Greg:
The folks at No. 7 did their shopping at the Union Square Sparkles, but since that store is closing will the be allowed to take the truck outside the city to shop for groceries?
I believe that #1's also went there. There are several ways to resolve the shopping issue.
While some here may object to the men from No. 1 and 7 going to Giant Eagle or Save-A-Lot I certainly don't. They carry their radios with them so they can drop what they're doing to respond. Wouldn't the West Side Sparkle Market be out of their way?
As to the so called convience stores, these stores do not mee their needs. I got that from one of the firemen from No. 7.
Firefighters don't have automobiles? Kind of a waste of fuel to take a big honking truck to pick up groceries don't you think?
Since the fire Dept has mandatory manning(minimum 3) and most of the time the crew is only 3 , they must take the truck. So to Rick, no, one crew member can't hop in their car and leave the station with only 2 crew members
Well I guess I don't understand how full time fire departments operate. I've always lived in areas that had volunteer fire departments.
I wouldn't want our fire truck to leave the city unless it was to assist a fire crew in an adjoining community.
Why can't they buy groceries before they come to work?
Quote from: jay on July 25, 2010, 09:40:31 PM
Why can't they buy groceries before they come to work?
It has always been a matter of teamwork in deciding on a meal plan for the day, who would make it, and sharing the cost. At least that is how it was when I did my externship...we shared as a team. And even then, the city it was in required us to leave the house as a team prepared to respond from whatever our location was. We carried a cooler with ice when going shopping to be prepared to save the food if we had to run on a call that wasn't too long in nature.
They do not have an easy job, they are underpaid from most other city scales, they are willing to lose their lives to save ours. WTH does it matter if they spend a few cents in diesel fuel to go to the grocery store as a team to decide on their meals for the day.
Great comments 2cents. Its nice to see someone post some sensible comments on here. The YFD faces more dangerous situations than any other FD in the area; people shouldn't complain about petty things when these guys are risking their lives to save people.
Most likely, the crews who went to the Sparkles on Gypsy will go to the West Side Sparkles. Engine 7 frequently visits that area as the third in Engine Company to fires on that side of town.
If they need fresh vegetables, they could take a very short drive (3 blocks) on Saturday to the North Side Farmers' Market on the corner of Elm Street and Illinois.
;D
The market operates from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
Quote from: yfdgricker on July 26, 2010, 11:51:47 PM
Most likely, the crews who went to the Sparkles on Gypsy will go to the West Side Sparkles. Engine 7 frequently visits that area as the third in Engine Company to fires on that side of town.
And I'm sure the owner's and employee's at that location would be very happy to work with another company and their meal requirements. Greg, you know more on the inside of YFD, do they also plan meals like I described in my prior post? Or do they tend to try to plan as a company for the week? Either way, daily or weekly, I will always be a firm believer in our safety forces having the right to stop for meals wherever they choose...at a grocery store or at a sub shop...whatever works for them.
This downtown Youngstown business delivers food to your home/business (or fire station).
www.ugottaeat.com (http://www.ugottaeat.com)
That could be a potential possibility...if they were guaranteed to be in the house at the time of delivery. And I'm sure they'd love that to a point anyways...but it's unrealistic. I know when we did happen to have someone bring in prep for the day, it was usually chili, stew, etc, items...that we could crock pot for the day in case we couldn't be there. But, it's kind of the wrong time of year to be making hot stuff like that with our current weather.
There is a market very near No. 7 where they don't even need to take the truck out, but why don't they shop there? Price, quality and selections are why.
Jay, what do they do the rest of the week and in the months that that market is not there? When they go shopping it's for meals for that day. I see them going shopping every day, and I quite understand why. Again, I have to agree with 2cents ... it's not realistic ... the choices of meals are limited ... and what if they are out on a run when the meals are delivered?
A prime example of unrealistic delivery is right now, E2 I believe is stuck at a pole down waiting on all utilities....and they have been for quite a while. They are not having the chance to eat their lunch. I would hate to disrespect those firefighters in some way by saying they can't go get their food for the day. Hopefully their lunch is like what we used to do...a Linner...so it could be eaten either now or a later...and hopefully they have drinks available while they are waiting also. Either way, I will stand by allowing the "waste" of a few dollars in diesel to feed those men and women that are busting their rears at times.
