VOLUME 12, NO. 2
W W W .FIRENE WS .COM
Serving Fire, Rescue & EMS Heroes In NY State DECEMBER 2018
Story on page 6. - Fire News photo by Mike Messar
Happy Holidays from the Staff at Fire News – New York State Edition –
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Fire News, December 2018, Page 3
In this issue... Arlington Structure Fire
Arlington firefighters, assisted by City of Poughkeepsie FAST Team, Mobile Life Paramedics, and Town of Poughkeepsie Police operated at a structure fire on LaGrange Avenue. See story on page 7
Fatality at Cypress Hills Fire
One man was killed and four others injured in a second-floor fire in a house on Hale Avenue. See story on page 8
Tower Ladders Operate in Buffalo Buffalo firefighters were called to French and Kehr Streets for a structure fire.
See story on page 13
20 Dead in Limo Crash
A stretch limousine driving on Route 30 in the town of Schoharie, and filled with 17 passengers and a driver, lost control and careened through a T-intersection.
See story on page 16
Fallen Firefighters Ceremony in Albany
Firefighters from throughout New York gathered at the Convention Center for the 2018 Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony.
See story on page 20
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 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 COPYRIGHT 2018, THE FIRE NEWS INC., LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Six Editions Serving Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania Proud Member Of:
Obituary
FDNY's James P. Ginty
On 10/15/18, FDNY Firefighter James P. Ginty passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. He was 84.
See story on page 26
PLUS: Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 26
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, December 2018
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From the Editor’s Desk Dennis Whittam, Editor
Good Luck to our New Leaders In January, many of you in the fire-rescue and emergency services will be leading your company for the first time. Have you given thought to what your responsibilities are? Whether you are in a paid service or a volunteer service, moving up to lead a group of responders is a serious and challenging position. Let's face it, you are directly responsible for the training and safe performance of a number of people who will be performing dangerous activities, such as walking into a burning building or a drug den to save lives. How your company trains, maintains equipment and drills will directly affect their performance. Think about this for a minute; did you take things seriously when you were a firefighter? I ask, did you actually remove your personal rope from its bag and check it or did you check it by simply looking at it and saying, "hmm, looks good to me, why bother taking it out to inspect it?" Have you ever heard about leading by example? Let's face it, you can't expect your company to respond at three in morning if you never did this yourself. Taking over a company whether it was successful or unsuccessful is not an easy task. In 1985, I purchased my home. It had a
lawn that looked like a golf course. Guess what, at the end of my first summer the lawn looked horrible. It didn't take long for me to realize what I thought was an easy task required knowledge, dedication and hard work to maintain the "simple" task of growing grass. How did I correct my mistakes? I read books, talked to people who had great lawns and listened to the senior citizen on my block who had successfully been down the same road I was presently walking on. In our business, you should not be learning by mistakes. You should not be making mistakes that may ultimately take the life of a member. You, the new officer, must be sure you know what you are doing! You need to stop and evaluate yourself. Are you, as a new officer, going to lead by example? Your members are not going to take their jobs seriously unless you are with them. Ask questions, make suggestions, encourage members to step up with new ideas and discuss the ideas with your other officers. Maybe the ideas have value and maybe they don't. Ernest Hemmingway once said, "When people talk, listen completely." (If you don't know who Ernest Hemmingway is, Google him.) Your team must know that you trust them. How do you do this? You do
this by giving your team members responsibilities. It shows that you trust them. For the company members: FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeiffer, a hero who passed from 9/11 cancer once said to me, "Do the right thing, even when no one is looking." In the fire service you must live by this rule. A new officer has a lot to worry about. He needs the support and trust of the company and should not have to guess whether or not you are doing the right thing. Good luck to all new officers as you lead your company in 2019. -Dennis
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Fire News, December 2018, Page 5
Announcements
Bring Safety Home Award NFPA and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) are accepting nominations for its Bringing Safety Home Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts by a safety advocate who diligently promotes the importance of home fire sprinklers. The award honors members of the fire service and other fire sprinkler advocates in North America who use HFSC educational information, NFPA data, and NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources to educate decision makers on home fire sprinklers. These efforts are aimed at convincing legislators and code officials to support sprinkler requirements at the local, state, or provincial level. The award recipient will receive a $1,000 grant to further fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts in their area. Past recipients of the Bringing Safety Home Award have included members of the Maryland State Firemen's Association, who helped defeat a legislative bill that would have weakened Maryland's statewide requirement for sprinklering new homes. Fire chiefs influential in passing fire sprinkler requirements in their town have also received this award. NFPA and HFSC will accept nominations for the Bringing Safety Home Award through November 30, 2018. Visit NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative website to submit a nomination. Or, pleae share this announcement with your contacts.
