M' Ave

This site lists several YFD members (including an Asst. Chief) as "Terminated". I take this to mean poor wording for Retired. I can't imagine these members were fired. What went down?

This is an incredibly limited explaination of the salary. Top pay? Starting pay? Is this base pay or an averave when factoring in O/T and other contractually guaranteed items. How about fringe benefit and hours worked (ala Capt. Benz)

Good question..... On my job we wear the Gemtor. When in a TL bucket you should secured, however the bucket has a seatbelt like device that will allow you to lean out and make cuts to a roof from the bucket. However, like a seat belt, it locks if the person pulls away too fast, ie. like falling out of the bucket. We have no pre-piped water ways on sticks so operating on the ladder with a ladder pipe in operation is NEVER allowed. If you are going to be at the tip cutting then you should clip in with the gemtor. Other than that, I'm not sure when you'd need to be clipped to a rung, but there could be a reason I'm not aware of.

As if 1/4" long gang nails weren't bad enough...... Good heads up info, thanks!

The power train on all the rigs, I believe, is fairly similar so the brand of truck shouldn't really matter. What powers it and steers it is all the same. Bottom line, they run a lot on rough streets and are driven hard. Nothings going to last forever. Are you in 10 truck?

Probies at "The Rock" will work day tours for a week straight in a 10-14 engine (4 FF, so one open seat on the back step). They will not do see any fire duty and only be allowed into a structure once the incident is declared under control. They will learn A.F.I.D. and house related chores as well. Interesting plan.

This is an incredibly acute response and I'm not sure what qualifies you to make such an observation. Are the basics easy? Of course they are. Cut holes, spray water, search room and others. This, however, is not what makes up the bulk of academy training time. Knowing the positions in the FDNY, ESPECIALLY a truck co. is challenging and is what allows our job to move VERY quickly. We have the good fortune of adequate staffing and can put it to use by having a highly coordinated attack. Like anything else, repetition makes for a smoother operation. When everyone on a line knows the best place to be, a 12 length stretch can be charged and bled in 2 minutes! **Also, it's hard to "follow orders of your officers and the ic" when you're the OV man operating independently, or the control man hooking up to a standpipe and being responsible for getting the brothers water with no officer to tell you what they need. How much practice do you think a good roof man needs? There are so many building characteristics that can impact roof operations. THe bottom line: Congratulations, your assessment of the job was about 10% complete. All that being said, the academy is a bit on the long side, but it isn't saving the city money, nor is it much of a waste. If the probies didn't maintain The Rock in preparation for the next class then someone else would have to do it. It's not a bad way to learn some responsibility for the place you work. Lastly, the ranks are flush, why do they need to put through more academy classes??

I don't think that's all too new. Either way, it seems like they are spending a great deal of time tinkering with the schedule in this 23 week academy. I think this sounds like a good plan. Let them get some real world firehouse experience as part of the training. They won't be on the chart. They'll just be like a buff for the week......a buff that'll clean a lot of pots and pans!

A lot of places have only one air horn. Saves $$

Are you making a BARB related comment? LOL

It was done, finished. It served for a long time and the cost of keeping her servicable was just too great. Also, with the new SAFE boats that are available, (like the Coast Gaurd 27's) the older vessel is not very well suited for rescue.

Having nothing to do with Obama, but simply with party history, did anyone see the NY Times this sunday? There was an article comparing the history of this country under Republican control vs. Democratic control. Under the democrats, the middle class has grown and the divide between the high income and the low income did nothing but get smaller. Under republicans the income gap grew NON-STOP! Look, I just don't understand why the average blue collar voter (I very much am one) votes republican when that party has done NOTHING for them and give endless tax breaks to the rich? I'm fairly sure I'll be voting democrat come November. Side note, stop all the silly Obama propaganda. He's not muslim, he didn't go to an anti-american school in iraq. The list of rumors goes on forever. He may not be perfect, but I'll take a change that's as different as can be from Bush.

