Housewatch*
Our Members, Our Stories, Our News . . .
 New
York Firefighters
Touch the Lives of Kansas
Children.
On
these pages of the "Housewatch" are the current news and events of our House
and our members. They also contain the House roster for Engine Company
10 and Ladder Company 10. We have now included photos and information
on our rigs. The archived news is also available.
Ten
House Firefighters join NewYorkSaysThankYou and H.E.A.R.T 9/11 organizations
to volunteer their time and talents to help Americans recover from the fires
in California, tornado's in Texas and Kansas, and areas in Louisiana still
recovering from Hurricane Katrina. We were honored with visits from
country singer/actor, Billy Ray Cyrus, his daughter Miley Cyrus, star of
Hannah Montana, and the entire Cyrus family.
See
these stories and more news plus our House roster on the following pages of
the "Housewatch."
"Courage is not the absence of fear,
but rather the judgment
that something else is more important than fear."
Ambrose
Redmoon
*What is the FDNY Housewatch?
Every
firehouse around the City has a “housewatch.” Typically, the housewatch area
is located strategically in the firehouse so that the FDNY member assigned
to “housewatch duty” will be able to observe anyone who enters or leaves the
firehouse. The company commander is responsible for scheduling housewatch
duty and must assure that an FDNY member is assigned to housewatch at all
times. The FDNY member assigned to housewatch must “remain at the
housewatch desk at all times, except when necessary to observe conditions in
front of the firehouse.” If relief is required, the member must notify
the officer on duty. Housewatch duty is divided into eight 3-hour
periods beginning at 9:00 a.m., and the officer on duty must properly
supervise the member performing housewatch.
The
member on housewatch receives and acknowledges all alarms, promptly sounds
the internal alarm bell, informs the officer on duty and assists in
preparation for the response. Members on housewatch duty must also
maintain the Company Journal, in which all the activities of the firehouse,
such as fire alarms and roll call, are recorded. The firefighter
assigned to housewatch duty must record the names of all visitors and FDNY
personnel entering and exiting the Firehouse, as well as any significant
events of the day. Fire Department Regulations require the recording
of
 those
daily events – both mundane and significant – to be made in a red, hardcover
book called, the “company journal.” Regulations require that “company
journal entries shall be an accurate and complete daily record of all
matters affecting the interests of the Department, or the administration of
units and personnel assigned thereto.” Journal entries should include all
fire runs, roll calls, inspections, injuries and the time any member on duty
enters or leaves.
Members
on housewatch must also: record “all matters which may affect the efficient
response or operations of the unit at fires;” monitor conditions in
apparatus quarters and protect the apparatus; and ensure the sidewalk (or
“apron”) and fire zone in front of quarters are clear of obstructions.
Members on housewatch are also required to answer all telephone calls
promptly and properly and must prevent the “unnecessary and unauthorized use
of the telephones.”
The
member on housewatch also regulates the admission of visitors to the
firehouse. According to regulations, “when civilian visitors enter quarters,
the member on housewatch shall ascertain their names and nature of their
business and then promptly notify the officer-on-duty.” Moreover,
“members performing housewatch duty shall not permit visitors beyond the
housewatch desk without permission of the officer-on-duty.”
|
