Reputation from X2321 - EMTBravo.com

Westfield12 liked a post in a topic by X2321 in WCVFA Convention - 2015 September 21, 2015

Photos from Buchanan's parade.
http://www.lohud.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2015/09/19/buchanan-fire-department-75th-anniversary-parade/72493900/

X2321 liked a post in a topic by msm232 in Irvington stabbing: Fire chief stopped attack April 9, 2015

Great Job, Chief!
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2015/04/09/fire-chief-stopped-irvington-station-stabbing/25514307/
Stay safe...

X2321 liked a post in a topic by Dinosaur in Goldens Bridge - 3rd Alarm 2-25-15 March 3, 2015

You know the consolidation of volunteer departments without the addition of any paid personnel could be a significant improvement over the completely arcane system we have now. Everyone immediately assumes that consolidation implies paid but it doesn't! How about merging 4-5 districts that serve the same town? Or the countless villages that rely heavily on each other and are smaller than a postage stamp.
Imagine a River Towns or Sound Shore or North County Fire District with several former departments under one hierarchy. Economies of scale in purchasing, reduction of apparatus numbers (and the ability to have "spares", something virtually non-existent outside the big cities), higher personnel counts, standard training, administration and operations, to name a few.
A member department with strengths in one area can help one weak in that area and so on. Officers can be vetted from a larger pool of candidates improving the quality, competition, and ultimately performance. Chiefs will oversee a bigger department giving them more experience. Budgets can be consolidated perhaps reducing the overall cost to the taxpayer.
There's a lot to be said for consolidating and it doesn't mean adding ONE paid guy.

X2321 liked a post in a topic by M' Ave in Goldens Bridge - 3rd Alarm 2-25-15 March 2, 2015

This discussion, and this website, will often include conversations about operations and tactics. If we can't critique (constructively) operations of our own, or other departments, we'll learn nothing.
Emergency operations from New York City to Peoria deserve analysis and critique. No event is without mistake or action that could be evaluated after the fact. What are we supposed to say? The fire went out, great job guys?
For my own part of this discussion; I was not there, I did not take part. That limits my ability to comment, but photos and resources called raised some points for discussion. I for one will ALMOST never question the request for additional resources. Call more than ya need and send'em home if you find your self in better position to manage the incident with units on scene. At this particular fire, it looks as though the first due department was faced with several adverse conditions and they summoned more resources to overcome them. Fine. I did question the need for members to be operating on a peaked roof, covered in snow, to facilitate vertical ventilation. Vert. Venting is not always particularly beneficial in a PD and the risk of putting members on the roof seems unnecessary. In my dept., peaked roof ventilation is accomplished from the bucket of a tower ladder while the member is belted in. Clearly there is decades of operational experience that calls for such caution. Chainsaws, additionally, are THE. MOST. DANGEROUS. TOOL. we use.
I hope this discussion continues with focus on an, over-all, job well done. However,we can all improve and this is how.
**Discussions on staffing, consolidation and general resources is one that needs a great deal more attention than it's getting, but lets focus here on a single operation, it's merit's and detraction's, and not something fundamental that effects the whole fire service.

BFD1054 liked a post in a topic by X2321 in It's time to go January 1, 2015

Best of luck in your retirement Angelo, your boys will continue your legacy.

BFD1054 liked a post in a topic by X2321 in It's time to go January 1, 2015

Best of luck in your retirement Angelo, your boys will continue your legacy.

X2321 liked a post in a topic by PCFD ENG58 in It's time to go December 31, 2014

Well guys after 43 years as a Port Chester Firefighter [ 18 years very active volunteer working at DPW then getting the dream job getting paid to do what I love to do this is my last day. It didn't end the way I wanted it too but away I go . I was fortunate to catch the war years when we went out every day for a job worked side by side with many dept.'s and made a lot of life long friends on mutual aid. I saw a lot of death and sorrow [ Gulliver's 24 DOA Stouffer's 26 DOA 9/11 world trade center ] and saved a few along the way but my greatest call was closing a large window [ life savers building ] for a 84 year old lady who was freezing because her window was open and she needed help. The next day she baked a apple pie for me and my partner. So I say good bye to it all and hope that I left a small mark somewhere. To my 2 sons that are following or trying to follow in my foot step's keep up the good work in this most rewarding profession . Good luck to the guy's that are left on my job and hope that thing's get better for you and the people we were sworn to protect.
Angelo Sposta [ Retired Local #1971 ]

X2321 liked a post in a topic by z28skunk in White Plains Firefighter suffers heart attack battling flames November 5, 2014

Hey guys here for an update-my father was responding to a full assignment on Monday when he suddenly collapsed. My brothers from WPFD used an AED to bring him back almost immediately. He went in for surgery yesterday and all went well. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

X2321 liked a post in a topic by FFPCogs in Are Citizens With Cell Phone Videos Interfering With Law Enforcement Doing Their Jobs? July 30, 2014

