Rye Brook FD?

[PFDRes47cue 653]

Check out this thread that someone started...seems like this is an example of why staffing Rye Brook FD is a good thing.

My link

[babhits16 28]

The primary reason I voiced an opinion in this thread is because the conditions that the career firefighters face, alone or with one other in both departments, can be extremely dangerous to their health and safety. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people nowadays will use the terms "consolidation and regionalization" as politically correct terminology. Yet, try and talk specifics, offer ideas, and the conversation dies.

This has never been a thread about career vs. volunteer in my eyes. It's a thread to advocate for safer working conditions for my Brother firefighters, and that is an issue I will never be silent about.

I understand what you want, and I hope everyone who reads this thread understands what career firefighters who raised an opinion here want; safer conditions for our Brother firefighters. It is that simple.

I brought up Career Vs. Volly because someone else did earlier in the post. But agreed, a lone man or even only 2 men on a single rig is NOT acceptable.

[axman 5]

Dont agree at all... Sorry but Rye brook FD is a great accet to the Village Of Rye Brook residents and very helpful when thier is a fire call in rye brook and rigs are coming from downtown pc. Just think if thier is a fire in mid afternoon and rigs have to come from downtown pc with all the schools getting out and traffic on the road its safer and better that rye brook has a fd........ Also i would be careful what u say thier are rye brook fd personell on here just sayin.

Dude, first off engage spell check. Next, if you know anything about administration, RBFD is a strain financially. Right now laws don't allow it but a fire district would better accomodate the needs of both villages and propbably in a cost effective manner.

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Dude, first off engage spell check. Next, if you know anything about administration, RBFD is a strain financially. Right now laws don't allow it but a fire district would better accomodate the needs of both villages and propbably in a cost effective manner.

Welcome to the board. Would you please elaborate how RBFD is a "strain financially"? Can you provide a break-down of a Rye Brook tax dollar, percentage-wise? Where does the money go; what percent of that dollar is spent on fire protection? Do you know if the Rye Brook administration has ever considered contracting with a consultant to offer a report with possible options for improved, more efficient fire protection?

Thank you!

Edited November 2, 2011 by efdcapt115

[axman 5]

Welcome to the board. Would you please elaborate how RBFD is a "strain financially"? Can you provide a break-down of a Rye Brook tax dollar, percentage-wise? Where does the money go; what percent of that dollar is spent on fire protection? Do you know if the Rye Brook administration has ever considered contracting with a consultant to offer a report with possible options for improved, more efficient fire protection?

Thank you!

Logistically they are at the far end of the village near the Ct border. This leaves the south end of the village, the commercial area, pretty much the resposibility of PCFD. BTW, the engine that covers that area will not be staffed daytime if it incurs o/t. Rye Brook pays their ff on parity with the PD. The salaries and bene's for an eight man dept., plus a big station which is uncerutilized, plus the apparatus, and work charts add up. It would be interesting to see how cost effective it is. You also have to look at the politics involved. After the Rural Metro debacle, this dept. was formed to appease Tony Pagano.You also have to know that Rye Brook held the contract over Pt Chester's head with regards to using 60 Control. Rye Brook did not wish to purchase a radio system opting for 60 Control, the PC Village Mgr caved in order to sign the contract. The career ff in PC were directly affected. While I praise both depts and the volunteer service, it appears that RB is playing games with their fd and provides a band aid type of service.PC too is playing games and making money on the backs of their ff and gives little in return. PC cites many "active" members on the volunteer rolls, how many are capable of fighting fires, or better yet how many live in town? So I go back to a district were hopefully knowledgable people will properly staff and fund an entity which can provide a true, valuable service without putting ff in danger. Perhaps then proper staffing could be achieved along with proper apparatus and equipment.

