Fire News New York State 5-2026

Albany 2026 Stakeholders Meetings

Representatives working together to build sustainable solutions for the future.

See story on page 4

Fire Heavily Damages Schenectady Home

Crews responded to a call for a house fire with challenging conditions due to wind gusts of 50mph.

See story on pages 8-9

Second Alarm

Structure Fire

Crane Lake Fire Department responded to reported structure fire on Snider Avenue.

See story on page 16

Man Pinned by Lowboy Trailer

Crews responded to a call of a person trapped underneath a tractor-trailer.

See story on page 18

Annual Charity Chili Cook-Off

The event helps raise money for the FASNY Home and the Burn Unit in Westchester.

See stories on page 24

EMS Across New York State

Inaugural Mental Health & Wellness Fellowship Program for EMS Providers.

See story on pages 28-29

Serving Fire & EMS Heroes Since 1973

FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher/CEO

TIM EDWARDS,Chief Operating Officer

GARY P. JOYCE, Editor

MYLES QUINN, Long Island Editor

MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production

LYNN SEDLER,Art Director

CLIFF CHIESA,Production Manager

BARBARA CONNOLLY, Vice President National Sales

SUZANNE BANCROFT, Business Development Manager

BRYAN LOPEZ, Editorial Assistant

GREG JONES, Graphic Artist

DENNIS WHITTAM,Editor Emeritus

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

COPYRIGHT 2026, THE FIRE NEWS INC., LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FOR MORE INFORMATION, (631) 776-0500 Advertising: Ext 3, Editorial: Ext 281 or LI@firenews.com

Reaching 17 States with 14 Editions

Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, S. Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Wildwood, NJ

Proud Member Of:

Albany 2026 Stakeholders Meetings

On March 5, 2026, representatives from the Association of Fire Districts, the New York State Fire Chiefs Association, the County Fire Coordinators Association of New York, and the NassauSuffolk Long Island Legislative Committee met with numerous Assembly and Senate representatives and the Governor, to request legislative updates to allow nominal compensation for our volunteer firefighters without jeopardizing VFBL coverage or LOSAP Benefits. Other states presently use models such a “paid per call” or “paid on call” and stay within the federal cap of 20 percent of the average career firefighter wage. Also, the stakeholders requested authorization to allow alternative service delivery models to pool resources to ensure response with appropriate staffing levels.

By providing this legislation the “authority having jurisdiction,” could improve response times with in-house crews, this could offset the financial and time burdens of our volunteers and encourage others to join our services. As we are working alongside the New York State Division of Homeland Security and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, funding would remain a local responsibility, supported by potential State grants.

The Stakeholders working together with our first responders, the “authority having Jurisdiction,” community members and our elected officials can build sustainable solutions for the future.

– Fire News photos by Myles Quinn

2nd Fire in 3 Months Destroys Glenville Building

Scotia, Beukendaal, West Glenville and Thomas Corners volunteers were called out to the Cranesville Block Concrete Company on Vley Road in the town of Glenville. Arriving units found the structure fully involved with many portions of the building collapsing. This was the second fire at the scene; the first heavily damaged the facility on December 12, 2025. The cause of the most recent fire was under investigation. – Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber

Brooklyn 5-Alarmer Takes 12 Hours to Bring Under Control

Firefighters in Brooklyn battled a five-alarm fire in a pair of commercial buildings on 53rd Street on March 11, 2026. Battalion 40 arrived to heavy fire showing from the single-story building and ordered everyone to stay out. Six tower ladders and a fireboat were put into operation. The fire took 12 hours to bring under control.

2-Alarm Fire Heavily Damages Schenectady Home

Schenectady firefighters responded to Howard Street at 0216 on March 12, 2026, following multiple reports of a house on fire. Upon arrival, crews from the Schenectady Fire Department’s 3rd Platoon encountered heavy fire coming from the rear of the structure, extending well above the roof line. Crews also faced challenging conditions due to wind gusts reaching approximately 50 mph. An aggressive interior fire attack was made, and the fire was success-

fully contained to the second-floor rear porch and rear attic areas of the structure. The fire was brought under control in approximately 40 minutes.

– Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber

More photos next page

Home...Continued

Jamaica High-Rise Fire Extends

FDNY companies in the Jamaica section of Queens battled a stubborn fire in a 24-story high-rise building on 95th Avenue on March 9, 2026. Original calls stated smoke on the 13th floor but firefighters discovered that the fire had spread via pipe chases to the 14th and 15th floors. Extensive overhaul was required to reach the seat of the blaze. – Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

FIRSTNET HELPS HYANNIS FD EXTINGUISH COMMUNICATION DELAYS

SWELLING SUMMER POPULATION POSES UNIQUE CHALLENGES

The Hyannis Fire Department serves 18,000 year-round residents, but the population soars to 100,000 in the summer. This presents a unique challenge.

The department responds to about 8,000 incidents in Barnstable, Cape Cod, Lewis Bay, and Hyannis Harbor. Their coverage area includes the largest hospital on the Cape, an airport, a busy downtown, and a harbor. Seventy firefighters provide fire response, ALS, and technical rescues using fireboats and a dive team.

The Hyannis Fire Department needed to evolve to meet the needs of its coastal community. That’s why they were early adopters of FirstNet®, Built with AT&T.

Reliable Communication and Mission Critical Tools

Dedicated to Safety

Created to address communication challenges of 9/11, FirstNet®, Built with AT&T is the nationwide, high-speed wireless network designed to provide first responders with secure, reliable communications. During an emergency, commercial networks can get congested, which slows communication time.

First responders get always-on priority and pre-emption for calls, texts and data. FirstNet connects Hyannis firefighters across all their devices including cell phones, modems, routers, and vehicle-mounted equipment. It’s a single system that allows users to share information across all of their systems seamlessly.

FirstNet allows them to scale their network during an emergency without suffering from the lag time that other devices may suffer from. They also use FirstNet on their fireboats.

Hazardous situations

FirstNet was vital when Hyannis firefighters had to deal with hazardous materials. They were able to stream video from inside the building across all FirstNet devices on the scene so they could see what was happening in real time before entering a building.

The problems they deal with now are often a bit more complicated, and they’re always finding new challenges. Lithium-ion batteries, for example, which power electric vehicles, present unique fire hazards.

Compact Deployables

FirstNet has a cache of 180-plus compact deployable assets to boost FirstNet coverage and help ensure dedicated connectivity. When the department needed temporary, specialized cellular coverage and capacity, FirstNet responded quickly with compact deployable assets such as cells on light trucks (COLTs) and cells on wheels (COWs).

Unmatched Support

FirstNet technology is robust, and so is its customer service. “The service is always excellent and they are always responsive. They’re always able to get the answers we need and help us solve any problem,” Hyannis Fire Department Chief Peter Burke said. “Based on our continued success with FirstNet, we recommend it to all public safety agencies and users. We know that our FirstNet devices are always going to work without suffering from the lag time that other devices may suffer from.”

SOURCEWELL AWARDS SVI TRUCKS WITH SOURCEWELL CONTRACT FOR FIRE APPARATUS & FIRE SERVICE VEHICLES

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – March 9, 2026 – SVI Trucks is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract to provide firefighting apparatus and fire service vehicles to public agencies across North America. Through the Sourcewell 082025-SVM cooperative purchasing agreement, entities like fire departments and law enforcement agencies, can purchase SVI rescue vehicles, wildland apparatus, command vehicles and other emergency vehicles through a streamlined procurement process with preferred pricing.

Sourcewell, a self-funded governmental organization established in 1978, facilitates a cooperative purchasing program that harnesses the collective purchasing power of more than 50,000 participating agencies. SVI Trucks secured the Sourcewell contract following a rigorous request for proposal (RFP) process, ensuring compliance with local procurement requirements, while proving the company delivers exceptional value and service.

