Fired Up
I am not even sure where to start this however; I wanted all the taxpayers to know what Gary and I experienced this weekend and since this is my site I can do that!
First wasn’t it just a beautiful spring weekend? I hope that everyone had a great one and filled up with pancakes at the Rod & Gun Club. They are the best!
This is the sort of pictures I was capturing the beginning of the weekend:
I don’t know about everyone else but we were able to get a ton done this weekend UNTIL last night. Last night was a beautiful calm night out and a perfect time to burn some of the brush on the farm that gets done every year and will continue to be done every year. Anyways…as Gary and I are out there tending to this small fire, this woman stops and starts yelling at us about burning. At first I was nice and said thank you for the information however; she continued to yell at me and then started swearing at me. As I turned my back to ignore the ignorance spewing from this woman she drives over to where Gary is and gets into it with him. She than proceeds to call 911. About 5 minutes later a fireman shows up from Bolivar (a very nice one by the way, thank you Mr. Beaton) and calls into dispatch that it is a controlled burn.
Next there are two (yes TWO) tanker trucks coming over the Watson Road. They saw it was a controlled burn and weren’t worried about anything until Miss First Assistant Fire Chief shows up and makes them stay and calls the state police. Are you kidding me? I laughed!!!!! When Miss First Assistant Fire Chief shows up in all her gear the grass was smoldering and no bigger than 20′ x 20′ (at the most) with beautiful green grass all around it with no were to go.
She continued to make the crew stay there for over an hour!. Her claim was that there was a burn ban even though dispatch said there was not and the state police said there wasn’t. My question is, when does common sense come into play? You are making your full crew stay for smoldering grass with the trucks running when over the hill there is someone burning a fire in the woods with dead leaves all over the place and it is unattended? She should have looked said it was under control and sent everyone home. But no we have the power trip going and have to call the state police.
The State Police finally showed up about and hour later and said there was nothing he could do there was nothing wrong done and left. Not only was this a waste of our time but I’m sure those firemem would have rather been home than watching grass burn. (Oh by the way check out how green all the surrounding grass is).
Gary and I would like to thank the firemen that did show up and had to waste their time thanks to Miss First Assistant Fire Chief. It was much appreciated. For Miss First Assistant Fire Chief next time use your head and some common sense and don’t waste our time, your crews time or the taxpayers money!!!!!
And one final picture this was Gary after he cooled off. You have to love this man he still looks ornery!!!
That is crazy. She deserves to have her kindergarten diploma revoked.
Lee & Gary,
I have seen that very same area of the farm being burned of overgrown grass for over 40 years. Too bad you had to get the brunt of Miss power hungry fireperson. (Have to be politically correct) However, your worst offender was the obnoxious whistle blower. Where do these people come from????
And it’s always nice to see my tax dollars spent in a responsible manner. Why in the bloody hell would they have pulled those tankers up over Watson Hill when they could have come more quickly, not mention cheaper down the West Notch.
I don’t think a kindergarten diploma was ever officially issued !!!!!!!
Maybe they went up the wrong notch and and felt it was faster than turning around and going up the correct notch. Someone should ask as maybe they know something that we don’t.
The really sad part is that the fire department was pulled away from Leon Lambs house that was on fire. Thank God Friendship Fire Department was able to keep it from spreading into their house.
And then the whistle blower (which I know who it was) gave dispatch the address of 275. If your going to call something into 911 give the right address. She’s an idiot all the way around.
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Welcome back Bob! We’ve missed you! I need to post a better picture of the burn spot it’s only approximately 30′ x 50′ and it’s egg shape so it’s not even that. It was just a small spot of over grown grass with gravel and pavement on one side and beautiful green (wet) grass on the other.
Bob and Shirley I responded and Drove Richburg 4 the Mini pumper the Fire was dispatched out as being at the Intersection of State Road 275 and the Watson Road. Since I live less that a Mile from Gary I would of just went striaght to the Scene if It had been called in correctly. Richburg 7 was in Friendship assisting them with a structure fire on State Road 275 and had been Released from the fire scene just prior to the Grass fire being dispatched and Responded from Friendship.
