Fire news new york state 6 15

VOLUME 8, NO. 8

W W W .FIRENE WS .COM

Serving Fire, Rescue & EMS Heroes In NY State JUNE 2015

See page 9 for full story.

- Fire News photo by Mike Nowacki

Fire News Welcomes All to Harrisburg North Hall, Booths 704-705 – New York State Edition –

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 3

In this issue... .

2-Alarmer on Main Street

Firefighters arrive to heavy fire throughout a store.

See story on page 8

4 Houses Burn in Poughkeepsie

City of Poughkeepsie 911 dispatched Poughkeepsie firefighters for a garage fire on Smith Street.

See story on page 11

Lightning Strike in West Sand Lake

A young man called Rensselear County fire control reporting smoke coming from the roof of a home.

See story on page 14

Smoke Detectors Work‌ Again

Rotterdam District 2 firefighters were called out to battle a house fire on Arbor Drive.

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, 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, 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.

See story on page 20

Columnists: Bruce Johnson, John Salka COPYRIGHT 2015, THE FIRE NEWS LLC., LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Helping a Hero

The August 4, 2015. Yankee-Boston game will honor Chief Joseph Sanford, Jr., and raise money to help pay off the mortgage on his family home.

See story on page 28

9/11 Claims Another Firefighter

A funeral was held for Firefighter Greg Chevalley who died of illness from operational duties.

For advertising rates and information, call (631) 776-0500 Press 3 Editorial: (631) 776-0500 Ext 281 Fax number: (631) 776-1854 Internet: http://www.firenews.com Email:nys@firenews.com

Six Editions Serving Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania Proud Member Of:

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PLUS: Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 20 Special Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 21 Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 36 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 37

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 LLC, with corporate offices at 146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713.

Page 4, Fire News, June 2015

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From the Editor’s Desk Dennis Whittam, Editor

History Repeats Itself As I am writing my monthly editorial, tens of thousands of police officers, first responders and civilians are gathering in Bethpage, New York, to pay respects to NYPD Officer Brian Moore, who was slain by a thug, oh wait, I can’t say that, I stand corrected, I will say slain by a criminal. On Monday, City of Poughkeepsie firefighter Timothy Gunther will be laid to rest. Firefighter Gunther died in the Line of Duty while operating at a fire on May 5, 2015. On May 6, 2015, Washington DC firefighter Kevin McCrae was also killed in the Line of Duty. Fire News offers its sincerest condolences to the families and departments of our fallen responders.

On May 7, 2015, I attended a class given to fire coordinators in Suffolk County (New York) in conjunction with the Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County EMS. The class, entitled Coordinated Response to Active Shooter Scenarios, opened my eyes and reminded me of the many - yes many - incidents that have happened in the world since 2000. If incidents involving active shooters are increasing, my question to you is; are you prepared? Columbine, Mumbai, Aurora had one thing in common: the threat of facing multiple threats simultaneously.

In 2011, an EMT was shot in Baltimore. In 2012, four responders were shot, two fatally, in Webster, NY. Did you forget about these incidents? How about the teachers and students who lost their lives in Sandy Hook?

It has been only recently that I have been hearing of drills designed to test responders’ skills and protocols for future incidents. Let’s face facts, horrible acts of violence will happen again. Are you prepared to handle this type of disaster?

Brushfire season is upon us. There have been large fires throughout the country and the season has only begun. I remember back in 1995 when I watched flames jump across a highway on Long Island.

Up until that fire, I thought I was a seasoned firefighter capable of handling any fire that came along. Boy, was I wrong! Last week I shared my experience with two of our probationary firefighters.

I asked them if they had any idea how to fight a brush fire. Their honest answer was no. I appreciated their honesty and took them over to our department brush truck and proceeded to go over what they needed to know if they ended up on the truck. Simple things like how to stretch hose so the nozzleman could do his job. I think I opened the eyes of two enthusiastic probies.

Experienced responders must take the time to share their experiences with our inexperienced members. After all, history repeats itself.

