aacofd40

We border Baltimore City to the south, and we have a county FD(Anne Arundel) and a city FD (Annapolis). The county is combination and the city is all paid. We share dispatch, radios, and the training academy, but Annapolis maintains its own equipment, its own personnel systems, and structure. The running assignments are automatic aid based, so depending on where the call is or avaliability of units you may get city units or county units. Be safe, JR

A view from south of Westchester. We assign RIT (our FAST) to one of the initial assigned companies. Often times it is the 3rd due engine or 2nd due truck/special service. Our staffing is inconsistent, so the RIT team could be as few as 2 people, mostly likely 3, and sometimes 4. We have RIT bags on the trucks and squads. They have some rope, extra bottle, mask, and a quick-fill line. As for training. We have no RIT qualification. If you can ride, you can be on the RIT team. We also don’t have interior/exterior qualifications. You are a FFI, FFII (EMT), FFIII (Pump Operator) FFIV (EMT-I) or FFV (PM). Interestingly, we just did RIT training for our fall skills development. We reviewed the RIT bag, did some mayday training, and did a RIT evolution in our burn building. The evolution had us rescue a down FF. We had to find him, get him some air, and get him out. The building was dark and smoked up. And, we had to crawl through a small opening, over a knee wall, and down a tunnel to find him. We broke into teams of 4 using an acronym I had never heard TEAR (Team lead, Extrication, Air, and Rope) and we were timed and our air level was noted. It was a great drill. My takeaways from the drill: 1. 4 people is not enough. We were all hustling to get to the down victim, get him air, and get him packaged to move, and then had to move him. It would have been nice to have had 1 or 2 folks there who were fresh to drag him out. 2. It takes a lot longer than I thought. We did the evolution in about 13 minutes, and while I knew it was slower than we wanted, I did not think it was that slow. As I watched the next group, I thought they were in there longer than we were. Turns out they did it in about 10 mins. Sitting outside waiting made that wait seem really long. Be safe, JR

That was a really interesting post. One of the parts of this system I enjoy is hearing about other departments, and yours is pretty unique. Thanks, and be safe, JR

Great pics. Thanks. Can anyone shed some light on the apparatus placement? I was wondering why there were 2 engines in the driveway. Thanks and be safe, JR

For us: 1. It is an ALS call 2. Barbs stay in and are bandaged accordingly 3. Transport units choice if they want cops in the back or following Be safe,

Having never been on the Oasis of the Seas, I will not say for sure where there firefighting water comes from. But, in general, shipboard firefighting water is just sea water. The standpipes are connected to a fire main(s) that loops around the ship and has multiple valves and fire pumps that allow for isolation of parts of the system in case of damage. The ship can make its own fresh water with the desalinators, but that water is reserved for potable (cooking, drinking, bathing) and cooling (gear and spaces). Or, at least that is what Uncle Sam taught me. Be Safe, JR

Down here - to paraphrase (and with apologies) Dennis Smith - The only sure thing in this town is that if you call 911 and it is not a law enforcement issue, the fireman will come. We (a combined Fire and EMS service) call these medical service calls and the standard dispatch is a single engine. It is a "cold" response (no lights or sirens).

We have AED's on all of our apparatus. All of the career staff are EMT's. All the volunteers are EMT's, with the exception of our newest volunteers. If the volunteer has chosen to get FF1 first, than they have 1 year from that completion to finish EMT. On a side note, all the cops in our county also carry AED's. They are dispatched with us for many cardiac calls. Be safe, JR

We are ALL going to pay for this with increased rates, similar to health insurance, where the premiums from healthy people subsidize the sick. If the insurance companies are going to pay out more money, then they are going to need to bring in more money, and they can't wait to raise the rates on the drivers after an accident, so they will raise everyone's rates to meet that additional $6,000,0000 cost. Be safe, JR

We have been running a hot (all with RLS) warm (first due engine RLS), cold (No RLS) response framework for a few years. We have experienced all the problems expected; a cold response for an alarm that turns out to be a working fire, the sick person who is complaining of leg pain that turns out to be have a cardiac issues, and the outside gas leak that has settled in neighbors basements. My problem with this policy (ours, not FDNY's), is that it takes away responsibility and accountability from the officers. Regardless of the call, it is the officers responsibility to ensure the safe departure, travel, and arrival for the apparatus and the crew. Based on the nature, location, time of day, etc.. and the officers experience and training, he/she should be providing the direction and guidance for the type of response to ensure a safe and timely arrival. Response is a tactical decision - like deploying a handline, or setting up a collapse zone - so we should allow officers to be responsible for their units response and then to be accountable for those decisions. By having more policies that take away the decision-making and responsibility from our line officers, we are not creating the strong leaders we need in the service. Be safe, JR