[FD828 77]

Logistically they are at the far end of the village near the Ct border. This leaves the south end of the village, the commercial area, pretty much the resposibility of PCFD. BTW, the engine that covers that area will not be staffed daytime if it incurs o/t. Rye Brook pays their ff on parity with the PD. The salaries and bene's for an eight man dept., plus a big station which is uncerutilized, plus the apparatus, and work charts add up. It would be interesting to see how cost effective it is. You also have to look at the politics involved. After the Rural Metro debacle, this dept. was formed to appease Tony Pagano.You also have to know that Rye Brook held the contract over Pt Chester's head with regards to using 60 Control. Rye Brook did not wish to purchase a radio system opting for 60 Control, the PC Village Mgr caved in order to sign the contract. The career ff in PC were directly affected. While I praise both depts and the volunteer service, it appears that RB is playing games with their fd and provides a band aid type of service.PC too is playing games and making money on the backs of their ff and gives little in return. PC cites many "active" members on the volunteer rolls, how many are capable of fighting fires, or better yet how many live in town? So I go back to a district were hopefully knowledgable people will properly staff and fund an entity which can provide a true, valuable service without putting ff in danger. Perhaps then proper staffing could be achieved along with proper apparatus and equipment.

I can understand that Rye Brook didn't want to spend the money on a radio system (and the manpower to run it), but how did that have any effect on the Port Chester Dept? You say they held it over PC's head? Do they have separate contracts? Or did the village of PC see it as an opportunity to reduce the manpower in Port Chester?(don't need a ff to man the radio) Save some money? Couldn't Rye Brook use 60 control and Port Chester continue to self dispatch as have been doing for 100+ years? You also mention that the engine used to cover the downtown area of Rye Brook will not be filled if OT is required, is that because they won't hire any ff's?

[Bnechis 3,961]

Logistically they are at the far end of the village near the Ct border. This leaves the south end of the village, the commercial area, pretty much the resposibility of PCFD. ......plus a big station which is uncerutilized,

The village is approximatly 4.4 miles long and 0.9 miles wide (at the pointwhere the firehouse is. And while being along a boarder is generally not a great location, they are approximatly 2 miles from one end and 2.5 from the other. This one house meets the distance and time standards based on location. And while it would be nice to have the house closer to the south end, that is where PCFD is coming from and moving RBFD south would leave the north end further from both depts.

You also have to look at the politics involved. After the Rural Metro debacle, this dept. was formed to appease Tony Pagano.

Do you really think that Rye Brook needed to appease him. Or did the Mayor and Council need to save face after they spent millions on "Our Rye Brook Fire Dept" (as R/M's video claimed they were). They just changed the format. If they dropped the dept and went back to PCFD without a RBFD, it would have ment that the entire concept was stupid and a total waste of taxpayer $$$

While I praise both depts and the volunteer service, it appears that RB is playing games with their fd and provides a band aid type of service.

They have since the day they decided to bring in R/M.

[E58RET 24]

Having scrolled thru the numerous posts, as a retired FF from PC and a Viilage taxpayer I think it is a travesty what the two Villages are doing to the fire service protecting both communities. Shutting down E 59 because of OT concerns is totally"dime short,dollar foolish"how can they answer to a theoretical situation of having E58 tied up ata reported structural fire onCottage St and a reported structural fire on Park Place{around the corner from station4} housing the unmanned E 59?

With no disrespect to the Volunter membership of PCFD,we all know that the Duty Engine may not be the closest unit!

[efdcapt115 1,511]

Logistically they are at the far end of the village near the Ct border. This leaves the south end of the village, the commercial area, pretty much the resposibility of PCFD. BTW, the engine that covers that area will not be staffed daytime if it incurs o/t. Rye Brook pays their ff on parity with the PD. The salaries and bene's for an eight man dept., plus a big station which is uncerutilized, plus the apparatus, and work charts add up. It would be interesting to see how cost effective it is. You also have to look at the politics involved. After the Rural Metro debacle, this dept. was formed to appease Tony Pagano.You also have to know that Rye Brook held the contract over Pt Chester's head with regards to using 60 Control. Rye Brook did not wish to purchase a radio system opting for 60 Control, the PC Village Mgr caved in order to sign the contract. The career ff in PC were directly affected. While I praise both depts and the volunteer service, it appears that RB is playing games with their fd and provides a band aid type of service.PC too is playing games and making money on the backs of their ff and gives little in return. PC cites many "active" members on the volunteer rolls, how many are capable of fighting fires, or better yet how many live in town? So I go back to a district were hopefully knowledgable people will properly staff and fund an entity which can provide a true, valuable service without putting ff in danger. Perhaps then proper staffing could be achieved along with proper apparatus and equipment.