By streamlining procurement with pre-negotiated Sourcewell contracts, this partnership grants any public agency access to purchase from SVI Trucks through this public purchasing process. SVI Trucks supplier listing can be found under “Super Vacuum Manufacturing.”

“The SVI Trucks team worked extremely hard to earn this contract on behalf of our customers,” SVI Trucks Vice President of Sales Joel Konecky said. “We recognize that consortium purchasing is essential to helping departments securing the life-saving apparatus they need to serve their communities, and we are excited to streamline the purchasing process through this new Sourcewell partnership.”

About SVI Trucks

THE DATEIT’S OFFICIAL!

We are pleased to announce that the 2026 F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Symposium is officially scheduled — and registration is open.

Since 1990, F.I.E.R.O. has proudly hosted the first and longest-running Fire Station Design Symposium in the nation. This year, we return to the Hyatt Regency in Greenville, South Carolina for three and a half days of education, collaboration, and connection.

Dates: September 21–24, 2026

• Location: Hyatt Regency, Greenville, SC

• Pre-Conference Seminar: Monday, September 21 (Full Day)

• Main Symposium: September 22–24 (Half Day)

Whether you are a firefighter, architect, facility planner, or industry professional, this is the premier event for fire station design, construction, renovation, and technology.

Mark your calendars and watch your inbox — full program details are coming soon.

We look forward to seeing you in Greenville.

Warm regards,

The F.I.E.R.O. Team

SVI Trucks, a Super Vacuum Manufacturing Company located in Fort Collins, Colo., builds custom fire apparatus, including rescue trucks, hazmat units, command vehicles, fire engines, tanker trucks, law enforcement vehicles and more. To see SVI’s full fleet, visit svitrucks.com. To browse drawings, features and specifications of a truck, visit SVI’s Apparatus pages and click on any truck image.

Cover Story

Mahopac Residential Structure Fire

At approximately 0625 hours on March 18, 2026, the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a reported residential structure fire on West Lake Boulevard in Mahopac. Upon arrival, crews were met with an active fire involving a garage that had extended to the residence. Firefighters initiated an aggressive exterior attack due to fire conditions and exposure concerns. Mutual aid departments responded to assist with suppression efforts, water supply operations and manpower. All occupants were able to safely evacuate the home prior to the fire department’s arrival. The structure sustained significant damage, including a reported collapse. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours to bring the fire under control and conduct overhaul operations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. – Submitted by Ellen Sacher, PIO, Mahopac Falls VFD

More photos next page

Mahopac Residential Structure Fire...continued

Second Alarm Structure Fire

On March 25, 2026, at around 0643 hours, the Crane Lake Fire Department responded to reported structure fire on Snider Avenue on the western part of Orange Lake. Orange Car 1 arrived and radioed smoke showing and requested a second alarm. Winona Lake, Newburgh, Plattekill and Walden responded to the scene. Firefighters used handlines and ground ladders to operate on the fire on second floor and attic area. Firefighters vented the roof and knocked the fire down. Additional units helped overhaul.

- Fire News photos by Robert McCormick

Man Pinned by Lowboy Trailer in

Port Chester

On March 25, 2026, at 0920 hours the Port Chester Fire Department was dispatched, along with a rescue from Purchase, to Willett Avenue and Rectory Street for a reported person trapped underneath a tractor-trailer. Rescue 40, Ladder 31, Engine 60 and Car 2392 arrived on scene to find a male pinned underneath a lowboy trailer. Members worked in conjunction with Purchase Fire, Port Chester Police and EMS to stabilize and extricate the patient by lifting the trailer with airbags and bottle jacks. The patient was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition.

