VOLUME 10, NO. 5
W W W .FIRENE WS .COM
Serving Fire, Rescue & EMS Heroes In NY State MARCH 2017
See story on page 6. -Fire News photo by Mike Messar
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Fire News, March 2017, Page 3
In this issue... Schenectady 2-Alarmer
On January 7, 2017 a two-alarm fire was sounded for Florence Street in Schenectady. See page 7
Fatality in New Rochelle Blaze
The New Rochelle Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house fire with a report of people trapped. See story on page 8
Glenville FF’s Home Destroyed Beukendaal firefighters battled a two-alarm fire on Sacandaga Road at the home of a Scotia firefighter. See story on page 16
Displaced in Schenectady
A two-alarm fire broke out on Albany Street in Schenectady sending several occupants into the cold night. See story on page 19
A Service for New York State Firefighters and EMS Heroes 146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713
FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher TIM EDWARDS, Executive Editor DENNIS WHITTAM, Editor GARY P. JOYCE, Asst. Editor MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production/Sales LYNN SEDLER, Art Director CLIFF CHIESA, Production Manager Advertising Sales: BARBARA CONNOLLY, EVELYN ALOISIO Graphic Artist: GREGORY JONES CONTRIBUTORS: Andrew Aguilar, Chris Aldous, Jeff Ambroz, Peter Barber, Kevin Barry, John Bashaw, Bill Bennett, Tom Bierds, Jeff Couch, Chris Creighton, David Denniston, Rick Douglas, Brian Duddy, Stan Dybus, John Falcone, Ken Flynn, Joe Fortunato, Eli Gill, Mark Gillen, Carol Greene, Tom Heffernan Sr., Greg Herman, Matt Hodge, Steve Hodgekiss, Robert Holley, Daniel Imfield, Andy Jarchin, Bill Johnson, Mark Johnson, Chris Kalisak, Charlie Keller, Jon Kemp, Gordon Kotars, David R. LaRocco, Stephen Lenz, Joshua Long, Mike Messar, Ralph Miele, Albert Mignone, John Miller, Martin E. Miller, Lloyd Mitchell, Brian Natoli, Carleton Raab, Robert Reynolds, Lauren Rivera, Stephen Schaefer, Deborah Schweikert, Tom Shand, John Shaw, Sharon Siegel, Robert Simpson, Joe Sperber, Bryan Sypniewski, Karen Todd, Kyle Townsend, Joe Turner, Michael VanDerLieth, Lori Washburn, D.B. Weimer, Stephen White.
Columnists: Bruce Johnson, John Salka
Explosions Lead to Collapse in Yorkville Blaze The Yorkville Fire Department was dispatched to a reported explosion on Whitesboro Street.
See story on page 20
Poughkeepsie Goes to Work
City of Poughkeepsie firefighters, assisted by Arlington and Fairview, operated at a structure on Harrison Street.
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PLUS: Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 24 Special Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 25 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 28 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 29
Letters to the Editor, byline articles, and columns represent the opinions of the writers and photographers and are not necessarily the views of the Fire News. We reserve the right to edit all of the above. We are not responsible for errors in advertisements beyond the cost of advertising space. Copy submitted is subject to editing for space requirements. The placing of an advertisement in this publication does not constitute endorsement. Contents are copyrighted. Editorial and advertising copy cannot be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Fire News is published monthly by Fire News Inc, with corporate offices at 146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713.