If you were part of your company’s history, you must share your experiences with your newer members. More importantly, the company must listen to your stories because history repeats itself.

Stay Safe, Dennis

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ANNOUNCEMENTS ADAPTED AQUATICS & EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS Register Now for CPR and/or Emergency Response Courses for Summer 2015. The Department of Adapted Aquatics and Emergency Response Programs in the School of Health Technology and Management/HSC will be offering the following courses during Summer 2015: Summer Session I (May 26 - July 2, 2015) HSQ 270.01 (64773): Emergency Response, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/AED, and Personal Safety Mon./Wed., 1800 - 2110 HSQ 271.01 (64772): Instructor of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Mon./Wed., 1800 - 2110 HSQ 272.01 (64791): Instructor of First-Aid (Emergency Response) Mon./Wed., 1800 - 2110 HSQ 475 (64850): Teaching Practicum I - TBA HSQ 476 (64792): Teaching Practicum II - TBA Summer Session II (July 6 - Aug. 15, 2015) HSQ 270.02 (64774): Emergency Response, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/AED, and Personal Safety Mon./Wed., 1800 - 2110 HSQ 271.02 (64806): Instructor of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Mon./Wed., 1800 - 2110

HSQ 272.02 (64807): Instructor of First-Aid (Emergency Response) Mon./Wed., 1800 - 2110 HSQ 475 (64851): Teaching Practicum I - TBA HSQ 476 (64852): Teaching Practicum II - TBA All above courses will be offered on West Campus in SBS room S-218. Please note: The Fall 2015 courses are also currently online. Please see SOLAR for more details regarding registration. Please note: HSQ 270 issues certification in the highest levels of CPR/AED and Emergency Response training, and the certification meets the necessary requirements for all HSC undergraduate and graduate academic and clinical programs and/or all applications and interviews requiring CPR and First-Aid/Emergency Response training. Also note that the certificates issued meet the necessary requirements for public servants such as swimming instructors, lifeguards, teachers, camp counselors, police, Firefighters, EMS workers, ambulance personnel, athletic coaches, personal trainers, etc.

FIRST RESPONDER DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAINING (FRDAT) With an increasing number of individuals with disabilities in the U.S., there’s a growing and immediate need to train first responders to provide aid to individuals with serious disabilities in emergency situations.

Dave Whalen, project director at Niagara

University in Western New York, founded First Responders Disability Awareness Training (FRDAT), a curriculum to train law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, 911 operators and others to respond to those with disabilities in the most skilled, compassionate and expedient way. More than 175 individuals (representing 175 departments) in firefighter/EMS programs and 171 participants (representing 91 departments) in law enforcement have successfully completed the program.

FRDAT, offered on both the Niagara University campus or on location, is a two-day “train-the-trainer” seminar, enabling participants to bring the program to their departments and agencies. The training is designed to sensitize and educate on all aspects of disabilities, customized for each discipline specific to the challenges they may encounter.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in five people in the U.S. is living with some type of physical disability.

REST IN PEACE FIREFIGHTER TIMOTHY GUNTHER Fire News offers its sincerest condolences to the family of Poughkeepsie firefighter Timothy Gunther, who died in the line of duty on May 4, 2015. We will pay tribute to Firefighter Gunther in a future edition of Fire News.

Page 6, Fire News, June 2015

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Shed Ignites House in Schenectady

Recently, Schenectady firefighters battled a two-alarm fire on Windsor Terrace after a shed behind the home caught fire sending black smoke and flames high into the air, and igniting a neighboring house. Fifteen occupants of the houses escaped safely and the fire was brought under control in a little over an hour.

- Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber

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2-Alarmer in Queens

Firefighters in Queens recently battled a second-alarm fire in a with heavy fire throughout the store. The fire was brought under hardware store on Main Street. Rescue 4, returning from a nearby control in approximately a 45 minutes.

