Major fire drill planned for Yonkers Raceway Friday

[peterose313 345]

Don’t be alarmed if you see lots of emergency vehicles around Yonkers Raceway/Empire City Casino on Friday morning’s commute — it’s only a drill.

The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services announced today that county fire departments and the FDNY will be start a joint training exercise starting at 8 a.m. Friday with a mobilization at the Yonkers site. Fire departments from Eastchester, Fairview, Greenville, Hartsdale, Larchmont, Montrose Veterans Affairs, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers, as well as the Department of Emergency Services are participating.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20121018/NEWS02/310180125/1018?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[huzzie59 75]

Continuing the article "The exercise is designed “to ensure that all agencies can work seamlessly if needed at scenes of fires or other emergencies,” the DES said in a statement."

Should change it to "All paid departments".

[Bnechis 3,961]

Continuing the article "The exercise is designed “to ensure that all agencies can work seamlessly if needed at scenes of fires or other emergencies,” the DES said in a statement."

Should change it to "All paid departments".

Or All departments that meet the minimum training and staffing requirements as established by FDNY and OFPC. Since it is their drill to exersize their plan and the state mobilization plan.

[spin_the_wheel 460]

Don't let that stuff bother you. I'm sure when the volunteer Depts have large scale drills (Westchester airport) they dont invite paid Departments.

[Bnechis 3,961]

I'm sure when the volunteer Depts have large scale drills (Westchester airport) they dont invite paid Departments.

Funny a former Yonkers Fire Commissioner use to say that.

White Plains has participated at the Airport. And many of the EMS responders are career.

[huzzie59 75]

Or All departments that meet the minimum training and staffing requirements as established by FDNY and OFPC. Since it is their drill to exersize their plan and the state mobilization plan.

I agree that whoever calls for mutual aid should get exactly what they ask for, training staffing, etc.

But, given that I do not know anything about the drill other than the article written, shouldn't the other County departments that will back fill the paid services be included and can you assume that only paid departments will be called?

[Bnechis 3,961]

I agree that whoever calls for mutual aid should get exactly what they ask for, training staffing, etc.

But, given that I do not know anything about the drill other than the article written, shouldn't the other County departments that will back fill the paid services be included and can you assume that only paid departments will be called?

The drill has been an annual event for the last 8 years or so. What does backfilling have to do with this?

I can not assume only paid will be called (the Long Island FD's that go into Queens are not), but in Westchester's case thats what FDNY's told us they wanted and that its in their plan.

[Sailr322 88]

I agree that whoever calls for mutual aid should get exactly what they ask for, training staffing, etc.

But, given that I do not know anything about the drill other than the article written, shouldn't the other County departments that will back fill the paid services be included and can you assume that only paid departments will be called?

As far as I am aware, and correct me if I am wrong, the departments that are participating are backfilled by the same paid departments that are part of this drill. New Rochelle for example backfills Yonkers and Pelham. The departments that are participating are then the same ones that would be backfilling in the event of an actual emergency response.

[huzzie59 75]

The drill has been an annual event for the last 8 years or so. What does backfilling have to do with this?

I can not assume only paid will be called (the Long Island FD's that go into Queens are not), but in Westchester's case thats what FDNY's told us they wanted and that its in their plan.

Like I said, I know nothing about the drill except what was written. So it's a FDNY drill only for mutual aid departments that will respond to the city!?

Okay!

[61MACKBR1 222]

Here we go again with this Paid vs. Volunteer nonsense. If the responding department meets all of the FDNY qualifications, it should NOT matter if the department is PAID or NOT PAID !!! (and yes, one set of standards should be required for all departments, whether or not it is a PAID Department of Volunteer). - Everyone needs to "CHECK THEIR EGO'S AT THE DOOR"

[Bnechis 3,961]

As far as I am aware, and correct me if I am wrong, the departments that are participating are backfilled by the same paid departments that are part of this drill. New Rochelle for example backfills Yonkers and Pelham. The departments that are participating are then the same ones that would be backfilling in the event of an actual emergency response.

