We have 21 Engines, 8 Ladder Trucks, 1 Heavy Rescue Truck, 4 Light Rescue Trucks, 1 Heavy Haz Mat Truck, 1 Heavy Water Tanker, 1 Light and 1 Heavy Bomb Truck with 2 Robots, and 3 Red Ball units. Last count we had a little over 450 personnel with 24 more coming in the next few weeks.

Britt

 

what is a redball unit? how big us youlls tanker?

we man 6 stations with 5 pumper, 1 squirt, and 1 truck. we also have 1 heavy rescue and hazmat but they are still jump trucks.

we are going to the qunit concept, so we will soon have 4 pumpers, 2 100' pierce quints and 1 100' truck...plans on 2 more stations in the next couple years would put us at 8

brett

 

Anyone here working a 48/96? We are going to switch from a Modified Detroit to the 48/96 in Jan 08. I've heard lots of good, a little bad and not much in between.

A huge plus is the commute, I drive 36 miles one way and the 48/96 will cut that in half for the year. It's not the mileage, it's the traffic! The Seattle area is horrible. It's not to bad going in, I leave at 0600 and start at 0800. It's the return, my shift ends at 0800 and the norm is an hour and a half home!

Another pro, the shifts are actually two 24's. So if I stack a Kelly Day and a vacation day, I'm off for ten days!

Now the cons.

If we get hammered the first shift, the second shift could be a bummer.

Some guys are concerned about their families. Two days away. I guess that could also be a pro! LOL One guy has started calling the 48/96 the "Mommies boyfriend gets to spend the night" schedule. ROFLMAO!

Any thoughts or experiences?

Be safe! Buckle Up and Slow Down!

 

I'm not really sure how I would like it myself. I would just have to try it for a while. I hate working 48 right now even on overtime. That is too long to be away from your family IMO. As it is right now we are gone for 1/3 of a year and you miss out on a lot that goes on in life.

Britt

 

Britt,

Our neigboring department has been on it for approx. a year. One common thing I hear from them is, "it seems like I'm spending more time with my family".

On our current schedule, you would be gone before the kids are up and they would be gone when you got home. So if I was on 24, off 24, on 24, off 24, on 24, 96 off, I would see them in the evening between shifts.

With the 48/96, I would think that you would have more consistent home time. ???

I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes. I've been on shift over 21 years, a change could be fun.

 

Coming from that shift schedule I bet you will be able to be with the family a lot more.

Sounds like a pretty good deal for you guys.

Britt

 

albequre(sp is butchered) i think is on the 48/96...im going ot be interested in hearing how you like it...since i dont have a wife or kids yet, it would be great for me, but i see the negative for those that do!

brett

 

Britt, our rank structure is the same as ya'lls and we to get paid to "act" in the position just above the one you are in. We have the option that when we step up, instead of getting that pay difference on your current check you can bank it all year and get it paid all at once the paycheck around Thanksgiving. You can also bank your longevity pay the same way! I bank both and sell back some vacation, and comp time and it makes for a great "Christmas" bonus. I just sign it over to the wife and thats what she buys all the Christmas gifts with.

We work 24/48s and I love it, I don't think that I could get used to that 48/96, I HATE 48's with a passion. I avoid them at all costs, I stay away from time trades and overtime!!

 

i dont mind the 48s, but then again all i have is a dog!

120's are not any fun though!

when i worked for lake conroe, i would frequently work 72's and i never thought they were that bad, but everyone is different! we worked a 9 day there...1 on, 1 off,1 on,1 off, 1 on,4 off...basically mon, wed, fri, 4 days off

brett

 

I love my 24/72's...used to work 3 on 3 off 10 hour days/14 hour nights, 24/72 is much better...

 

Click Here

Britt

 

On our current schedule, you would be gone before the kids are up and they would be gone when you got home. So if I was on 24, off 24, on 24, off 24, on 24, 96 off, I would see them in the evening between shifts.
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We are currently negotiating a similar schedule. Now we work two 10 hr days followed by 2 14hr nights, then 4 days off, the only difference for the 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, is we are looking for 5 days off.

Here is our layout;

8 pumps- 1 in reserve
3 trucks- 1 in reserve
1 rescue
1 marine unit
2 tactical units
2 command vehicles
1 field communications unit
1 mass decon unit
fire prevention bureau
alarm division
arson investigation div/ in conjunction with the state police fire marshalls office, (regional)
Apxx 220 personel, with 11 more in the academy.
All covering a city packed into 24 square miles.

Tim

 

Welcome Jason, your only 100 miles or so from me. Very busy city you work for, I was there 2 times last week, towed a wrecked tractor back to Springfield Ma. , then a disabled truck from Pitney bowes.

Tim

 

Hi Guys. Another brother here from Canada. Local 1190.

 

Welcome to the club!

Britt