WHERE ARE YOUR DEPARTMENT’S PHOTOS? We would like to remind our readers that we are always happy to receive photos and stories from departments who have never been in our paper. Feel free to e-mail your photos to li@fire news.com. We ask that any photo you do send be high resolution (300 dpi or better) and that you do not retouch, crop, alter or reduce your photos in size when you email them to us. Please send two to four photos per incident. Also, include a brief write-up of the incident, event, or family news, which includes basic “who, what, when, and where information.” We look forward to seeing your department in our next issue. - Ed.
Have a Happy and Safe
Holiday Season!
Page 6, Fire News, December 2018
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Cover Story
Second Alarm Apartment Fire on Grant Road
An apartment with extreme Collyers Mansion conditions gave firefighters all they could handle in Eastchester on October 15, 2018. The fire quickly took off due to the high clutter in the fifth floor apartment. Eastchester Fire Chief Brian Tween said that there was, “At least three feet of papers and things on the floor, which made it extremely hard to reach the seat of the fire.� Crews had to be rotated due to the high amount of labor intensive firefighting. The fire blew out the windows in the back of the building, sending smoke
and fire billowing into the sky. Firefighters lost water pressure in the attack line multiple times. In addition, crews worked to evacuate residents from the large apartment building. Firefighters were able to knock the fire down keeping it contained to the original fire apartment. Mutual aid responded from Hartsdale, Greenville, New Rochelle, Yonkers, and Mount Vernon. - Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography.com
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Fire News, December 2018, Page 7
Arlington Structure Fire
Good Stop at Yonkers 2-Alarm
Arlington firefighters, assisted by City of Poughkeepsie FAST Team, Mobile Life Paramedics, and Town of Poughkeepsie Police recently operated at a structure fire on LaGrange Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find an active fire in a 2-½ story residence located near Vassar College. The structure, which was of balloon construction, made things difficult for firefighters as the fire traveled the voids in the walls and roof . -Fire News photo by Bill Johnson
Yonkers firefighters made quick work of what could have become a major fire on Park Hill Avenue on September 11, 2018. Crews arrived to find heavy fire in the back of a dry cleaners just after 0130. A second alarm was declared as fire got into the cockloft of the single-story commercial building and threatened connected multiple dwellings on either side. The fire was quickly knocked down and residents were evacuated from the exposure buildings. - Fire News photo by PuckStopperPhotography.com
Page 8, Fire News, December 2018
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Fatality at Cypress Hills Fire
One man was killed and four others injured in a second-floor fire in a house on Hale Avenue in the Cypress Hills section of Queens on September 30, 2018. - Fire News photos by Lloyd Mitchell and Joseph C. Sperber
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Up Close
Amsterdam Lieutenant Aaron Robinson. - Fire News photo by Mark Perfetti
Fire News, December 2018, Page 9
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8-Year Old Dies in Town of Tonawanda Blaze
Brighton firefighters were called to Sunset Terrace in Tonawanda. reported that a child was still in the residence. Crews eventually On arrival crews reported a ranch house fully charged with smoke, went defensive. An eight-year old boy was found deceased. - Fire News photos by Donald Kilianski which became totally involved as firefighters went to work. It was
Page 12, Fire News, December 2018
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2-Alarmer on Becker St.
Two-Alarmer KO'd in Schenectady
Schenectady firefighters used lights from Truck 2 to illuminate firefighters venting the roof of a convenience store after flames broke out on September 24, 2018. The fire was contained to the first floor. - Fire News photo by Peter Barber
On October 14, 2018, Schenectady firefighters battle a two-alarm fire on Turner Avenue in the Bellevue neighborhood of Schenectady. Fire could be seen in the front porch area and B side of the structure. No injuries were reported. - Fire News photo by Peter Barber
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Tower Ladders Operate in Buffalo
Buffalo firefighters were called to French and Kehr Streets for a structure fire. The fire was determined to be on the next block over — Box Avenue. Engine 31 arrived to a 2-1/2 story occupied wood frame that was fully involved and — due to high winds — had exposure problems. The fire quickly escalated to a second alarm as the exposure 2 side went through the roof. Tower ladders were put into operation and the fire was fought mostly defensively. One house was a total loss. - Fire News photos by Donald Kilianski
Fire News, December 2018, Page 13
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6 Houses Go in Albany...
