Hey,
The issue of firefighters and fatigue has been raised once again. And with the economic times we are in, and overtime being “alive and well” in many areas, the issue of “how many hours should a firefighter work” is a hot one at this FD in Kentucky. Back in October the Winchester FD responded to 5 fires in four days. Firefighter Paramedic Raymond Patrick thought one of those fires would be the end of 48 hours on duty, but as he prepared to head home at the end of his shift, his boss ordered him to start all over again. But Patrick says he told his superiors he wouldn’t last 72 hours straight. The 8-year veteran of the WFD and newly elected union president says because Winchester is understaffed, many firefighters have had to work back to back 24-hour shifts even though the standard schedule is 24-hours on, 48-hours off.
So he refused to work the 3rd 24 hours shift in a row. Patrick’s refusal led to a hearing before the Winchester City Commission.
HERE is more: http://tinyurl.com/3aholx8
SEE RELATED: IAFC Sleep Deprivation Study & Information:
SEE RELATED: IAFC Sleep Deprivation Study & Information:
FIREFIGHTERS SHOCKED AT FIRE:
An equipment electrical fire yesterday morning sent 2 Salt Lake City (UT) Firefighters to the hospital. The equipment, used to make x-ray tubes, was being tested when it came in contact with oil used in the testing process. The damage of the fire was contained to the equipment being tested and the equipment used to perform the testing. 1 Firefighter was treated for exposure to an electrical shock. He was taken to Intermountain Medical Center and is listed in good condition and a 2nd was evaluated for possible exposure to the electrical shock. Just another reminder of potential electrical hazards on every fire call.
An equipment electrical fire yesterday morning sent 2 Salt Lake City (UT) Firefighters to the hospital. The equipment, used to make x-ray tubes, was being tested when it came in contact with oil used in the testing process. The damage of the fire was contained to the equipment being tested and the equipment used to perform the testing. 1 Firefighter was treated for exposure to an electrical shock. He was taken to Intermountain Medical Center and is listed in good condition and a 2nd was evaluated for possible exposure to the electrical shock. Just another reminder of potential electrical hazards on every fire call.
MAYOR TO FIRE CHIEF: “STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR STAFFING ISSUES”
A SIGN OF THE TIMES, THE TIMES THAT ARE HERE TO STAY? PREDICTABLE WINS OR LOSSES?
A SIGN OF THE TIMES, THE TIMES THAT ARE HERE TO STAY? PREDICTABLE WINS OR LOSSES?
Lawrence (MA) Mayor William Lantigua is tired of hearing about a lack of firefighters and “irresponsible comments” by acting fire Chief Brian Murphy about the dangers. But with 93 working fires and nearly $5 million in property losses so far this year, the Chief said he’s going to keep pushing the issue to save lives.
“We are severely undermanned. It’s only a matter of time before there’s a tragedy,” Murphy said yesterday. “So far we have been very fortunate.”
“We are severely undermanned. It’s only a matter of time before there’s a tragedy,” Murphy said yesterday. “So far we have been very fortunate.”
Again yesterday morning, the LFD had to rely on heavy mutual aid for a fire that left 10 people homeless. 37 Firefighters fought the fire, 16 from Lawrence and 21 from mutual aid. City firefighters had to respond from the central station on Lowell Street, not a closer firehouse on Tower Hill because it was shut down due to budget cuts since August 2009. Murphy also said Lawrence’s costs on fire damage has doubled in the past year. In 2009, there were 72 building fires that resulted in $2.4 million in property damage. Not counting 2 Fires yesterday, there have been 93 structure fires in Lawrence so far this year, resulting in $4.7 million in property damage. Last year, LFD relied on mutual aid from other towns for five multi-alarm fires. But this year, mutual aid has been called in 22 times so far, Murphy said. In July, 23 firefighters were laid off to balance the $72 million municipal budget.
PREDICTABLE WIN OR PREDICTABLE LOSS? Is the above a sign of the times that are here to stay? Looks like it according to some predictions. Even if/when the economy turns around, will those cities that have cut, go back to what they once had? At some point, when a FD budget “is what it is” the FD is simply not longer matched to the job expected previously.
Insurance rates WILL go up.
Stuff will burn down at a greater rate.
And lives may be lost.
The question facing many Fire Chiefs is: At what point do we alter being an interior FD when we are being forced to be pretty much an exterior FD? Sort of like ALS vs BLS EMS, if the community wants it, is costs more money or you simply get BLS. While we don’t rate them that way, perhaps communities will need to understand “before the fire” if THEIR FD is a BFD or an AFD? (BASIC FD=Exterior fire protection at the basic level or an ADVANCED FD with adequate staffing to perform some ADVANCED interior operations)
It all sounds so damn ridiculous to us but at what point do the city hall budget issues and their (city hall, local government) responsibility to protect their citizens (in various forms) fall ridiculously onto the BACKS of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters to go above and beyond, above and beyond? While clearly there are few amongst us that would NOT be willing to do “whatever it takes” to do the search, mak
e the grab and attempt to save a life, some communities are expecting their FD to “win” – although the “win” is generally predictable as a loss. When your “hometown football team” only has 6 players, don’t expect many, or any, wins. Don’t take that bet.
e the grab and attempt to save a life, some communities are expecting their FD to “win” – although the “win” is generally predictable as a loss. When your “hometown football team” only has 6 players, don’t expect many, or any, wins. Don’t take that bet.
No one is suggesting that we should ever give up the fight to provide expertise to our communities in helping them genuinely understand what “their” FD should look like in order to derive a generally predictable outcome. However, the community and the elected city hall dwellers need to decide what they want while the Chiefs, like LFD Chief Murphy, have an obligation to make clear what we generally can and cannot do, based upon what the community wants and is willing to fund, career or volunteer. And like Chief Murphy, the city hall dwellers may not like what they hear.
Additionally, other options such as mergers, collaborations and consolidations have to be looked at and very strongly considered. And while the public (and elected city hall dwellers) may not like the idea of no longer having “control” over their own “local” FD, they can’t have it both ways. When they reduce staffing to the “losing team” levels, from a FF survival standpoint, the issue of not having adequate staffing to perform that occasional but critical rescue provides us with a much more predictable outcome.
HERE IS MORE ABOUT LAWRENCE (MA): http://tinyurl.com/22nhszp
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 12-1-10 / 0855 Hours