Isn't there a Fire Dept. Auxiliary that can provide some of this type of support to the firefighters? Perhaps retired firefighters, fire "buffs" or just good samaritans (Hey maybe here is something useful that Jay can do!) could do some of this running around when the firefighters are on the scene and can't get away.
I've heard about a man who brings (or used to) donuts several times a week to the fire station on Midlothian in the Brownlee Woods area.
Oh, come on Jay ... give us a break. Doughnuts once in a while? That's suppose to feed the men and women in the Fire Department?
I support our Fire Fighters 100% and your arguments fall flat. When was the last time you brought these brave men and women a thank you treat?
You simply don't uderstand what others have been saying in support of YFD, and you won't respond to the rebuttles to your arguments, and I must ask why, not that I expect a response.
The firefighters usually plan meals that morning and get groceries for the day or for the next couple of shifts they work. Each shift works 24hours on and 48 off and each shift pays out of their own pocket for their food. Part of the reason for going to the local supermarket with the truck is to be visible to the community. When the firefighters take the truck to the local store, they are supporting the local businesses and I have seen many people bring their child over to see the truck while 2 of the guys are in doing the shopping. The driver always stays with the truck in case they get a run. If they get a call, the driver picks the guys up and away they go. A truck is not placed out of service because they are getting food. That too is why they can't go outside of the city limits to get supplies.
Usually the meals are something that can be stopped and restarted should an alarm come in. Some of the usual dishes are chili dogs, meatloaf, cold cut sandwiches and things like that. There is no "we are not available because we are eating dinner" clause. The alarm drops and you go, period. If you are cooking dinner, eating or taking a crap and that bell goes off, your out of that station in less than 2 minutes.
There is no Fire Department auxiliary but Red Cross will bring a rehab unit and refreshments to large fires anywhere anytime. I know and have seen many people helping to provide food to firefighters in times of need. I would drop my camera and help in an instant if they needed anything.
P.S. I will say that many of the firefighters know how to cook. I use to hate chili dogs but man they make some mean dogs over at Station 2! :)
As I recall the fire fighters from Station 9 shop, or at least used to shop, at IGA on Youngstown-Poland road. This is technically in Struthers. Are there other border stores that our public servants can use to widen their shopping base?
Station 9 on Midlothian is kind of a special case. It is the only station that is on the edge of the city. They go to the IGA on Yo-Poland Road because is it directly adjacent to their 1st in response area. If they are there and get a call, they would only have to cross the street to be in their response area. I'm not sure where the nearest store would be if they had to stay in the city, west side maybe?
The crews at No # 9's are forbidden to go to the IGA because of the union picketing so they now go to the Sparkle Market on South Ave. This is about a 1/4 mile from the city limits but is near a large part of their 1st in district.
Why not the Save-A-Lot Food Store on South Avenue in Youngstown?
Who has forbidden the firefighters from shopping at IGA?
Is it the official Youngstown policy that the fire department do not cross picket lines? Or is that the stance of the firefighters' union?
Do you happen to know that due to that union's picketing Hubbard no longer has competition in the grocery business? Shop and Save on North Main Street is the only game in town now and the UFCW union has now left town and have not made any investment in Hubbard. Their entire intent was to cause economic harm to Hubbard. Is it the Fire Department's policy to cause economic harm to Youngstown by supporting the UFCW pickets?
Whoever "forbids" the firefighters from shopping at IGA certainly should be able to tell the difference between a strike caused by the employees seeking to improve their compensation package and informational pickets brought in by a disinterested party intent on causing harm to the community.
It would not have come down as and official YFD policy so it must have come from the union. They have used Sav-a-Lot on occasion.
Quote from: Rick Rowlands on August 13, 2010, 11:40:32 PM
Whoever "forbids" the firefighters from shopping at IGA certainly should be able to tell the difference between a strike caused by the employees seeking to improve their compensation package and informational pickets brought in by a disinterested party intent on causing harm to the community.
Rick,
You know as well as I that most union members aren't really smart enough to understand something like that.
And why isn't there an official YFD policy that mandates they use the closest grocery story available if there isn't one in their 1st response district?
Quote from: Why?Town on August 14, 2010, 08:58:46 AM
sorry, for the quote. I meant to edit. That option seems to be missing.
Sorry I will turn editing back on. I took it off temporarily because I wanted the moderators to look at another thread. Someone's posts kept changing.