- Fire News photos by Brian Grogan box, arrived first and transmitted the 10-75. Firefighters were met

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 9

Spring Valley Apt. Complex Fire

On April 12, 2015, the Spring Valley Fire Department was dispatched to Robert Pitt Drive for a reported structure fire. First arriving units reported heavy fire in a first-floor bedroom in an apartment, which was quickly spreading to adjoining apartments.

Fire crews entered and made an aggressive interior attack to knock down the fire. Two exterior truck crews set up in the rear to tackle the heavy fire coming from the roof and vent the structure. Four units were destroyed, but many were saved. Close to 100 firefighters from Spring Valley, Hillcrest, Tallman, Monsey, and South Spring Valley responded to the scene.

- Fire News photos by Mike Nowacki

Page 10, Fire News, June 2015

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Poughkeepsie Structure Fire

City of Poughkeepsie, assisted by the Arlington and Fairview fire departments, operated at a structure fire at Bob’s Auto Body on Smith Street on the city’s north side. The fire did significant damage to the structure.

- Fire News photos by Bill Johnson

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 11

4 Houses Burn in Poughkeepsie

City of Poughkeepsie 911 dispatched Poughkeepsie firefighters for a garage fire on Smith Street at the intersection of Thompson Street.

Upon their arrival, firefighters had four separate structures on fire: the garage and an abandoned 2-1/2 story house on the same property, a community youth center on the #3 side, and a large occupied residence on the #4 side. The radiant heat from the garage appeared to have ignited the three other structures. With their hands full,

crews attacked the fire at the youth center and occupied residence and then moved on to extinguishing the fire in the abandoned garage and residence. Arlington firefighters assisted at the scene and Arlington, New Hamburg, and Roosevelt provided stand-by coverage in the City of Poughkeepsies stations.

- Fire News photos by Bill Johnson

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Page 12, Fire News, June 2015

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Brush Fire in Orange Lake

The Winona Lake Fire Department was called to Orange Lake Fire District along with the Colden Ham and Cronomer Valley to assist with a brush fire.

- Fire News photos by Vinnie Dominick

Truck Fire in Queens FDNY units were on the scene of a truck fire on April 15, 2015, at Metropolitan Avenue and Fresh Pond Road. No injuries were reported.

- Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

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Lightning Strike in West Sand Lake

On April 10, 2015, a young man called Rensselear County fire control reporting smoke coming from the roof of a home along Route 150 as a result of a lightning strike. When the chief arrived he found the family still inside, and unaware of the fire. He called for mutual aid from Best Luther, Hoags Corners, Defreestville, Schodack

and Wynantskill. A strong wind spread flames across the roof with a drop down to the first floor. Water volume became a problem, and a water site was set up at a small creek about a half mile away. The building eventually collapsed, and was a total loss.

- Fire News photos by Martin E. Miller

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Cold Night in Sand Lake

On February 27, 2015, Averill Park responded to a chimney fire on Momrow Road. On arrival they were met with a fire in the wall with extension to the second floor. Mutual aid was called from West Sand Lake, Hoags Corners, Taborton, Poestenkill, Mountain View, Defreestville and Schodack Valley. The fire spread through the second floor under a slate roof and was still smoldering after dark.

Bitter temperatures made firefighters’ jobs even more difficult.

- Fire News photos by Martin E. Miller

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 17

Stephentown House Fire

Car Fire in E. Greenbush

Very early on February 25, 2015, a passerby on Route 22 in Stephentown spotted smoke and flames coming from a one-story home about 150 feet off the road. When Assistant Chief Rik McClave arrived he found most of the roof involved. Crews from Stephentown, Berlin, Lebanon Valley and Hancock (MA), fought the fire in near-zero cold, but were unable to save the house or pets.

The family had left for work before the fire; the home had wood stoves at both ends.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller

East Greenbush, units were dispatched on March 13, 2015, for a vehicle on fire near a building. The interior burned out, then the fuel line ruptured. Two extinguishers made quick work of it, but the car was a total loss.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller

Page 18, Fire News, June 2015

Winona Lake Car Fire

On February 25, 2015, the Winona Lake Fire Department was called out to a car fire on Route 17K. The fully involved car was knocked down without incident.

