Fire News New York State, May 2024

In

2 Displaced by Washingtonville Blaze

The Washingtonville F.D responded to a structure fire. Command arrived and requested a second alarm.

See story on page 5

Catskill Home Destroyed

ACatskill family lost their home, belongings and multiple pets following a devastating fire.

See story on page 9

Schenectady

Excavator Fire

Schenectady firefighters were called to an excavator fire at the site of a car wash under construction.

See story on page 12

2 Injured at Queens 2-Alarmer

Battalion 39 transmitted a 10-75 for heavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building.

See story on page 16

2 Dead in Bath Beach Blaze

Afast moving fire claimed the lives of two men in Bath Beach, Brooklyn.

See story on page 20

Fatal MC vs Car MVAin Newburgh

The Newburgh F.D., City of Newburgh Police and Empress EMS responded to a motorcycle/vehicle MVA.

See story on page 25

Serving Fire & EMS Heroes Since 1973

FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher/CEO

TIM EDWARDS, Chief Operating Officer

GARYP. JOYCE, Editor

MYLES QUINN, Long Island Editor

MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production

LYNN SEDLER, Art Director

CLIFFCHIESA, Production Manager

BARBARACONNOLLY, 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.

Cover Story

Schenectady Kitchen Fire

On January 3, 2024, reported at around 0300, Schenectady firefighters battled a two-alarm fire on Ardsley Road. Upon arrival, flames were visible from the rear-D-side window in the kitchen area of the home. The fire spread to a propane grill causing the tank to

ignite. All occupants escaped safely, howeverone occupant suffered minorburns to his hands trying to put out the fire.

- Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber

2 Displaced by Washingtonville Blaze

The Washingtonville Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Shaw Road on March 6, 2024. Command arrived and requested a second alarm forheavy fire from the first floor. Mutual aid came from Vails Gate, Salisbury Mills, Chester, Coldenham, South Blooming Grove, Maybrook, Campbell Hall to fill site and Woodbury-Monroe. Firefighters used handlines.and fourhandlines were eventually put into operation and the fire was knocked down. Two adults were displaced.

- Fire News photo by Robert McCormick

2-Alarmerin Kiryas Joel

At 1824 on March 7, 2024, the Washingtonville Fire Department was dispatched on a second alarm to Kiryas Joel, fora fire in a multiple dwelling underconstruction; Squad 580 responded. Upon arrival, two members of the FASTplaced portable ladders to the rearwindows of the building, while the remaining members stoodby in front of the building. Once the crew of Squad 580 was relieved by Vails Gate, the crew was reassigned to assist with opening up walls and ceilings on the second and third floors. The members of the Kiryas Joel Fire Department, with assistance from mutual aid, did a good job containing the fire to the original fire building, and keeping the fire from extending into exposure 4, an attached occupied multiple dwelling.

- Fire News photo by Gary Hearn

Newburgh Brush Fire

Buchanan House Fire

The CronomerValley Fire Department and the Platte Kill Fire Dep artment responded to a small brush fire off Mountain View Avenue in Newburgh. - Fire News photos by Vinnie Dominick

The Buchanan Fire Department in WestchesterCounty, battled a stubborn single-family occupancy fire on Lindsay Street on March 21, 2024, with help from multiple departments including Montrose,

Verplank, Croton, Montrose VA, Lake Mohegan, Millwood, Peekskill EMS, and others. WestchesterCounty Cause and Origin responded to investigate. - Fire News photos by Gary Urbanowicz

New Windsor2-Alarmer

On March 6, 2024, at 1541, the Washingtonville Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house fire on Shaw Road in the Town of New Windsor. Upon arrival personnel found heavy fire showing from the front of the dwelling. Asecond alarm was transmitted as Washingtonville personnel removed several animals from the house. Four1-3/4 inch lines were used to extinguish the fire. Numerous mutual aid departments operated at the fire orstood by. - Fire News photos by Joseph VanRiper; submitted by Gary Hearn

Catskill Home Destroyed

ACatskill family lost theirhome, belongings and multiple pets following a devastating fire that broke out on the afternoon of March 23, 2024. At around 1400, the Catskill Fire Company was dispatched to a structure fire on Howard Court off North Jefferson Avenue. First units arrived to a single-story home fully involved with flames and heavy smoke coming from the roof. With the fire spreading quickly and apparatus still en route, one Catskill firefighterthrew on his gearand entered the house through a bedroom window with the help of two otherfirefighters from Hudson and Catskill. Unable to locate any pets orpeople, the firefightermade it back out the window before the fire reached the bedroom. When the first engine arrived, a large attack line and three smallerones were

pulled. The fire was so advanced that about a third of the roof had come down at this point and crews went defensive until they beat back enough fire to enterand start overhauling and opening up. West Athens cut a fence to get access to the rearand stretched out back. Hudson and Athens went interiorin front with Catskill. Operating at the scene were Athens, West Athens, Leeds, Hudson and Greenport; Kiskatom and Cairo were on standby. In addition, Catskill Ambulance, Greene County EMS, Catskill Police Department, Central Hudson, the American Red Cross, and the Catskill Fire Auxiliary were also at the scene.

