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MASSIVE 5-ALARM FIRE DESTROYS BUILDING AT LYELL AND DEWEY AVE. INflOCHESTER l l * '«■ I i ? V R I, fI I\« 1 RtMSTff?

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ROCHESTER, NY - Rochester firefighters responded on Thursday night, July 31, 2025 to Lyell Ave. at Dewey Ave. for smoke coming from the building. Engine 5 arrived to find heavy smoke and flames showing. Soon after, the building became fully involved and started to collapse.

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

Fully Involved House Fire in Speigletown Lights Up the Night Sky SPEIGLETOWN, NY - On July 1, 2025, at 1:47 AM, the Speigletow n Fire Department along with mutual aid from the Mountain View Fire Department, Raymertown Fire Department, Pittstown Fire D e partment, Center Brunswick Fire D e partment, Pleasantdale Fire Department, M el rose Fire Depart ment and Schaghticoke Fire Department was dispatched to 9 Tucker Pond Road for multiple calls reporting the house to be fully involved. Raymertown Car 2 called en route and was notified that the o c cupants o f the home were all out o f the structure. As the chief was responding to the scene, a signif icant g low lit up the night sky over Fogerty Road. The chief and a deputy arrived on scene and im mediately notified the dispatcher that the house was fully involved and transmitted the Signal 30. The significant heat coming o ff o f the house that was on fire could be felt up to 100-feet away from the home. Deputies were able to confirm that everybody was out o f the home. The first arriving engine on scene immediately discharged its master stream into the struc ture, quickly knocking dow n a significant portion o f the heavy fire. An additional engine tanker arrived on scene and laid in a sup ply line from the roadway at the top o f the hill. Firefighters began to pull multiple hand lines up the driveway and down the side o f the house and began knocking down some o f the heavy fire. Additional apparatus began to arrive on scene and established a water supply operation at the top o f the hill. As a steady supply o f water flow ed into the scene, fire fighters continued to utilize mul tiple hand lines in the front driveway area o f the structure and along the Delta and Alpha sides. Firefighters continued to knock down the significant fire condition inside o f the building, and then began to conduct exten sive overhaul o f the destroyed home. Firefighters continued to work until the early hours o f the morning. No injuries were re ported. The cause o f the fire has not yet been released publicly.

Firefighters using a master stream on the well-involved house.

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/ SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

- JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Center Brunswick Firefighters hitting hot spots in the roof of the home.

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/ SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

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CORPORATE INFORMATION 1st Responder N ew s (ISSN 1525-1683) - New York edition - Vol. 26 No. 9 - is published monthly, 12 times a year for $48 per year by Belsito Communications, Inc., 1 Ardmore Street, N ew Windsor, NY 12553. Pe riodicals Postage Paid at Newburgh, NY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to 1st Responder News, 1 Ardmore Street, N ew Windsor, NY 12553. No financial re sponsibility is assumed by , this newspaper to publish a display, classified, or legal ad or for typographical errors except o f reprinting that part o f the ad which was omit ted or in error. O m issions or errors must be brought to the attention o f the newspaper during the same month o f publication. Printed in Canada.

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CHELLE CORDERO A side from learning all about hopefully life-saving treatments o f their patients. N ew York’ s EM S providers also must know how to avoid potential claim s o f malpractice or negligence. While N ew York State laws tend to pro tect providers from m alpractice accusations made by patients and their families, there are certain acts w hich can land a provider in the proverbial “hot water.” I f y ou are respon din g on a rig, are on-duty, or even if you are o ff duty and y ou introduce your self as a m edical professional and begin care, you cannot walk away from the patient. There are times when ending patient care, or not begin n in g it, is okay. O n or o ff duty, if the scene is unsafe, or the patient refuses your care - y ou are PROBA BLY o ff the hook. If the patient that is refusing is in toxicated or otherwise unable to think straight, then let a police o f ficer or family mem ber make the decision; the parents, p o lice or caregiver must make any d e ci sions for care or not if the patient is a minor. But document the rea son for the decision, have the adult patient sign and if they re fuse, ask a p olice officer to w it ness (and sign) that the patient is refusing care. In N ew York State, even if you are a certified EM T or Para medic, if you are OFF duty, you are not obligated to b egin care... BU T O N C E Y O U D O BEGIN,

y ou must continue until either there is a patient refusal (remem ber to docum ent it) or an on-duty crew (preferably with equal or higher certification) arrives on scene to take over patient care. A l w ays make note o f the circu m stances and times if y ou do leave the scene. L ocal laws may protect y ou from liability for trying to help som eon e in need, but your training also plays a b ig role in that level o f protection. N e glect ing your duty or b ein g careless with procedures may cause y ou to be legally liable for abandonment, injury, or death o f the patient. There are a few N Y S EM S agen cies w hich utilize the use o f “body-worn-cam eras” (BWC); however, the use and purpose o f these cameras are extremely strict - B W C s must protect a patient’ s privacy as per HIPPA laws and pa tients must consent to their use. The cameras can be used to record treatment, film s cannot be made public, and so lon g as patient identities are “blurred,”may (in controlled cases) be used for train ing purposes. Recordings are help ful when a patient refuses care or transport, but still refuses to sign (if possible, still get the signature o f a police officer or family m em ber for documentation). The footage can be used in a court o f law if there are accusations o f malpractice. Training should al ways be given to providers about the proper use o f BWCs. A gen cies and certified providers can be held liable for m alpractice if their rigs are not Part 800 compliant, if O xygen was w ithheld from a patient w ho needed, or if a patient w ho was not deem ed o f “sound m ind”was allow ed to refuse m edical care. The N Y S Bureau o f EM S has oversight o f a g en cies’prepared ness, response times, and any fail ures to com ply with Part 800 requirements.

Read more from all of our columnists on our website! www.1rbn.com

GUY ZAMPATORI JR.

Massive 5-Alarm Fire Destroys Building a t Lyell and Dewey Ave. in Rochester ROCHESTER, NY - Rochester firefighters responded on Thursday night, July 31,2025 to Lyell Ave. at Dewey Ave. for smoke coming from the building. Engine 5 arrived to find heavy smoke and flames showing. Soon after, the building became fully involved and started to collapse. Command re quested a 5th alarm with a collapse zone to be set up around the building. This was an exterior attack fire. There were no injuries reported.Rochester NY Firefighters responded Thursday Night , 7-31-25 to Lyell Ave. at Dewey Ave. for smoke coming from the building. Engine 5 arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. The building became fully involved and started to collapse. Com mand requested a 5th alarm with a collapse zone to be had around the building. This was an exterior attack fire. There were no injuries.