I know Seth and in answer to your first question above, police officers need the ability to control a scene, including the proximity of any videographers that may be filming. When one of these would be Steve Spielbergs "crosses the line" and either gets too close or attempts to disrupt the officers in the performance of their duty than by all means at the very least they should be arrested and charged with interfering with a police officer. As far as the suspect and for the police too, there is not nor should there be any expectation of privacy when in a public space, such as a street corner, mall or movie theater, therefore if they are filmed either being arrested or arresting that video can be put out in the public realm without consent. If on the other hand a suspect is in their living room or on their front lawn, well then that's private property and a person has every right to expect what goes on there to remain private. The police though as public servants enjoy no such protection when on someone else's property, so Mrs. Jones has every right to film them arresting her husband in that living room or on the front lawn. And finally in answer to your last question, well I think we all know the answer to that one. Social media has indeed changed the game for all of us, public servant and civilian alike, and put us all under the harsh scrutiny of the public eye.
And while I understand that you did not call for the preventing of people of filming arrests, again it is disconcerting that the question was even asked because it belies a much bigger problem. We Americans have become desensitized to violence in our streets and in the world around us, and it is only natural that at some point we would also become desensitized to the curtailing our personal freedoms as a means of combatting that violence. On the surface yea sure the problem is dealt with, but at what cost? With each new restriction comes an acceptance of the loss of personal freedoms and it then becomes that much easier to take away more of them. We must be forever vigilant and protective of our First Amendment rights, including the right to film and share the police in action, for if we let them be curtailed we will not ever get them back.

X2321 liked a post in a topic by Bnechis in Hackensack Ford Fire - July 1st 1988 July 1, 2014

Today July 1, 2014 we take time to remember our brothers:
Captain Richard Williams,
Lieutenant Richard Reinhagen,
Firefighter Steven Ennis,
Firefighter illiam Kresja,
Firefighter Leonard Radumski
Who made the supreme sacrifice 26 years ago while operating at alarm #1177. Please take a moment to remember these brave men and say a prayer for them, their families,all the firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty, and those firefighters who protect us day in and day out across this county.

I will never forget watching this fire on the noon news with the members of NRFD Station #3. We sat at the kitchen table and moments before the collapse that killed these 5 brave firefighters, we recognized the danger.

Never stop learning, Never Stop Training, The Building is your Enemy.

Many did not learn the lessons of the Waldbaums Fire, but Hackensack was the wake up call. "Beware the Truss" - F. Brannigan.
...Never Forget!

And if you do not know what happened that day, you need to understand it or get out of the fire service!

Much of what was learned that day is still not done in Westchester. I see career and volunteer depts. that did not learn the many lessons that this tragedy taught me!
And the lessons go way beyond the Truss!

X2321 liked a post in a topic by ronfrehm in Old Yonkers Fire Dept Photos May 30, 2014

Photo by Ron Frehm of YFD Engine 8 operating at 88 Buena Vista Ave 2 alarm fire on Feb 1, 1970

E106MKFD liked a post in a topic by X2321 in My Neighbors Recycled A House And The Katonah Fire Department Benefitted! -Martha Stewart March 30, 2014

Martha Stewart wrote the captions under those photos, they were on her blog. I don't think she has much firefighting experience.

FFPCogs liked a post in a topic by X2321 in Congrats to FFPCogs, EMTBravo's January 2014 MOTM January 5, 2014

Thank you FFPCogs and others serving our country and protecting our freedom. Stay safe brother.

X2321 liked a post in a topic by ONLOCATION in Elections and Officers Requirements December 12, 2013

It looks like the only a****** here is possibly yourself. I agree with the majority of the posts here and it is a proven fact that the vast majority of the Volunteer Fire Service elections are pretty much popularity contests and thats garbage. A member can have every class and certification in the book but the bottom line is some people have no business being an officer or chief period. It shouldnt even be a question agencies should and obviously need to have requirments for positions and need to stick to them and just dont "bend them" or make exceptions. Turn-over in the ranks in agencies because "thats just how it is" is Bull****, If they work and are willing to stay put and continue to have the drive to do the job the right way...leave them and groom others to do the right thing, not blow it on a "Filler". The respect of your members toward a potential canidate for the drive of doing whats right for the common good of your district/department/company, citizens, and safety of the membership is paramount. I'd go out on a limb and have to say that maybe it just wasnt your turn and it might be time to start making more training videos.

Using_All_Hands liked a post in a topic by X2321 in How to speak to the media November 25, 2013

Complete silence is not the answer. If there is an incident the media is going to want to talk to someone. If no one on the fire side is going to talk to the media than they are going to talk to some PD desk Sgt. who wasn't even at the scene, or even worse some neighbor standing in the street who knows nothing of the incident but wants to see his name or photo in the paper. Each department should have a PIO (Public Information Officer) an ex-chief would make a great PIO. Listen its not just the Journal News and News 12, there is Patch, The Daily Voice, Hudson Valley Reporter and several other on-line news outlets trying to be the first to get their story out there.

Using_All_Hands liked a post in a topic by X2321 in How to speak to the media November 25, 2013

Complete silence is not the answer. If there is an incident the media is going to want to talk to someone. If no one on the fire side is going to talk to the media than they are going to talk to some PD desk Sgt. who wasn't even at the scene, or even worse some neighbor standing in the street who knows nothing of the incident but wants to see his name or photo in the paper. Each department should have a PIO (Public Information Officer) an ex-chief would make a great PIO. Listen its not just the Journal News and News 12, there is Patch, The Daily Voice, Hudson Valley Reporter and several other on-line news outlets trying to be the first to get their story out there.