-Fire News photo by Vinnie Dominick

MVA in Glenmont

On March 16, 2015, units were called to an MVA on Route 9W at Frontage Road in Glenmont. One vehicle ran a red light, causing a pickup to rollover into the median. At least two people were transported to the hospital, condition unknown. Selkirk and Elsmere responded to the scene as well as Albany County paramedics and two Town of Bethlehem Ambulances.

- Fire News photo by Tom Heffernan

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Colonie MVA

On March 21, 2015, Stanford Heights units responded to a single vehicle accident on Central Avenue. A truck jumped the curb, took out two poles with the passenger side, went sideways and slammed into a tree just behind the driver. Colonie paramedics checked the driver out and he was transported to the hospital. Stanford Heights Fire Department stood by while the scene was cleared.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller

Fatality in East Greenbush MVA

On April 11, 2015, East Greenbush Fire Department responded to an MVA on Route 4-Troy Road, and found a vehicle had run under a tractor trailer and the driver was trapped. The extrication went quickly with the help of Defreestville Fire Department. The driver did not survive the crash.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 19

Firehouse Kitchen

By Ray Cooney While planning the fourth season of Firehouse Kitchen, I wanted to do something “cool” for the opening show. I remembered an e-mail I received, a short time ago, from the Connecticut State Fire Academy, in which they asked if we would like to come and film a show with their probationary firefighters. Apparently, Firefighter Ray and Firehouse Kitchen are a big hit amongst this group of soon-to-be firefighters. They had found the show on foodytv.com and had become avid viewers. Not wanting to let anyone down, of course Firefighter Ray obliged and we went to film an episode.

I entered the main training building and found Captain Bill DeFord, one of the lead training officers. He was conducting a mask confidence drill, which consists of suiting up in full firefighter gear, including bunker gear and SCBA, and entering a maze of challenges based on escaping different scenarios one may have to face during a fire. This course was one of the hardest I have seen and coming from a retired New York City fireman stationed in Jamaica, Queens, that’s saying a lot.

Back to the main reason why we are here, cooking! Captain Bill yelled, “Recruits, time for the meal!” Within 10 minutes, there were eight recruits in the kitchen prepping, cleaning, sautéing and cooking.

On the menu for lunch was homemade minestrone soup, grilled chicken sandwich, an earthy, crunchy salad, and a yogurt parfait. After some bantering and yelling in the kitchen, Captain Bill instructed the recruits to go into the mess hall to eat. I said, “This isn’t lunch (referring to the food we just prepared),” and was told it was the prep for dinner. Three more hours of training was on the schedule. So back to the training field we headed. Before I knew it, Captain Bill came to me and said he was almost done with the cooking!

“Bill, this is a cooking show! I need to film them cooking!” Luckily, my cameraman had caught the cooking action on tape. The meal was wonderful, and followed Captain Bill’s motto: if one is filled with good fuel, one will fight hard in a fire.

What is cool about the Connecticut State Fire Academy is that it’s a sleep away program (recruits return home Friday through Sunday). The

FRESH VEGGIE MINESTONE SOUP 1 28-oz. can of crushed tomatoes 4 cans of legumes (black beans, kidney bean, pinto bean, etc.)

1 bunch celery hearts , chopped 1 bag of baby carrots, chopped 5 cloves of garlic, crushed or minced 3 cups of chopped vegetables of choice 4 B of olive oil 6 cups of water 4-6 cups of homemade chicken or vegetable stock 1-2 cups of small variety pasta Pepper, oregano, basi and parsley to taste Parmesan Cheese for garnishing finished soup Sautee carrots, onions, celery, garlic and chopped vegetables in olive oil to soften. Add sautéed vegetables and legumes to stock, water and crushed tomatoes. Sprinkle herbs and spices in. Simmer for three hours. Bring to a boil a half-hour before serving and add pasta to soften. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan sprinkled on top. camaraderie I witnessed amongst these young firefighters reminded me a lot of how I felt about my experiences in the FDNY. After witnessing the training these recruits are put through, I would feel confident fighting a fire with them and knowing they had my back. Hats off to the “Frozen 46.” That’s what they nicknamed themselves due to the frigid winter we had this year.

