Fire Station #1 Editorial shows bias for Old Southwest Inc.
An editorial in the Roanoke Times Today by Chris G. Muse explains...well nothing really. It showcases his opinion that he wants the new station. If someone came along and said we are closing a fire station and moving it right next door to my neighborhood I guess I would be happy too. If the new station is built Old Southwest will flanked on two sides by fire stations which includes 2 engines, 2 ambulances, and a ladder truck as well as command staff. I just do not understand why Muse needs to write an editorial to the whole city rubbing it in there face that he will be more privileged in the future and have two fire stations.
"Muse is a past president of Old Southwest Inc.
I must admit that I am perplexed by Mark McConnel's essay concerning Fire Station No. 1 ("History, efficiency, safety and cost argue for saving Fire Station No. 1," Sept. 1). I like McConnel, but the mathematical side of his information somehow proves that his point of view is incongruent with my summation. Polite way of my saying, "What?'
First I think too much is being placed on the Old No. 1 Fire Station. While it is one of our most well-known sites it is one of four old stations that will be replaced with modern stations. "
Muse later writes "If Fire Station No. 1 was on fire, Station No. 3 would be called. Let me repeat that. If Fire Station No. 1 was on fire, Station No. 3 would be called. That's funny, right?"
No sir that is not funny. To think that you are so naive to say that a Ladder Company has nothing to do with fire suppression. If you ask any ladderman in the city if they have assisted with fire suppression in the past year they will say yes. Why do you ask if there are other tasks to be done. Well due to minimum staffing of 3 firefighters per truck, there simply is not enough personnel on scene to have pre assigned roles for each firefighter. Meaning that when the first units arrive on scene the incident commander decides who does what.
Here is an example if an Engine, with the usual 3 personnel, arrives first in at a fire and decides to get a hydrant, they will leave the firefighter at the hydrant. Then the engine lays hose to the structure. Once at the structure the driver will engage the pump and hook up the hose lines. The Officer will mark on scene and probably take command since he/she cannot go in alone. If the next apparatus on scene is a Ladder Truck (what usually happens) then the Ladder truck personnel, again 3 usually, will begin their tasks. The driver will set a fan at the front door while the officer and firefighter enter the structure to begin search and rescue. Since there is not a hoseline in the structure yet, they will take one with them. Why? Because you search rooms around the fire, floors above the fire, and floors below the fire. They would not want to be there without a hand line in place. When they find the fire they can put the fire in check while other crews come in to contain and extinguish the fire. Then the laddermen can resume search and rescue.
Another reason why what you say is so abrasive is that Engine 1 did exist until the early 1990's.
The remark that you want to be on the list to buy Fire Station #1 is embarrassing and shows that you obviously have ulterior motives for the Station. This station will never be a private residence or restaurant.
Chris if you have any questions please contact me at FireFleitz@adelphia.net. I would be glad to educate you on what you speak of.
"Muse is a past president of Old Southwest Inc.
I must admit that I am perplexed by Mark McConnel's essay concerning Fire Station No. 1 ("History, efficiency, safety and cost argue for saving Fire Station No. 1," Sept. 1). I like McConnel, but the mathematical side of his information somehow proves that his point of view is incongruent with my summation. Polite way of my saying, "What?'
First I think too much is being placed on the Old No. 1 Fire Station. While it is one of our most well-known sites it is one of four old stations that will be replaced with modern stations. "
Muse later writes "If Fire Station No. 1 was on fire, Station No. 3 would be called. Let me repeat that. If Fire Station No. 1 was on fire, Station No. 3 would be called. That's funny, right?"
No sir that is not funny. To think that you are so naive to say that a Ladder Company has nothing to do with fire suppression. If you ask any ladderman in the city if they have assisted with fire suppression in the past year they will say yes. Why do you ask if there are other tasks to be done. Well due to minimum staffing of 3 firefighters per truck, there simply is not enough personnel on scene to have pre assigned roles for each firefighter. Meaning that when the first units arrive on scene the incident commander decides who does what.