Around 0300 on September 30, 2018, Albany firefighters responded to Sheridan Avenue for fire in a vacant wooden structure. The fire eventually spread through the cocklofts to five other homes and before the fire was brought under control, burned six structures. Mutual aid came from Troy, Waterveliet, Albany Airport, Waterveliet Arsenal, Colonie EMS and the Sheriff’s Department. - Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller
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Make That 12 Homes Go in Albany
As Albany firefighters fought a fire that would consume six homes on Sheridan Avenue, about a mile away another fire on Quail Street would also spread through the cocklofts and take another six apartments. Some 70 people were displaced by both fires. - Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller
Page 16, Fire News, December 2018
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20 Dead in Limo Crash
On October 6, 2018, a stretch limousine driving on Route 30 in the town of Schoharie, and filled with 17 passengers and a driver, lost control, careened through a T-intersection with Route 30A and into the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Cafe. It hit an SUV and two pedestrians as it continued into a small ravine striking a tree. The force of the impact killed all 18 on board and the two pedestrians. It was the deadliest US transportation crash since February 2008. Along with Troop G uniform and BCI members, the Troop G Collision Reconstruction Unit and Forensic Investigation Unit and the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Medical Services the following responded: Fire Departments from Schoharie, Central Bridge and Esperance ; Schoharie County Fire
Coordinators; Schoharie County Haz-Mat Team; Scho-Wright Ambulance; Central Bridge Ambulance; Esperance Ambulance; Middleburgh Ambulance; Duanesburgh Ambulance; Richmondville Ambulance; AMR Ambulance; Schoharie County Medic; Lifenet; American Red Cross; DEC Spill Response Unit; Schoharie County Sheriff's Department; New York State Police;
E. Farmingdale:
Firefighter Decontamination There have been several scientific studies linking a higher rate of occupational cancer and other diseases to exposure to fireground contamination, which has had a profound impact on the fire service and has led to a greater awareness of occupational exposure for firefighters. It has also led to the implementation and or adjustments of evidencebased procedures aimed at reducing these exposures. A procedure currently being implemented in the East Farmingdale Fire Department is on-scene decontamination. The purpose of this procedure is to quickly remove fireground contaminants and increase firefighter safety. Performed properly, on-scene decon can reduce the absorption and cross contamination of dangerous fireground contaminants. Wet or dry decontamination (dependent on weather conditions) has been shown, through research, to provide a median reduction in cancer causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; these are one of the dangerous components of soot). This reduction is 85 percent for wet decontamination and 23 percent for dry decontamination. Soot is generally composed of lipid soluble compounds such as PAHs and is “sticky” and not easily removed from turnout gear without effective scrubbing with soap and water, enabling them to be washed away from the surface of the gear. The agitation of the brush coupled with the water and soap solution is the key to removing the PAHs that are on the gear. The immediate objective is to remove as much fireground contamination while still on scene. This will minimize exposure and absorption while preventing cross contamination to the apparatus, firehouse, and beyond. On scene decontamination is one important step that minimizes absorption of dangerous gasses into our bodies. They also minimize cross contamination that can continue to expose members and their families long after the initial exposure on the fire ground. - Fire News story by Frank Leeb, photos by Jessica Leeb
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Fire News, December 2018, Page 17
20 Dead (continued)
and the New York State Department of Transportation. Mutual aid came from Burtonsville Fire Department and Delanson Fire Department for standby. On October 10, 2018, a memorial service was held at Schoharie Central High School. - Fire News photos by Peter Barber and Tom Heffernan
Page 18, Fire News, December 2018
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Oil Burner Smoker
Senior Housing Fire
The Mahopac Falls Fire Department, Carmel Police and EMStar Paramedics were dispatched to Grandview Drive in the Lake Baldwin section of the district for smoke in a house. EMS was added to the response for a resident experiencing trouble breathing. Units arrived to smoke coming from the basement and, upon entry, found a malfunctioning oil burner. As interior crews set up exhaust fans to clear the smoke, MFVFD EMS and EMStar paramedic triaged the residents. - Fire News photo by Jack Casey
City of Beacon Firefighters assisted by the Village of Fishkill, Rombout, Beacon Volunteer Ambulance, Mobile Life Paramedics, and the City of Beacon Police, operated at a second-alarm structure fire at Meadow View Senior Apartments off Mattawan Road. Firefighters arrived and after searching for the source of the smoke, found an active fire in the laundry room. As firefighters worked to locate and extinguish the fire, personnel evacuated the elderly occupants, many of whom were in wheelchairs and their pajamas. Fortunately, the fire was able to be quickly extinguished, and the residents were allowed to return once the smoke was evacuated, and the building was deemed safe to reoccupy. -Fire News photo by Bill Johnson
