11/23/25 Bronx Mutual Aide Box 6300

lfdlt31 said:
My question about unions and OT still stands. My question is why would a union care if FDNY is called for mutual aid RATHER then a further away company that is not mutual aid. I am not saying instead of calling in the OT guys. I am saying call the closer dept for mutual aid rather then a farther away one. If mutual aid is being called then the union shouldn't really have any opinion on where it comes from.

Yes I said closest units, and you raise a good point about calling across the border companies that are closer then a company from the "home" department. I feel like that is a caveat to the argument. If it is the same department that has some validity. If calling mutual aid the preference should be given to the closest depts. The chiefs in Nassau, and Westchester, and Jersey should also know that asking for one piece of apparatus doesn't work, they should know the fdny policy about if you ask for one you get "this"

One of the biggest questions in the NTSB inquiry into the LODD deaths in Newark on the ship was why it took so long to call the FDNY, and there was no good answer given that I heard.

I completely understand MV calling New Rochelle or Yonkers for help first, there is merit to calling the depts that have radio capabilities and similar SOP and all that. But when it starts getting farther and farther away like this incident calling the FDNY should be earlier on the list.

That's my opinion. I am not FDNY, or even close to NYC and honestly the region I do live in needs to be better at mutual aid, I understand "there is more to it" but that should be ironed out when its not "go time" through meetings with chiefs and admins.
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It's not just OT that the unions would have an issue with, it's safety and manning. In Westchester, just about every career firefighter has all of the county fireground frequencies in their portables. Every IC has access to the trunked system and just about any other channel they would need. The fact remains that the FDNY does not have that capability at this time. Westchester has been running mutual aid drills regularly ever since the FDNY drills ceased with every department that responded Sunday participating in them.

Additionally, many jobs have leveraged mutual aid and automatic aid to help keep their manpower up. My job fought for an additional FF's position per shift through mediation years ago. The basis was an increase in runs outside of our district. Some also have manpower tied to SAFER grants, which are expected to be available for mutual aid.

Your point about calling the closest department's is debatable. I get your point, but spreading the impact beyond neighboring departments helps minimize the impact to a degree. It's the same reason why the FDNY moves companies from other boroughs to relocate.

The only place I'm familiar with that seems to do it right is the Northern Virginia region (Fairfax/Arlington/Alexandria/Loudon etc) and they did it through joint SOP's and years of training and planning. We're a long way from that ever happening around here unfortunately.
 
The FDNY does have a Marine Battalion in service 24/7. They are most certainly going to put the brakes on any attempt to attack a serious ship fire with handlines and personnel.
 
Roofman26 said:
Is it true that if FDNY was to operate in Mount Vernon, The City of NY would bill Mount Vernon for services rendered?
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There is reimbursement for mutual aid.

There is a mutual aid agreement that is agreed upon between all departments and set in force by New York State.

It is done with input from and with the best of intentions by all departments, and it is facilitated by the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Things sometimes present as a simple thing, "let's go help!" but there are other facets that need to be considered and sometimes the "line units" don't see that.

We just all want to help - it's in our DNA.
 
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GFD70 said:
The only place I'm familiar with that seems to do it right is the Northern Virginia region (Fairfax/Arlington/Alexandria/Loudon etc) and they did it through joint SOP's and years of training and planning. We're a long way from that ever happening around here unfortunately.
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from what I see from afar, the Boston area and the Phoenix area has very well thought out and preplanned mutual aid programs.

IMO the radio issue can be resolved by the FDNY chief with the FDNY radio standing next to the Westchester chief with the Westchester radio. It’s not ideal by any means but it is a way to make it work for the once in a blue moon.

I just think for a 5th alarm fire it’s a little ridiculous that a dept that is 3 miles away wasn’t there.
 
Roofman26 said:
Is it true that if FDNY was to operate in Mount Vernon, The City of NY would bill Mount Vernon for services rendered?
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Technically yes. I'm not sure if they actually would though. I'm not aware of any department billing for a structure fire. I have heard of billing for supplies, like lumber at a shoring job or speedy dry for a hazmat call.
 
Capttomo said:
An excellent read on the US navy 4 billion dollar ship fire loss.

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Capttomo said:
An excellent read on the US navy 4 billion dollar ship fire loss.

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I still shake my head and wonder how complacent those sailors had to become. The most dangerous environment for a sailor is not at sea or doing battle. It's in a shipyard environment. My own experiences were in the Portsmouth Naval Submarine Shipyard in Portsmouth NH, Electric Boat Groton CT, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth VA, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News VA and two other smaller yards. There were more sailors injured due to industrial accidents. I broke a non load bearing bone in my right leg while leaving my ship on a Sunday morning. Yep, something caught my eye and I didn't see the charged 2 1/2 " hose providing fire main water. The hose was partially obscured by the crossover platform leaving the ship and stepping onto the drydock. Rolled the ankle and heard and felt the snap. Yes I was back to work that Monday morning. Soft cast and cane one step at a time climbing the drydock ladder (Stairs). I broke the rule of never take your eyes off where you are walking and putting you hands.
 
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