Page 4, Fire News, March 2017
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From the Editor’s Desk Dennis Whittam, Editor
A PIO is A Must Let’s face it, the public has always been interested in what is going on in their community. When they see or hear fire apparatus going through the community, the residents we serve become curious and want to know what is happening. I am sure that if you returned home and found a police car parked in front of your neighbor’s house, you, too, would want to know what’s up. Yes, there is a need and an obligationto provide information to the public. Believe it or not, the PIO is part of the Incident Command System (ICS) command staff and reports directly to the incident commander (IC). The assignment of being your departments PIO is not a simple task and not limited to calls. During a call, the PIO may have to establish, develop and maintain contact with media, professional and civic organizations and other special interest groups to promote agency programs. The PIO prepares, edits, coordinates and distributes news releases. On the flip side, the PIO is responsible to develop special educational and promotional materials for presentation at exhibits, fairs, festivals, conferences and schools. They can also help conduct tours of
your fire department. The PIO can also serve as the photographer for an agency. Keep in mind the military has been documenting activities since the mid 1800s and continue to do this today. There are photographs of the Fire Department of the City of New York that also date back to the 1800s. Many other fire and law enforcement agencies have documented their history from their formation onward. If your department isn’t documenting your department’s activities, ask yourself why. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other forms of social media are tools that your department can use to its benefit. For instance, if you have a major incident and want to get the word out that roads are closed in an area, utilizing social media will let the public know that they need to use alternate routes. This cuts down on the traffic flow to a blocked area. How about your department community events? Get the word out to your community through social media that your local firehouse will be open for Fire Prevention Day. Department PIOs should build a positive relation with local newspapers and TV and
radio stations. Let the public know what you do 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When they have a question for your department, do they know who to ask to get factual information? As for Fire News, send us your stories and photographs so other departments see what you do. You can submit stories and photographs to us through a link at www. FireNews.com. Or you can send them directly to me through e-mail. Each of the six editions of Fire News has an e-mail address on page 3. Two to four photographs should be accompanied by a short write up about your event. If you have questions regarding how to submit stories, e-mail me at LI@ FireNews.com. Be proud of what you do and let your community and the rest of the fire service know about it. -Dennis
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Fire News, March 2017, Page 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS THE COMMUNITY HEROES PROTECTION ACT The Community Heroes Protection Act (S1114), which would designate crimes that specifically target police, firefighters and other emergency service workers punishable as hate crimes, has been announced. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) President Kenneth Pienkowski said, “Far too often our members have been targeted by menacing individuals solely because they are firefighters. In 2009 one of our volunteers from the Cape Vincent Fire Department, Mark Davis, was killed while attending to a patient during an EMS call response. In December of 2012, a gunman ambushed four volunteer firefighters who were battling a house fire in Webster, killing two. These despicable and tragic incidents are unfortunately becoming commonplace; they are but two examples of the dangers our members face. “Our members are volunteers who accept this job with no pay, little benefits and only a desire to protect their community. How can we possibly ask people to join the ranks of the volunteer community if we cannot give them the most basic protections against malevolent individuals who target them because of what they do? This legislation is vitally important to ensure the protection of our members who risk their lives daily to protect their community.” Senator Akshar was joined with Senators Martin Golden and Patrick Gallivan to
announce the Community Heroes Protection Act (S1114) in late January.
WOMEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE Do you know a young woman who is interested in the fire service? Introduce her to Fire Service Women of New York State (FSWNYS) Phoenix Firecamp. Phoenix is a remarkable training opportunity offered to young women from 14- to 19-years old. The weeklong sleepover camp is held in conjunction with Utica Fire Department in Utica, NY, and operates both hands-on and classroom instruction. The dates for FSWNYS’ Phoenix Firecamp 2017 are July 16-21, 2017. More information and applications for Phoenix Firecamp are posted on the website www.fswnys.org or call 845309-1325.
ANNUAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SEMINAR The 24th Annual Hazardous Materials Seminar will be held on April 28-30, 2017, at the New York State Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls. Emergency responders can attend pre-conference sessions starting at 0800 on April 28. The main program starts at 1300 on April 28 and concludes at noon on April 30. For more information and the registration form please visit them on the web at: www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/news/events/documents/hazmat2017.pdf.
FARRELL FUND SPONSORSHIP TO ATTEND ART OF FIREMENSHIP DAYS The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund will be sponsoring two (2) firefighters to attend the Art of Firemenship Days in Harrisburg, PA on May 19 and 20, 2017. Hotel included. A typed letter must be sent to 510 Grumman Road West, Bethpage, NY 11714, by March 20, 2017 (No Exceptions!). Letter must include: Name of Department, Rank, and why they deserve to be chosen.
WHERE ARE YOUR DEPARTMENT’S PHOTOS? We are always happy to receive photos and stories from departments who have never been in our paper. Please e-mail your photos to nj@fire news.com. We ask that any photo you do send be high resolution (300 dpi or better) and you do not retouch, crop, alter or reduce your photos in size when you e-mail them. Please send two to four photos per incident. Also, include a brief write-up, which includes basic “who, what, when, and where” information.