- Fire News photos by John C. Miller

MC Fire Stopped Before Extending

The Athens Fire Department was dispatched on April 1, 2024, to a motorcycle fire on Second Street in the village. Units arrived to heavy fire from a motorcycle extending to the garage part of the

home. Athens units along with West Athens Lime Street Fire quickly extinguished the fire before it extended any furtherinto the garage.

- Fire News photos by John C. Miller

Schenectady ExcavatorFire

Schenectady firefighters were called to an excavatorfire at Duane and Brandywine avenues on January 6, 2024, at the site of a car wash underconstruction. There was no cause given forthe fire and damage was confined to the construction apparatus.

- Fire News photo by Peter R. Barber

Several Families Displaced in FarRockaway Fire

FDNYcompanies in the FarRockaway section of Queens responded to a private dwelling fire on Gipson Street on March 12, 2024. The blaze quickly spread to the adjoining attached dwelling and required the transmission of a second alarm. There were no serious injuries reported but several families were displaced.

- Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

10 Injured at Bronx Blaze

Battalion 19 transmitted a 10-75 forheavy smoke showing from a Marble Hill Avenue residence in the Bronx on March 11, 2024. A second alarm was quickly transmitted as fire got into the public hallway. The fire left six civilians and fourfirefighters with injuries.

- Fire News photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Ice Rescue Drill at Tomhannock Reservoir

Boght, Mechanicville, Melrose, Pittstown, Johnsonville, Schaghticoke fire departments were just some of the fire agencies that participated in an ice rescue drill at the Tomhannock Reservoiron a chilly Sunday morning. Firefighters participated in six evolutions to hone theirskills and learn what otherdepartments do in rescue situations.

- Submitted by Lori Washburn; photos by Photos By Truck

2 Injured at Queens 2-Alarmer

Battalion 39 transmitted a 10-75 forheavy fire on the first and second floors of a two-story building. The fire extended to an adjoining home on Linden Boulevard in Queens. Asecond alarm was

transmitted by Division 13. The fire left two people with minor injuries.

- Fire News photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Looking Back Brockport - 1987

On July 31, 1987, at approximately 1100, an employee set down an acetylene torch to answera telephone call, and the rest is history. The grain and feed storage facility owned by the Geo. S. Terry Co. located on Park Avenue at the railroad tracks in the Village of Brockport became fully involved. Tens of thousands of gallons of waterwere pumped into the structure to attempt to maintain con-

trol of the burn, and were used to protect the structures in the immediate area. Incident Commanderwas Brockport Deputy Fire Chief Laurence C. Vaughan, a careerfirefighterwith the Ridge Road Fire District in Greece.

- Story and photos provided by Christopher R. Martin, BFD PIO; submitted by Christopher R. Martin

Latham 2024 Officers

Congratulations to Latham Fire Department’s 2024 Line Officers: Chief William Childs, 1st Assistant Chief David Filarecki, Jr., 2nd Assistant Chief Richard Haack, 1st Captain Neil Blanchard, 2nd Captain Gregory Holt, 3rd Captain Patrick Germain, 1st Lieutenant Brendan Treadwell, 2nd Lieutenant AlexanderKot, 3rd Lieutenant Brian Steele.

- Submitted by Lori Washburn; photo by Photos By Truck

Chief Tracey Gets Chief’s Award

The Brighton VolunteerFire Company, located in Tonawanda, was proud to award President and past-Chief, Shawn Tracey (second from the left) with the 2023 Chief’s Award at the annual installation of officers dinneron January 27, 2024. In March 2023, Shawn’s uncle was in desperate need of a livertransplant. Shawn immediately started preparing fororgan donation and soon donated 70 percent of his liver. Shawn’s selfless act saved his uncle’s life. In addition to ourown award, Shawn was also given the Fire Service Award forhis 40 years of service by the Erie County VolunteerFirefighters Association. Pictured, from left, are his brother, past-Chief Chris, Shawn, and Shawn’s two sons, Shamus and Evan. All are active members of the fire company.

- Submitted by Steven Dabney, Brighton Fire District 5

West Albany’s Michael Spenziero FFof the Year

During West Albany Fire Department’s installation of officers banquet, Michael Spenziero was honored by being named Firefighter of the Year.

- Submitted by Lori Washburn; photo by Photos By Truck

2 Dead in Bath Beach Blaze

Afast moving fire claimed the lives of two men during a fire on Bay 29th Street in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, on March 18. 2024. Firefighters from Ladder168 and Engine Company 253 arrived to heavy smoke and fire showing from a second-floorapartment.

- Fire News photo by Lloyd Mitchell

South Jamaica 2-Alarmer

FDNYunits in the South Jamaica section of Queens responded to a fire in two-story, flat-roof private dwelling on 150th Street late in the afternoon of March 30, 2024. The fire made its way into the cockloft of the building and required the transmission of a second alarm. There were no serious injuries reported.

- Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

Looking Back

Harlem - 2014

Hundreds of FDNYfirefighters operated at a five-alarm, fatal gas explosion in a mixed occupancy building in Harlem on March 12, 2014. - Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

Broadalbin-Kennyetto Train

The Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company (BKFC; Fulton County) held a training session at an acquired structure in the fire district on March 9, 2024. The Mayfield Fire Department was also in attendance. The two-story, 1200-square-foot building was smoked up with a smoke generator, and an 85000 BTU bullet heaterwas used to get the smoke to move and flow more realistically. Teams worked on hoseline advancing, victim search and rescue, and VES (Vent,

Enter, Search). It’s critical to have a good working relationship with the surrounding fire departments because that is who you work with side-by-side to address majoremergency situations. BKFC is committed to providing effective fire and rescue service, and members do so with tremendous pride and passion.

- Fire News photos by Mark Perfetti

WOMEN’S WEEKEND ATTHE NATIONALFIRE ACADEMY

June 15-16, 2024

The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA), in partnership with Women in Fire, is pleased to announce the dates for our 2024 session in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Please place June 15-16, 2024, on your calendars and join us!

The below classes are FREE of charge, and ALLare welcome to attend. You do not need to be a certified or uniformed member of a fire or EMS agency; you need to be with a fire, EMS, or allied organization, and meet the class participant requirements for t he class you wish to attend.

- Building Organizational Support for Community Risk Reduction (W0636)

- Building Resilience in Leadership: Strategies for Growth and Confidence (W0952)

- Command and Control for Company-Level Operations (W0296)

- Command and Control of Wildland Urban Interface Fire Operations for the Structural Chief Officer (W0612)

- Fire Investigation: Fire as a Weapon (W0756)

- Fire Investigation: First Responders (W0770)

- Incident Safety Officer (W0729)

- Initial Response to Terrorism: Basic Concepts (W0443)

- Leadership in Supervision: Creating Environments for Professional Growth (W0646)

- Leadership in Supervision: Perspectives in Thinking (W0647)

- Supervising Emergency Medical Services (W0146)

- Youth Firesetting Intervention Specialist (W0633)

We are accepting online applications NOW https://www.usfa.fema.gov/nfa/programs/national-weekend.html

Please take a look at the above webpage for more details!

Up Close and Personal

Amsterdam Battalion Chief Ron Jablonski checks the perimeterof a residence during a recent structure fire on Willard Street in the city. - Fire News photo by Mark Perfetti

Amsterdam Fire Lieutenant Millerloads hose aftera structure fire. - Fire News photo by Mark Perfetti

Scenes from the Long Island Expo

Fatal MC vs CarMVA in Newburgh

The Newburgh Fie Department responded to a motorcycle/vehicle MVAon South Street at LanderStreet on March 8, 2024. City of Newburgh Police and Empress EMS was also scene. Firefighters checked forhazards and spread drying agent on fluids on roadway

The motorcycle driverwas taken to Montefiore-St Luke’s Hospital where he latersuccumbed to injuries from the accident. The car’s driverwas also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. New WindsorPolice reconstructed the accident scene.

- Fire News photo by Robert McCormick

Obituary Mechanicstown’s Richard Mills

It is with deep sadness we announced the passing of 54year member Richard Mills. Rich joined the Mechanicstown Fire Department on December 3, 1970 and maintained active membership throughout his 54 years. Many of us had grown to know Rich as ‘Mr. Mills.’

Mills began climbing the ranks when he became Lieutenant in 1972, Captain in 1973, and Assistant Chief in 1976. He has also served in various civil offices beginning with Financial Secretary from 1972-1977, Chaplain and several others, and also served as Fire Commissioner with the Mechanicstown Fire District.

He was a member of the Orange County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, Orange County Volunteer Fire Police Association, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and an 11year member of the NYS Association of Fire Chaplains.

We will forever miss Mr. Mills and his friendship, spiritual guidance, and his overall service to others. May he rest in peace.

- Photo provided

Obituary

LODD: Cumberland Head’s Robert Boire

On December 27, 2023, Firefighter Robert ‘Rory’Boire responded to the scene of a car accident when he suffered a heart attack. He was immediately transported to the hospital where he remained for t wo days. On January 3, 2024, he passed away from complications experienced as a result of the heart attack. He was 64-years old.

Rory graduated from Beekmantown Central School in 1979 and soon after enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, proudly serving his country until being honorably discharged in 1983. He continued serving with the Reserves until 1985, and joined the reserves again and was on active duty from 2001 to 2003 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Rory was a corrections officer at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, retiring in 2016.

Rory was a former member of the Beekmantown Fire Department, Chazy Fire Department. and most recently the Cumberland Head Fi re Department. He was a member of VFWPost 1466 and served as Commander and also served on the Board of the Peru Rod and Gun Club. He was also an EMT.

In his off time he enjoyed woodturning and riding his motorcycle. He is survived by his wife Tina, a son Ryan Boire and daughter Jessica Boire, a stepson James Bouyea, several grandchildren, his siblings; Ron Boire and his wife Faith, Dames Boire and his wife Kimberly and Alex Boire and his wife Lisa, a cousin Dan Noonan, and several nieces and nephews. Donations in Rory’s memory may be made to the Cumberland Head Fire Department. - Photo and copy provided