1STResponder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

1 "R e s p o n d e r N e w spa p er 1 ARDMORE STREET • NEW WINDSOR, NY 12553 845-534-7500 • (fax) 845-534-0055 • N ew s@ 1stR e spo n de rN e w s.co m

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EDITORIAL STAFF COLUMNISTS R ick B illin gs (Cartoon) B o b L o n g (Cartoon) John M a leck y (Apparatus, Bookshelf) D id ym u s M cH u gh (Chaplain's Corner) Fernando V illicana (Chaplain's Corner)

CORRESPONDENTS Jeffrey Arnold •John Bechtold •Jeffrey Belschwinder •Brian Berkey •

In memory of those who gave all 1st Responder Newspaper honors and remembers emergency responders lost in the line of duty Louisiana: Michael Windsay, 51 Rank: Acting Chief Incident Date: March 3, 2025 Death Date: March 3,2025 Fire Department: New Orleans Fire Department Initial Summary: While on duty at New Orleans Fire Department's Fifth District Headquarters, Acting Chief

ley •Vinnie Dominick •Patrick D ’ Onofrio •Bob Faugh •Bradley Fowler • •Bob Krajicek •Connor Krueger •Jeff Levine •Stan De Long •Chuck Lowe •Tom Mlarra •Bob McCormick •Randy Montour •Tricia Mlood • William Mlurray •Mlark Picemo •Charlie Piper •David Ragusa •John Rieth •Frank Robinson •Bob Root •Chris Sabella •Michael Serrell •Sharon Siegel •John Smith •Ken Snyder •John Spaulding •Bill Tompkins •Chris Tompkins •Bob Vaccaro •Gary Vanvoorhis •Frankie Verderame •Stephen Wallace •John Walthers •Eugene Weber Jr •Steve White •Guy Zampatori Jr

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ EDITORIAL INFORMATION_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Join our team o f correspondents or columnists! 1st Responder Newspaper w elcom es submissions by our readers. Send stories and photos to us at 1Ard more St. New Windsor, NY 12553. Or, give us a call or send us an e-mail. If using the mail, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for all sub missions you wish to have returned. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any editorial or advertising material submitted.

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transported to a nearby hospital where he was pro nounced deceased. The cause o f death has yet to be de termined.

Missouri: Vernon Collett, 60 Rank: Captain Incident Date: March 8, 2025 Death Date: March 8,2025 Fire Department: Boiling Springs Fire and Rescue, Inc. Initial Summary: Captain Vernon Collett collapsed

1st Responder News’ graphics team will work with you on your adver tisement free o f charge. Addition ally, we offer a complete marketing department for all o f your printed . communications, inc. needs. Whether they are posters, or single sheet handouts, full color or black and white, no one else delivers the high quality work at our competitive prices. As a newspaper in the Belsito Communications Inc. family, 1st Responder News has a state-of-the-art production facility which utilizes the latest scan ning technology available. Materials are processed using Power Macintosh G4s. Output is handled on our HP Color LaserJet 8500 to produce this highest quality black and white or color prints on the market.

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in distress and began CPR. Despite the lifesaving ef forts, Assistant C hief Kammerich was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Wisconsin: Lori A. Boelkes, 56 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: Feb. 14, 2025 Death Date: Feb. 27,2025 Fire Department: Warrens Area Fire District Initial Summary: Firefighter Lori Boelkes responded to a motor vehicle crash on February 14, 2025, at 1:36 p.m. as the driver o f Tender 1. Firefighter Boelkes cleared the scene at 1:47 p.m. and returned to the station. While driving home from the station, Firefighter Boelkes be

while fighting a natural cover fire. Despite nearly an hour o f lifesaving efforts, Captain Collett was pro

came ill. Her husband took her to Tomah Hospital where

nounced deceased at the scene.

was transferred to Marshfield Medical Center where she passed away on February 27, 2025.

Indiana: Don "Hev" Caylor, 66 Rank: Assistant Fire Chief Incident Date: March 9, 2025 Death Date: March 9,2025 Fire Department: Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department

Initial Summary: While preparing to respond to a structure fire, Assistant Fire Chief Don Caylor collapsed on the station floor. Other Ridgeville Volunteer Fire De

it was determined she had a stroke. Firefighter Boelkes

Indiana: Roy A. Smith, 60 Rank: Firefighter/EMT Incident Date: April 5, 2025 Death Date: April 5, 2025 Fire Department: Posey Township Clay County Volunteer Fire Department Initial Summary: Shortly after midnight on April 5, 2025, the Posey Township Clay County Volunteer Fire

partment firefighters found Assistant Fire Chief Caylor upon their return to the station after the fire and pro

Department was dispatched to motorists (including two

nounced him deceased.

heavy storms. While responding to the call in his per sonal vehicle, Firefighter/EMT Roy Smith lost control of

Missouri: Donald Kammerich, 64 Rank: Assistant Chief Incident Date: March 10,2025 Death Date: March 10, 2025 Fire Department: Pilot Grove Fire Protection District Initial Summary: At 2:00 p.m. on March 10, 2025,

the vehicle on the slippery roadway. The vehicle left the

Assistant C hief Donald Kammerich responded to a

forts, Firefighter/EMT Smith passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.

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GRAPHIC DESIGN/MARKETING

arrival, firefighters found Assistant C hief Kammerich

Michael Windsay was found unresponsive. He was

David Bums •Mike Carey •Michael Contaxis •Jeff Crianza •Russell Cur John Greco •Paul Harrington •Gary Heam •Ron Jeffers •Lany Kensinger

few hours later at 9:00 p.m., the Pilot Grove Fire Pro tection District received an emergency call to A ssis tant C hief Kammerich's home address. Upon their

grass fire where he strenuously fought the fire for ap proximately 2 hours. After the emergency response, Assistant C hief Kammerich returned home. Only a

children) who became stranded in high water due to

road and struck a tree. Fire and rescue personnel found Firefighter/EMT Smith pinned in the vehicle and extri cated him from the wreckage. They administered life saving measures to Firefighter/EMT Smith at the scene and during transport to a local hospital. Despite these ef

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

PAGE 7

September, 2025

Fire Scene Discipline ON THE BOOK SHELF b y John M alecky

Fire Scene Discipline By Danny Sheridan Available from: FSP Books & Videos 433 Main Street, Suite 2A Hudson, MAO 1749 1-800-522-8528 Email: supportfSTire-policeems.com www.fire-police-ems.com Price: $49.00 This is a soft cover book measuring six inches by nine inches, with 123 pages. The book was written in 2024 and the au thor is a battalion chief with the New York City FD. This is a Fire Engineering Magazine publica tion and the author is a contribu tor. Besides the introduction and

brief glossary, there are 11 chap ters and an epilogue. As part o f the introduction, the author states, “It is not critical to each o f these sto ries as to what names are used or where they happened; the impor tant message is to convey a lesson learned that can be passed onto an other firefighter.”That about sums up what this book is about. It cen ters around different crew mem bers, both “ probies”and seasoned firefighters and officers in differ ent boroughs. The company num bers are fictitious in each o f these stories. The focus o f these inci dents is to bring the firefighter home to his family when the shift is over. The book is loaded with black and white photos to help il lustrate the scenarios with regard to the stories. At the back o f the book are two chapters, one on Hur ricane Katrina in New Orleans and the part that members o f the FDNY volunteered their time to assist the NOFD, and the other is about the attack on the World trade Center in 2001. This book is an easy read, but one in which lessons learned can be a lifesaver.

THOMAS MARRA

Motorcycle ride for suicide prevention with local first responders.

Motorcycle Ride Held in Delmar for Suicide Prevention DELMAR, NY - A group of motorcycle riders, including many first responders, took a scenic m o torcycle ride for suicide prevention. The 2nd Annual ride for suicide prevention in honor o f Dan Lawlor, also known as ‘ Flounder,’took place on Saturday, August 2nd. Riders met up at the Elm Av enue Town Park in Delmar, where they checked in and went over their

J ump to file #080725109

route. They left the park and crossed under the American Flag displayed over the roadway from ladder trucks from the Delmar Fire Department. The ride took the motorcyclists through Albany and Greene coun

ties, with other local police and fire agencies assisting with road clo sures along the way while the group o f riders made their way through various areas. The Slingerlands Fire Depart ment was the ending point for the riders to enjoy food and quality time with others.

