February, 2024

Reprint from FASNY

Dear FASNY Member:

The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently proposed significant changes to the OHSA Fire Brigade Standard (1910.156). The new OSHA 1910.156 rule (Emergency Response Standard), if approved in its current form, will dramatically change the face of the fire service in New York and across the nation. The tumultuous impact created by these changes will be felt by volunteer, combination and career departments alike.

While the goal of the new rule is to further protect the safety of emergency responders, it was crafted in a vacuum and does not reflect the challenges that emergency response agencies face in the real world. While the fire service fully agrees that responder safety is of paramount importance, that goal must be balanced with the abilities and resources of the agencies responsible for those individuals. After careful review, it is apparent that many of the changes and new requirements will negatively impact already struggling response agencies. In fact, the new standard could hamper recruitment and retention efforts and even cause many current firefighters to leave the service. Despite its bureaucratic “good intentions”, this new rule could actually decrease firefighter health and safety.

The 608-page document published by OSHA contains data and stories as to why the changes are needed. Based on our real-world experience, we question the reliability of some of the data and theories used to produce this proposal. Rather, there are less intrusive actions that fire service organizations could take that would have immediate positive impacts on firefighter safety and create little or no additional burdens. Several of these areas have been untouched by the proposed standard, while costly and time-consuming requirements have made their way into the proposed regulation. Twenty-two National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards have been fully incorporated into the new OSHA standard by reference, with another fourteen included in part. This means that anyplace the NFPA standard says “shall” or “must” the AHJ would be responsible to adhere to them.

These changes will have major implications on every AHJ, fire officer and firefighter. Our concern here is not merely that they are unfunded mandates. It is the fact that it will place increased liability on organizations especially if they suffer a firefighter injury or death. The unattainable nature of this proposed standard virtually ensures fines and litigation at a level we have never seen.

The proposed changes have been published in the Federal Register and are currently in a 90-day comment period that concludes on May 6. The fire service must be united in their response to this potentially devastating governmental action. This includes involvement by your fire service organization. We need you to inform your department of this situation and ask them to request that the comment period be extended for an additional 60 days. They should also request that OSHA hold an “in person” hearing where testimony can be presented. Further, every AHJ should review the proposed rulemaking and submit comments on how it would negatively impact their organization. The importance of immediate action by every AHJ cannot be overstated.

Fraternally,

President

The OSHA document can be found here: Emergency Response Standard; Proposed Rule | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
The heart of the proposed regulation is here: Section 1910.156, Emergency Response (osha.gov)
Additional US Department of Labor resources: Emergency Response Rulemaking | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
Informational webinar by OSHA Training Institute: https://oshaedne.com/webinar-emergency-response-rule/

The memorial window dedicated Sunday, September 15th, 2019, at the FASNY Firemen’s Home in Hudson.

Tunnels 2 Towers

August 4th, 2015

Ticket to "The Game'	Tom Underhill
Frank Guarino & daughter	Paul & Jeanne O'Brien
Some Long Island Firefighters	1st VP Mike & son
Who is that couple?	Tom Camp & Jim Drohan
The Memorial 'T' shirt	A practice ball Jim Drohan caught
The Memorial 'T' shirt

Buchanan Explorers Donate

On February 28th 2014 the Buchanan Engine Co. #1 Inc. Explorer Post #255 Held a spaghetti dinner. The effort of the fund raising event netted $534.00 for the NYS Firemen's Home. The boys successfully organized and raised this event with a lot of hard effort. They would like to thank all that petronized their fund raiser. A job well done to the men of Buchanan Explorer Post #255.

Left to right -Kevin Roush, Miquel Reyes, Rocco Picciano, Michael DiVittorio (Trustee Firemens Home),

Hunter Tuttle, Michael Eichler jr., FrankLynch, Kieran Outhouse and Andrew Grant.

Left to right- Michael Eichler jr.(Capt) Michael Devittorio (Trustee Firemens Home) and Andrew Grant (Secty)

Port Chester Explorers Earn State Title

Village unit cited for work with firefighters

Written by -Greg Shillinglaw - Reprinted with permission

PORT CHESTER — The next generation of village firefighters hasn’t graduated from high school yet, but they are already learning how to save lives as part of a youth program recognized Sunday as best in the state.