To find out more about Firehouse Kitchen or how to become a sponsor, visit firehousekitchenshow.com. Also, attention firefighters, I am looking for new fire cooks for the next season of Firehouse Kitchen. Email me at ray@firehousekitchenshow.com or call 631-514-5859.

Page 20, Fire News, June 2015

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Smoke Detectors Work … Again

Recently, Rotterdam District 2 firefighters were called out to battle Schenectady, Carman, Fort Hunter, and Plotterkill assisted at the a house fire on Arbor Drive. The fire originated in an attached scene.

- Fire News photos by Peter R. Barber garage and quickly spread to the house. Smoke detectors alerted the only occupant of the home and he escaped safely. South

MINERVA BUNKER GEAR CLEANERS ANNOUNCES PROJECT CLEAN HOODS, NEW MONTHLY PROGRAM TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE FIREFIGHTER HOODS. In an effort to protect the health and safety of firefighters, Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners introduces a new monthly program to clean and sanitize hoods. Fire departments need a least two hoods per member to join the program and free shipping is provided both ways.

Hoods are bar-coded with the department’s name and serial number. Each hood is thoroughly washed with Fire Soaps detergents and sanitized using an EPA Registered Hospital Grade Fabric Sanitizer which kills 99.99 percent of germs and bacteria. The hoods are then inspected and individually wrapped. Departments that participate in Project Clean Hoods receive a 10% discount on all of their bunker gear cleaning and inspection.

Minerva selected the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) to receive five percent of the proceeds from Project Clean Hood.

FCSN is dedicated to provide timely assistance to all fire and EMS personnel and their family members who have been diagnosed with cancer.

“Firefighters get cancer at a rate three times higher than the rest of the population,” said Joe Xiras, founder of Minerva. “Hoods provide protection during fireground operations, however they soak up smoke and soot that are full of carcinogens. We hope that Project Clean Hoods helps firefighters reduce their risk of

cancer. We also want to continue to support the FCSN and their national firefighter cancer awareness and prevention programs.”

About Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners

Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners, with locations in New York, Charlotte and Miami, serves more than 1,000 fire departments nationwide from small volunteer to large metropolitan departments.

Minerva is fully NFPA 1851 compliant and has taken the lead in developing the Fire Soaps line of detergents and anti-bacterial products for the fire and ems industry. For more information about Minerva and its range of services, please visit http://bunkergearcleaners.com.

About FCSN

Cancer has become the most dangerous threat to the health and safety of America's firefighters. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network provides timely assistance and oneon-one peer support to fire/EMS members and their families after a cancer diagnosis. FCSN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, also educates the fire/EMS community about cancer awareness, prevention, early detection, and treatment options. For more details, please visit firefightercancersupport.org.

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 21

Bushwick Blaze

Bronx 3-Story Fire

FDNY companies in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn battled a fire in a three-story brick multiple dwelling on April 13, 2015.

- Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

FDNY units in the Bronx responded to a fire in a three-story private dwelling on East 178th Street on April 14, 2015.

- Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

Page 22, Fire News, June 2015

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Close Call in Laurelton Fire

Arson in Queens Takes 7 Homes

On April 11, 2015, the Laurelton Fire Department, with mutual assist from Ridge Culver and West Webster, responded for a reported house fire on the 200 block of Orchard Park Boulevard.

Upon arrival, Laurelton units encountered heavy smoke from a two-story structure. After battling the blaze for a half-hour, more units from Sea Breeze and Point Pleasant were called to the scene.

During the fire the RIC team was sent in for a firefighter who fell through a floor in the structure. The firefighter was treated on the scene for minor injuries. Fill-in companies from the City of Rochester were sent to the Laurelton base.

