A question for you guys in Indianapolis

[Dustdevil]

Thanks a lot for the info, Duke!

That is good to know!

[JeniF371]

AMR has contacted me about coming on in Evansville....but in order to come on with them down in Evansville, you have to have Indiana State License, Illinois State License, Kentucky State License, NR License, PHLTS, AND a few other things.... it was just insane. I thought that was what NR was for, so you didn't need all the licenses for, but maybe I was wrong.

That is off the subject of what the topic was in this post, but had to comment. Sorry.

[M52EMT]

I find it interesting that epi-do says that, according to his FD union president, Wishard will still run Center Township. What is the plan for the surrounding townships if/when consolidation happens? The word in Johnson county is that since the city/county government owns Wishard, they will simply takes those trucks and paint/stripe them to whatever they want, along with all the township trucks, and then lump them all together and put them where they need them. As far as staffing goes, the majority of what I'm hearing on the street is pretty much what everybody here is saying...civilians are cheaper. Not to mention, there are quite of few, mostly older guys, on the FD's that truly hate EMS and don't want to rotate out on the ambulance anymore. Of course, everything here is word of mouth and I wouldn't be shocked at all to see something happen that has not even been discussed. In my opinion, the new police merger should clue us in that maybe everything hasn't been thought out. Although, maybe the city/county governments will learn something to make the FD process smoother when it comes around.

Also, as a side note...I understand Wayne Township to say they will not enter into the merger if/when it happens. I found this very interesting. Anyone heard anything about this, or have any thoughts?

[epi-do]

M52EMT, I haven't really heard anything recent about Wayne regarding the consolidation. The last thing I had heard was that the firefighters were for it and any opposition would be from the trustee's office. That was purely hearsay though, so I have no idea how much truth there is to it. As for them not entering the merger, if Bart has his say, they won't really have a choice. Supposedly, he is going to petition the state legislature to pass a law that would basically force the townships to consolidate with the city and the rumor around City of Lawrence is that he has the support of Gov. Daniels to get it done. If any part of the rumor is try and legislation is passed, Wayne won't have an option to not consolidate. Of course, we all know how the rumor mill is, so who knows how it will really all play out.

As far as Wishard and Center Township, there have been rumors for several years about how the hospital was going to loose the ambulance service and it will be "given" to the fire dept. I know they were floating around while I worked there, and that was over 3 years ago. Just like everything else with this whole idea of consolidation, absolutely anything may happen. We are just going to have to sit back for a while and see how it all plays out.

[hfdff422]

Isn't Wayne a territory? The trustee would not have too much authority if that is the case.

[epi-do]

No, it's a township department. There were 8 township departments and then IFD, but one of the townships already agreed to merge so there are now 7. Their trucks are already re-striped and everything is official on Jan. 1.

[Richard B the EMT]

Some systems, like the FDNY, have separate categories, as "Firefighting" and "EMS". EMS is mission specific, and Fire Fighting has a small Certified First Responder-Defibrillator aspect. Nobody is crosstrained, at least officially, within the FDNY.

I am an EMT in the FDNY. I have never been trained in using an SCBA, using a "2-and-a-half-line", or setting up a ladder, nor do I expect to get such training. Unless the firefighters keep a real tight escort on me, I don't expect to even enter a burning building, and my "bunker gear" is strictly Blood-Borne Pathogen resistant, stating on it that it's not for structure firefighting.

[chicagoambo]

Change in the fire service is only for one reason,to justify fire jobs!Ems will always be a step child and under the control of fire.They are always threatened of ems,they hate to compete on tests with ems and rather ems to work out the hospitals.But now we are in the fire houses and they have to have us or close fire houses!

[Richard B the EMT]

Chicagoambo:

The department was supposed to open a new "combined" house, but due to UFA and UFOA (firefighters and fire officers unions, respectively) opposition, didn't initially happen. Instead, they built a second building in a different county (first one supposed to be in Staten Island, second, my "home house" in Queens).

The original first house has now opened, but took a year to become combined.

The second house that became first, captains and chiefs prior to the combining, approached all affected personnel (the firefighter's house building was settling and as of this writing is for sale, the EMS building was being held up by the termites holding hands) if they had a gripe, they could, without any prejudice, request transfers. Some did.

Now, EMS Station 47 (BLS units 47Adam, Boy, Charlie, and 64Adam, ALS unit 47Willie, and "Haz-Tec" ALS unit 47Zebra), Fire Battalion 47, Engine 266, and Ladder 121 are all under the one roof. We seem to be getting along.

[chicagoambo]

We are in the same union and pension,we get along ok.It has been getting better since new fire candidates ride the bls ambo's!When the city or union makes decisions our perspective is left out,if we fight and argue we are considered whiners!