New Rochelle FD Inadequate Staffing

[x635 4,066]

From the New Rochelle Firefighters Facebook page:

New Rochelle Firefighters

26 mins · Edited ·

New Rochelle Firefighters on the relationship between inadequate staffing & our 5 brothers injured at Yesterday's Fire

Byron Gray, our president, spoke to Verizon FiOS1 - Lower Hudson Valley reporter Steve Saunders about yesterday's multiple alarm fire, which sent 5 of our brothers to the hospital and destroyed the top floor of a home.

Key Takeaway: Most units in New Rochelle are inadequately staffed with 3 members - one member below the minimum industry standard of 4 member...s to effectively fight even a private house fire like this.

Impact - while there are many contributing factors to the outcome of any fire, scientific analysis shows the following effects of this one missing member:

- Injuries: a Providence FD study found that 4 person crews sustained 24% fewer injuries, which would equate to 1 or 2 fewer injuries sustained yesterday

- Damage to home: 3 person crews operate more slowly. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ran experiments and found that on average the tasks at a residential fire are accomplished 25% faster with adequate staffing. Obviously this handicap, which compounds as each task delays the next, gives the fire more time to grow, increasing the potential for property damage and injures.

We are hopeful that, as New Rochelle is on the verge of massive development, these inadequacies will be addressed, and we can begin the discussion about higher hazard staffing, which is the industry standard minimum for most of downtown.

Prosperous and Safe: That's Our Vision of New Rochelle's Future.

If you feel the same way, reach out before October 26th and register your comments to the development contact person:

Suzanne Reider, Senior Project Manager

New Rochelle Department of Development

City Hall, 515 North Avenue New Rochelle, New York 10801

914.654.2023

[antiquefirelt 994]

I hope the best for the 5 injured Brother's. The above quotation is the type of thing so many of us should be doing. We cannot continue to do more with less and suffer the effects in silence. At this point, our silence has become tacit approval.

[luggnutz404 3]

From the New Rochelle Firefighters Facebook page:

the answer to this problem is simple CONSOLIDATION

[x635 4,066]

Verizon FiOS 1 News did a story on this today:

New Rochelle firefighters: Population boom calls for increase of emergency services
Department officials say city’s development and expansion has led to upsurge in calls

http://www.fios1news.com/lowerhudsonvalley/new-rochelle-mergency-services-uptick#.VjEPTdF4fIU

[LTNRFD 266]

the answer to this problem is simple CONSOLIDATION

Have New Rochelle consolidate with who ??? Pelham ? Larchmont ? Scarsdale? How would New Rochelle get additional manpower by consolidating ??

New Rochelle needs to get the New Rochelle City Counsel agree to fund a minimum number of firefighters per shift. Back in the 1980's there were 31 firefighters per shift

5 engines X 4 firefighters = 20

3 ladders. X 3 firefighters = 9

D C and his aid = 2

_______

31 Total

NRFD needs to go back to this level of manning plus 1 additional firefighter on each ladder and 2 firefighters to man to rescue every shift. NRFD needs to be funded for a minimum of 36 firefighters per shift,

Edited October 28, 2015 by LTNRFD

[STAT213 332]

What is current staffing?

[dwcfireman 656]

Have New Rochelle consolidate with who ??? Pelham ? Larchmont ? Scarsdale? How would New Rochelle get additional manpower by consolidating ??

I remember from a post long ago that a study was done for the consolidation of the lower Westchester departments (Larchmont, Pelham, Palham Manor, New Roc, Eastchester, Scarsdale...and a couple more). I don't recall the departments exactly, nor do I recall the exact outcome of the study, but it was something along the lines that only 6 firefighters would have to be hired in total between 9 departments. Barry, if you're still on here somewhere, I recall that you were the one that posted the information from this study...Please enlighten us!?!

Even if consolidation of paid services happened, would there be adequate staffing levels between all of the departments?

And, as always, my thoughts are with all of my injured brothers and sisters.

[somebuffyguy 190]

Here's a link to the study http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2009WP/2009graphics/firereport.pdf

To sum it up, by consolidating 10 of the southern Westchester departments and cutting down from 28 engines and 14 ladders to 19 engines and 14 ladders, all of which would now be manned by 4 firefighters. While it is true that a department like New Rochelle wouldn't see much of an increase in firefighters stationed in their city, they would have a greater number of firefighters responding to alarms as now the first due companies will be whatever is closest. An example given by the study is a structure fire in the north end of NR would now get units from Scarsdale, Eastchester and Hartsdale before units from the south end of NR as they are actually closer. Read for yourself and make your own conclusion.

[M' Ave 1,466]

Consolidation is a separate issue. In the broader picture, it's key. However, it doesn't address the fact that NRFD units are understaffed and forced to operate short-handed. Consolidated or not, the 5 engines and 3 ladders protecting that area need the proper staffing and supervision.