Page 6, Fire News, March 2017
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Cover Story
Fatality, Injury in Scarsdale On December 4, 2016, Scarsdale firefighters responded to numerous calls for a house fire on Boulevard near White Plains Post Road. Upon arrival, companies encountered heavy fire from the rear of the house and a burn victim out front. As members entered the home with reports of a person trapped, they ran into heavy debris and a doctor’s home office. After an interior attack of over an hour, companies were withdrawn as floors collapsed and the fire burned through the roof. A well-known local doctor perished in the fire and his body was not recovered for nearly 24 hours. Heavy equipment was required to clear debris and access parts of the house to extinguish pockets of fire and locate the deceased. The nearest fire company had been placed out of service just two weeks before the fire. Mutual aid responded to the fire from Eastchester, Greenville, Hartsdale, Fairview, New Rochelle and White Plains. - Fire News photos by Mike Messar
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Fire News, March 2017, Page 7
Schenectady 2-Alarmer
A two-alarm fire was sounded for Florence Street in Schenectady on bringing all apparatus and manpower to the scene. Niskayuna Fire January 7, 2017. Deputy Chief Kurt Gerfin saw smoke from the District 1 and Scotia Fire Departments were put on stand by in their - Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber apron of Station 1, over a mile away, and called for a second alarm quarters to cover.
Page 8, Fire News, March 2017
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Croton Falls Barn Fire
Recently, units from Croton Falls, Bedford Hills, Somers, Golden Bridge, South Salem, Brewster, Mahopac, Katonah, Vista, Yorktown, Putnam Lake, Carmel, Mill Plain and Ridgefield (CT) responded to Hardscrabble Road in Croton Falls. Units were dispatched for a garage on fire with fire through the roof. Within minutes the fire had spread to a nearby barn engulfing the 200- x 100-
foot structure. Tankers had to be used as the area was without hydrants. Firefighters had to deal with multiple brush fires during the operation as embers from the barn landed in nearby woodlands due to high wind conditions. Firefighters were able to save two cars that were near the garage. - Fire News photos by Jon Tenca/Puck Stopper Photography
Fatality in New Rochelle Blaze
On July 18, 2016, the New Rochelle Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house fire with a report of people trapped. Police officers discovered the fire and helped make several rescues. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy fire and made a strong attack but were pushed out of the building and were forced to go to a defensive operation. Unfortunately, due to the heavy fire conditions, one person did not make it out of the historic structure, which was built in 1909. - Fire News photos by John Tenca/Puck Stopper Photography
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Busy Morning in Queens
Firefighters in the borough of Queens had a busy morning with a three-alarm blaze in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, followed by a second alarm fire in the Richmond Hill section. -Fire News photos by Craig Biscuiti
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Fire News, March 2017, Page 11
Woodbury House Fire
Far Rockaway 3-Alarm
Washingtonville Fire Department’s Monell Engine Company Rescue 581 responded as the FAST and stood-by at the scene of a house fire in Woodbury on January 23, 2017. - Fire News photo by Gary Hearn
FDNY units battled a three-alarm blaze in Far Rockaway on the morning of January 12, 2017. The fire began in a detached garage in the rear of a home on Beatrice Court and the fireball caused by the blaze quickly spread to the nearby main house. Companies from all over Queens responded to the incident. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
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Flushing 2-Alarmer
FDNY units in battled a two-alarm blaze in a private dwelling on Ash Avenue in the Flushing section of Queens on January 21, 2017. The fire originated on the first floor of the three-story private dwelling but quickly spread to the upper floors. Officials placed the incident under control after approximately an hour. - Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
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Fire News, March 2017, Page 13
Selkirk House Fire
On January 22, 2017, the Selkirk Fire Department responded to a call on South Albany Road in South Bethlehem for a reported fire in the upper level of a home. The fire was contained to the second floor. Selkirk Fire Chief William Asprion stated that the fire appeared to have started as an electrical fire. Assisting were Elsmere, Albany County Paramedics and the Bethlehem Ambulance Service. - Fire News photos by Tom Heffernan
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Looking Back
Up Close
