do the right thing.. they deserve the protection. Think of them first and last.

My first reaction to this was "no way" but on futher reflection I find myself saying "maybe" under certain circumstances. first- there should be a "parent night" for all under 18 potential, so that parents find out what being a firefighter is all about and I dont mean just going to the station to hang out--I think when you tell them the reality of being a good firefighter, they might look at it a little differently. No matter how you slice it--there are still an average of 100 firefighters deaths every year and over 80,000 injuries. so they should know its not all fun and games. I think some times we sugar coat things for our recuitment. Second-strict policies on when they would be allowed in the station. ie no responses after 11 pm. on school nights. No leaving school for alarms. No failing grades in school. Things like that. you get my concerns-- Young citizens can learn a lot of respopnsibilites from the fire service so if you do this you have to do it right.

Just wondering what the training requirements would be for part timers?? do they have to complete the 229 hours of the law? Physicals? mask fit testing and all that goes with the requirements? Might be some can of worms that gets opened here.

I see it a little differently--although your right about egos and things that might get in the way and I do agree with most of that. I see many progresive firefighters coming through the ranks--firefighters with training--certified training. Not that there is any thing wrong with in house stuff. You have to think globely and not all the time localy. There are many Departments that are taking aggresive steps to mandate training for their firefighters.From FIREFIGHTER ONE--SURVIVIAL--FAST-- OSHA--BBP -- HAZ MAT-- OFFICER TRAINING. you get the idea. The world is changing and we have to change with it or be left behind. That holds true for the fire service. The axium "lead--follow--or get out of the way" means as much today as it ever did. How many times have we stated the We "are held to a higher standard" We have to keep that in the back of our minds as we move foward to protect the citizens of out community. We have to blend the traditions of the past with a vision to the future. We also have to be honest with the community--we have to take a hard look at manpower/response times/training with one thing in mind--TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE The best fire apparatus--the best equipment-the best intentions are no subsitute for training-dediciation and committment to the Department--to the community--to the fire servive. just my thoughts

wow 8 years already have you ever figured how many posts that could be?? Lots of vital information gets passed along in here---as well as some non essential stuff too The site is here for all to learn and to pass along things. Seth and staff keep up the great work and remember most of us can weed out the crazy stuff and concentrate on the good learning things that get posted in here. Heres another thing to figure how many years of experience is on the site??

We have been chatting about a lot of things on here concerning FD's /mutual aid/ manpower ect but I am wondering this-- How does your Department figure response time? Does it start when Mrs Calls?? when dispatch receives the call?? when the tones are sent out?? when the first APPARATUS is enroute? When the first APPARATUS is on scene?? notice I state apparatus not Chief or chiefs car. Just wondering??

alright your correct but you get the idea of the post.. department figure response times differently and to their advantage. there is no overall way to determine which way is correct. From time of call? From time dispatch--dispatches? From time apparatus leaves station? To arrival of apparatus? Arrival of Chief? Arrival of any one with a portable? Arrival of enough men to help midagate the problem? Dont you think we all need one true way to calculate this once and for all?? Do you think we need one universal way to calculate a true response time.

Somtimes I just get tired of hearing " our response time is under 4 min" do they forget that it took 5-10 min to get from home to the station, get in the apparatus and get things moving?? Heres a question for all the fire house lawyers out there concerning this.. if the department"Official Response Time" is calculated from when the apparatus leaves the station ,and someone gets hurt while driving to the station after the pager went out but before the apparatus leaves is he/she covered for the accident?? or is he/she responding to the call?? can you have it both ways?

I see we have different opinions on ths subject---all valid point. So if we cant even agree on somthing as simple as a time to start, how are we all going to merge/consolidate/regionalize?

Correct it was Webbers lunber and correct again it was a windowless building. Made entry and ventiliation extreamly difficult. Fire was in the middle of the building.I went in the front door to try and locate seat of fire,it had already gained a hold of the second floor and was rolling down the long floor area. Mutual aid was called fast as manpower and water were the concern. no one was in the building.

Lets not let the Hartsdale sign fool any one. Newmark and Lewis is with in Greenville Fire District and they were the first responders. you ask how I know I was Captain that night. It was a well planned arson fire. We had a call there the night before at aprox the same time. So they knew what apparatus and manpower were responding. We responded with an Officer and 5 firefighters. first mutual aid was Hartsdale/Fairview on the 10-75. Fire went right up the middle of the building through the heating system that had been tampered with, then spread to the facade and just ran around the buiding. When all was said and done mutual aid was form HFD, FFD, WPFD,SFD,YFD all to the scene.

Thank you Steve for comeing tonight and thanks for the pictures. Dick And Jeannie did a great job tonight with this moveing tribute to a FDNY Fire Captain. One more night to come see this.

"THE GUYS" is a must see play for anyone associated with or knows anyone involved with 9/11/01. Dick is a great supporter of BurnCare and is doing the play gratus. All we are asking for is a donation to the Foundation if you so choose to do so. There is no admission fee. The play is apx 90 min long and belive me you will be spellbound. As Director of BurnCare we are earmarking all donations from this event for the Children Burn Camp. So if you come be generous. Walter Ferguson Director BurnCare...EveryWhere Foundation Inc

A few more thoughts--- a good well rounded fire department certified fire training program for a department will establish well rounded, educated firefighters. They in turn will make well educated productive fire officers and that produces the fire chief with certifications and education. Training--certification--fire education make a good fire officer or chief not "its our turn" or popularity. There I go thinking again

Certified training and qualificiations are two of the most important things a fire department can require. Although I am not a fan of the two week firefighter one course, it does provide a vehicle to let students get the training completed in a shorter period of time. As a Fire Instructor I do include survival in any firefighter one class that I am the lead. FAST is a course that helps firefighters help firefighters and should be taken by well seasoned fire personnel not by firefighters with less the a few years under their belts get some time on the nozzle or on the ladderfirst.It will help you undrstand the importance of FAST. The AHJ has the right to set the standards and they should, they should also supplpy the vehicle to meet these standards. How many departments pay milage to the firefighters that attend training either at WCDES or NYS Fire Academy? or a meal allowence. Department should have a real training budget and Chiefs that know how to administer. Todays Fire chief is way more then getting the wet stuff on the red stuff. It administration/human resourses/training/osha/hazmat/public relations /budget process/recruitment-- just to name a few. Todays modern Fire Department is a miramid of things and they shuood be reflected in the training and qualifications of the firefighters and officers. just my thoughs

DC2T's Your retired you have pleanty of time to read about all the accidents.

In every class that I am part of either as a lead or helper I state the following: Your fire depratments arent that big--- you should have a very good idea of the type of construction in your response areas. Carry a camera and take pictures of any construction that you see in your town. Put the pictures on a power point and throw them on a screen in the station for a drill and just talk about how things are build and how they might react if there is a fire in them. It is always good to see the building as they go up before they cover up any thing.