- THOMAS MARRA

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PAGE 8

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

Troy FD Handles S tructure Fire, Shooting & Bike A ccident in Less Than 4 Hours TROY, NY - On July 6, 2025, at 5:57 PM, both the City o f Troy’ s Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to 3301 6th Avenue for a reported shooting on the second floor. Engine Four, the Rescue Squad, Medic One, and the Battal ion Chief staged nearby as the sus pect was still at large. Police arrived on the scene and found a male victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Officers quickly administered care to the victim while securing the scene and searching for the suspect. The sus pect had fled, prompting officers to begin a search throughout the area. Once the scene was secured, the fire department was cleared to enter. Firefighters arrived shortly after and began providing advanced life support to the gunshot victim, stabilizing him for transport. Addi tional paramedics from Engine Four were placed onto Medic One due to the severity o f the call. The victim was loaded into the ambu lance, and advanced life support continued en route to the hospital. Just as the team was preparing to clear and head to Albany Medical Center, a Delta-level traffic acci dent was reported: a motorbike had collided with a parked car near 820 2nd Avenue, in front o f KeyBank. The caller reported the rider was down and unresponsive. Engine One, the Rescue Squad, the Battalion Chief, and Medic Four — along with the New York State Police and the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office — re sponded to the scene. Engine One arrived and found the individual on the roadway. Firefighters began ad ministering advanced life support as police investigated the incident. The victim was stabilized and transported to Albany Medical Center due to the severity o f his in juries. Firefighters then washed down the roadway to clear a signifi cant amount o f blood before going back into service approximately fif teen minutes later. Meanwhile, police broadcast a description o f the shooting suspect to their agency and began canvass ing the city. Officers on scene re covered the firearm involved in the shooting, and evidence technicians, along with detectives, processed the scene. At 7:38 PM, the Troy Fire D e partment was dispatched to 555 3rd Avenue for a reported stmcture fire. Engine One, Truck One, Engine Four, Truck Two, Engine Two, the Rescue Squad, Medic Four, and the Battalion C hief responded. The caller reported a fire on the third floor o f the building. Upon arrival, there was no visible fire from the exterior. Firefighters were met by the occupants, who confirmed that everyone had safely evacuated — including one o f the dogs. Engine One’ s crew conducted a dry stretch

Jump t o f i l e #08 02 2 5 1 0 6 m

o f the handline to the third floor, where they encountered significant smoke. The officer on Engine One immediately transmitted a Signal 30 for a working structure fire. Truck One set up on the road way while firefighters made their way to the roof, and crews inside the building checked the floors below to ensure everyone was out. Once inside, the crew requested the handline be charged and began to knock down the fire. As crews worked inside, a police officer — originally called in due to the shooting incident — assisted in try ing to catch the dog from the third floor, with neighbors offering help. Unfortunately, the dog ran off down the street. The fire was brought under control on the third floor, and fire fighters confirmed there was no ex tension beyond the affected area. After completing overhaul, crews began breaking down the supply line and packing up equipment. The chief conducted a fire investigation, and the owner o f the dog was able to safely locate it the following morning. No injuries were reported in the fire, and the cause remains undisclosed. While police were still investi gating the shooting, a vigilant offi cer on the evening shift spotted the suspect at a nearby corner store. With assistance from additional of ficers, the suspect was apprehended without incident. Fie was brought to Central Station for questioning, where detectives processed him for evidence. Through the investiga tion, it was determined that the in cident stemmed from an argument between brothers, which escalated into the shooting. Stafon A. Ferrell, 29, o f Troy, was charged with at tempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and second-de gree criminal possession o f a weapon. Fie was remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail. The Rensselaer County D is trict Attorney’ s Office is handling the prosecution. During this intense eight-hour period, both the Troy Police and Fire Departments efficiently man aged multiple significant incidents. From the structure fire to the shoot ing and the bike accident, they re sponded swiftly, providing critical support and services when the com munity needed them most. The Po lice Department’ s ability to solve the shooting case in under eight hours is a testament to their dedica tion to bringing justice to victims o f serious crimes and ensuring the safety o f the City o f Troy’ s resi dents.

- JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Troy Firefighters loading the gun shot wound victim into the medic rig.

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Truck 2, Engine 1, and Truck 1 on scene of the working structure fire.

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Engine 1 treating the person that hit the parked car on 2nd Ave.

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 9

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

VINNIE DOMINICK

Dump Truck Takes Down Poles, Cuts Power to Three Duildings in Newburgh NEWBURGH, NY - On August 1st, the Winona Lake Engine Co. was called for wires down with a person trapped in a ve hicle on Route 52. Upon arrival, the dump truck’s bed was still raised, having taken down two utility poles. The incident ripped wires from a building and caused a power outage af fecting three buildings. Fortunately, the driver was not in jured. The Orange Lake FD was also called to assist with blocking off the road. Central Hudson and Verizon responded to the scene. The Town of Newburgh Police Department is in vestigating the incident.

JEFFREY ARN0LD/@FIREPH0T025

Accidental Fire Damages Home in Gorham GORHAM, NY - Shortly after 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, July 26th, firefighters from Rushville, Middlesex, Potter and Ben ton (FAST) responded to a house fire at 4075 Route 245 in Gorham. Officials from the Ontario County Office of Emer gency Management believe the fire to have been accidental in origin. There were no injuries reported. Also assisting at the scene were Middlesex Volunteer Ambulance Service and the Ontario County Sheriff's Office.

JEFFREY RELSCHWINDER/ SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Engine 4 Handles Kitchen Fire in North Central Troy TROY, NY - On July 31, 2025, at 6:17 PM, the City o f Troy’ s FD was dispatched to 3349 6th Avenue for a reported structure fire. Engine 4, En gine 1, Engine 2, Truck 2, M edic 4, the Rescue Squad, and the Battalion C hief responded to the scene. The caller reported a fire on the second floor. The Battalion C hief arrived on scene with smoke showing from the second floor o f the structure and immediately declared a Signal 30 for a working structure fire. Firefighters from Engine Four de ployed a P/i-inch hand line to the front door o f the structure and made their way to the second floor. The Battalion C hief conducted a quick walk-around o f the building and notified dispatch that there was significant smoke showing from the second floor on the north side, as w ell as smoke coming from the roofline. The next-due engine company deployed Engine Four’ s large-di ameter hose down to the fire hy drant and made the connection, establishing a water supply for the scene. Firefighters from the truck company raised a ladder to the roof, and members o f the crew made their way up to pop the scut tle. Firefighters on the second floor quickly knocked down the fire in the kitchen before it could spread. Additional firefighters conducted a primary search o f both the first and second floors and confirmed that all occupants were accounted for. After knocking down the fire, crews began to ventilate the struc

ture due to a significant smoke con dition on the second floor. Firefighters notified command that the incident was under control in less than ten minutes from ar rival. The Battalion Chief officially placed the fire under control at 6:24 PM. Firefighters then conducted an extensive overhaul o f the kitchen area. Fire Investigators arrived on the second floor and began their inves tigation into the cause o f the fire. Once the scene was deemed safe, firefighters began to break down equipment and return to service.

Due to the rapid response from the Troy FD, there was no fire ex tension into the roof or other parts o f the structure. Troy FD's swift and aggressive approach to firefighting is a testament to their unwavering dedication to protecting the resi dents o f the City o f Troy. Their as sertive fire tactics consistently play a critical role in stopping fires in the early stages, preventing them from spreading and causing greater dam age.

- JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER

JEFFREY RELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

A Troy firefighter coming off the roof.

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

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PAGE 12

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

BOB MCCORMICK

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Improperly Disposed Fireworks Causes Garage Fire in Green Island GREEN ISLAND, N Y - On July 4, 2025, the Green Island FD, C oh oes FD, Watervliet FD, and the Watervliet Arsenal FD re sponded to 500 River Edge Apart ments follow in g J ump to file# multiple calls re 080 22 5 1 0 4 porting a garage fire. The caller 1k 4 £ stated that smoke was com ing from 3 ® the garage. The first arriving engine on scene found fire pushing from the garage and transmitted a Signal 30. The offi cer on the rig conducted a full walk-around o f the garage and observed smoke pushing from the eaves. Firefighters deployed a 1Viinch hand line to the front door o f the garage, made entry, and dis covered a working dumpster fire inside the garage that had ex tended into the roof. The next ar riving truck company went to work cutting the garage doors off to gain entry, as the fire had spread into the ro o f area. An ad ditional hand line was deployed, and command placed a general recall for staffing for Green Is land, Cohoes, and the City o f Wa tervliet. Firefighters knocked down the heavy fire condition in the first garage bay and began open ing additional garages due to a heavy smoke condition through out the structure. They opened each garage section one by one, pulled down ceilings, and used a hand line to extinguish additional fire that had spread to the roof. Firefighters worked on scene for an extended period, conduct ing extensive overhaul. The fire chief arrived and began an inves-

Multi-Vehicle Crash with Injuries Shuts Down State Route 32 in Plattekill PLATTEKILL, NY - Plattekill FD responded to a multi-vehicle MVA involving injuries on State Route 32 near Our Lady of Fatima Church on August 3rd. Firefighters assisted the in jured parties and spread Speedy Dry on fluids on the road way. Town/Plattekill-Ulster County Sheriff and New York State Police were also on scene, along with New Paltz and Town/Newburgh EMS. Two subjects were transported to Montefiore-St. Luke’s Hospital. State Route 32 was closed be tween Plattekill School and Rainbow Drive. Cronomer Valley Fire Police directed traffic at Rainbow Drive during the inci dent. Ulster County Deputy Fire Coordinator 56-4 was also on scene. Town/Plattekill Police are investigating the cause.

VINNIE DOMINICK

Town of Newburgh National Night Out JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Firefighters cutting the garage door panel. tigation into the cause o f the fire, No injuries were reported, but the building suffered severe damage. The fire was determined to have

been caused by fireworks improperly disposed o f in the dumpster,

- JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER

NEWBURGH, NY-August 5th was National Night Out, hosted by the Town of Newburgh Police, Town of Newburgh Emer gency Services, Winona Lake Engine Company, Orange Lake Fire Department, and Good Will Fire Department. The cooking was done by the Town of Gilbert Police Depart ment and the Middle Hope Fire Department.

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 13

Structure Fire Draws Multi-Agency Response in City of Newburgh NEWBURGH, NY - City of Newburgh Fire Department re sponded to a structure fire at 65 Carter Street around 1:30 p.m. on the af ternoon of August 7th. Upon arrival, firefighters found a working fire, and command requested a second alarm. Units from West Point, Air Guard, Beacon, and Cronomer Valley responded to the scene. Firefighters deployed two hand lines through the front door and one around the back. City of Newburgh Police blocked off Carter Street, and Empress EMS was on scene. Central Hudson Gas & Electric was called to shut off power and gas to the apartment. Firefighters conducted a search and found no one inside the apart ment. The cause and origin team was called, and the Orange County Sheriffs Department was notified to respond with an arson canine. The fire is currently under investigation.

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PAGE 14

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

BOB MCCORMICK

Three-Vehicle MVA with Injuries on NYS Thruway NEWBURGH, NY - On July 27th, Cronomer Valley Fire De partment responded to a three-vehicle MVA with injuries on the New York State Thruway, southbound at mile marker 63.2. New York State Police and Town of Newburgh EMS were on scene. Firefighters secured all vehicles for hazards and as sisted with injured parties. Town of Newburgh EMS trans ported two individuals to Montefiore-St. Luke’s Hospital. Fire Police assisted with traffic control. New York State Police are investigating the cause of the accident. One lane was closed during the incident.

VINNIE DOMINICK

One Transported from MVA on Route 17K in Newburgh NEWBURGH, NY - Goodwill Fire Department responded to Route 17K and Auto Park Place on July 17th for a reported MVA. Town of Newburgh EMS transported one person to the hospital. Town of Newburgh and NY State Police were on scene directing traffic.

JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Heavy smoke pushes from the house, filling the street.

Aggressive Fire Tactics Stop FastMoving Fire in East Greenbush CLIN TON HEIGHTS, NY On July 18, 2025, at 6:59 PM, the Clinton Heights Fire Department, along with the Bruen Rescue Squad, was dispatched to 247 Pinehurst Avenue for a reported structure fire with multiple calls. Callers reported that the house was on fire. Clinton Heights Car 1 called en route to the scene. The dis patcher notified the chief that they were receiving multiple calls about the fire, prompting the chief to request the D efreestville Fire Department be dispatched with their Rapid Intervention Crew. Clinton H eights Car 1 also noti fied the dispatcher that there was a heavy column o f smoke visible from Hampton Avenue and re quested a second alarm. The second alarm was trans mitted immediately, bringing the East Greenbush Fire Department and Best Luther Fire Department to the scene, and the Castleton Fire Department to the Clinton Heights station for standby cover age. Clinton Heights arrived on scene with heavy smoke showing from the r oof and a significant fire condition in the rear o f the struc ture. The chief quickly performed

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Jump t o f i i e # 0 8 02251 07

a 360 walk-around and confirmed that all occupants were out o f the house. Comm and requested Na tional Grid to the scene. The first arriving engine de ployed a l 3/4-inch hand line to the front door while additional crew members connected to a nearby hydrant. Firefighters pushed into the structure and up the stairs, where they encountered heavy fire conditions. An aggressive interior attack was initiated, and a signifi cant portion o f the fire was knocked down. Within twelve minutes o f the initial dispatch, firefighters had the heavy fire under control inside the structure. Truck company personnel ar rived, laddered the front o f the structure, and made their way to the roof. Firefighters from the Rapid Intervention Group set up in front o f the home and conducted a walk-around to assess egress is sues and potential challenges in the event o f an emergency. Engines 8, 9, and 36 arrived on scene, and their crews assisted interior operations. Firefighters on the roof began vertical ventilation.

while those inside conducted hor izontal ventilation, as a significant smoke condition persisted throughout the house. Additional interior crews pulled ceilings in the fire area to access the attic, as smoke continued to escape around the chimney. Firefighters who had been working inside came out to co o l down, hydrate, and change their air bottles. Crews inside performed exten sive overhaul operations. N o in juries were reported among occupants or firefighters. The City o f Rensselaer Fire Investigators and Rensselaer County Fire Investigators re sponded to conduct the cause and origin investigation. Thanks to the rapid response o f Clinton Heights firefighters and their aggressive fire tactics, the fire was brought under control in under 15 minutes. Their swift ac tion prevented the fire from spreading through the entire struc ture. The professionalism, dedica tion, and courage o f these volunteer firefighters reflect the spirit o f service that protects and uplifts the Clinton Heights co m munity.

- JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 15

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PAGE 16

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

DRILLS/TRAINING I f y o u have ph otos y o u w ou ld like to se e in our D rills feature, please u pload them on ou r w ebsite www. 1stR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L in d sey @ lstR esp on d erN ew s.co m .

The Fire Service and Work/Life Balance The title begs the question “Is it really possible to have a work/life balance as a volun teer firefighter”? In fact, many readers will likely chuckle at the mere prospect of achieving a work/life balance when con sidering the many roles and hats worn by the typical “Vollie”. There are several factors to consider in order to achieve a balance between the volun teer fire service and a personal life. Make no mistake though achieving a work/life balance in the fire service is no easy task. There are two major reasons for this. The fact that being a firefighter is a rigorous, timeconsuming profession relative to training and being on the fireground. Also, in the past few decades there are more and more personal demands than ever but still only 24 hours in a day. Understand that the term “bal ance” is relative for each fire fighter. For some balance is literally 50/50 while others it’s a 90/10. This is all dependent on the life circumstances of a particular firefighter. The term imbalance as used here is sim ply defined as a circumstance that changes a firefighter’s current participation in the fire service for the foreseeable fu ture and does not necessarily imply something negative. An imbalance could either be from the fire service side such as a change in department policy and/or new leadership or the personal life side such as hav ing children or a divorce. Re gardless, it is important to have the ability to identify what is or could potentially cause an imbalance. The last significant factor would be to come to terms with the fact that there are ebbs and flows to finding a happy medium and that there isn’t a specific time frame that those ebbs and flows will take place. Some firefighters are

more active during the sum mer than winter or on weeknights as opposed to Sundays. Still, those waves may take years to develop; the vast ma jority of firefighter careers and volunteer service see signifi cant participation in the younger years but as those same firefighters age and take on relationships and family the personal side takes more of a precedence but then shifts back (albeit a potentially differ ent role) later on in life, when as an example, excursions to various little league sporting events begins to wind down. The difficult part is how to quantify an imbalance. It’s one thing to “feel” that something is off; realistically it is a bad sign when a firefighter (even a Chief) thinks the department will fall apart without them. That said, is there some tangi ble metric to show an imbal ance? In fact, there is. Every department has minimums for attending calls, drills and meetings. Every firefighter should be keeping tabs on their participation in these cat egories and if the numbers show a drop off then there is a good chance there is a poten tial imbalance that requires at tention. It is important to note here that when analyzing participation numbers that while it is impor tant to know company totals firefighters really should try to focus more on comparisons to themselves. For example, ask yourself “How many calls had I attended at this time last year”? Focusing on a required minimum percentage of com pany totals only puts undo self-induced pressure on fire fighters which in the end will only result in lower participa tion. Ok so once an imbalance is identified, how can a firefighter resolve that issue relative to their participation in the fire house. The first thing is to un

derstand how the system works in your respective de partment. If, as a firefighter or in life are starting to feel over whelmed and the result is not being able to get to the neces sary number of calls then con sult an officer/Chief about what the options are and how the department can assist. Considering the recruitment and retention issue in the fire service across the country it is imperative that Chiefs know these options to properly ad vise firefighters to keep them in the game. One relatively common solution is to change your status from active to so cial membership or apply for a leave of absence. This typi cally results in calls during a specific time frame to not be counted in the total call vol ume for that firefighter. This will allow a firefighter to re solve whatever imbalance is present (personal/professional/fire service) and not get “dinged” for calls not at tended. Department assistance can range from employee assis tance programs for mental health issues through simply helping a firefighter around the house with a couple of proj ects so they can get back to re sponding to calls and going to meetings.

It has been said that the only firefighters that worry about their participation numbers are those that aren’t getting to any calls. This is typically said in a negative connotation as if to say “get off your butt and get to some calls”. Whereas that has some validity consider an other angle. What if you over heard another firefighter concerned about call or meet ing attendance? Instead of being critical wouldn’t it be better to ask yourself “What can I do to help another fire fighter get back on the appara tus?” Firefighters help each other; not just criticize. That’s what we do on and off the fireground so get off your butt and see how you can help another firefighter get back that work/life balance and respond ing to calls. The other aspect of knowing how the system works is un derstanding Length of Service Awards Program or LOSAP. Because LOSAP is compre hensive it is a discussion for another day but in a nutshell (Using New York State as an example): 1) Firefighters must accumu late 50 points annually 2) The categories are Drills, Calls and Meetings (there are some miscellaneous activities that can be included for points such as fire classes, writing fire service ar ticles etc..) 3) In most cases the call vol

ume for each firefighter is 10% 4) Points are not prorated - it’s all or nothing so 9% of calls gives you no points at all 5) Each category point value is capped (going to more meet ings and drills in lieu of calls will not result in more points for a given category) Knowing the parameters is es sential to achieving a work/life balance in the fire service. Once a firefighter knows what the options are a balance is achievable. When your life as a firefighter and as an individual conflict just remember to take a step back, take a deep breath and prioritize what is important at that moment, talk to your Chief, talk to other firefighters and design a solution. To reiterate, it is ESSENTIAL for firefighters (Chiefs and Of ficers especially) to not only be able to recognize when a col league may be in trouble but also know and apply the solu tions your department offers. Lastly, in spite of the recruit ment and retention issues al ways remember that the firehouse is not going to fall apart without you. In the long run firefighters attend more calls and meetings when a work/life balance is in place so there is no shame if you have to take a step back for a time. -JOSEPH CEA

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 17

Vehicle News

PATCH OF THE MONTH I f y o u have p h otos y o u w ou ld like to s ee in our “Patch o f the m onth “feature please upload them on our website, w w w .lstR esp on derN ew s.com o r em ail them to L in d sey @ lstR esp on d erN ew s.co m .

RON JEFFERS

EUGENE WEBER JR.

This patch belongs to the Central Bridge Fire Department, located in Schoharie County, NY.

Pearl River has accepted delivery of a Pierce Saber 1500-gpm/1000-gwt/20-gft pumper-tanker. The cab has eight seats. The front bumper has a trash line discharge gate and hose basket, plus there are two cross-lay hose beds and a booster reel mounted on the officer's side of the apparatus. Ground ladders, pike polls and two lengths of hard suction hose are stored in a rear torque box. In addition, there are coffin-style compartments, scene lights, rear vision camera, manually operated deck gun, wheel well storage space, one rear discharge gate and one rear tank fill intake. It carries 1000-feet of 5-inch LDH.

