[Flyer0509]

How many departments allow "outside riders," or members of other departments to ride alarms? For those that do, what do you require of the outsiders? I'm sure there is some debate as to what you should have, as in written documentation of training, permission, etc. Or do you just give the guy the OK because you know him and his level of training, and he has gear with him?

My department allows no outside riders. At the beach where I work, the local department allows EMTs from our staff to ride its ambulances when we transport from the parks.

[Signal 12]

Said department that allows you guys to tech their calls because without you, their bus probably wouldn't roll.

It has been hashed out on here time and time again but what it comes down to; is that it's NYS law that once you are acknowledged by the OIC of another department - be it face to face at the scene of an incident or ahead of the time ... you are covered.

What a department allows and what the current chief wants is a different story.

From the stand point of the department that is accepting the help/assistance ... they also need to know who you are and what your capable of. A big shot line officer from a slow department with gear that is dirty solely from fire school might appear to be someone capable of helping out. However they might react a lot different when fire is rolling over their head at an actual incident.

For every department or every chief that is a hard ass about letting others or as you call them here "outsiders" ride ... there are plenty of "outsiders" that are more of a hinderence and become an unecessary liability by getting involved.

Blah, blah, blah ... if your a fireman your a fireman, we all go to FSA and we all have the same training. But with 71 departments don't tell me that everyone is on the same page and compatable with one another. What might appear to be wrong and not practical in one department might be a time honored and well proven SOP in another.