06' News Archives
Our B-Rig is Finished!
Riverhead FD's new B-Rig was recently unveiled at its "wetdown" ceremony. The old B-Rig was totally gutted and anything of value became part of the new chassis. Many volunteer hours went into this project but, you must agree, the end result is one awesome truck!... click here to view photos
Looking for Helping Hands
By Ambrose Clancy & Tim Gannon 05-03-2006 News Review
Area fire and ambulance services in volunteer crunch.
Where have the volunteers gone?
Shifting demographics, the need to work multiple jobs and ever-increasing training requirements are resulting in a shortage of volunteers to serve in local volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps, whose leaders worry about keeping up with the rising demand for services.
"It's a case of shifting demographics," said East Marion Fire Department Chief Gregory Wallace. "There's not enough jobs and industry to support people and people are moving," he said.
"People are moving out," agreed Greenport Fire Department Chief Darryl Volinski. "It used to be father-to-sons or father-to-daughters for the department but that's not happening any more," he said.
"You have people working two or three jobs just to make ends meet, and younger people are going to school and working," said Doug Talmage, a director of Riverhead Town Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The price of real estate, the lack of high-paying jobs and the high cost of living has put a burden on his department, but the RTVAC is not alone, he added. "The problem's not just here but all across Long Island," Mr. Talmage said. The result is a very high turnover rate and a volunteer shortage. Training requirements are another factor that discourages new volunteers. Chief Volinski said the amount of training required to be certified as a firefighter takes a toll on someone who is working full-time or has multiple jobs. "You have to put in a lot of hours, taking classes until 10 or 11 at night," Chief Volinski said.
All applicants are required to take a course at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank. The course, known as Firefighter I, involves 19 classroom sessions comprising 57 hours and eight "hands-on" sessions that take another 24 hours. Then there are 26 additional hours of home study for a total of 107 hours. The course covers everything from handling ropes and knots to hazardous material operations and forcible entries and search-and-rescue missions.
"After you get Firefighter I training you have training with your own department, twice a month and sometimes once a week," Chief Volinski said.
When Chief Volinski joined the department in 1983 it was a different world, he said. There was a waiting list of people who wanted to join. "Now people just come in." The department is constantly looking for volunteers, the chief said.
Riverhead Fire Department Chief Ed Carey agreed with his colleagues that it was difficult to attract "those willing to run into a burning building for free when everyone else is running out." It wasn't the fear factor, however, that's keeping people away, the chief said, but "people don't have enough hours in the day to devote to training and answering calls. It's a big commitment." But there are equally big rewards. "You develop a sense of camaraderie and you take home a sense of spirit and pride in your community," Chief Carey said.
"We've been very fortunate when it comes to volunteers," said Cutchogue Fire Chief Bill Brewer. "We've had a steady influx of volunteers. We can always use more. We never feel we have enough."
Southold is also in good shape when it comes to getting bodies out to emergencies, said first assistant chief Rich Weber. "We've had no problem. We have plenty of members," he said. "But we're always looking for EMTs [emergency medical technicians]," he added.
Both men and women are welcome, said Chief Wallace of East Marion. The department is especially proud that first assistant chief Carol Miller is "only the second female in Suffolk County in the chief's line," he said.
The benefits of volunteering are simple but enormous, said Chief Volinski. "You get a chance to help people," he said. "You get the benefit of seeing someone you helped survive."
The problems created by a shortage of volunteers are compounded by the increasing demand for services, especially emergency medical services. While membership in RTVAC has grown, it hasn't kept up with the escalating number of calls, according to director Doug Talmage. The corps answered about 1,000 calls in 1989; last year it responded to about 2,600 calls for help, he said. "And it's not just more people living here now but there are more businesses located here," Mr. Talmage said.
On Monday, several members of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance (FNVA) visited an emergency medical technician class at Suffolk Community College to try and recruit new volunteers, according to Richie Naso of the FNVA. "There's a big campaign going with the county to increase recruitment and retention of volunteers," he said.
Mr. Naso said volunteers have gone to some high schools in Southampton Town on their "career days" to recruit volunteers, and that many departments and even businesses are offering incentives to induce volunteers.
"Some merchants offer discounts to ambulance or fire volunteers," he said.
To volunteer as a firefighter, contact your local department.
The Suffolk County recruitment campaign has also set up a hotline number — 1-877-WE2-WANTU (1-877-932-9268) — to attract volunteers.
Information is also available online at www.co.suffolk.ny.us/we2wantu
Critical Emergency Drill
04-22-2006 News Review
Eighty emergency response personnel from fire departments of Riverhead, Jamesport, Flanders, Manorville and Wading River, Riverhead Town Police and Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to a mock liquid propane gas leak at a propane facility on West Main Street near Kroemer Avenue at 1 p.m. Saturday. The drill was held to provide training for responders in case of a propane leak and to set up an effective chain of command and communications network among participating agencies. Prior to the drill, many of the volunteers attended 12 hours of training conducted by Mike DiGiorgio, director of safety for Paraco Gas.