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PAGE 18

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

What is a true Brother? Chaplain’s Corner Didymus McHugh

There are many people who call you a brother. They are refer ring to the brotherhood o f an organ ization that you obtain by just joining an organization. There are others that are a Brother where it never has to be spoken. These are the people that you never have to worry about. The brothers are out for them selves and have a hidden agendas and are looking out for how they can advance. A Brother is out there looking to help others and if he ad vances, it is just a byproduct o f car ing for others, as well as the organization. I have had people that I fought side by side with but look out when that was over because they were just full o f mean. The Brothers are those who are standing up for you, that you may never know about. They may work in the shadows to help others, unlike the others who are hiding in the shadows schem ing. They ones helping others are his Brother's keeper. I recently was having a tough day and voiced it on social media and as soon as it was posted, my phone rang. It was a good friend that we haven't seen or heard from each other in over two decades. When we spoke, it was like home. We spoke for what was getting close to be an hour and spoke about a lot o f things and I felt better when we hung up. A while back, I fell out o f touch with my partner that I used to ride EMS with. We fell out o f touch but after 9/11,1 was by the place that he worked at. I asked someone how I could get in touch with him and the individual dialed the phone number and let me talk to him. It took only minutes, and we were caught up. We have not seen each other for some time but I still con

sider us to be Brothers. I know that I walk a different path than I used to walk but I still have my Brothers. They know that I am now handling other types o f emergencies, but I am here when they call. We still have each other’ s back. It feels good when I go into a meeting or class or show up to a re sponse and am greeted with a hug versus a handshake because the bond that is there. Some o f my friends may see something on the news or hear about an event and they know that I am ei ther there or supporting and they check in with me to see how I am doing. I think back when my daughter was having physical challenges. I called the police desk for an ambu lance and Paulie answered the phone. When he dispatched, I had more people show up than could fit in the apartment. I had a Brother stand by my bed in the hospital as doctors were sav ing my life. A Brother put me up in his house as I recovered. A Brother catches your vision for a new project and supports and encourages and even becom es part o f the team to make it happen. The brothers should pray that they develop Brothers and Sisters like I have. H ow many people will stop everything they are doing, just to pick up the phone when you call? There was an individual that kept saying that he had my back and would always be there for me, but he was just a clanging cymbal. Since he rode the ambulance, I called him when my doctor said I had to get to the hospital immediately. He made excuse after excuse to not be o f as sistance, which is a brother by organ ization and not a Brother. I will admit that I am not perfect, but I try to be the type o f Brother that I would like to have. Stay safe, Didymus McHugh didymus-mchugh.com

Read more from all of our columnists on our website! www.1rbn.com

STEPHEN MWAUACE

Fire broke through the roof line.

Structure Fire in Lockport Contained After 90M inute B attle LOCKPORT, N Y - At 11:45 A M on August 11th, with tempera tures already reaching 92 degrees, an alarm was received for a work ing structure fire on R odgers Av enue in the City o f Lockport. First-arriving units found heavy flames blow ing out the rear o f both the north and south sides o f the house, with the rear porch area fully engulfed. Thick, dark smoke was already pushing out o f the r o o f vents, and visible fire was spread ing along the roofline. A full standby crew was called in, and a FAST team from the M ed ina Fire Department in Orleans County was also dispatched to the scene. A rapid interior attack team geared up and prepared to enter through the front in an effort to keep the fire contained to the rear. The truck operator ensured a full 5inch supply line was in place and

TO FILE # 0 8 1 1 2 5 1 0 0

an I »

flow ing before anyone entered the building. Heavy smoke was reported in the attic and upper floors, with vis ible fire on the lower floors in the rear. A lone firefighter used a hand line to try to knock down the fire on the rear exterior and the flames m oving along the roofline. An immediate rehab area was set up under one o f the only trees available to keep firefighters out o f the direct sun. N eighbors brought cold water to the crew members as they cooled o ff and changed out air packs. Other teams rechecked interior areas, finding smoldering w ood and embers in the kitchen and request ing an additional line to knock them down. The upper attack team en

sured the attic was fully watered and any hidden hot spots were pulled and extinguished. Medina's FAST team set up di rectly by the rehab station to be ready to respond to any firefighter emergency. Lockport Police assisted the homeowners away from the scene, and the Red Cross was notified to provide shelter for three adults. Thanks to the quick, organized response o f the initial units and standby crews, the fire was held to the rear o f the building, saving the majority o f the structure. The d e partment's Training Officer had a full accountability system in place from the start, ensuring all firefight ers were tracked and accounted for. The fire was declared under control in approximately 90 m in utes.

- STEPHEN WALLACE

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 19

VEHICLE NEWS

RON JEFFHtS

Spring Valley Ladder 17 is a new Pierce Enforcer 2000-gpm/500-gwt/107-foot As cendant model quint. The cab contains eight seats and chargers for hand lights, etc., plus three cross-lay beds, torque compartment ladder storage, front discharge gate and bumper basket, pre-piped water way with Stream Master monitor at the tip of the aerial ladder, rear vision camera, and it carries 500-feet of 5-inch LDH.

Tallman has placed into service a 2024 Pierce Enforcer/PUC model 1500gpm/750-gwt/30-gft model heavy rescue. It has a raised roof cab with NightScan light tower mounted on the roof, extended front bumper with discharge gate and hose basket, coffin-style compartments, roll-out draw compartments below the rescue box and scene lights.

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PAGE 20

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

Rick Billings T J ne fast and the furriest...

BOB MCCORMICK

Driver Injured A fter Car Goes Off Road on NYS Thruway NEWBURGH, NY - On July 31st, Winona Lake and Orange Lake Fire Departments responded to Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) at mile marker 62 southbound for a vehicle off the roadway. New York State Police and Town of New burgh EMS were on scene. Firefighters disconnected the ve hicle's battery. The driver was transported by Town of Newburgh EMS to Montefiore-St. Luke’s Hospital. New York State Police are investigating the cause. c 2025 by Rick Billings @jampony452

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R esponder

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Where the News Gets Its News}

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 21

Brivado Cigars: Where First Responders Unwind in Style Tucked away in the vibrant city o f Orange, N ew Jersey, Brivado Cigars isn ’ t just another cigar lounge - it’ s a sanctuary, a celebration, and a second home for heroes. Owned by Deputy Fire Chief Brian Agnew o f the Flolmes Marshall Fire Company in Piscataway, Brivado Cigars is a place where first responders can kick back, relax, and enjoy the finer things in life - all while being hon ored for their service. Located at 14 N. C en ter Street, Orange, NJ, Brivado C i gars stretches across a generous 6,000-square-feet, offering the perfect blend o f luxury, leisure, and community. From the moment you step through the door, it’ s clear that this isn ’ t your average cigar spot. The vibe is elevated yet w el coming, the energy is electric, and the amenities? Next level. To show appreciation for those who protect and serve, every Tuesday is First R esp on d er A p preciation Day, with half-price day passes offered exclusively for firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, and other first respon ders. It’ s Brian A gnew ’ s personal way o f giving back to the brother hood and sisterhood he knows so well, serving for over 19 years. “ Brivado is more than cigars,” says Agnew. “It’ s about creating a space for camaraderie, reflection, and celebration. As a firefighter, I know how important it is to de-

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compress and connect with people who understand the weight o f the work we do.” And connect, they do. Brivado Cigars boasts one o f New Jersey’ s largest walk-in hu m idors, stocked with premium, hand-rolled cigars for every palate. Add to that its B Y O B status, 15 high-definition TVs broadcasting every major network game, an in sanely efficient, hospital-grade ventilation system, and the com fort o f plush leather seating, and it’ s easy to see why this has b e com e a go-to destination for cigar lovers and public servants alike. But it’ s not just about the smoke. Brivado also features a private, non-sm oking banquet space that accommodates up to 100 guests, ideal for hosting birthday celebrations, b ach elor and bachelorette parties, p rom o tion ceremonies, union meetings, fundraisers, car and bike rallies, and more. Whether it’ s a night out with the crew or a full-blown event, Brivado delivers a tailored experience with class and flair. What truly sets Brivado apart is its m obile ciga r operation ready to roll into your firehouse or fundraiser and bring the Brivado experience on-site. Whether it’ sa department event, wedding, or

community celebration, the team provides top-tier service and even offers custom -labeled ciga rs for wet-downs, w eddings, birth an nouncem ents, prom otions, re tirements, and charitable events - a personal touch that adds a nice touch to any occasion. Agnew, a lover o f cigars, scotch, and bourbon, founded Brivado Cigars with a simple phi losophy: c h e rish the m om ent. That vision echoes throughout the space - from the curated accessories and private cigar lockers to the laugh ter and m em ories shared nightly among its guests. So if y ou ’ re a first responder looking for a spot that honors your commitment and caters to your lifestyle, make your way to Brivado. Because when the shift ends, you deserve a place that un derstands what it means to serve and celebrates you for it. Brivado C igars 14 N. C enter St., Orange, NJ 732-366-3044 ww w .brivadocigars.com brivadocigars@ gm ail.com

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First R espon d er Tuesdays 4 P M - 10 PM Half-Price Day Passes Brivado C igars Smoke. Sip. Celebrate.

