Structure Fire Assignments

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Green on June 24, 2008 at 2:04pm

Nice to hear from you,Greg. Back to the RIT or FAST concept....I dont have a reason why some departments dont believe in or utilize them. Back to the department which I belong to...we started providing FAST services to two of our neighbors about seven years ago. We are a small department(only approx.45 on our ''active roster''- we only see about 25 of them on a quasi regular basis). When we originally started FAST services,we wanted to limit it to only the ''experienced '' guys. Well...that only left us about a dozen guys to choose from if we were lucky. We had kinda shot ourselves in the foot before we began.While we still struggle with that,one thing I like that we have done..is incorporated FAST into our training and drills. We train,as a dept., on a regular basis on FAST. We still have our ''go-to'' guys but everyone is exposed to it. We respond on our Rescue-Engine to FAST calls-a 10 man cab, 1500 gpm ,rescue pumper. We dictate that we have to have at least 6 "go-to'' guys aboard,but we'll take newer,less experienced members with us. They haul equipment ,among other things,but they get a little experience on not only FAST practices but fireground operations as well. We dont get many fires especially structure fires, but our guys have seen their fair share of jobs responding as a FAST. Yeah...you're not right in there fighting it..but you're exposed to some fire conditions and we act as another set of eyes and ears for Safety,Operations and Command. We recon the exterior of the building and recommend anything we might see that needs doing..such as portable ladder placement to windows for ff egress or lighting up a poorly lit area. Hey,if you think you'll have time when passing through and if you are the Thruway, get ahold of me before hand,my department covers a stretch of the T-WAY around Exit 57A. Stop in..I'll give you the 50 cent tour.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Beaulieu on June 24, 2008 at 2:23pm

Thanks for the words of advice. Here is just a little bit more information about my department. As I stated we are a combination department, however I neglected to mention is that just 2 years ago we were 2 seperate agencies. A forced consilidation by our town fathers came rather hard to most of us. We were very different however worked very well together. The town decided to hire a paid Fire Chief instead of letting the two volunteer Chiefs run the show. Some of our opinions at this point in time reflect the still unsettled nature of the adventure. We are all working towards the same goal now but still have some issues to resolve. The barriers between the career staff and the volunteers continues to be one of the issues that needs addressing. Any recommendations from anyone would help greatly. Found a local F.O.O.L.S. chapter about an huor from where I am, I think I'll look into it.

KTF-FTM-PTB-EGH
Eric

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Permalink Reply by Greg Wild on June 24, 2008 at 4:30pm

Eric,

If you would like, I can provide you with a name and email of someone that is currently going through similiar issues. Thre are in North Carolina. We went their last fall and provided some much needed RIT training. Either leave me your email here, or send it to me at Greg@1-Sourcetraining.com and I will put you guys in touch. Maybe it will help??
Great job looking into the FOOLS. Great organization and Brotherhood.
Greg

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Buechel on June 24, 2008 at 7:03pm

I am a member of Kewaskum Fire and Rescue, Kewaskum, WI. We opperate out of 1 station with 2-engines, 1- 50' Tele-squrt, 2- Basic ambulances, 2- tankers (tenders), and 4 support vehicles. We opperate within our village limits where there is municipal water supply. We are also contracted with 2 neighboring townships to provide fire protection, with no municipal water.

On a structure fire within village limits our first alarm is Engine 1 (1862), Ladder 1 (1860), Engine 2 (1864) , Command 1 (1881) , Equipment 1 (1880), and Ambulance 1 (1851).

Outside Village limits, our first due is Engine 1, Ladder 1, Engine 2, Tankers 1&2, Command 1, Equipment 1, and Ambulance 1.

It is the responsibility of the IC to assign duties to arriving companies. We also utilize mutual aid whenever necessary. Our daytime staffing levels are low, as a combination department with only a career chief, and all other 45 members POC we are lucky to have a Engine and Truck company out the door. The other units arrive as they are staffed. We rely on mutual aid companies for water, and manpower as needed.