Thank you for your thoughtful response. But I had asked you to provide some sort of a tax-dollar breakdown to back up the statement that RBFD is a "financial strain" (I think was the wording you used). BNechis had alluded earlier to other nearby departments who also face difficult staffing issues. I would hope if the conversation up there does turn toward the establishment of a fire district, the decision makers would look at the larger picture, and consider bringing in those other departments in the discussion.

I stand by my comments about bringing in a consultant to help figure out how that would be possible; establishing a larger fire district to include places like Harrison, and the other departments BNechis named.

The one stumbling block I see with including the City of Rye unfortunately; as I understand it would take an act of the State Legislature to include them, because they are a city. Towns and villages, easier.

And Port Chester; staffing a shift with ONE career firefighter? C'mon! Talk about inviting disaster.

[axman 5]

The village is approximatly 4.4 miles long and 0.9 miles wide (at the pointwhere the firehouse is. And while being along a boarder is generally not a great location, they are approximatly 2 miles from one end and 2.5 from the other. This one house meets the distance and time standards based on location. And while it would be nice to have the house closer to the south end, that is where PCFD is coming from and moving RBFD south would leave the north end further from both depts.

Do you really think that Rye Brook needed to appease him. Or did the Mayor and Council need to save face after they spent millions on "Our Rye Brook Fire Dept" (as R/M's video claimed they were). They just changed the format. If they dropped the dept and went back to PCFD without a RBFD, it would have ment that the entire concept was stupid and a total waste of taxpayer $$$

They have since the day they decided to bring in R/M.

This has been a political football for quite a long time. You have to understand the us vs. them philosphy of Rye Brook, and contrary to what they want you to believe, they want nothing to do with PC. PC is a necessary evil of which RB must avail itself of. Yes I believe RB officials needed to save face but also felt a need to appease Tony Pagano because they needed to know that PC would again be first due in a mutual aid situation and/or revive the contract. RB feels that as long as they throw money at PC, PC will accept, look at the recent incident with their library. RB knows it would cost a hell of a lot more to go on their own so we now have this hap hazard answer in place. PC officials are also at fault because they only care about bringing in the dollars. There has even been discussion about contracting with Rye City. Nice to know PC cares that much about their FD, with a depleted career staff that has 50% less manpower 20-25 years ago and a depleted volunteer staff. It seems the dollars out weigh anything else. Politics aside, a district or true fire advisory board in place could determine the proper placing of all houses, equipment and personnel without the interference of those thst don't know anything.

[StOpGoBlUE 11]

Since when does port Chester have a depleted volunteer staff????????

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Since when does port Chester have a depleted volunteer staff????????

Unless PCFD is the exception to the rule, which odds are if its like 99.97% of fire departments it is not, it is doing more with less. I would be willing to bet the membership numbers today are less than they were 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago etc etc. The fact of the matter is every department is doing more with less money and man power.

This is not a burn or criticism, simply stating facts about the modern fire service.

Edited November 4, 2011 by SRS131EMTFF

[axman 5]

Since when does port Chester have a depleted volunteer staff????????

You're kidding me, right? How many houses in PC have had or still have "volunteer's wanted " signs up. How many people on your active rolls are truly active? It's not what it was years ago.I remember when certain apparatus in PC couldn't even get a driver.

[Guest fdpro442]

how about for the port chester residence? They went down to one guy the other day and had a container truck on 95 on fire. The port chester chief toned out for the volunteer engine twice before calling rye because they could not get the rig out. What happens when PCFD send their engine to RBFD with the only guy working during the day and leaves PC unmaned, hoping a volunteer shows up to back fill station. It's going to take someone dying for things to change and it should be a crime, and the town board/leaders of fire department should be held criminally responsible for their actions. This doesn't come down to a paid volunteer thing it just comes down to safety for the man power operating and the safety of the residents.