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This explains the tax increases we keep seeing and wondering why. When there is a serious structure fire, the trucks don’t respond as fast as they do for a grass fire. I heard the trucks go through and seriously thought there was another house fire in progress. I have to commend Gary for not drop kicking Ms.Powerfest back to her thrown in Bolivar. Maybe she should decide whether she lives in Allegany County or Cattaraugus County. The burn ban was for Catt County last weekend. Guess she went the wrong way. Maybe she would have thought different if the cost of the fire department’s “field trip” were to come out of her pocket instead of ours.
“I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”
Winston Churchill
I would just like to clear a few things. First of all, I would encourage all that are concerned to go to the web site http://www.cfdsmokeeaters.com….. click on county dispatch, then click here to listen to last call and go to 4/19/2009 date. Approximately 06:05 pm is where you will find all the FACTS. The county did dispatch the Richburg Fire Company to a brush fire at the intersection of 275 and Watson Rd. This, is why the fire trucks took the route they did, not because they felt like using tax payers monies. Second you will hear Bolivar Fire chief confirm the brush fire and call in the correct location. He also states it was a controlled burn and a farm. Next you will hear R-503 call the county and ask has the fire ban in Allegany County been lifted and you will hear 911 dispatcher say NEG. This is why 501 asked the owners to put out the fire. You will then hear 501 call dispatch to send State police to this location. Upon arrival NYS police did advise property owners and the fire company that there is a Fire advisory for Allegany County and a fire ban for Catt. County. He also informed property owners that if there was a ban “no one”, not even farmers can burn at that time. In ending his conversation, he stated that should a ban be placed in Allegany County and if the property owers were burning at that time and if he should have to return he would issue tickets. After all was said and done, the Richburg units returned to the hall and R-50 called 911 dispatch to clarify why they instucted R-503 that there was a ban and they stated they had a memo. R-50 requested the memo be faxed to the hall and the memo stated: Because of weather conditions there is extreme fire danger for grass and wild fires today and during the weekend “due not burn out side during this period”. After further investigation by 911, they did call back to the firehall and clarify that this was only a advisory. This whole incident from dispatch to ending was a miscommunication to 911 and then to the Richburg Fire Company.
When things like this happen, some community members take it to their advantage to once again belittle the volunteers. Rarely, do we hear praise for the positive things we do or have done.
We are always open to suggestion on ways to improve and we are always looking for additional volunteers, so if you have suggestions or would like to volunteer please feel free fill out a application.
When does common sense come into play Debbie? I have never belittled the firemen and appreciate everything that they do. I also do a lot of volunteer work for the fire department that I just do to help out. But when they come on my property for a fire, which you can’t even call a fire and the bitch never says a word to me she and just calls the state police I get pissed and I’m going to say something! She should have looked at the that “fire” and seen that it was nothing and saved her crews time and our money and sent everyone home. Where the hell was it going to go? Was it going to catch the road on fire. And how come the firemen from Bolivar knew there wasn’t a ban?
I’m sure if we ever did need help you and her would take their time but there are all the other firemen in the crew that have some class that would still do their job and know that it is appreciated.
As for the work that I have done for the firemen I’m still debating rather I will continue to do it. Why punish the tribe for the actions of a few indians?
The sad thing is I woke up this morning and was going to let this whole thing go. I had said my peace! But oh no! The Fireman have to keep the fire burning!!!!!
Lea, I am not saying that you are the one who belittled the fireman. Yes, common sense would have told any fireman that this was a controlled fire. It was a Bolivar fireman who called it in in the first place from what I gather. The Richburg Fire Chiefs were only doing their job to follow through with contacting 911 to see if there was a ban. Again, this is all a miscommunication and to see people post comments like the fireman were using taxes unwisely and not responding to structure fires as quickly as they do a controll burn, and she should have her kindergarten diploma revoked are uncalled for.
As for my response, I am a dedicated EMS member and no matter what feelings I may have for those who say neg things I would still respond and do my job as professionally as I could. My job is to help save lives and help those in need.
We do appreciate all you have done for us and the setting up of the web site. It was greatly appreciated. I am not responding to cause more neg, I am writing to have all the neg stopped and be greatful for what we do, not what has been done.