We carry 1000 ft. That is the easy part. The hard part is all the appliances to link with our automatic aid partners that use 3inch supply lines as well as other units in the county that have moved from 5inch to 4inch. Be safe, JR

I think that is exactly right. The issue is not as much that the questions or content of the exams are discriminatory, it is the fact that the test itself is no indication of how well someone does in the academy or on the job. The test -in the judge's mind - is not an indicator of success at the academy or on the job, so there is no reason that it should be used in the determination of who gets the job. I think back in the day (during the Koch administration) there was a similar issue that the physical fitness test discriminated against women. The city fought it (I think Koch said something to the effect of he did not care whether it was a male or female fireman, as long as they could carry a 160lb mayor out of a burning building), and won. So, the ball is really in the city's court to prove that the test is an indicator of success at the academy and on the job. Be safe, JR

Wishing for a speedy and complete recovery for Officer Osso. And for IPD, IFD, and IVAC be strong. JR

This is a great topic, both for the can and general tactics (control of stairwell). Last week we did a pub ed event for the press on christmas tree fires, and once the press was gone, we did some additional burning at our training facility. One of the evolutions we did was keeping a room and contents fire in check with a can. It was great to see not only how much fire can but put out with a can, but also watching the effect on the fire with the can and controlling the door. The idea of putting foam in the can is a great idea too. Thanks for sharing. Be safe. JR

Betty was the best! When I look back on all the influential people in my life, she is at the top of the list. The lessons that I learned from her as high school student - the EMS lessons and most importantly the lessons about life and serving your community- have served me very well in the past 20+ years.

In keeping with the email that we rcvd this weekend, I thought this would be a good war story, lesson learned, and experience-sharing opportunity. Not to mention some pretty great pics too. Here's the story: We were first due to the boat fire. The call is located in a part of our first due on a river and with no hydrants. We were staffed with 4 in a 750g engine. Coming out of our station was the engine, the tower, the battalion chief (he was doing his rounds and was at the firehouse), and the volunteer chief. The remainder of the box consisted of 3 more engines, 2 tankers, a squad, and a quint (acting as the 2nd truck) – this is the standard box assignment to a fire in a non-hydrant area- three fireboats, and some other special operations staff. Enroute, we were advised that Fire Alarm was receiving numerous calls, and companies responding across the bridge reported a large column of smoke. The Battalion Chief arrived first and reported an approximately 35 foot powerboat at the end of the pier with heavy fire. We arrived and laid approx 300 feet of 5" from the nearest intersection. We are pretty familiar with establishing water supply operations, so the next due engine would complete the lay to the drafting site (we draft directly from the river) while the first due tanker would also tie into the line to give our engine its water while the draft was set up. The squad and the second truck to the scene, and the engines and tankers to water supply. The volunteer chief ran water supply. Once we got to the scene, we pulled a 3" line (this is a dead load), a gated Y, and our standpipe pack (200 ft of 1¾). The pier was about 200 feet below the house down a staircase, and then probably another 75 feet to the boat. We left the 3" at the foot of the pier, at the bottom of the stairs, and connected the 1¾ and stretched to the boat. We put water on the fire until the fireboat showed up. Once the Fireboat showed up, we pulled back to allow for them to extinguish the fire. They used a preconnected foam line, and made good progress, though they could not get inside the cabin. Once the bulk of the fire was knocked down, we went back up, and mopped up with the foam line from the fireboat inside the cabin. To answer some of the questions you may (or may not have): 1. Our SOP's require us to wear PFD's within 50 feet of the water. During suppression ops, it is expected that you will wear them under your coat. 2. The boat was a total loss, but from an owners perspective (and the insurance company) we did a great service by putting the fire out before the boat sank. It is much more difficult and expensive to raise a boat then to tow it. 3. We did get on the boat to mop up and hit the pockets of fire that could not be reached by the fireboat or from the pier. Getting on the boat was similar to getting on a roof. We sounded it before and was especially concerned with how it felt. The hull looked good from all sides, and there was no listing to indicate it was breached. 4. We did not run out of water, but we did run out of foam. All of our engines have a built in foam tank, so their were none of the old foam containers available. And, pumping foam from an engine was not an option. 5. The pics all came from one of the guests in the house. She took about 200 pics and was kind enough to drop off a disc at the firehouse and allow us to use them as we see fit. Enjoy, and if you have any questions, post them and I will do my best to answer them. But, if others want to chime in on tactics or what they would do in a similar situation, have at it. This is like a virtual kitchen table. Be Safe, JR ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Why do your departments have to special call a FAST/RIT Team? In our department, if it is a working fire, and we begin interior ops, one of the units from the first alarm gets assigned as the RIT team. It starts with the 2 in 2out (the 2 out being the first unofficial RIT Team), and then as more units and people show up, it becomes a formalized assignment. Now, I am not sure if your FAST teams have special training. We do save your own and RIT training on a somewhat regular basis, and every truck has a RIT bag (extra bottle, air lines, mask, hand tools). So for us, RIT is an assignment that goes to one of the first alarm companies.