Deputy Chief James D. Joyce of the 3rd Division being carried from the scene of a three-alarm fire on 20th Street and Broadway on August 8, 1969, where he suffered smoke inhalation and bruises of the chest while fighting a fire. - Fire News photo by “Godfrey” courtesy of the Joyce family
Fairview Firefighter Keefe, Lieutenant Gilnack, and Firefighter Foster at Poughkeepsie’s recent simultaneous structure fires. They made a quick knockdown on the second fire leaving me virtually nothing to photograph — except them. Nice work guys! -Fire News photo by Bill Johnson
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Fire House Kitchen By Ray Cooney If you enjoyed last month’s article, then you will love this one. The winner of the Cooked and Uncorked event I wrote about last month, was the Paterson (New Jersey) Fire Department. To recap, Cooked and Uncorked was a cooking competition between 20 fire departments and 20 restaurants in New Jersey. There were three different competition categories: Fire Department vs. Restaurant, Gourmet Food and Overall Best Dish Patterson Fire Department won in best overall dish category. They made pork belly tacos that were to die for! Being one of the judges at the event, I promised that I would cook, with the winner, on an upcoming episode of Firehouse Kitchen. Flash forward, I jumped in my car, went over the George Washington Bridge and pulled into the Patterson Fire Department. I was greeted by Firefighters Oates, McCones, Jeltema and Duffy. These guys were classic firemen, hence no first names! I was referred to as Cooney. Being a New York City firefighter and having worked in a busy firehouse Ladder 127 in Jamaica, Queens - I thought I was ‘salty.’ Only, Patterson does almost 4000 fire calls a year and 36000 EMS runs (throughout their department). Hence, I wasn’t as ‘salty’ as I thought. On to the pork belly tacos! First, we baked the pork bellies in the oven and then seared them on the grill. When they were finished, we
sliced and sliced and sliced. I don’t even want to know how much pork I ate before we even got to the tacos! The meat was so delicious, I was eating as I was slicing. I was taken back by the use of pineapple in the recipe. Firefighter McCone referred to it as his pineapple mojo sauce. It really brought out the flavor of the sauce. The Patterson firefighters were very welcoming and made me feel like one of their own. The night ended with me going to Duffy’s Bar, with Firefighter Duffy (yes, it’s his bar!).
You know you have really hospitable firemen when they wouldn’t let me buy them a drink. So thanks Mike, Sean, Jason and Ken … for a great episode with great food.
Page 16, Fire News, March 2017
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Glenville FF’s Home Destroyed
Long Stretch in Newburgh
On December 27, 2016, Beukendaal firefighters battled a two-alarm fire on Sacandaga Road after a passerby saw smoke and called 911. The home belonged to Scotia firefighter Dan March and his wife Katie. The fire was in the walls of the structure and the seat of the fire could not be easily located. Dan, who is also in the military, is being deployed over the next several weeks, and his wife is expecting twins. The outpouring of support for the local family has been overwhelming with cash donations and fundraisers after the home was listed as a total loss. - Fire News photo by Peter R. Barber
Winona Lake Engine Company was called out to a structure fire on Monkey Drive in the Town of Newburgh, assisting an Orange Lake engine company. Winona Lake laid in 500-feet of four-inch hose to feed Orange Lake’s engine. - Fire News photo by Vinnie Dominick
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Fully Involved in Clifton Park
Vischer Ferry firefighters responded to a fully involved house fire the lack of hydrants, tanker relays were set up. The occupants of the on Ray Road in the town of Clifton Park on January 6, 2017. The home got out safely but lost a dog. No injuries were reported. - Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber wood frame structure was well involved on arrival and because of
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Flushing Fire Destroys Row of Stores
A stubborn, smokey fire on January 25, 2017, destroyed a row of stores on Roosevelt Avenue in the busy retail district of downtown Flushing, Queens. The blaze started at a business and quickly spread to adjoining businesses. Officials believe the blaze may have originated and spread throughout the building’s duct work. More than 200 FDNY firefighters and EMS personnel were on the scene and the fire impacted the local #7 Subway line between Main Street and Willets Point. - Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
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Displaced in Schenectady On December 23, 2016, a twoalarm fire broke out on Albany Street in Schenectady sending several occupants into the cold night air as flames vented from windows on the B and D sides of the building. Firefighters brought the fire under control in under 30 minutes. Firefighters from Niskayuna Fire District 1 and Scotia assisted. - Fire News photo by Peter R. Barber
