Mutual Aid???

This story ran on the R-News web site this morning about the fire yesterday on North Clinton Ave.

A number of suburban fire departments were called in to help fight the Family Dollar fire Monday as part of a countywide mutual aid plan. Some say it is also a sign the Rochester Fire Department is spread too thin.

It's something you don’t see a lot – firefighters from Webster and other suburbs lending a hand to the Rochester Fire Department.

"Right now we have four or five suburban fire departments helping out for what is essentially a strip mall fire," said Rochester Firefighters Local 1071 President Jim McTiernan.

To read the rest of the story and watch the video click here.

Johnson City to go Volunteer

This was a suggested topic:

First Canandaigua now Johnson City, who is next? Can this really work?

Canandaigua to cut the FD

Canandaigua, N.Y. —

The Canandaigua City Fire Department would need to cut its force by more than half under a proposed budget presented to the department today. City Manager Kay James told the force of 14 career firefighters at a meeting it would need to trim eight positions to help the city deal with a budget deficit in 2010.

“We are facing a $1.7 million hole in the budget,” James said this afternoon. Without cutting the eight firefighter positions, as well as an equivalent of seven other city positions in various departments, the city would have to increase taxes by 40 percent, she said.

To read the rest of the story by the Messenger Post Click here.

RFD New Engines

This is a suggested topic:---------------------------

There has been some questions/comments about the new RFD engines.

Some of the questions are:

- How is it working off the front bumper with the handlines?
- How is it working off the side pump panel?
- How is it working with no front end connection?

The photo above is the first one I have seen of a new engine at a fire.

Some rules:

Do not bash the committee/Chief about the trucks. Keep it civilized and constructive.

If you do not see your post after 24 hrs, it means it was not allowed.

Rochester to Study EMS Services

Updated 10/22/09 - To view the City of Rochester RFP for the Analysis of EMS Services Provisions please click here.

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Updated 10/19/09 -

Today, the Democrat and Chronicle published an article about how Rochester is going to study its EMS Services. This is the same topic we reported about on October 14th when R-News ran their story.

Some highlights of the article are:

- How they talk about the Firefighters lawsuit about opening fire hydrants and that not being “inherent in the duties of firefighters” and is EMS an essential or non essential part of the fire service.

- Chief Caufield stated “the Fire Department did not request the study.”

- An option of putting paramedics on fire trucks

- The Ambulance contract is set to expire next year.

- A recent report to City Council stated Rural Metro is meeting contract demands.

You can read the full story here,
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The study will look at four options: keeping the status quo, training firefighters to provide more advanced life support, having Rural/Metro provide all medical services, or having the fire department do the same.

"Many of the largest communities in the country, the fire department provides not only first response, EMS in the fire trucks, but they also run the ambulances," says Caufield.

Full Story with video.