CHIEF JOHN M. BUCKMAN III HAS JOINED THE IAMRESPONDING TEAM AS ITS NEW DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL OUTREACH IamResponding.com is pleased to announce that Chief John M. Buckman III has joined the IamResponding team as its new Director of Government and Regional Outreach. IamResponding is excited to have Chief Buckman join its team of emergency services professionals and looks forward to working with Chief Buckman to enhance its current product offerings, and to expand its current customer base of more than 7,500 emergency services entities. Chief Buckman has served as a volunteer firefighter for 48 years, fire chief for 35 years and association leader for more than 30 years. He is a past-President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (2001-2001), he co-founded and served as Chair of the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section of the IAFC from 1988 to 1996, and he was the first ever recipient of Fire Chief Magazine’s Fire Chief of the Year Award in 1996. Chief Buckman is a co-founder of the National Fire Academy Alumni Association, where he served as Secretary-Treasurer from 1998 through 2014, and he was also the Director of a Fire and Public Safety Academy Training System for 15 years. He has authored over 150 articles in various fire service journals, co-authored the 3rd Edition of Recruiting, Training and Maintaining Volunteer Fire Fighters, Lessons Learned from Fire
Service Leaders, and is the Editor of the Chief Officers Desk Reference. In joining the IamResponding team, Chief Buckman conveyed that: “I am grateful to the IamResponding team for this opportunity. As a long-time IamResponding user, I know that the IamResponding product serves many valuable functions in our fire and EMS service, including the reduction of emergency response times, the enhancement of pre-scene knowledge and communications, and the easing of staffing burdens. Supplemental dispatch notifications, more effective use of volunteers (whether for all or a portion of the response team), mapping of and routing to the scene, many pre and post-incident reporting functions, and even NFIRS incident reporting can all be accomplished within the IamResponding solution. What I have learned from my use of the IamResponding system is that IamResponding does far more than most people realize, but is very easy to use. I look forward to working closely with the IamResponding team to continue to advance this industry-leading system.” For more Information about IamResponding’s products and services, please visit www.IamResponding.com or call 877-509-0381. Chief Buckman may be reached at JBuckman@emergencysmc.com.
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Mount Vernon Scrap Yard Blaze
Mount Vernon firefighters were dispatched to South Columbus Avenue and Kimball Place for a structure fire on September 30, 2018. Crews arrived on scene to find heavy fire in a scrap yard. Limited access made it difficult to battle the fire, and smoke could be seen in plumes over the city. Fences had to be cut to gain better access and foam was used to put out the remaining fire. - Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography.com and Mike Messar
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Fallen Firefighters Ceremony in Albany
Firefighters from throughout New York gathered at the Convention Center at the Egg in Albany for the 2018 Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony. A sea of blue filled the convention center. It didn't matter if they were Volunteer or Career Firefighters, they came together to pay honor to 28 firefighters who made the ultimate
sacrifice, those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Names today of those being honored went back to 1946 to this year. No one will ever be forgotten. Pictured is Marie Tolley, widow of FDNY’s William Tolley, who died April 20, 2017 at a Queens two-alarmer. -Fire News photos by Peter Barber and Lori Washburn
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Firefighter of the Year The Town of Colonie and Colonie Elks held its 47th annual Firefighters of the Year Dinner on October 7, 2018. The event celebrates and honors those firefighters in the Town of Colonie who have gone above and beyond for their community. This year’s honorees were: Boght Community Fire Company: James Dudley; Colonie Village Fire Company: Keith Fogg; Fuller Road Fire Department: Daniel Mastromarchi; Latham Fire Department: Gregory Holt; Maplewood Fire Department: Ronald Alix (posthumously); Menand Fire Department: Benjamin Lattanzio; Midway Fire Department: Stephen Keech (accepted by his parents as he is presently deployed); Schuyler Heights Fire Department: Thomas Kudlack; Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department: Dominick DiBenedetto; Stanford Heights Fire Department: Dave Kingsland, Tim Reilly and Chief John Courter; Verdoy Fire Department: Russel Santore; and West Albany Fire Department: Edwin Nazario. Congratulations to all honored and thank you for your dedication to your community. - Fire News photo by Lori Washburn