- Fire News photo by Zachary Imm

On March 18, 2015, the Queens Communications Office started receiving multiple calls for a fire in a private dwelling on 90th Street. A resident, who was recently evicted, set fire to the first floor of the home. Flames quickly spread to the second floor and into the cockloft spreading to the exposures. The fire went to a fourth alarm and destroyed over seven homes. One male was arrested for arson among other charges.

- Fire News photo by Brian Grogan

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 23

FDNY, Elmont Team Up

Elmont firefighters and FDNY units teamed up on April 18, 2015, to minimize damage after a fire broke out in a set of oxygen and acetylene tanks at the LIRR platform at Belmont Park in Elmont.

Hazardous materials units from both Nassau County and the FDNY had the incident under control rapidly.

- Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

Page 24, Fire News, June 2015

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Double Fatality in Colonie MVA/Fire

Car into Tree in E. Greenbush

On April 11, 2015, a car driving south on Interstate I-87 exited at westbound Route 5-Central Avenue. The driver went off the left side of the ramp, struck a tree, rolled and caught fire. First arriving company extinguished the flames, and found two persons deceased.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller

On April 11, 2015, Bruen Rescue Squad and the East Greenbush Fire Department cooperated in removing an elderly woman from her vehicle. She had run off Columbia Turnpike, went into a ditch, came up out of the ditch lifting a hydrant out of the ground, and embedded it into a tree. The victim was not seriously injured.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller

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Jamaica Hills Blaze

On April 12, 2015, FDNY companies in Queens fought a two-alarm blaze in a private dwelling in the Jamaica Hills section of the borough.

- Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com

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Start of a Busy Day in Yonkers

Early on April 16, 2015, Yonkers Dispatch received numerous calls the fire. Within minutes, the house was fully involved and soon for a house fire on Rider Avenue near the city’s northern border. after, a total loss. This was the first of four working fires that day in Units arrived to find the home’s occupants had climbed out a sec- the city.

- Fire News photos by Mike Messar ond floor window and jumped from the front porch roof to escape

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 27

Athens Fire Department 2015 Awards Dinner

The Athens Volunteer Fire Department held their annual awards dinner recently. The following newly elected line officers were sworn in by Village Mayor Chris Pfister: Captain Cory Brady, Lieutenants Ray ‘Buddy’ Williams, Mike Vato and Randy Kelley, and Fire Police Captain Phyllis Dinkelacker. Receiving awards from Chief Adam Greco were, Firefighter of the Year, Wally Backus; Tom Borfitz - Most Improved Firefighter; Peter Alberti, James Robinson III, Bill Tompkins, Dave Disbrow, John Greco and Tim Albright, Sr., all received the Chiefs Merit Award. Mark Vota was awarded the Harold VanShaack Memorial Leadership Award.

Receiving years of service awards were, Fred Van Loan (60 years); Edward Mickle (62); Ronald O’Bryon (50); George C. Scott, Jr. (50), and Shane Soncini (10). Athens member John C. Miller pre-

sented the Athens Fire Police with new road safety equipment in memory of his father George C. Miller of Newburgh. The department’s 2015 officers are, Chief Adam Greco, Assistant Chiefs Dave Disbrow and Wayne Butterworth, Captain Cory Brady, Lieutenants Ray Williams, Mark Vato and Randy Kelley, and Fire Police Captain Phyllis Dinkelacker. President Alan Frisbee; Vice President Phyllis Dinkelacker; Secretary Pat McLoughlin; Treasurer George Stacey, Sr.; Recording Secretary Tom Borfitz; and Chaplain Fred Van Loan. Athens 2015 Ladies Auxiliary officers are, President Dawn Palmateer, Treasurer Linda Stacey and Secretary Patty Whiteman.

- Fire News photos by John C. Miller

Page 28, Fire News, June 2015

Helping a Hero

Fire News thanks the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation for allowing us to partner in this first-time project to honor our fallen brother, Chief Joseph Sanford, Jr., by standing by his widow to help her financially so that her home will not be a financial burden to her during this difficult time.