Washington county has set up that a department can't be it's own RIT team. We rely fully on neighbor departments for this. Many times, RIT is not called, or isn't on scene for 20 minutes.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Wild on June 25, 2008 at 8:31am

Hey Jeff,

It seems like what your saying, is so similiar to what everyone is saying. "This is all we have, and we are trying to make it work". Sometimes, that's all we can do. Since the RIT team is 20 mintues away, I would really be careful about comitting interior operations during this time. It may be something that your choosing to do, but please be careful and prudent on these decisions.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Stay Safe,
Greg

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Permalink Reply by Eric Beaulieu on June 25, 2008 at 10:32am

Greg,

Here is my email ebeaulieu33@charter.net I would be more than happy to hear someone elses opinion on this matter.

Thanks and Stay Safe

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Permalink Reply by Adam Bean on June 25, 2008 at 1:48pm

Greg,

1 - I work for the City of Portland Maine - when we strike a Desk Box we get 3 Engines 2 Trucks 1 Heavy Rescue 1 Deputy Chief and 1 Ambulance, we also start a third ladder routine as the RIT truck, depending on the initial report and if the All Hands is struck (our equivalent of a working fire) the RIT ladder steps it up to Code 3.

2 - Most of the companies know what there supposed to do but if anything needs to be changed the 1st due company makes the assignments, its normally broken down as listed below.

1st Due Engine - Fire Attack
2nd Due Engine - Water Supply
3rd Due Engine - Secondary Water Supply
1st Due Truck - Search - Forcible Entry
2nd Due Truck - Ventilation
3rd Due Truck - RIT
Rescue - Fills in where needed
Deputy - Command
Ambulance - works with the first due engine if there are no immediate victims

3 - The third due ladder is the RIT team until relieved by mutual aid and or recall members at a third alarm.

4 - I am a member of the FOOLS and currently the President of the Central Mass Chapter.

Adam Bean

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Permalink Reply by Greg Wild on June 25, 2008 at 1:54pm

Adam,

I am envious of the coordination and the assignments! Seems as though you have the bases covered, at least on paper:>)
So, are you near Kittery Point, Maine? If so, say hi to my friend, hero and shrimp boat Captain...PJ Johnson!
Hope the FOOLS chapter is going well. We just "recruited" about 20 others a few months ago and things are good.

Going to the convention this year? A few of us went up to Seaside last year for a great time and Brotherhood.

Stay Safe

PTB-FTM
Greg

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Permalink Reply by Adam Bean on June 25, 2008 at 3:13pm

Greg,

Kittery is a little south of me but I drive by the stomping grounds of the illustrious Captain PJ of the Love Boat and Kittery Point fire brigade on my way to work, I'll tell him you said hi. I will not be going to convention this year I'm getting married at the begining of august and that puts a hold on my summer. But maybe next years convention will be on the east coast to make things a little easier for us, who knows maybe the New England chapter might step up and be the host chapter. Where in TN are you? I've got family near Erwin on the NC line.

Adam

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Permalink Reply by Greg Wild on June 25, 2008 at 3:43pm

Adam,

Yes, PJ is famous, even here in the south. I am from NY and moved here about 10 years ago. If you see him tel him "UL" said hi. HE will know what your talking about!

I would love to get the FOOLS to NE for some fresh lobsta. I was married 17 years ago, and we went from upstate NY to Bar Harbor. Great place and beatifulll country. I am 30 minutes south of Nashville, in Franklin, TN.

An early congrats on your upcoming wedding! Where's the honeymoon?
Greg

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Permalink Reply by Adam Bean on June 25, 2008 at 4:34pm

Greg,
St. Lucia this year, she convinced me to go to the carribean, but I negotiated a return trip to Ireland for next summer for my half of the honeymoon.

Adam

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Permalink Reply by Greg Wild on June 25, 2008 at 4:40pm

Sounds like a great idea. Thanks again for taking the time in this discussion. I really appreciate it. Say hi to PJ for me!
Be careful Bro.
Greg
PTB-FTM

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