For the drill each dept. is backfilling itself. UASI funds are paying to maintain our normal staffing at home while rigs are in NYC

[huzzie59 75]

Here we go again with this Paid vs. Volunteer nonsense. If the responding department meets all of the FDNY qualifications, it should NOT matter if the department is PAID or NOT PAID !!! (and yes, one set of standards should be required for all departments, whether or not it is a PAID Department of Volunteer). - Everyone needs to "CHECK THEIR EGO'S AT THE DOOR"

It's not ego it's reality. FDNY, if they really made the list of departments from Westchester to include, only has paid departments on the list and have skippd over volunteer departments. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. My opinion is they would be better served to ask for and get via mutual aid paid departments that they know will be staffed with trained personnel. As opposed to asking for volunteer departments via mutual aid and not knowing what they will get. It makes sense, I get it and agree with it.

My question simply is --- that in Westchester we have volunteer departments that will, possibly, (I hate pulling the 9/11 card) and probably respond to NYC. Should they not be included?

And I get that it's an FDNY run drill and they only want who they want.

[firecapt32 282]

This drill is in its 8th year---FDNY has set the standard as to what IT wants for ANY mutual aid form ANY department. FDNY has desiginiated Westchester departments to cover the BRONX nothing more. Yonkers Raceway is the stageing area. OFPC with the help of WCDES Field Com checks the TRAINING RECORDS participents to make sure they meet the standard that FDNY has set. then they are given assigements and are escorted into the city.

Todays drill went off smoothly with the help of OEM and OFPC.

Citi Field is another staging area that uses Long Island companies that will cover Queens.

Is is my understanding that a third staging area is being developed on Staten Island for Coverage from NJ units. ALL participents must meet the FDNY standard.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

My question simply is --- that in Westchester we have volunteer departments that will, possibly, (I hate pulling the 9/11 card) and probably respond to NYC. Should they not be included?

And I get that it's an FDNY run drill and they only want who they want.

Ah-ha, the elephant in the room. The question becomes, will FDNY ever ACTUALLY request those departments to respond in for the next major incident? I'd have to imagine if they don't pre-plan with these departments, they don't anticipate using them in an emergency. 12,000 firefighters and add the manpower of the neighboring career departments in Westchester and NJ, would they need those volunteer departments? It would seem that they don't think so.

I don't speak for the FDNY, but it would seem their stance on the issue is this: If you don't meet the standards they set, you don't get to come into the city. Period.

Go back to your NIMS training: Resource typing, credentialing, standardization. These aren't just stupid buzz words some bureaucrat at FEMA came up with. If you're an IC and you're requesting resources, you need to know what is coming. Not just the type of truck and the equipment on it, but the personnel and their qualifications. You need to know that those individuals are properly trained to operate in the functions you're requesting them for. Anything less than that is just not acceptable.

When you write an emergency plan you start with planning assumptions. This sets the baseline for your plan and your expectations. Why would you take in resources that do not fit within the basic minimum planning assumptions? That would be setting yourself up for failure.

[spin_the_wheel 460]

Funny a former Yonkers Fire Commissioner use to say that.

White Plains has participated at the Airport. And many of the EMS responders are career.

So noted.

[spin_the_wheel 460]

The drill has been an annual event for the last 8 years or so. What does backfilling have to do with this?

I can not assume only paid will be called (the Long Island FD's that go into Queens are not), but in Westchester's case thats what FDNY's told us they wanted and that its in their plan.

Nassau County has a very detailed plan with units going into Queens and Brooklyn. In Nassau County each one of the 9 Battalions has a Dept designated as an EOC (emergency operations center). The EOC opens up and the units/departments from that battalion participating in the drill respond to the EOC. No more then 1 Engine and 1 Ladder form any one department.

The EOC records the crew memebers info making sure certain criteria is met, as well as having some accountability on who is going where, and hopefully preventing self dispatch of units into the FDNY that had happened on 9-11. Also at this point in time if a certain department that was scheduled to go does not meet the requirements, another department in that battalion can be notified to fill that assignment.