Established as a “farm system” to attract future first responders, teenage members of Explorer Post No. 700 provide support to firefighters responding to a variety of emergency-related calls. They also receive lessons in fire suppression, vehicle extrication and even represent the department at public events.

Their commitment to firefighting has earned them the distinction of youth group of the year from the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, which represents the interests of the more than 92,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

The award is given to a youth organization that exemplifies commitment to its volunteer fire department and community.

“We worked hard to get this,” said Charles Nielsen Jr., the group’s captain. “I think we’re a big help. We raise money for a lot of people and do a lot of community service. The (firefighters) also like us because we make their lives easier.”

The group of about 20 was very active during the response, recovery and restoration efforts following Superstorm Sandy, organizing a humanitarian drive for people outside the area hit hardest by the storm.

The youth group has also raised funds for the Salvation Army and Blythedale Children’s Hospital.

“To have a group of individuals like this helping us, day in and day out, is incredible,” said village Fire Chief Kevin McMinn at a ceremony Sunday recognizing his “junior” firefighters. It was attended by a mix of elected officials, families and members of the fire department.

Village officials said the youth program serves as a pipeline to membership in the fire department, which is largely made up of volunteers.

Immigrant volunteers joining town fire departments,

from Port Chester to Brentwood

Volunteer firefighter ranks are dwindling across New York State, but in some immigrant-heavy towns,

the opposite is happening, according to the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

By Erica Pearson / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS - Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 5:11 PM - reprinted with permission

Volunteer firefighter ranks are dwindling across the state, but in immigrant-heavy Port Chester, the opposite is happening, according to the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. “The big factor now is the fellows from Central and South America,” said Port Chester Second Assistant Chief Mike De Vittorio, a member of the association’s recruitment and retention committee. “It’s been a godsend. We are growing.” The department’s ranks — originally filled with immigrants from Italy and Ireland — are now adding dozens of Peruvians, Mexicans and Ecuadorans, mirroring the Westchester County village’s demographic shift, he said. The 2010 census found 59.4% of Port Chester’s residents were Latino or Hispanic, and 45% were foreign-born.

“It’s Port Chester. It’s the future of the community,” said De Vittorio. Departments in Long Island’s Brentwood and Central Islip are seeing a similar boost, officials say. “We run a recruitment program both in Spanish and in English,” said Brentwood chief Javier Valentin, 42. “I’m up to 180 members.” The growth is in sharp contrast to statewide trends. New York’s volunteer firefighter membership has dropped by about 20,000 in the past 15 years, according to the association.In 2011, the Department of Homeland Security gave the group a $4.2 million grant to boost staffing.The association also runs a recruiting drive in April. More than 400 firehouses are hosting open houses on April 27 and 28; details are posted on Recruitny.org.

Tony Perez, 51, was one of the first Latinos to join Port Chester’s department, signing up with Engine 60 in 1993.Younger guys have started stopping the Mexican native on the street and asking him, “What do we need to do to volunteer in the firehouse?” he said. “The first thing I say to someone is, ‘You’ve got to feel something, like you want to be there (to fight a fire).’ ”He has seen the town change in the past decade — as more and more Central and South American immigrants moved in, getting landscaping and other jobs in nearby wealthy Connecticut enclaves. Port Chester’s streets now boast restaurants serving Colombian, Peruvian, Salvadoran and Guatemalan fare.

Peruvian-born Manny Fonseca decided to join Engine 61 over a decade ago because his then-teenage son became a junior firefighter. Now both are part of the department.

“Like they say, any time, any hour, any day, you respond to the call,” said Fonsenca, who works as a chef by day. “It’s fun. It’s adrenaline that kicks in.”First Lt. Luis Marino, 44, of Engine 61, joined in 1997.“At the beginning, it was tough. But once I got into the department I proved who I am,” said Marino, who was born in Peru and works as a maintenance man. “It’s like anything else. After awhile, it is really, really like family. We are firefighter brothers.”

Marino, a village trustee, is the first Latino to hold office in Port Chester.“I say, listen. Let’s get involved. I brought in a guy from Ecuador, El Salvador, from Guatemala. Some young guys, they want to serve. Each day, we’re growing,” he said. “To bust their chops, I say, ‘We’re going to take over.’”