Good Save in Bed-Sty
FDNY units in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn battled a three-alarm fire in a three-story, occupied, multiple dwelling on the afternoon of January 8, 2017. The fire appeared to have originated on the second floor of the Pleasant Street address but quickly spread to the third floor and cockloft. The blaze made its way into one of the exposures but was brought under control within 45 minutes. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
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Explosions Lead to Collapse in Yorkville Blaze
Early on December 28, 2016, the Yorkville Fire Department was dispatched to a reported explosion on Whitesboro Street. Shortly afterwards, the call was changed to a possible structure fire. Yorkville and Whitesboro were dispatched to the scene. Assistant Chief Morosco arrived to find a fully involved 2-1/2 story wood frame. A second alarm was dispatched. The fire was being fueled by natural gas, which led to numerous secondary explosions, which compromised the building and moved it off its foundation, eventually causing it to collapse. Crews came from Yorkville, Whitesboro, New York Mills and New Hartford; Maynard and Oriskany were on standby. Police from Yorkville, Whitestown, Whitesboro and New York Mills were also on scene. - Fire News photos by Jack Zwijacz
FDIC Speaker David Woods David Woods is a professor in the Integrated Systems Engineering Division of The Ohio State University. He has worked to improve systems safety in high-risk settings for more than 35 years. On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, from 1330 to 1515, Woods will be presenting “Resiliencein-Action: Proactive Safety in a Changing World� in Room Sagamore 3-4-5. Failure is due to brittle systems, not human error. Systems operate successfully due to sources of resilience, usually hidden or underappreciated. Explaining accidents as due to an error by a person, hides the operation of the systemic factors that create brittleness and undermine resilience. Breakdowns in learning lead organizations to miss signals that operations are becoming more brittle as relentless production pressure erodes the capabilities that provide resilience in the face of surprises. Learning about resilience-in-action highlights how people in various roles anticipate bottlenecks ahead, act to fill gaps, and are able to stretch system performance in the face of smaller and larger surprises. Analyses of dramatic failures of complex systems, such as the Columbia space shuttle accident, highlight this pattern and the need for proactive safety.
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What a Classy Guy! On January 21, 2017, Albany Police and Fire received several calls for an MVA involving several vehicles on Washington Avenue at Partridge Street. Upon arrival, responders found six vehicles involved, with two people injured. An SUV traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into another vehicle causing a chain reaction crash. The driver’s door on the SUV was jammed closed, so the man pushed his injured female passenger out onto the sidewalk, climbed out of the vehicle and ran from the scene. The two injured people were transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital; conditions are unknown. - Fire News photo by Tom Heffernan
Farmingdale Rd. MVA Washingtonville firefighters responded to a singlecar MVA rollover on Farmingdale Road. Two minor injuries were reported and they were transported to Orange Regional Medical Center by Blooming Grove VAC. Blooming Grove Police were investigating. - Fire News photo by Gary Hearn
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Schenectady MVA
On November 30, 2016, Schenectady firefighters responded to a head-on collision at Erie Boulevard and Union Street that sent four passengers of a minivan to the hospital. Two ambulances from Niskayuna Fire District 1 responded as mutual aid for transport. - Fire News photo by Peter R. Barber
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Rollover MVA in White Lake
On January 2, 2017, the White Lake and Kauneonga Lake Fire Companies were dispatched to a reported rollover MVA on Route 55 just south of Wormuth Road. Upon arrival, all occupants were out of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed and occupants were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. State Police also assisted on scene with Bethel EMS and Mobilemedic. - Fire News photo by Brendon Cunningham
ULTRA BRIGHT LIGHTZ 10TH ANNIVERSARY Ultra Bright Lightz is proud to announce we have just celebrated our 10-year anniversary! We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for sticking with us throughout the years for all of their emergency vehicle lighting needs. Our recent rapid sales growth has been our greatest accomplishment and we cannot wait to see where the future of our company takes us. We have transformed from a business ran by just the owner into a business with many employees in a 5,000square-foot warehouse.