– Fire News photos by Brandon Colon

Corona 2-Alarmer

FDNY companies from throughout the city battled a wind-swept private dwelling fire on 42nd Avenue in Corona on March 26, 2026. Heavy smoke blanketed the neighborhood and travelled across the Grand Central Parkway into the opening day crowds at CitiField. The blaze took almost an hour to bring under control. – Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

Oklahoma vs Rochester at the 2026 Guardians Cup

On March 6, 2026, the Oklahoma Warriors took on the Rochester Fire Department in a game during the 2026 Guardians Cup. Rochester would take the win.

- Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography

Buffalo Gets Final Minutes Win Over Rochester at 2026 Guardians Cup

On March 7, 2026, the Buffalo Fire Department took on the Rochester Fire Department in a game during the 2026 Guardians Cup. Buffalo would score in the final minutes to win the game.

- Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography

Rochester House Fire on Avenue C

On March 11, 2026, Rochester firefighters were dispatched to Avenue C for the report of smoke coming from a home. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke showing from the top floor and declared a working fire. Lines were stretched and truck crews started conducting searches as high winds fueled the flames. Companies made the attic and quickly got water on the fire, knocking it down as truck companies opened up, keeping the fire from spreading further. - Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography

Charity Chili Cook-Off

On March 22, 2026, Brown’s Brewing Company along with FASNY held their annual Firefighter Chili Cook-off. Fire department chefs from across the region brought their best recipes to hopefully take home a trophy. Each year the event helps raise money for the FASNY Home and the Burn Unit in Westchester. With live music playing,Brown’s Revolution Hall was packed with firefighters supporting their departments and the community there to try some

great chili. Menands, West Albany, FASNY Home, Melrose, Defreestville, Wynantskill, Verdoy, Cohoes, Albany, Green Island, Troy, Watervliet and Spiegeltown participated in this year’s event. In the end there can only be one winner: this year it was Troy Fire department. Cohoes, West Albany and Spiegeltown also won People's Choice, second place and third place trophies. Great job by everyone. - Submitted by Lori Washburn; Photos by Truck

Lang Honored for 50 Years at West Sand Lake

On March 28, 2026, West Sand Lake Fire Company held its annual awards banquet. This year’s ceremony was highlighted by honoring John ‘J.L.’ Lang for 50 years of service. He was honored by FASNY, Hudson Mohawk Volunteer Firefighters Association, Rensselaer County and Senator Jake Ashby, among others. The fire company honored him with a gold watch and a bronze statue. J.L. has held many positions in the company including Chief, but most impor-

Manhattan 2-Alarmer

On March 25, 2026, FDNY units responded to 2nd Avenue, for a two-alarm fire.

- Fire News photo by Gary

tantly he is remembered for being a mentor to new members. J.L. continues to be an active member of the department including helping with fundraisers and being one of most reliable drivers of the engines. Also during the evening’s events, Chief Lee Crosier was honored with the Devoted Firefighter of the Year Award.

– Fire News story by Lori Washburn; Photos By Truck

EMS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE

NYS Department of Health Hosts Inaugural Meeting of Mental Health and Wellness Fellowship Program for EMS Providers

Twenty EMS providers from around New York State were selected to participate in a ground-breaking, one-year Mental Health & Wellness fellowship program designed to equip EMS clinicians with the tools to develop and support mental health and wellness by providing these individuals with specialized training and peer collaboration.

In June 2025, New York State held its first EMS Mental Health and Wellness Symposium in Saratoga, NY. During the planning phase, the program was expected to attract 50 to 60 attendees. However, within days of registration opening, over 100 participants signed up and ultimately nearly 200 participants attended the symposium.

Building on the success of the state’s first ever wellness symposium for EMS providers and to continue support for the state’s EMS community, a smaller group of 20 EMS providers from around New York State were selected to participate in a ground-breaking, one-year Mental Health and Wellness fellowship program.

The program is designed to equip EMS clinicians with the tools to develop and support mental health and wellness by providing these individuals with specialized training and peer collaboration. Through training, and the devel-

opment of a network of like-minded EMS professionals, this fellowship is designed to empower participants to create lasting change and develop impactful peer support programs within their agencies.