The info is then faxed over to the County communications center. From the EOC the units then move up to one of the "staging areas" at a Nassau Dept on the Queens/Nasau border. At this location each Dept will meet with a Nassau County Fire Marshal who acts as a "escort" so to speak for those units and will respond to the assigned firehouse with them. From my understanding the Nassau units do have to meet certain criteria. (such as X amount of interior firefighters, NO FDNY members, NO Chiefs vehicles, they ride with the rigs)

They have a "drill" 2 or 3 times a year. On a Sunday morning, departing county around 9am...Nassau will send a large assignment of units to various locations that these companies would be relocated to in the event they are called. Units rotate each time. Nassau County Fire fieldcom goes into the Queens co at times, as well as fire marshal haz mat units and members.

They spend the morning with the companies and the area they would go to in the event this all went down. Companies in the past have taken in some alarms with the companies, even worked at a worker in one case I heard about. (just the man power put to work a bit, no rigs were in use) Drilled and flowed some water, had lunch with the house, and the Nassau units are back in county around 1 or 2pm. All in all the experiences have been good.

The jury is still out on whether this elaborate plan will work out in a true emergency. In the end the plan will only be as good as the current leadership of the Nassau Fire service at that time. Do the right thing and follow the plan or play cowboy and rush in with no accountability whatsover.

[Bnechis 3,961]

My question simply is --- that in Westchester we have volunteer departments that will, possibly, (I hate pulling the 9/11 card) and probably respond to NYC. Should they not be included?

And I get that it's an FDNY run drill and they only want who they want.

Are you saying that they will respond into NYC, even if they are not requested?

[firecapt32 282]

huzzie 59- to answer your question---sort of--that was the problem on 911 there was no control of what departments went where. If you had a "hook" or a friend your department went. some departments just went.Some had no communication with FDNY. All intentions were good and honerable, We were all taken in by the vastness of the situation and the horrific lose of life that day but in reality it only added to the confusion . This was a praparedness drill where interoperations with communications was established, companies were divided up and worked with FDNY eng and ladders and chiefs.

I am sure we all pray that there is never another situaton like 911 again but FDNY is not going to be caught off guard--they have a plan.

We have been told by FDNY/NYC Police that in the event that this plan goes into effect NO one No fire apparatus will enter the city without first going through the staging areas and they must have an assigement.ALL others will be turned away.

[huzzie59 75]

So would the departments involved from Westchester be able to cover all of the Bronx if needed?

If not, does FDNY have a scenario where departments from further upstate, Connecticut or New Jersey cover The Bronx?

And can all of the departments at the drill provide the minimum number of firefighters required by FDNY?

(And I am not leading to volunteer deptartments must be used. I am completely leaving volunteer departments out of the equation. And, I'm okay with it. I find the pre-planning very interesting.)

Would the smaller staffed departments be delayed until they could call in off duty members? For example, Pelham only has three firefighters on duty per shift? Would they combind with Pelham Manor and send one engine or ladder?

[Bnechis 3,961]

So would the departments involved from Westchester be able to cover all of the Bronx if needed? If not, does FDNY have a scenario where departments from further upstate, Connecticut or New Jersey cover The Bronx?

If FDNY thought the depts in the drill could not handle it they would have asked for more. It appears they think its covered.

And can all of the departments at the drill provide the minimum number of firefighters required by FDNY?

They all have for the last 8 years.

Would the smaller staffed departments be delayed until they could call in off duty members? For example, Pelham only has three firefighters on duty per shift? Would they combind with Pelham Manor and send one engine or ladder?

The smaller depts utilize callback for most/all mutual aid including for FDNY. This has been an option, but I do not know if anyone has utilized this or needs to

[huzzie59 75]

Thanks. Seems to make sense.

[firecapt32 282]

more answers huzzie59 a second task force and staging area if needed is scheduled to be set up at the Westchester Fire Training Center. All apparatus and men going through the same sysyem as in Yonkers race way.

if a department cannot meet the requirements on their own then they will be asked to partner up with other departments, As far as I know no single units will be dispatched from either location. Everyone is assigned as as "Task force" with at least 2 eng 1 ladder and a chief.

Even at the raceway site if a department arrives with less then the requirement set by FDNY they will be teamed up with other departments.

FDNY and OFPC has spent many hours developing this right now it seems to be working.

there will be no freelancing in NYC from any fire units. They will be turned around and sent to a staging area.