Hello everyone of Richburg! I indeed did listen to this call, and I do know of the person who called this fire in. According to the person who called it in, the owners of the property were the ones being rude and swearing at the Bolivar Fire Personnell on scene before 911 was called, not the other way around. I will admit it, there was people at the Bolivar Fire Department who thought that there was a burn ban in Allegany Co. Myself being one of them. I also listened to the radio in the fire hall very closely. Echoing what Debbie said, Dispatch did tell Richburg 5-03 that there was a burn ban. However, I do not know the ending story about what happened, nor am I going to try and find out. That is county’s mistake, and it happens. No one is perfect. Any member of fire personell that comes upon a scene that looks like it could be out of controll, or looks to have the potential to get out of controll, will most likely report it. Such as the case with what happend this past weekend. And as far as “Miss Assistant Fire Chief” goes, I do know the Fire Chief in which you are refering to. I happen to not have any problems with this particular fire chief, and I am sure that If the Richburg Fire Company did see a problem with their Assistant Fire Chief, that they would take care of it in an appropriate manner. In addition to the Assistant Fire Chief that you are bashing, there was also 2 other chiefs at this particular incident from Richburg, and one from Bolviar. (Correct me If I am wrong Debbie, I don’t know if Mike was there or not. But, I do remember hearing 5-02 and 5-03 respond) So, before you bash the Fire Personnell that respond and risk their lives to try and save other peoples lives, homes, and personal belongings, think what would happen if they weren’t around to help you if you ever need them. If you still don’t think any better of the fire personnel, then I am sure that the Richburg Fire Company would like new volunteers. As for Bolviar, we encourage any person that will walk through the door to grab an application and apply for membership.
Lucas: Thank you for the response but when someone stops me while I am on my property and I kindly ask them to leave and then she responds by telling me “F*** You”. That’s when the sparks flew. I turned my back on her and she proceeded to drive over to my husband and get in his face. I don’t know any man who would allow someone to talk to their wife like that wouldn’t take it personally when we are on our own property. We pay a hell of a lot of taxes and I don’t care if you are a volunteer or not you don’t stop at someone’s property and act like that. When I asked to please leave she should have left not continued on picking a fight. She should be dealt with. When Mr. Beaton showed up he was very nice and professional and is the way a volunteer fireman should act.
As for the assistant fire chief, I know there have been no problems with her and I have always respected her for all the work she has done for the fire department however; that ended this weekend.
First of all you are pretty lucky New York State Forest Ranger did not show up. Being that there was a burning ban in Allegany County you would have gotten a very hefty fine. These people put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep your community safe and this is how you treat them. If you were in my fire district we would have done the same this and put it out and made sure you could not have relite it. It only takes a split second for a controlled grass fire to get out of control and light the entire green field up in flames. This just goes to show the true ignorance of people in the community. If you dont like the way things are run get off your ass and join the department and try to change it.
As for your comment earlier about how you were going to just let this go and the firemen are the ones who kept it going, well let me explain something to you. When you attack one firefighter, you attack us all. We put our lives at risk everyday to save your property and family, yet you still act like we are a nuisance. Just remember that when you or your family needs help.
YOU DUMB ASSES THERE WAS NO BURN BAN THAT’S THE POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very well put Nicole! Very true about attacking us all, very true. Good point.
In Saturday’s Times Herald this was a burn ban for Catt. County advertised however, there was not a burn ban advertised for Allegany County. These property owners had every right to burn on their property without the harassment of the fire department or being harassed by the lady that stopped. These property owners should file harassment charges on this lady. If she had stopped me on my land she would not have walked away.
Farmers have a reason for burning on their property and if more people would take pride in there property this would be a much nicer state and county.
It is fireman like you Lucas Greene, Nicole and Joshua that give the fireman a bad reputation. You drive around with your little lights and big antennas and act like you are state police. None of you have probably worked a day in your life and will soon be living off the rest of the working folks in this county.
At the risk of getting in trouble, I would like to say, when I returned Saturday from bowling in Jamestown with the fire department, I was watching the news at 11 on channel 4, the only county that was listed at that time having a burn ban was CATT. COUNTY. If Allegany County had one it was not on the news !!!