It is humbling and rewarding to be able to provide jobs to our dedicated, knowledgeable staff and to soon provide many more jobs as we continue to grow. The warehouse we moved into just last year has allowed us to keep many lights in different color combinations in stock to get orders out as quickly as possible to our customers. It has also given us the space to have a showroom where customers can see all of our lights in action in order to make the right choice for their vehicle needs.
PHIL GERACE NAMED AS TFT’S NEW VP OF MARKETING Following an exhaustive nationwide talent search, Philip Gerace, former KME Director of Sales and Marketing, has been named as Task Force Tips’ new Vice-President of Marketing, and will be based at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Valparaiso, Indiana. “This is one of those opportunities I couldn’t pass up, because TFT is a rare company that values its employees, takes great pride in the quality products it produces, and goes out of its way to serve those who serve,” Gerace explains. “In the business world, you often come across those who say one thing and end up doing another as they grow. That isn’t true of TFT; this is a homegrown company that has maintained and built on the values they’ve had ever since the day the company started.” Many in the industry know Gerace from his years of service on the Fire Apparatus Manufacturer’s Association (FAMA) Board of Directors, which culminated in his serving as its president in 2015. The Penn State alum’s professional credits, tied with 12 years of service as a volunteer firefighter, earned him invitations to write for a variety of industry publications, including Fire Rescue 1, Fire Chief, International Firefighter and Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment. As with his earlier position at KME, Gerace sees himself first and
foremost as a team member, “because if you’re part of the team, then you serve a critical role,” he explained. “A team can always develop more than an individual who is left by his or herself.” He added that TFT is unique in that its marketing department is “self-sufficient,” boasting everything from a state-of-the-art printing and banner production facilities, to having its own in-house staff of seasoned print, digital, and marketing professionals. “By not having to outsource, we have a better control over our quality, can customize projects for our dealers and customers, are better equipped to handle last minute changes, and in the end provide a sleek, professional product to serve those who serve,” he said. “We not only embrace change - we anticipate it and prepare for that point in time that it will inevitably surface.”
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Poughkeepsie Goes to Work
Under the full moon of Friday, January 13, 2017, City of Poughkeepsie firefighters, assisted by Arlington and Fairview, operated at a structure on Harrison Street. City police units were operating in the vicinity and investigated smoke in the area and discovered the fire. Crews arrived to find fire on the second floor of a 2-1/2 story, unoccupied, single-family dwelling and made quick work of the fire. -Fire News photo by Bill Johnson
Fire News, March 2017, Page 25
Beacon Implosion
City of Beacon assisted by Village of Fishkill and Glenham operated at this structure fire at the old Beacon Rail Terminal / Tuck Tape recently. Both Dutchess and Orange 911 centers fielded multiple calls for an explosion before Beacon was dispatched for the fire. Firefighters believe the ‘explosion’ may have been the building collapsing within its four walls. Fortunately, firefighters were able to hold the fire to the building of origin. Rombout and Hughsonville covered Beacon stations during the incident. -Fire News photo by Bill Johnson
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Newburgh 2017 EMS Officers Sworn In On January 16, 2017, the Town of Newburgh EMS swore in their new officers. (Left to right): Margaret Mahar, Board of Directors; Alicia Copelland, (BoD); Danny Yancewicz, Lieutenant; Sue Ostrander, (BoD); Joshua Wendell, Assistant Captain; Nick Zebrowski, Lieutenant; Lilly Snyder, Secretary; Andrew Decker, Captain. - Fire News photo by Vinnie Dominick
Chatham Dedicates New Engine On January 14, 2017, the Chatham Fire Department dedicated its new 2016 Rosenbauer engine in front of an audience of village residents and local and state officials. The new apparatus, designated 58-22, carries six firefighters, is capable of pumping 1500 gpm and carries 1000 gallons of water and 20 gallons of Class A foam. It replaces a nearly-30-year-old engine that had reached the end of its service life, and joins the department’s 75-foot aerial ladder truck, a second engine/pumper, a rescue truck which carries extrication equipment and several smaller vehicles. The engine was dedicated to and named ‘Flash’ in honor of John ‘Flash Lightning’ Howe, a past chief of the department, former Columbia County Fire Coordinator, member of the committee that chose the truck and a responder to more than 2200 calls in his 40-plus years in the department. - Fire News photo by David Levow
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Up Close & Personal
Montgomery (Orange County) firefighters at a recent second alarm (left to right): Tim Klett and sons, Dan and Connor. - Fire News photo by Steve Lenz
