Comments on: Catching up: DC’s fire chief & the council member. Two hearings within a week.

By: Retired

Retired — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:05:25 +0000

Does anyone have background information on Mr. Mendelson’s past. Has he served in any capacity, at all, dealing with emergency services? Services involving volunteer or paid professional departments. Has he served in the armed forces protecting our country?
Just curious, maybe someone can answer.

Thank You

By: fd345

fd345 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:01:49 +0000

The reason why we work the 24 hour shifts in DC is so that we have time to work our full-time jobs elsewhere, and lets not forget, many of us need time to work at our volunteer houses.

By: CLT Fire

CLT Fire — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:53:32 +0000

Mr. Mendelson comes across as an out of touch bean counter. He does not understand the fire service nor does he care.

Glad I’m not in DC…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:21:11 +0000

Perhaps some of you need to go back and watch some of the hearings when Rubin first got here to see how this came about. Also, for the Department to submit a budget that does not include mandated longevity compensation for members is iresponsible on thier part.

Chief Rubin has been given adequate amounts of funding to cover any and all FUNDED positions, initiatives and programs. However for whatever reason he chose to do other things with the funding.

There is no reason to have the 80 or so members down in the so called “Rock Garden.” The vast majority of the members there not only were not required to be EMT’s, let alone NREMT’s when hired, they are either Technicians or assigned to divisions other than Operations, and will never do patient care.

Perhaps it time to move these members back to the regularly assigned positions (as most will be retiring soon)to help get this overtime spending under control.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:06:49 +0000

Contrary to what some may try to persuade people to think,DCFEMS is lucky to have Dennis Rubin as our chief. If you don’t think so, just look around, it could be a whole lot worse.His actions at that meeting should prove that to all the naysayers.

By: ANONYMOUS

ANONYMOUS — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:37:10 +0000

I would like to take this opportunity to praise and point out the comments here are definitely a refreshing view of the DC Fire and EMS Professionals who realize and understand that Managing a Large Metropolitan Urban City like the District of Columbia takes Money and a lot of it. As is pointed out Staffing issues, ie; Overtime, sick leave, vacation etc. all of these entities are real. Councilman Mendelson has no concept nor understanding the Basic Body of Knowledge necessary
who, why,whynot,when,where, how many Personnel Resources, Apparatus Resources/Maintenance, and other Equipment Resources
are absolutely what DCFD is all about. Mendelson needs to take a step back, Listen and learn set Priorities as he should be doing. The Money reflects what it costs to do business 24/7 365. When he listens to the agitators who run to him like children pitting one Parent against the other. Chief Rubin is a Human being, he doesnot deserve the Disrespect and vile words those immature ignorant juvenile mentality individuals speak. Mendelson has no idea what Public Safety/DC Fire and EMS is. He covers his lack of understanding about DCFD with his Authority by throwing his weight in his Political Position. One can only presume that Chief Rubin has a lot on his plate trying to keep together one of the best Respected
Fire Departments in our Nation. Mendelson maynot stop to think but his continued Attitude not only shows no Respect for his
Elected Position by the People, but also he shows unwarranted disrespect for DC Fire and EMS Dept. Mendelson needs to get his Priorities in Order and voice his concern, in a Professional Manner when he is speaking with Chief Rubin.
Mendelson stop listening to those agitators who have little or no respect to ensure the Total DC Fire and EMS Delivery System is sharp, in place as Chief Rubin trys to carry out his mandate as the Fire Chief of our Nation’s Capitol Fire and EMS
Services.

Thank You

By: DCFDmember

DCFDmember — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:18:09 +0000

T Riley,

Also, the overworked comments aren’t due to the shift. It’s the volume of work that is handled by the DCFD. On a per capita basis, the DCFD is one of the busiest departments in the country.

By: DCFDmember

DCFDmember — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:16:15 +0000

Berating Chief Rubin over the ‘upstaffing’ during the snow storm is silly. Chief Rubin did the right thing, and he did what most other communities faced with similar conditions did. And this just wasn’t a larger than usual snow storm either, this was a huge snow storm followed by another huge snow storm a few days later.

Also, DC was crippled during these storms, but the one agency which shined was the DCFD. The DCFD was still able to provide service, and did it very effectively, during this storm. Much of the department’s ability to handle these storms was due to the extra units they had in service. They had additional engine companies, truck companies, and ambulances in service along with having all of the CSU units in service and staffing a number of specialized units.

Altogether, the DCFD’s handling of the two snow storms was well managed, and the members did a great job in handling their requests for service.

By: DCFDmember

DCFDmember — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:10:30 +0000

T Riley,

Whether the DCFD works 12 hours shifts, 10′s and 14′s, or 24 hour shifts, it still comes out to a 42 hour workweek. So, the change in shift will be limited in it’s effect if there even is one. And as Brooks pointed out, there is some info out there showing that 24 hour shifts are not worse than the shorter shifts.

By: DCFDmember

DCFDmember — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:08:06 +0000

Anonymous,

The DCFD did use an overtime list where it rotates thru to everybody. Though, it doesn’t take long to get to the same people who worked and are now at the bottom of the list if many of the members ahead of them decline the OT opportunity. The DCFD just switched over to the Telestaff software system, but that also factors in times worked and when you decline an opportunity. But it’s still the same as the same people will make themselves available, and the same people who decline OT will still do so.