[E58RET 24]

FDPRO nailed it !!When the politicians and the Man Ymano thing between the 2 boards get settled maybe they ought to form one unified Dept with equal staffing 24/7. What was written earlier about the varios company rolls is true,many members are in the Active Exempt area(measns they have done thier duty but are not physically able to perform as a 1st grade FF. Nuff said!!!

[Harley 6]

Also live in different communities

[axman 5]

Also live in different communities

In different states too, hell of a response.

[axman 5]

how about for the port chester residence? They went down to one guy the other day and had a container truck on 95 on fire. The port chester chief toned out for the volunteer engine twice before calling rye because they could not get the rig out. What happens when PCFD send their engine to RBFD with the only guy working during the day and leaves PC unmaned, hoping a volunteer shows up to back fill station. It's going to take someone dying for things to change and it should be a crime, and the town board/leaders of fire department should be held criminally responsible for their actions. This doesn't come down to a paid volunteer thing it just comes down to safety for the man power operating and the safety of the residents.

My point exactly. You and eng58ret get what I'm saying. The present system is shaky at best. I don't give a damn if your career or volunteer, safety is number 1. It seems some volunteers here think it's a knock against them, it's not. At the end of the day it's about all getting safely back to their families.

[jack10562 414]

At the end of the day it's about all getting safely back to their families.

I'm going to keep this really short, There's much more at stake. I would like to add, that in reality, in many areas local government is failing miserably in their primary responsibility of providing adequate public safety.

Local government is ultimately responsible for funding and staffing EMS, fire and police protection, and they're playing a game of Russian roulette with peoples property and lives by not meeting one of their very few obligations: to provide adequate public safety.

To be sure, roads, schools, sanitation, are also major priorities, but getting re-elected seems more important to some of those we have entrusted with our lives.

[MELILLO719 30]

Unless PCFD is the exception to the rule, which odds are if its like 99.97% of fire departments it is not, it is doing more with less. I would be willing to bet the membership numbers today are less than they were 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago etc etc. The fact of the matter is every department is doing more with less money and man power.

This is not a burn or criticism, simply stating facts about the modern fire service.

Not to be rude in anyway but the numbers are way up then they were back then..... For example if anyone came to our midland avenue fire back in march you would have saw the turnout we had with volunteers. Is there companies hurting yes of course everyone has their moments but i can guarantee you that the numbers are way up there.

[MELILLO719 30]

You're kidding me, right? How many houses in PC have had or still have "volunteer's wanted " signs up. How many people on your active rolls are truly active? It's not what it was years ago.I remember when certain apparatus in PC couldn't even get a driver.

Key words 'Years ago" Its very rare that a volunteer rig does not get out.

[JBE 328]

The bottom line in this whole situation is that people are being shortchanged. The people of Rye Brook, and the members of RBFD. It's been brought up in a number of posts here. 3 in the afternoon, there's a reported structure fire in RB. They go out the door in L-30 with, what, 3 guys on board?? They're backed up by the paid engine from PC with 1 guy. That's 4, or 5 firefighters, (If RB is staffed with 4.) for a reported structure. Then, heaven knows what else is coming from PC, staffed by vollies.How is this acceptable?? How is it acceptable to have a minimally staffed(putting it lightly) Fire Department for 12 hours in the day?? Then, turn over protection to a paid engine from PC with ONE GUY!!!! And heaven knows how long it's going to take for that guy to get backed up in the event it hits the fan after 7pm. I know I'm on the outside looking in, because I don't live in the area, but come on, this is no good.

I will ask one question, and this goes along with the move of the paid engine at night. Have the powers that be suggested staffing that paid engine going up to Rye Brook at night with a few of the volunteers as well?? Like a duty crew?? Just a thought.

[axman 5]

JBE, your point is a good one. Actually the RB firehouse was built with the intention of a volunteer company relocating up there. Only problem was that all the companies declined. There is still a large unfinished room up there that was supposed to be a company meeting room. With respect to Melillo719, my intention was that the volunteers aren't there like they were 20-25 years ago, there's less and less as volunteerism declines throughout the country. It was only a matter of a few years ago when volunteer companies in PC couldn't get a driver and still happens on ocassion. BTW, rolling a rig with one or two guys isn't my idea of a response, a minimum of four and hoping you get more. There's safety in numbesr.