A Chief with a Ton of History Members of the Nester Hose Company of the Geneva Fire Department are shown at a recent visit with Chief Emeritus Carlton J. Naegele. The Chief joined Nester Hose in 1945 and he is the longest serving member of the company. He was appointed City Fire Chief in May 1958 and served until 1987. - Fire News photo by John Greco
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MacBoston Annual Training
On September 28, 2018, the MacBoston 18 Fallen Firefighter Memorial held its annual Training Day with the FDNY. Firefighters from across New York and neighboring states gathered at the Saratoga Fire Training center for intense all-day, hands-on training sessions. - Fire News photo by Lori Washburn
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4th Annual National Stair Climb for Fallen Firefighters Reminds Us to Never Forget Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, again hosted the 4th Annual National Stair Climb for Fallen Firefighters on Sunday, October 28, 2018, to raise funds and awareness for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Counseling Services Unit and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). The family-friendly event attracted hundreds of firefighters, loved ones, friends and the public from around the region and the country. It was a day to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by the 343 members of FDNY on September 11, 2001, the 177 others who have died since then from World Trade Center (WTC) illnesses, and the nearly 100 other firefighters who die in the line of duty each year. The opening ceremony began at 0959 with the tolling of a bell, marking the time the South Tower of the WTC collapsed. Following the moment of silence, several speakers offered tributes to the lives lost and highlighted some reasons why the first responder community and civilians gather to make a difference. In their remarks, Bill and Lisa Zoller said, “We’re climbing to remember our friends, our neighbors, our community. And we’re climbing for families that will never know us, so we may give back to those most affected by 9/11.” To begin the climb, the FDNY Emerald Society Band, FDNY’s First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh, and Knicks’ basketball player John Wallace led the
climbers through a corridor of the current FDNY EMS class, proudly holding American flags. Photographs of the 343 FDNY members who lost their lives 17 years ago and the 177 FDNY members who have succumbed to WTC illnesses were displayed along the halls and stairwells as touchstones for the reason behind the event. As the climbers exited the stairwell and crossed the grandstand they were again greeted by a corridor of American flags before they climbed the grandstand. “When I signed us up for the stair climb, I knew that we would spend our day surrounded by greatness, but I did not expect to feel the way I did,” said Michaela Birdyshaw. “When we arrived to see the flags, hear the bagpipes, witness the men and women in full gear, and look longingly at the photos of fallen firemen, I was moved to a different understanding.” The camaraderie among the climbers was apparent throughout the climb by their conversation and smiles. Those who chose to carry American flags throughout the climb paused to photograph themselves and to pass the flag between each other. At the conclusion of the climb, the 150 members of FDNY EMS classes PES 18-03 and PTP 18-02 regrouped and created a final corridor and backdrop for the climbers who entered the winners circle. Each climber announced the name of the individual they climbed for and rang the ceremonial bell before either heading home or joining the
indoor after-party. The community atmosphere allowed the climbers to bring their loved ones not just to climb, but also to let everyone be part of the full day and the fire service. The after-party venue inside the fourth floor North Shore Terrace kept everyone comfortable and allowed the participants and guests time to reflect and enjoy the experience. “The day was incredibly moving and satisfying, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to honor so deeply the heart and soul that goes in to being a true hero,” Birdyshaw said. In the end, the message of Never Forget, which is the creed of the fire service, was fulfilled and the legacy of those lost, due to lineof-duty deaths, lives on. Special Thank You Popular and accomplished singer Kirsten Thien entertained the crowd for four hours. Tom Falkowski, owner of Country Garden Farm Stand of Bridgehampton, New York, donated pumpkins which added to the festive activities for the kids. The Suffolk County Safety Officers Association sponsored the music. Center Plate offered food and beverage service which fit the venue perfectly. National Fallen firefighters Foundation Firehero.org. Free online training opportunities - Fireherolearningnetwork.com
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Obituary
FDNY's
James P. Ginty
On October 15, 2018, FDNY Firefighter James P. Ginty passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. He was 84. James P. Ginty served as a firefighter for 34 years in FDNY Squad 2 and Ladder 42. He was also a charter member of the FDNY Pipe Band. He served in the USMC and was a Korean War veteran.
Ginty was laid to rest at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Smithtown with military honors. Donations in his honor may be made to the FDNY Fire Family Transport. James P. Ginty will be missed by many, as he watches over us from the floor above. - Fire News photos by Dennis Whittam