I went last year and I'll certainly be going this year. It's a great day, with a terrific message and for a terrific cause. Plenty of people even walk the route, so don't worry if you're not into running. Everyone who can go, should!!

It's an excellent article....for a change. I'm all for SOP's and precautions, but being able to think outside that box is what makes a great fireman stand out. These are the guys that everyone wants to learn from. It's procedures that we learn in the firehouse from senior men that are priceless.

GOOD! Something new is what this country needs. Obama may not be perfect, but he's a lot better than an irrelevant, OLD man who's a little too closely aligned with Bush. McCain won't survive two terms, I bet he can't make it through 1. It's sad, but he's not in shape to be president. God bless him for his service to this country, but that doesn't make you presidential material.

Technically, isn't the 2nd due engine officer the water resource officer until relieved? When do they assign a B.C. as water resource chief? Is it on a 3rd alarm?

By all accounts, the Smoke II requires a GREAT deal of work just to get it together for the annual blessing of the fleet. It's done, and obviously the powers that be feel she's not suited for anything other than a second life as an artificial reef.

If you're going to save a Marine unit's boat, I wouldn't have it be the Smoke II. The McKeane is the nicest vessel in the fleet today. As for the Firefighter, yes, if all goes according to plan she'll be OOS within a couple of years. The relacement will be a new 140' vessel.

Why do we put any REAL stock in ISO? It has an impact on business owners insurance rates, that's about it. Any idea that it is an accurate measure of a fire departments capability is false, with little exception.

Boy, the brothers on Seneca were pissed.....you won't find any fans of the new dispatch policy there. I don't think anyone in the ranks finds fault anywhere but with the bean counters. It's a crime that they tried to put that on the D.D. or whomever. What's the thoughts on BARB where you guys sit? Because my company lost and gained first due boxes with NO rhyme or reason!! Lost some around the corner and gained a few 5 avenues away. Seems crazy to me!

In a perfect world: For any engineman: Pants, hood, bunkered up the whole way. You're making a semi-blind push into the seat of the fire, so the more protection the better, with seemingly little sacrifice. For the truckie (and I have VERY little experiance in a truck): Seems like coat and boots would be the way to go. Better mobility and an ability to feel the conditions around you before they get too far gone. Then again.....I've met a few people who would be dead if not for their full set of gear......

I'm not so sure I'd rush to bring a line into a building unless I was certain that there was some extension. We'd like to minimize damage from our operations when possible. Be ready with some guys at the back-step, but it looks like you have brick walls here, no serious exposure risk unless you are talking about a LONG duration and I would think that most medium size dumpsters don't even have the fuel to burn that long. Why not move a line in (smooth bore) and use the reach of the stream to knock the fire down. THere shouldn't be a need to put people under the transformers or even very close to them. Just proceed slowly and keep watch of the potential hazards. Hey, anyone ever consider a line from the roof, thus never being below the wires or transformers? THis could take a while though, considering the small isolated fire. A deck gun isn't bad idea, but it uses a lot of water. An adept enging should be able to knock this down with tank water. (Although hooking up to water should be a must) You definitly need a truck or two, in addition to your engine, for overhaul. *Also, with overhaul and the TIC: that thing is a fun toy that MIGHT give you some insight, but there's no substitute for opening the wall. THat's my simple 2 cents.

I recently saw a Haz-Tac bus on an EMS box. Lowers in the rear a couple inches when you open the doors. Makes a lotta noise for something that only moves 2 inches. I got the immpression from the medic that she thought the whole thing was a little silly.

Bud Sucks, Miller Sucks, Coors Sucks and Sam Adams is heading down the tubes. There are a million micro-brews out there that make great stuff that you can find at any beer store. Some of the bigger ones are great too. Brooklyn Brewery, to be local, or Captain Lawrence to be REALLY local. It's in Pleasantville!

I hope this kid makes a swift and full recovery as well. FYI, (since everyone was quick to throw the book at this kid) The results from his blood/tox test was negetive.