Shown are (at top): volunteer firefighters on the scene (above) Riverhead volunteer firefighters Tess Corwin, Kevin Kosciuszko and Captain Dave Sparrow approaching the leak. (below) Fire Marshall Bruce Johnson and Instructor Mike DiGiorgio evaluating the performance of firefighters after the drill. (left) Firefighters Tess Corwin and Kevin Kosciuszko on top of the tanker at the source of the leak. With a confirmed class attendance list of over 125 responders, it was the largest event that the propane industry / Paraco Gas Corporation has ever offered to emergency responders in the NY Metropolitan Area.
News-Review photos by Barbaraellen Koch
Copyright 2006, News Review, All Rights Reserved.
Town Pro-Active In Emergency Preparedness
by Lisa Finn 04-26-2006 The Independent
In the event of a hazardous material emergency, rest assured, Riverhead is prepared.
Over 70 participants turned out during Saturday’s rainy, cold weather to engage in a Haz-Mat preparedness drill involving emergency response agencies that serve the Town of Riverhead.
The drill, which simulated a series of emergency situations involving hazardous materials, was attended by members of the Riverhead, Jamesport, Flanders, Wading River, and Manorville fire departments, as well as members of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corp, the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services, the Town of Riverhead Fire Marshal, and Haz-Mat teams from Southampton and Brookhaven towns and Brookhaven National Laboratory.“This important emergency preparedness exercise will ensure that the local emergency response agencies are effectively trained to respond to a Haz-Mat incident,” said Riverhead Supervisor Phil Cardinale. “I applaud the Riverhead Fire Department for coordinating this important exercise and all other emergency response groups for their participation.”
The drill had the financial backing of the New York and Atlantic Freight Railroad and the Paraco Gas Corporation. It was preceded by a series of three evening training sessions for firefighters, in addition to classroom training on the morning of the event.
Bill Sanok, public information officer for the Riverhead Fire Department, explained that with more residents moving to the area, there is an increased use of grills and propane. He stressed that drills are imperative so emergency personnel know how to react in times of crisis. “We need to know how to deal with the situation so we can minimize damage to life and property,” he said.
Sanok remembers a night 40 years ago when a tanker car flipped over in Riverhead. Such tragedies, he said, are always a possibility, and the only way to prevent disaster is to be prepared. A command center is critical. “The biggest problem when dealing with any emergency is communication.”
During times of crisis, it’s imperative to know how to deal with the initial confusion and panic, said Sanok. Drills and training minimize the mishandling of an emergency situation. He added that since that major event 40 years ago, there have been very few accidents, “because people are trained in what to do in the event of an emergency.”
On hand at the drill was Matt Larabee, an instructor for propane emergency response training who’d traveled from New Lebanon, New York for the event. “Any time you transfer liquid propane, it’s a dangerous situation,” he warned.
Bruce Johnson, Riverhead fire marshal, said the drill was crucial because in the last year alone, the area had seen a “significant increase” in the number of hazardous emergency calls received, totaling approximately 23 calls. “Because of that number, we’re trying to increase preparedness to handle an emergency. This drill was a golden opportunity,” he said.
Johnson said that after national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, it was important not to “lose focus” and to remember the seriousness of other potential disasters.
The drill was the first of its kind in the area in the last five years, he added.
Mike DiGiorgio, director of transportation of and safety for Paraco, said the facility was one of only three on Long Island with the capability necessary to conduct such a drill.
Copyright 2006, The Independent, All Rights Reserved.
2-Working Fires in 2-Hours
RIVERHEAD, NY - On February 28, 2006 the Riverhead FD was dispatched to Route 24 and Donald Street for an oil burner fire in a trailer home. Prior to his arrival, Chief Edward Carey observed heavy black smoke from blocks away. Carey transmitted a 13-35 working fire and requested the first-due to pick up the hydrant and lay into the scene. Because the parks roads were narrow and the area was congested, he then requested all but the second-due engine to stay out on Route 24.
As all hands went to work, Carey requested the Flanders FD to standby at Riverhead’s main house. The fire was bought under control in about 30 minutes.
The fire marshal was on scene soon after the fire was knocked down. The cause of the fire in under investigation. The trailer home was a total loss. (go to the second fire story)
original story
By LYNN ANN JACOBS
Correspondent
Riverhead responds to structure fire
RIVERHEAD, NY - On Tuesday February 28th, at about 11:45 am, the Riverhead FD received an alarm for a second house fire at 24 Pleasant Court in Calverton. Riverhead Police got to the scene and informed the dispatcher that there was a working fire in a private dwelling. Just as they were taking up from their first working fire of the day in Riverside, firefighters responded to this second alarm.