City of Poughkeepsie Firefighter James Brugger operates under the full moon from the bucket of City of Poughkeepsie Tower Ladder 2 at their structure fire at 44 Harrison Street on Friday, January 13, 2017. - Fire News photo by Bill Johnson
BUSINESSDirectory
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE FIRE NEWS BUSINESS DIRECTORY CALL 631-776-0500 EXT. 3
Firefighter Cancer Support Network Together we can make a difference
Dennis Whittam
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Antonio J. Cruz
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Director of New York State Cancer Survivor & Mentor
www.nyfirephotos.com Phone: 631-473-3821 Email: dwhittam@optonline.net
Visit your photos and purchase them online. www.FirefighterCancerSupport.org
Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Brian J. Farrell Chairman 516-840-8839 cell 516-783-1996 office terryfund@terryfund.org www.TerryFund.org
AD UR E O Y ER H
Gary Margerum North East Regional Sales Manager Cell 970-420-1964 Phone 1-800-525-5224 Fax 970-667-4296 Email garym@supervac.com Super Vacum Manufacturing Co., Inc. P.O. Box 87, Loveland, CO 80539
To advertise in the Fire News Business Directory Call 631-776-0500 Ext. 3
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Fire News, March 2017, Page 29
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Appoints Francis ‘Skip’ Nerney as State Fire Administrator New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner John P. Melville today announced that Francis ‘Skip’ Nerney has been appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo as State Fire Administrator at the Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC). The office, part of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), delivers essential fire and life safety protection to all New Yorkers, and is responsible for training the state’s firefighters. With wide ranging responsibilities including public safety, building inspections, fire investigation, firefighter training, and search and rescue, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control is one of the most comprehensive state fire service organizations in the nation. “Public safety is paramount and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control plays a vital role in helping educate New Yorkers about fire danger, and in training the state’s firefighters to combat fires and spills,” said DHSES Commissioner Melville. “Skip Nerney, a life-long firefighter in New York, has the leadership skills to ensure that this office maintains its laser-focus on public safety and that the state’s firefighters have the best training available to keep the public safe.” Skip brings more than 30 years of public service experience in planning and execution of fire administration, prevention and community relations to his new role. Since 2014, Skip served as the Deputy State Fire Administrator for
Operations where he was responsible for supervising the fire operations and training and the special operations branch, which includes technical rescue and hazardous materials training and response. Through his leadership, the Office of
Fire Prevention and Control has strengthened its firefighter training programs and enhanced the response capabilities of the state’s Crude Oil Foam Task Force and the Urban Search and Rescue Team. Prior to joining OFPC, Skip worked for the Albany Fire Department for more than 27 years
and held the rank of Deputy Chief from 2008 to 2014. As Deputy Chief, he was responsible for overall department training in emergency medical services, fire suppression, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, incident command and safety. Skip began his career with the Shaker Road Loudonville Volunteer Fire Department. With more than 700 full-and part-time members, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control provides training to more than 60,000 emergency services personnel annually, both in regionally delivered programs and residentially at the Academy of Fire Science; implements statewide minimum training standards and best practices for firefighters; inspects over 25,000 buildings for fire and life safety hazards, and investigates fires. It also assists fire departments and other agencies at disasters, major emergencies and in the stabilization and mitigation of hazardous materials incidents, as well as manages New York State’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (New York Task Force-2). Additionally, the office operationally coordinates fire service resources during activation of the Statewide Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan; collects, compiles, and disseminates information relating to fire and arson prevention and control; operates the state Fire Incident Reporting System, which processes approximately 1.5 million incidents reports annually; and, administers the Emergency Services Revolving Loan Program.
Page 30, Fire News, March 2017
Ice Rescue Drills
FireNews.com
Washingtonville
The Washingtonville Fire Department conducted an ice rescue drill on January 14, 2017. - Fire News photos by Gary Hearn
White Lake
White Lake firefighters conducted an ice rescue drill on White Lake to start off the new year! - Fire News photos by Brendon Cunningham
FireNews.com
Fire News, March 2017, Page 31