F.A.S.T. Response Times

[nfd2004 750]

In Eastern, Ct where I live, there are few Career Depts. Even in cities like New London that has 18 Firefighters on duty (also run two ambulances), Norwich, has 13 Firefighters, Willimantic has 5-6 (also run the ambulance), and Groton with two seperate Depts of 5-6 Firefighters each. All these cities have their share of 2 1/2 and 3 story frames. Old factories and a few high rises. There isn't enough firefighters on duty to fight the fire, let alone assign a FAST Co.

New London and Groton uses the Sub Base Fire Dept (Federal Firefighters)

Norwich uses The Mohegan Sun Casino on duty Fire Dept (a Fire Dept run at a Tribal Casino)

Willimantic uses the Uconn Fire Dept (A state run Fire Dept run at the University of Connecticut)

For these depts, there's just Nobody else to count on. At least these cities can count on some type of response from a fully manned and trained Fire Dept. There's just nothing else. Some Volunteer depts in the area have been trained but the problem is how long will it take them to get there, and who will show up.

I would also like to say that the above depts that provide FAST CO response have done a good job. I know of a few times where they were put to work. We just hope that these depts aren't out on their own calls when they are needed. I know in Norwich, "if it sounds like work", the FAST Co is started prior to arrival of the first companies.

[bad box 371]

Hiring full time career fire dept's does not solve the problem, unless properly staffed. NYC based on radio traffic rolls FAS teams to work and has incoming units take over responsibility. Other than maybe Yonkers, there is no FD in Westchester that can handle a multi alarm fire with a FAS team without calling for outside help. Response times, without properly trained personnel are useless. Hillbilly FD can respond in 1 minute with 2 and 1 quicker than cities, but who is manning the rigs? Career or volunteer it is about training and having enough manpower on scene promptly.

Perhaps I didn't do as good a job as I should have while trying to make some very important points:

• I am not saying that a career department will necessarily be able to handle a working fire as well as providing it's own F.A.S.T. (depending on size of F.D.). I was saying that common sense dictates that career departments are capable of much quicker responses than volunteer departments that must wait for a crew to arrive at the station prior to starting to respond.
  
• ALL Firefighters must be trained in F.A.S.T. operations as a part of their basic (proby school curriculum). It should not be an option.
  
• F.A.S.T. is a basic Firefighter function, NOT a Speciality.
  
• What is of paramount importance to me is to try to get the message out there that it's essential that volunteer departments explore ways of insuring a rapid response of a crew to fill the role of F.A.S.T. when Firefighters are committed to interior structural firefighting,or any I.D.L.H. environment. SECONDS COUNT when a life is on the line ... there's no room for: "XYZ Fire Co. #1 is still awaiting manpower, time of your 3rd dispatch is 0357 hrs."
  

[Alpinerunner 61]

In CT, FAST (what we call RIT) is part of FF1. Is that not the case in NY? Is there a separate class for FAST/RIT?

If certain companies cannot get manpower for FAST, is it possible that their memebers don't think it's a big deal? Would they turn out for a fire in their district? I don't know what's worse: not having enough manpower period, or the members now wanting to drop what they were doing and respond for "just a FAST call."

I know in my department if there is a fire in a neighboring department, a text page goes out before any tones to man the station "just in case"

Edited October 8, 2010 by Alpinerunner

[bad box 371]

In CT, FAST (what we call RIT) is part of FF1. Is that not the case in NY? Is there a separate class for FAST/RIT?

If certain companies cannot get manpower for FAST, is it possible that their memebers don't think it's a big deal? Would they turn out for a fire in their district? I don't know what's worse: not having enough manpower period, or the members now wanting to drop what they were doing and respond for "just a FAST call."

I know in my department if there is a fire in a neighboring department, a text page goes out before any tones to man the station "just in case"

When I lived in N.Y. F.A.S.T. was not part of basic firefighter training for volunteer firefighters. It was a separate course (I think it still is). I don't believe that Firefighter training requirements are the same for volunteers as they are for career firefighters in N.Y.S. (at least they weren't when I lived there).

You have the right attitude (and it sounds like your entire department shares that attitude)toward your department's duty when called upon to be the R.I.T.. When done properly, you can be kept quite busy while filling the role of R.I.T..

Stay safe.

[JohnnyOV 2]

If certain companies cannot get manpower for FAST, is it possible that their memebers don't think it's a big deal? Would they turn out for a fire in their district? I don't know what's worse: not having enough manpower period, or the members now wanting to drop what they were doing and respond for "just a FAST call."

I know in my department if there is a fire in a neighboring department, a text page goes out before any tones to man the station "just in case"

Just as an idea for other departments.....Anytime there is the possibility of a fire or dive call in a neighboring department, members get on a group chat and send a text out. Guys who are available send a message back and if it sounds legit enough start heading to the FD, so everyone already knows if we're going who's going to show up.

First due, Mutual aid as a specific Co. or as a FAST, our guys enjoy going to fires and love what we do (we absolutely hate to see property damaged and lives destroyed, but we enjoy being able to mitigate a problem, help formulate a solution to minimize the damage and assist the individuals affected). Why would someone sign up to take a career or volunteer their time, to be something that they don't want to be? You are now part of the snowballing problem of volunteer / combo departments who are able to "boost numbers" with individuals on the roster, who never show up to do anything. "Oh our roster has 70 active members." Really? How many on an average call, working fire, car accident, auto alarm actually show up to do something, three maybe four?

My point is being, by padding your numbers with individuals who don't show up, you've now given a false sense of manpower to the community (the people and property you are sworn to protect), "We dont need to supplement with career staff, or hold a huge recruitment drive because of our 70 members." This in turn now adds to your response time for ANY type of call...both from the lack of manpower and the manpower that just doesn't care. EVERY department needs to look at themselves as a business would during a monthly, quarterly or yearly audit and say "What can we do to better ourselves to better our relations with the community, our brothers surrounding us and the fire service as a whole?" If every department did this, and actually made improvements on themselves we would be in a whole different state of affairs in Westchester and in the US.