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PAGE 22

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

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R esponder Newspaper

This section is exclusively dedicated to coverage of Long Island emergency services PUBLISHING SINCE 1993

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SEPTEMBER, 2025

JOHN WALTHERS- SUFFOLK FIRE PHOTOS

SHIRLEY, NY - At approximately 12:40 PM on July 19th, the Brookhaven Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a possible house fire on Smith Road off Probst Drive. Within minutes, Chief of Department Giuseppe Loiacono (5-3-30) and Captain Brian LaMonica Jr. (5-3-50) arrived on the scene to find a residential structure fully involved in flames. A working fire was immediately declared, and mutual aid was requested. - S ee full story on P age 25

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

LONG ISLANi T ADVERTISER

INDEX A guide to finding great companies

Company

Page

Firematic

CORPORATE INFORMATION 1st Responder N ew s (ISSN 1525-1683) - N ew York edition - Vol. 27 No. 9 - is published monthly, 12 times a year for $48 per year by Belsito Communications, Inc., 1Ardmore Street, N ew Windsor, NY 12553. Pe riodicals Postage Paid at Newburgh, NY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to 1st Responder News, 1Ardmore Street, N ew Windsor, NY 12553. N o financial responsibility is assumed by this newspaper to publish a display, classified, or legal ad or for

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

t y p o graph ical errors ex cept of reprinting that part o f the ad which was omitted or in error. O m issions or errors must be brought to the at tention o f the newspaper during the same month o f publication. Printed in Canada.

845-534-7500• (fax) 845-534-0055 fn fo @ b e ls ito . c o m

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

PURUCATION CONTENT Notice: The advertisements, articles, and letters contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view s o f 1st Responder Inc. and Belsito Communications, Inc. Advertisements are sold pur suant to the “space available”and corresponding fee schedule. The mere fact that advertisements are contained in this publication does not express nor imply that 1st Responder Inc. and Belsito Com m u nications, Inc. vouches for the credibility o f the claim s made in the advertisements or the representations expressed or implied in them.

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

SOUND BEACH, NY - On Saturday, July 19th, the Sound Beach Fire Department hosted its 95th Anniversary Parade. The department was led by Chief of Department McLoughlin. Various fire departments from Suffolk County attended the celebration parade.

Additional news

iLITTLE BIG GUYS

from Long Island can be found on our website at www.1rbn.com

Sound Beach Fire Department Celebrates 95 Years of Service

I f y o u h a v e p h o t o s y o u w o u l d l i k e t o s e e in o u r L i t t l e B i g G u y s f e a t u r e , p l e a s e u p l o a d t h e m o n o u r w e b s it e w w w . ls tR e s p o n d e r N e w s . c o m o r e m a il th e m t o L in d s e y @ ls t R e s p o n d e r N e w s . c o m .

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Annual National Night Out in Ridge RIDGE, NY - On Tuesday, August 5th, the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office hosted its annual National Night Out at Fire men’s Memorial Park in Ridge. The event also had participa tion from the Ridge Fire Department and Suffolk County Fire Rescue & Emergency Services. Various emergency vehicles were on display for the public to see. Two live demonstrations conducted by the Ridge Fire Department were an auto extri cation and a camper fire.

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

East Quogue Fire Department runs this 2016 Ford F550/4 Guys Mini Pumper 750GPM/290GAL as Mini Pumper 7-6-7. This rig for merly ran with the Oakland Fire Department in Pennsylvania.

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

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LONG ISLA

Flames Engulf Shirley Home: Multi-Agency Response Battles Intense Fire SHIRLEY, NY - At approxi mately 12:40 PM on July 19th, the Brookhaven Fire Department was dispatched to a report o f a possible house lire on Smith Road off Probst Drive. Within minutes. Chief o f D e partment Giuseppe Loiacono (5-330) and Captain Brian LaMonica Jr. (5-3-50) arrived on the scene to find a residential structure fully involved in flames. A working fire was imme diately declared, and mutual aid was requested. Mastic Fire Department Engine 5-12-1, which wa s returning from an earlier alarm, responded rapidly and was the first engine on the scene. Mastic Assistant Chief Rudy M. Sunderman arrived alongside the crew and assisted in stretching a hoseline to begin suppression ef forts. Brookhaven Fire Department crews arrived shortly after and began working alongside Mastic firefighters to help extinguish the blaze. Shirley Community Ambu lance was also on the scene, provid ing emergency medical support. As the fire intensified, dispatch activated additional mutual aid from surrounding fire departments and EMS agencies. Firefighters from multiple departments worked tire lessly in intense heat conditions to get water on the fire and bring the situation under control. The scene was finally placed under control

Jump t o f i l e #072 02 5 1 0 0

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shortly after 3:00 PM— more than two hours after the initial alarm. At least one civilian was trans ported to a local hospital by Shirley Ambulance with reported bum in juries. Additionally, two firefighters were evaluated by EMS personnel on the scene for heat exhaustion. EMS teams also provided rehab support for all personnel throughout the prolonged operation. Suffolk County Police and Fire Police from multiple agencies re sponded to assist with road closures and scene security. PSEG Long Is land was requested to respond and cut power to the affected structure as a safety precaution. Mutual aid fire response in cluded units from Mastic, Mastic Beach, Bellport, Yaphank, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. EMS mutual aid was provided by Mastic, Mastic Beach, and South Country Ambulance companies. After the flames were extin guished, the scene was formally turned over to investigators from the s Brookhaven Town Fire M arshal’ Office and the Suffolk County Po lice Department Arson Squad.

JOHN WALTHERS- SUFFOLK FIRE PHOTOS

Mastic Beach Firefighters operate a line in the rear of the yard under the supervision of Brookhaven Assistant Chief Hudson Darrow.

- JOHN WALTHERS

JOHN WALTHERS- SUFFOLK FIRE PHOTOS

EMS members from Mastic Beach, Shirley and Mastic FD conduct Firefighter Rehab.

Mastic Firefighters operating to put out a blaze in Shirley.

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

LONG ISLAN WHERE ARE THEY NOW? I f y o u have p h otos y o u w ou ld like to s e e in our W h ere are they N ow ? feature please upload them on our w ebsite www. 1stR espon d erN ew s.com or em ail them to L in d sey @ lstR esp on d erN ew s.co m .