The PFD policy is a tough one. They are the typical foam, USCG certified vests, that you are suppose to put on under your turnout coat. Having done it, the bottle is not so bad (the straps fall nicely on the shoulder pads), but it is very tight and very hot inside the coat. If you are working hard, your breathing can be pretty labored and taking deep breaths can be challenging. It also makes mobility tough. What is also a problem (and divers can provide more insight) is all the gear and a bottle may reduce the buoyancy – and even create negative buoyancy – that may leave you face down in the water or act as a weight belt and you sink like a rock. The paid guys used to go to the pool in turnout gear and practice floating while breathing air and without (not sure if that is still a requirement). I have never done it, but I have heard the same thing that if you are breathing air you are good to go for at least the depths that we would be. I agree that it is pretty much a nightmare scenario to fall into the water in full PPE. During this call, the LT was adamant about holding onto the nozzleman to make sure that he did not fall into the water. As for enforcement, the officers are pretty good at reminding you to do it. And, as soon as I was carrying down the standpipe pack to the pier, I passed the chief who asked me if I was wearing my PFD. Overall I am not convinced that we have situations like this wired for safety as much as they can/should be. You guys make great points about FAST/RIT teams and about the risks. We run these types of incidents often enough that we should be more aware of the risks and have better mitigation plans for them. We get in the water every year in the gumby suits (cold water immersion) so maybe we should do the same with our turnout gear. Be safe, JR

Your colleague should think about doing a few things: 1. Double check that the age requirement is effective on the date of training beginning, and not at the start of the process. My limited experience is that the applicant must be older than 18 when training starts and younger than 29 (minus the military experience waiver) when the test is taken. 2. Look at DHS, specifically ICE and CBP, who are making a conscious effort to hire folks transitioning out of the military. He should check with his local bases transition office about this program and others. Lots of folks have mentioned how much of a plus it is to hire/work with former military bubbas, and there are a few programs in place that help make that jump to LE jobs. 3. Contact a lawyer. I know I will probably get banned from this site, but the protections afforded reservists are complex and were not designed for the current envoirnment of multiple recalls and deployments, and sometimes employers (to include Federal/State/local's) are not as up-to-speed on what allowances they are required to make. Good luck to him. Be safe, JR

