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Monday, March 24, 2008

Roanoke Firefighters are testing Leather Bunker Boots

One of the things that I really like about the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department is the use of committees within the department to have buy-in by our members. This provides sense of ownership over decisions made which effect our health, safety, and operations while doing our job. The use of committees has been effective in getting us the tools, equipment, uniforms, and vehicles which we rely on to do our jobs effectively, safely, and efficiently.


While there is still a veto power by the Chief over the committee decision, this veto power is not used all the time. Usually the biggest issue that creates a need for veto is budget constraints. All in all, veto over committee decision has not been detrimental in our health, safety, and operations. The one veto that comes to mind as being an outright catastrophe is when a former Chief overruled the apparatus committee on the purchase of two ladder trucks. His decision to purchase vehicles that the committee could not entirely stand behind ended up being cheaper for the City originally. However, over time with the increase in maintenance, out of service time, and repair has cost the City well over the cost of the trucks originally. The firefighters saw up front that it was a bad decision, and have had to live with it since. Ultimately, it will cost the City more money because the trucks will not make it as long as ladder trucks should. The trucks longevity was cut short because of its poor design.

Other committees have made breakthroughs in testing which ultimately had the manufacturers change the design. Our turnout gear and airpack committees did really hard work in finding equipment and gear suitable for us. In doing so, they found flaws which were pointed out (some were even fixed due to our recommendations).

These committees are formed by members of our department who want to make change. These members should be commended for the time they put in and the hard work and dedication they have to their fellow firefighters.

Currently, committee members are testing leather fire boots as well as various turnout gear. To me it is a no brainer to go with leather fire boots. We will see what comes of it. Below, you will see why rubber fire boots are a poor decision and a waste of City money. This is what can bee seen above the gear lockers at Station 13.


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

How does one go about getting on some of these committees?

Anonymous said...

And what types of leather boots are they testing? Brands?

Anonymous said...

You send the chief an e-mail telling him that you are interested in being on a committee, and then if ask you do it, know matter what committee it is or what they ask you to do.

Also check your e-mails. There has been several e-mails about committees in the past few months.

FireFleitz said...

I know they are testing one of the Warrington Pro models. However, I do not have all the information. I am not on that committee. I do know they are testing some newer turnout gear as well.

Anonymous said...

It's about time the city started looking at LEATHER BOOTS, the County has been using them for years, what's up. Committees are good to use as long as the ones on it have open minds. I know for a fact that when we tested air packs, alot on that committee already had their minds made up. You know the FDNY dreamers, if they have them they most be the best. We are NOT the FDNY sorry to tell some of you that. The scott packs were good, but I think if people really wanted to try the other packs "MSA" the vote could have been different. But hey they are better then what we had, and yes I did try all of them on. Thanks for your time, it's just my 2 cents, cause thats all I have.

Anonymous said...

Last post is right on. Scott was Ok but too many hoses.

Anonymous said...

Yes, they let a few input on SCBA and they did a good job. But with all the ways they have hurt us i.e. downsizing, inadequate raises, reduced benefits, inconsistent policies, poor promotions, lack of integrity, bullying, retaliation, quints, squirts, crappy nozzles, giving our our personal information to a third party, telling us to send confidential medical info to their office instead to to the OHN, and those wonderful BDU seconds with buttons…oh my, you think committees are really having an impact. “Not been detrimental in our health, safety, and operations?” What!! You really aren’t aware how many committees have been dismissed, ran over or replaced. Often admin chooses persons for committees to represent them. That’s why most of us no longer will be on a committee. Admin does what they want and then says “We had an employee committee”. Most never hear of a committee being formed. Why do you think that is?
- the levy broke

Anonymous said...

Lets test some new LADDER TRUCKS and get rid of the other P-O-S's.

Anonymous said...

Amen!!! tothe last post.