EMS providers face some of the highest levels of occupational stress, from traumatic events and extreme situations to long hours and the constant weight of responsibility for their patients. Combined with staffing shortages and limited knowledge of where to access support resources, these pressures take a toll on mental health of EMS providers. Studies show EMS professionals experience higher rates of burnout, depression, post-traumatic stress and suicide than many other professions. Recognizing this, New York State is taking proactive steps to address these issues and strengthen support for all EMS providers.

After participating in the 2025 EMS Mental Health Symposium, fellowship participants attended a kick-off event where they were able to meet other participants and learn more about the program.

In partnership with Mental Health Association in New York (MHANYS), fellows will be trained in the Helping Every Responder Overcome (HERO) Resiliency Officer Training Program offering 40-hours of founda-

tional mental health training. This training program includes nationally recognized courses such as Mental Health First Aid, the Science of Addiction and Recovery, SafeTALK for suicide prevention and a three day FBI National Academy Resiliency Officer Training. The fellows will also participate in monthly virtual meetings and quarterly in-person meetings throughout the year-long program.

In addition to fostering the development of peer support and mental health programs within their agencies, the fellowship will culminate in the development of a toolkit and best practices guide. This toolkit will be available from the Division of State EMS and will be designed for use by EMS agencies throughout New York State who wish to create a peer support or resiliency officer training program within their organizations.

The fellowship program will culminate at the 2026 EMS Mental Health Symposium in June where the inaugural fellowship cohort will have the chance to meet the incoming fellowship group. It is anticipated that applications for the next fellowship cohort will open in January. For those interested in applying, visit the Division of State EMS https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/ for more information and updates.

EMS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE

NYS EMS Mental Health Resilience Fellowship Deadline: April 30

The NYS Division of State EMS is accepting nominations until April 20, 2026, for the second cohort of its Mental Health Resilience Officer Fellowship Program, a statewide initiative designed to strengthen the mental health and well-being of EMS providers. Building on the success of its inaugural year, the program will bring together EMS leaders and clinicians from across New York to serve as champions for mental health within their agencies and regions.

This one-year fellowship will select approximately 21 participants, including representation from each of the state’s 18 EMS regions, FDNY-EMS, and additional appointees. Fellows will begin their journey with a threeday, in-person kick-off event in June 2026 in Albany.

The program is offered at no cost to selected fellows, with select travel expenses reimbursed. Applicants must be affiliated with an EMS agency and demonstrate a commitment to

enhancing mental health and wellness programs locally.

Nominations are open through April 20, 2026, with selected fellows notified on or about May 1, 2026. EMS providers and agency leaders are encouraged to apply or nominate

individuals who are passionate about supporting the well-being of their teams.

For more info about the application process: https://vitalsigns.swoogo.com/NYSEMSMent alHealth

Ellen Komosinski Honored

Cranesville’s Rob Shang

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of 911 Dispatcher Rob Shang, Firefighter and Cranesville VFD Second Assistant Chief, (Montgomery County)

Rob dedicated 27 years to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, serving our community with professionalism, compassion, and a steady voice when it mattered most. Prior to rejoining us full time, Rob served with the Amsterdam Fire Department, from where he retired a few years ago, and continued his service as a current member of the Cranesville Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as Second Assistant Chief.

If you ever heard Rob on the radio, you knew exactly who you were talking to, calm, reliable, and always there when you needed him.

Beyond the headset, Rob was a friend to many. He was known for his smile, his sense of humor, and the way he treated everyone like family.

Rob leaves behind his parents Deborah and Bob, wife, Nicole, a para-

medic with our EMS Division, their daughter Alena, his children Ashlee and Thomas, and his brother Mike, who serves as a Sergeant in our Investigations Division.

Our thoughts are with his entire family, his friends, and all who had the privilege to work alongside him.

Rest easy, Rob. We’ve got it from here.

– Submitted by Mark Perfetti