I am a member of a combination department. Anne Arundel County - east of Prince Georges - has about 800 paid guys and a riding database of probably 1200 members. (do not mistake the riding database for members that actually ride apparatus) We have 40-odd stations of which half are all career (2 or 3 on an engine, 3 on a truck). We provide suppression, EMS (Paramedics are all career), and special teams (Hazmat, HEAT, Trench- also all career). Some stations have excellent volly-career relationships and ride the same apparatus. Others don't and have career apparatus and volley apparatus. One station goes so far as to have a paid-man soda machine and volley soda machine. Not kidding on that one. To address the training: The career guys go through a 6 month school that includes FF, FF2, Rescue Tech, and EMT. All are classes certified by our governing authority- Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) a part of the the Univ of MD. Vollies have to take the same classes, but you only need FF1 to ride an engine. The current FF1 class is 100 hours, FF2 is 60, Rescue tech is prob another 60, and EMT is 130. Add it all up, and it still does not come close to the career school. The best way to show is as a volley you prob spend 8 hours on ladders, while the career guys spend 5 days on ladders. To address the side-by-side running: At my station, we have 8 paid guys during the day, and 7 at night. The vollies are the 3rd, or 4th on the engine. very rarely is a volley on the truck. Trust and experience are required. Which is funny, because a career guy right out of the academy can be assigned to the truck. Most of the paid guys are former vollies. A lot from the county, so for many it is a stepping stone. You get extra points on the test if you have volley experience, so we don't have the issue of getting paid for the same job and that being contentious. Vollies have to be at the station, there is no going to the scene. We run a lot of calls (an avg of about 12-15 engine calls a day - mostly EMS and smells and bells), so you wear a uniform, you do what the officer says, you do housework, and you run calls. It works best when the vollies realize that they work for the career officer, and the career officer manages the vollie as he would one of the career staff. Some stations have volly officers (when you have enough vollies you are allowed to have LT, Capt, A/Chiefs). At our station we have a vollie chief only. What makes it work(in my opinion): - Call volume - we run a lot of calls, so everyone is busy and vollies stay interested. We don't run a tremendous amount of fire, but we run enough trauma, car fires, and EMS to keep things interesting. - Lots of different stations - We have some (like mine) that is predominatly career. We have others that only have paid drivers and the rest are vollies. We have some that you have to wear a uniform, and other where they don't care. You don't have to live in the community where you vollie so you can pick a station that fits who you are. - A realistic understanding of the enviornment. The career guys would like to see no vollies at all. They would also like to see 4 and 4 on the apparatus. Neither are going to happen anytime soon. The vollies want to "run" their stations and direct the paid guys and have approval of what comes in (personnel, apparatus), and that is not in the cards either. So you are left with a detente of getting along because you have to. And, for the most part, conflict, disagreement, and dislike are present, but on a call it all disapears. Be Safe, JR

How about expanding/modifying this for the departments that don't run much. Having a "regional" duty night. As an example, Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, and Irvington take 1 night for a duty crew and they get dispatched with the first due village.

Fall of 1986 in Irvington. I was heading to lunch (I was still in HS) when they banged us out for a fainting at the Luncheonette at the top of Main Street. It was on the way, so I stopped. Guy was sitting in a booth with his head on the table and the waitress was applying a cool compress to his neck. I asked if he was breathing and they said he was. I looked over and he was blue. Checked that he was breathing, and he wasn't. I pulled him on the floor and - as everyone else remarked - the training kicked in. What I remember clear as day was the "check for responsiveness" step. I was hitting that guy and shaking him, willing him to respond. That one step, where in training you always gloss over, remains the most vivid part of the incident for me. He did not make it, and unfortunately, I have since done CPR many, many more times, and still have not had a save. Just to show how hard it is to have a save, this fall we had a runner drop in front of our firehouse at about 7am. This was a witnessed arrest, in front of 4 paramedics and 12 fireman (our shifts change at 7, so we had twice the staff) and we are less than a 1/2 mile from the hospital. CPR was started within 30 seconds, shocked within 2 mins, and at the hospital in about 5 mins. He still did not make it. Be safe, JR

This is a topic that we talk about at the firehouse on a regular basis. And, I could not agree more with the inability to have this conversation with the ones who use tragedy to justify their philosophy. Of course we would not take action where we knew someone was going to die. What I feel is lost in this argument is the training discussion. We spend so much time during a shift doing inspections, running calls (EMS, MVA’s, smells and bells), and administrative work, that we do not train nearly enough. I am not talking about proficiency training with tools, but live-fire training. The number of fires is rapidly declining (a good thing) and we have gone to a 24-72 sked. So when we used to catch 33% of all the fires, we now only run 25% of them. If you play your cards right – or just have bad luck- you can catch a first due fire once every 6 or 8 months. Hard to maintain your skills at that OPTEMPO. Safety and aggressive tactics are not mutually exclusive. You can be both – as LT McCormack and his colleagues are - because you continuously train (burn), you understand the job, you have experience, and you are familiar with the environment. There is a direct correlation between safety and training. The more you train, the more confident you become, the more proficient you are, and the safer that you are. As a military guy, this comes second nature to us. You train like you fight. If we are not on deployment, we are training for deployment. So, when you get to the war, you are the best trained that you can be, the best prepared, and, this is the most important part, the most likely to come home safe and sound. Be Safe, JR

Irvington used to. I remember counting the whistles, running to the phone book to read the codes, and on my bike.

Thanks for the response. Be safe, JR