BRIDGE LANE

[LaurieT]

Hi Tara,
You made a good point when you said the volunteers were trying to save her, that is exactly why they do what they do, to try to save, and help people in the community who are in trouble.
This past flood was a horrible thing, also the first time from what I hear, that the water got that far out of control. It is horrible that one of our residents got caught up in it the way she did. It is also wonderful she is home and safe now.
It is true that water rescue is not only difficult, but also a specialized extensive training course that requires not only special training, but also equipment that not all volunteer companies can afford. Thanks to Scott twnshp, we do have those trained people and equipment at our disposal when we need them.
I know its hard to imagine someone your close to going through an ordeal like she did, I know if it was my daughter I would have wanted her safe in less time than it took too, but that doesn't mean that everyone who was out there didn't give it their best. I dont believe that there was an easy way to get her out of where she was, or else she would have been able to get out of the situation all by herself, so please, be thankful there were people there to at least keep her as safe as they could, and appreciate the comfort they provided her knowing there were people there with her until the proper plan was put into place to get her out of there with minimal injury, and lifeflighted to the hospital to recover from her horrible experience.
All the scenarios, good or bad are in the past now.
There is a saying...if you have one foot in yesterday, and the other in tomorrow, then you are peeing all over today! So lets make the best of today, and rest assured, all the people from all the companies will discuss that day, and do things to make it better.
Regards,
LaurieT

[xtarax05]

Laurie,
I am not trying to be rude and I am not trying to upset any one. I realize its all in the past but what if it happens to someone else? If no one said anything everyone would have thought that they did okay and someone else would have to wait four hours. Again im not being rude but you weren’t there. You didn’t see what they were doing you don’t know that no one paid attention to her no one offered to stand with her or put a coat on her. There were fire fighters just standing around. there were neighbors offer to use tractors and excavators to get rescuers to her and no one would listen. Everyone thought they knew it all. And I do thank Scott township for having the water rescue team, but they didn’t know much what they were doing either, at least there superior didn't. And im sure if it was your daughter you would be just as upset, especially if you were there.

Tara.

[sllaf]

Everyone around the Newton Ransom fire company know how I’ve felt in the pasted.  And this well shock a lot of  people what I’m about to write.

I wasn’t there at the water rescue of that girl, but I’ve heard a number of people accounts of what happened that day and have read was what written on this chat board.
NRVFC are trained in three main areas 1.fire 2.mva 3.ems that is the main stay of there calls, and like all fire company in this state not just this area, there having problems with manpower. People aren’t as willing to help out there fire company any more like they did 20yrs ago, but you also have to look at it 20yrs ago those men didn’t have to go spend countless hrs training like you have today, being a firefighter today is a lot harder on family life then 20yrs ago.

When fusas stated how untrained and under-qualified the firefighters are in the area of water rescue, that’s not one of fire co. everyday situations that they deal with on a call to call base. A water rescue like this one with the girl only may come up once every 3-5years if that. That’s why there are specializes teams out there like Scoot Dive, and there is a dive team that comes out of Pittston. That have specialized training to deal with these calls. You don’t go to your family doctor to have your brain operated  on, no you go to the hospital and have someone that specializes in that area to do that. And that’s how you should look at your fire company as your family doctor, when something happens that out of there training there going to call in other area fire company or specializes teams like Scott Dive, or PA 3.  

Water rescue or another rescue  takes time to come up with a safe plan of attack, then to have all the equipment that you would need  come in and have the manpower to set up the equipment ( you may need to call in a couple area fire company in just for the man power), and when your all done with set up you have to go back and double check all the ropes, rigging, anchor, knots, to make sure it was set up right, because after all you are putting the life of that girl and the firefighter on that system you just set up. And it may take several attempts at it before they get the system that there using right.  

The Newton  Ransom fire company looked at the call, made the right call by saying they  did not have the manpower, have the specialized  training and equipment  to make attack plan on there own. And made the call to 911 center to have the defend  area fire company’s other teams  like Scott come in and help….
Good Job NRVFC for doing that......