When Assistant Chief George Woodson got close to the scene he had a heavy smoke condition in the area. Woodson arrived and immediately transmitted a signal 13-35 for a working fire.
The first due engine hit the hydrant that was right in front of the fire building.
Woodson requested an engine each from Flanders, Jamesport and Wading River Fire Departments to the scene. He ordered multiple 1 3/4-inch lines to the rear of the house, where the house was fully involved.
The second engine in dropped multiple 1 3/4-inch lines to the front door where there was a fire in the basement that had spread to the outside and into the roof area.
Woodson saw that the fire had made its way into attic and was starting to show out the sides and parts of the roof. Riverhead firefighters made an interior attack advancing their way to the second floor and put a fast attack on the fire as those outside did the same. The fire was placed under control about 45 minutes later.
The Riverhead fire marshal was on scene to investigate the cause of the blaze. There was a long overhaul that needed to be done.
Riverhead then wrapped up from two working fires in less than two hours.
All firefighters that worked both working fires did a great job.
original story
By JOHN PAUL WALTHERS
Correspondent
Paying the Price to Save LivesFighting to find new volunteers for local fire departments
By Philip Marcelo 01-25-2006 News Review
A 20-something joins up at a local fire department. The volunteer completes the required training, attends annual refresher courses and responds to almost every emergency call. Then there's the department's social events. For a while, the young volunteer is a model firefighter.
Then life interrupts. Marriage, kids, a house, taxes, second jobs. The volunteer isn't around as much, as other responsibilities pile up. Training requirements aren't met and participation wanes.
It's what Riverhead Fire Chief Ed Carey described as a "cycle of burnout" in young, "gung-ho" volunteers, who drift away from service as responsibilities to work and family increase over time. Local department members say the rigorous training demands for today's firefighters are what force young members to abandon their duties.
"The process has become terribly time-consuming, said veteran Southold Fire Department member Ed Boyd. Many find it hard to commit to the increase in time required for entry-level training and to keep certified. The high cost of living on the East End leaves many with "no time left over" for volunteer work, he added.
The average age of local firefighters is mid to late 40s, according to fire chiefs. To encourage younger members, some departments have lowered their age requirement to 18. Riverhead Fire Department made that move this year, and the effects were almost immediate, Chief Carey said. "We had a big spike of 20 new people this year under the age of 21," he said.
Though each fire department's protocol for training new members differs, all volunteer firefighters in Suffolk County must complete 18 classes and eight field exercises at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank, as well as a given number of in-house training hours through their local fire company before a two-year probationary period is over.
Most firehouses require firefighters to attend at least one refresher course at the fire academy each year. Then volunteers must train to use new technology as it's incorporated into departments. For example, Riverhead Fire Department made thermal imaging cameras, which firefighters use to detect persons trapped inside smoke-filled buildings, standard equipment in all of its companies two years ago. As a result, all interior firefighters had to be trained in their use, Chief Carey said. "Firefighters have to be trained to use new equipment and be efficient with it," he said. "Every time we buy something new, they have to train with it." As cars and homes become more sophisticated, firefighters must become more aware of the complexity of their technology, Craig Zitek, a chief at Jamesport Fire Department and a member of the Fire Chiefs' Council of Suffolk County, said. Firefighters also respond to water and ice rescues.
"It's all things we need," he said. "Today's firefighter is a much better prepared firefighter. We don't just put out fires; that's only part of it now. We've taken on a lot more, and with that requires a great deal more training."
But in a hectic world, that sort of continuous training might be a disincentive for young would-be firefighters. "It requires more 'you' time," Mr. Zitek said of the initial training to be a firefighter. "Some are saying enough is enough."
Jeff Meyer, 23, joined Southold Fire Department the summer of 2001, spending weeknights taking fire academy courses and working with his father's construction company during the day. At the same time, he worked to get his EMS certification through classes at Suffolk County Community College. He became a firefighter in two months. "It was relatively easy," he said. "Plus I had the free time."
But since then, his free time has slowly been drained away. Mr. Meyer bought a home in Southold over the summer, and he spends as much of his free time as he can making improvements to it. He's working over 40 hours per week for the family firm, with the expectation that one day he will run it.
"More work, less play," he said.
Of the 10 Southold residents who attended fire academy with him, only three remain, he said. Yet for Mr. Meyer, the fire department is a lifelong commitment. He attends his monthly company meeting, department-wide and rescue squad meetings and mandatory academy training courses. He provides general maintenance on the company's dive truck and participates in the department's drill sessions held almost every Sunday morning.
"You've signed up for something. It's part of the responsibility," he said.
photo: Kevin Kosciuszko, one of the newest volunteer firemen of the Riverhead Fire Department.
News-Review photo by Barbaraellen Koch