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

Bayport FD Dual Wetdown BAYPORT, NY - On Friday, July 18th, the Bayport Fire Depart ment hosted a wet down ceremony for two new pieces of equipment. The new rigs are Brush 3-14-7, a 1990 2.5 ton Army 6x6/2024 Firematic B.R.A.T, and Ladder 13, a 2023 Pierce Impel 100’ Rear-mount Aerial. The East Islip Fire De partment, Bohemia Fire Department, Blue Point Fire Depart ment, and Patchogue Fire Department attended the event.

FRAHK RORIHSOH

Westbury Fire Department once ran this 1984 Mack CF 1250/500. The unit is now privately owned.

IN SERVICE I f y o u have p h otos y o u w ou ld like to s ee in our In Service feature, p lease u pload them on our w ebsite w w w .lstR esp on derN ew s.com o r em ail them to L in d sey @ lstR esp on d erN ew s.co m .

FRAHK RORIHSOH

Jericho Fire Department once ran this 1999 Pierce Lance 1500/750. The unit is now in service in Womelsdorf, PA FD.

RRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

The North Babylon Fire Company recently placed Heavy Rescue 1-8-5, a 2024 Ferrara Inferno/Rescue 1 Body Walk-In Rescue, into service.

Submitting photos and press releases is EASY!

R e g is te r a t w w w .1 rb n .c o m to begin posting directly. Prefer emails? Email your press release and photos directly to FRAHK RORIHSOH

L in d sey@ 1stresp o n d ern ew s.co m

Levittown Fire Department once ran this 1998 Pierce Lance 105' Ladder. It is now in service at Womelsdorf, PA FD.

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

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LONG ISLA

Vehicle News

BOB VACCARO

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

The Smithtown NY Fire Department recently took delivery of their new Ferrara Ultra The Glenwood Fire Department recently placed this 2024 Pierce Saber 75’ RearWalk-In Heavy Rescue. mount Quint in to service as Quint 535.

BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

Jamesport Fire Department recently placed this 2025 Spartan FC-94/Fotus Bros The Yaphank Fire Department recently placed this 2025 Pierce Enforcer Pumper in 1500GPM/1000GAL in service as Engine 6-1-3. This rig replaced a 1992 Pierce Dash to service as Engine 5-30-9. Pumper which formerly served the Flanders Fire Department (New York).

Submitting photos and press releases is EASY! Register at www.1rbn.com to begin posting directly. Prefer emails? Email your press release and photos directly to: Lindsey@1strespondernews.com

PAGE 28

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

Vehicle News The Plainview Fire Department recently placed into service 3 2025 Sutphen Monarch Engines . They are equipped with 1500 gpm pumps with 750 gallon Tanks

PAUSTINFIREPHOTOS

B0BVACCAR0

Engine 9544

Fully Involved House Fire in Brookhaven BROOKHAVEN, NY - On the evening of August 6th, the Brookhaven Fire Department was alerted for a reported house fire with heavy fire and smoke on Fintlock Dr. 5-3-30 arrived on scene and found a fully involved house. Crews and multiple aids arrived on scene, went into exterior operations and extinguished all fire. Crews went back into service 2 hours later.

STILL IN SERVICE If you have photos you w ould like to see in our Still in Service feature please upload them on our website www. 1stResponderNews.com or email them to L indsey@ lstR esponderN ew s.com .

B0BVACCAB0

Engine 9511

B0BVACCAR0

Engine 9522 BRADLEY FOWLER/FIRE GUY PHOTOGRAPHY

Malverne Fire Department operates this 1993 Pierce Lance Pumper as Engine 432.

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

CEISIDAIM

Truly another game changer. We’ve taken the Ascendant® single rear axle quint configuration, and made it even better with the addition of a platform basket. Imagine that... for those of you who would rather ride than climb, or those who would never even consider a heavy, tandem axle aerial platform - the Ascendant heavy-duty aerial platform is your solution! This configuration will provide you 110' (33.5m) of vertical reach and 90' (27.4m) of horizontal reach without compromising on water capacity, performance, or safety. You’ll have a maneuverable, first out quint with full rescue capabilities. The Ascendant platform includes a 100,000 psi high-strength steel ladder with a fully NFPA compliant, ergonomically designed 3-person basket. The Ascendant platform is rated to a 35 mph (56 km/h) wind and 1/4" (0.64cm) of ice load. It can accommodate 100 lb (45.4kg) of additional equipment, and flow 1,250 gpm (4,732 L/m) from a single monitor located at the end of the fly section. For those of you that want more than just a ladder yet desire a smaller, lighter weight platform basket with lower acquisition costs and less cost of ownership, the Ascendant platform is ideal for you. The Ascendant heavy-duty aerial platform is available on a wide range of Pierce custom chassis with either a single rear axle or a tandem rear axle to meet your fire department’s needs.

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888-434-7362

PAGE 29

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September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

PATCH OF THE MONTH I f you have photos y ou w ou ld like to see in our “Patch o f the month “feature please upload them on our website, w w w .lstR esponderN ew s.com or em ail them to L ind sey@ lstR espond erN ew s.com .

These patches belong to FDNY Engine 71, located in Bronx County, NY.

DAVID BURNS/@FD4D

47th Anniversary of the Waldbaums Fire Memorial Mass BROOKLYN, NY -August 2nd marked the 47th Anniversary o f the W aldbaum’ s fire in which 6 FDNY members were lost and many others injured. The fire occurred on August, 2, 1978 at a W aldbaum’ s supermarket on Avenue Y and Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn. Nearly 20 Firefighters were on the roof o f the supermarket when the central portion gave way, plunging 12 members into the

Jump t o f i l e #08 03 2 5 1 0 8

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flames. Six o f them were rescued, but another six members died in the tragedy. Lt. James E. Cutillo o f Battalion 33, Firefighter Charles S. Bouton o f Ladder 156, Firefighter Flarold F. Flastings o f Battalion 42, Firefighter James R McManus o f Ladder 153,

Firefighter William O ’ Connor o f Ladder 156, and Firefighter George S. Rice o f Ladder 153, made the Supreme Sacrifice that day. In addition to the FDNY mem bers who sacrificed their lives that day, 34 Firefighters, one Emergency Medical Technician and one Emer gency Services police officer were injured in the fire.

- DAVID BURNS EUGENE WEBER JR.

GARY HEARN

FDNY B attles Bronx Basement Blaze in 6-Story Apartm ent BRONX, NY - FDNY crews rushed to a basement fire at 1144 Pelham Parkway South on July 22, 2025. The six-story apartment building filled with smoke as firefighters battled flames in the boiler room. With tight access, barred windows, and heavy heat, teams quickly stretched lines, vented, and knocked down the fire in under 30 minutes. Fast action kept residents safe.

EUGENE WEBER JR.

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

September, 2025

PAGE 31

VEHICLE NEWS

DAVID DDRNS/@FD4D

RON JEFFERS

In July, FDNY Ladder Co. 125 was assigned a new Seagrave 100-foot rear-mount aerial ladder pos sessing Shop # SL25004.

DAVID DDRNS/@FD4D

4-Alarm Fire Rips Through Row of Queens Stores QUEENS, NY (Box 4225) - FDNY battled a stubborn 4 alarm fire late Monday night, July 29th. The fire was in a row of stores in a 20x100 commercial strip at 64-76 Dry Harbor Road. Quick work by the FDNY prevented the blaze from spreading to all the stores in the row. FDNY is investigating the fire.

RON JEFFERS

FDNY Ladder Co. 18 has been assigned a new Seagrave 75-foot tower ladder, possessing Shop # ST25001.

PAGE 32

September, 2025

1st Responder Newspaper - NY

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