Albright

[xtarax05]

first, your right they arent trained but flooding is becomeing a major problem in this area so maybee they should be.
second, you said that the fire company looked at the situation, they thought the girl was a deer, they pitched a fit when her father went through thier baracade, then continued to stand around for 20 mins after her father found her, when some one asked them if they needed help there cheif answered "no" a man who works for the township sugested help.
and the man power you speek of.. would that be the men standing around watching as a total of maybe ten guys did something.
your right you werent there. you dont know what happened

[sllaf]

I’m not going to get in a fight with you or anyone else about the fire company. You’re never going to please everyone, just a fact of life. There is a 101 diffent ways to do the same job.  When I talk about manpower I mean trained firefighter and rescue workers not Jim Bob off the street. Yes maybe the fire company in that area should look at training class’s that maybe giving in area. Or get together with other area fire company and have county wide training class on the monthly training night at the fire grounds.

Jim Richards as posted Nov 27, 06 this on Fire Co. Board:

 “ Mainly we need people who are not afraid to get dirty, wet, annually spend days in the classrooms, go without meals and sleep, stay out in the hot sun or the cold winter all day and or night  trying to help some neighbor or stranger in need.

  I am now asking for any and all volunteers to please get in touch with me and let me know your ideas, plans, dreams, whatever, to help us to better serve the community. Why not present an action plan and then join us and help work your plan into action?  An active working membership with active community support is what I would like to see. “

So instead of basting the your local fire company why not post replies in areas you think the fire company need work in and do it in a positive way. Why not get out there and volunteer yourself, and see all the hard work and time, it takes to be come a Sr. Member Firefighter.
Albright

[dustysld]

First, I want to say that I sympathize with both sides of this debate, first to the family having to wait for news of what was going on, time in circumstances like this drags on, minutes seem to become hours and nothing goes fast enough when a loved one is in danger.

Equally frustrating for the firefighters and rescue workers was what they were faced with.  Being a volunteer firefighter is a time consuming venture, often with little or no reward beyond knowing that you have helped your community.  These are the people we turn to when we are at our worst and need help, and so when they are faced with a situation that they have never encountered before, it is understandable that the scene became chaotic.  

I know that there is extensive training involved in just becoming a firefighter, then there are rescue classes, advanced rescue classes, trench rescue, building collapse...And the list goes on and on.  Every rural fire company cannot possibly hope to first, train every one of their respective members in every area, nor can they possibly hope to purchase, maintain and transport every piece of rescue equipment for every possible situation.  They must be able to adapt, adjust and overcome, but we must understand that it is not possible to be an 'Expert' in all areas of fire supression and rescue.  

That is why there is a Lackawanna County Tactical Resuce Unit, comprised of members from all over the county, whose members have gone to specialized rescue classes.  Then there are the Dive teams, whose members train for this particular type of rescue.

What rural fire departments must start considering is consolidating their efforts.  Not every Fire Department needs a multi million dollar ladder truck, nor does every station need a 'Heavy Rescue' Truck, but if community leaders and fire department officials would work together when purchases are being planned, then perhaps the right equipment would be closer to home.  

In this day and age, mutual aid response is the norm, not the exception, and we see multiple companies responding to calls where in the past maybe only one fire company responded.  This has to do with the manpower issues that exsist, and the standards of care that exsist.

What is sad, is that most people in the Abingtons are unaware that the the local fire departments have the land necessary to have a first rate fire academy, and it is located in Newton Twp.  Many of our local volunteers have worked very hard to make the facility what it is, but more is needed.  State and Federal funding is desperately needed to build the needed burn buildings and other training facilities so that our firemen can have the best training available, and then we as citizens will reap the benefit of their training.

[fusas]

I wrote my opinion several weeks ago and some just can't handle the truth.  If you have this much time to write your daily opinion you need to get a life, job, or something to fill your time.  It's time to move on now.  

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
FUSAS

[dustysld]

To Fusas, my apologies, I did not realize that it was inappropriate to post an opinion that in any way is opposing to yours.  I was under the impression that this was a forum to voice opinions, and as I had recently become a member to this board, and had read the postings in this matter, I chose to put my thoughts out there as well.  Additionally this was not a 'Daily Opinion', but was a thought out impression of what had been presented on this site.  Again, that is seemingly wrong, because, You made your point, and therefore nobody else is apparently permitted to do so.

The point I was looking to make, much to your chagrin, was the need for local fire departments to begin to consolidate their purchases, to reduce the duplication of efforts and to start making serious progress at the Abington Fire Training Grounds.  There was no agenda on my part, other than to voice an opinion.  But it would seem that your agenda is silence others.