Here is an example if an Engine, with the usual 3 personnel, arrives first in at a fire and decides to get a hydrant, they will leave the firefighter at the hydrant. Then the engine lays hose to the structure. Once at the structure the driver will engage the pump and hook up the hose lines. The Officer will mark on scene and probably take command since he/she cannot go in alone. If the next apparatus on scene is a Ladder Truck (what usually happens) then the Ladder truck personnel, again 3 usually, will begin their tasks. The driver will set a fan at the front door while the officer and firefighter enter the structure to begin search and rescue. Since there is not a hoseline in the structure yet, they will take one with them. Why? Because you search rooms around the fire, floors above the fire, and floors below the fire. They would not want to be there without a hand line in place. When they find the fire they can put the fire in check while other crews come in to contain and extinguish the fire. Then the laddermen can resume search and rescue.
Another reason why what you say is so abrasive is that Engine 1 did exist until the early 1990's.
The remark that you want to be on the list to buy Fire Station #1 is embarrassing and shows that you obviously have ulterior motives for the Station. This station will never be a private residence or restaurant.
Chris if you have any questions please contact me at FireFleitz@adelphia.net. I would be glad to educate you on what you speak of.
4 comments:
Rhett,
You can rest assured that all of us at Old Southwest Inc. don't feel the same about this issue. I'm not even sure this guy is even a member anymore. I could be wrong though. A member (not stating his membership) spoke at the council meeting and voiced his disapproval, mostly from an environmental safety standpoint. I am very happy with the current response time. We had a false alarm on the Fire portion of our security system and you guys were there in literally 2 or 3 minutes. It doesn't get any better than that.
I realize that different organizations members might have different opinions. It is unfortunate when a person like this uses his organiztion as clout when he has not gotten approval of the oranization mentioned. The same thing happened with the Chamber of commerce. If you noticed that the only speaker in favor of closing it down was reading a letter from the president (I believe) of the Chamber of Commerce and the fact of the matter is that the businesses who came to the meeting to speak against the plan are members of the Chamber. Needless to say there is a lack of communication there. I know in our organization we try to do a good job of assuring that when we speak we are speaking for the majority and truthful. One person summed up the Chiefs presentation and comments the other day by saying "he didn't lie, he just didn't tell the truth" and that is unfortunate. But that is also politics.
I'm sure they only meant to state a fact by saying he was a former President of Old Southwest Inc, but he should have made it clear that he speaks as a private citizen. It could have been something the Times added after the fact. It still makes me mad that people probably now think that is the stance of Old Southwest Inc. The logical stance of the group considering one of its main goals is historic preservation, would be to preserve #1 (no relation) in its current state. We don't have a stance on the issue that I know of as a group. It hasn't even been mentioned in any of the meetings I've attended. I've only had personal conversations with individual members.
I don't know about you but I am getting sick and tired of hearing about how a pumper won't fit into #1. I have heard it from Bev Fitzpatrick via e-mail, Chris Muse and from the Roanoke Times Editorial Board. I don't know if they are lying (I would think not) or just misinformed, either way they need to get it right.
P.S. I wish I would have known about the memorial on 9/11, I would have come down and joined you and Keith. Maybe next time. Thanks for all you and your fellow Roanoke City Firemen do.
No problem. The whole thing about the apparatus not fitting into stations is a half truth. It is something I have been trying to get people to realize for a long time. The fact of that matter is that
1. We have some apparatus that won't fit in some of the bays in certain stations.
2. Manufacturers build modern apparatus which will fit in all of the bays of all of our stations.
3. Our Chief has decided in the past to purchase apparatus which will not fit our needs the best and which will not fit in some of our bays. I.E. the 121'ladder now in reserve, and the telesquirts.
It should be noted that when they bought the 121' ladder they had to raise the door at station #7 to make it fit. Then when they moved it to station #2 they had to raise the door and the ceiling to make it fit. This could have been prevented by purchasing a ladder which did fit in the first place. The new Ladder #2, the newest ladder in our fleet, is the lowest clearance ladder we have.
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