The August 4, 2015. Yankee-Boston game

will honor Chief Joseph Sanford, Jr., and raise money to help pay off the mortgage on his family home. We will be working with all departments, to coordinate efforts to sell out this game!

Fire News thanks the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation, the New York Yankees, the Inwood Fire Department, the Bank of

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America and the fire service.

The real experience of being a firefighter is the brotherhood, the comaraderie, and the family that you earn through the flames, the smoke and the soot. Now is the chance for the fire service to show this. We look forward to working with everyone to honor the memory of our fallen brother, Chief Joseph Sanford, Jr.

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9/11 Claims Another Firefighter

In the true tradition of the NYC Fire Department, a funeral was his illness. Chevalley has been involved in many notable rescues and held for Firefighter Greg Chevalley who died of illness from opera- responded to Hurricanes Irene and Sandy. Our prayers go out to tional duties. Greg’s tireless efforts at Ground Zero during the the Chevalley family and to the members of the FDNY. -Fire News photos by Brian Grogan events of September 2001 have been determined to be the cause of

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MOTLEY CREW OF THE MONTH

Coldenham Fire Department.

- Fire News photo by Vinnie Dominick

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Boston Bombing Lecture

On April 10, 2015, Loudonville Explorer Post 475 hosted neighboring departments in an informational program on the Boston Bombing. Jimmy Plourde, a firefighter with the Boston Fire Department, returned to his former department, the Shaker RoadLoudonville Fire Department, to give a talk on his experiences at the incident. Mr. Plourde was former member of the Shaker RoadLoudonville Explorer Post 475. During the Boston Marathon, he was positioned just a few hundred feet from the first bombing and was featured on national TV and publications as he carried an injured bystander to medical attention. During his speech, Mr. Plourde shared what it was like to be part of the Boston Fire Department, how they handled the traumatic event and what he and other emergency personnel did to ensure the safety of all who lined the streets. It was a moving and inspirational program in which he stated he still gets together with some of the victims of the bombing.

- Fire News photo by Lori Washburn

Fire News, June 2015, Page 33

Red Jacket of Distinction Award

The Onondaga County Volunteer Firemen’s Association recently presented a pair of Red Jacket of Distinction Awards to two differentTully Fire Department members at the 2015 Annual Installatioin Dinner at the Comfort Inn and suites. They were nominated by their President Frank Spieziale. (Above, left to right): Firefighter Tim Baker, OCVFA 2nd VP Joanne VanSlyke, OCVFA Director David VanSlyke and Past Chief of the Tully FD, Rob Rothery. They were the 69th and 70th recipients of this award since its inception in 2008. A special note of thanks goes to a strong supporter of OCVFA and a sponsor to many agencies involved with the volunteer fire service, Mr. Russ Jerome from Jerome Fire Equipment of Clay, New York, who donates a $25 gift card to every recipient of the Red Jacket Award.

Page 34, Fire News, June 2015

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Obituary

Chief Meaghan Sammons

The Midway Fire Department and the Town of Colonie Fire Departments paid their respects and honors to Chief Meaghan Sammons who answered her last call on March 29, 2015. Chief Sammons was the first female fire chief in the Town of Colonie.

Chief Sammons lost her battle with cancer, which she fought hard against. She was applauded for her leadership and mentorship with

not only the Fire Service, Emergency Services but also with the Girls, Inc. Chief Sammons will be remembered by all who knew her for her positivity, concern for others and her smile. A scholarship program has been created in her name to help support and mentor young women at GIRLS, Inc. - Fire News photos by Lori Washburn

The Official Publication of NYS Drill Teams

Page 36, Fire News, June 2015

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Winona Lake Spaghetti Dinner

On February 28, 2015, the Winona Lake Fire Department held there first spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Over 60 pounds of spaghetti and 30 pounds of meatballs were served, as were salads and desserts.

- Fire News photos by Vinnie Dominick

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Fire News, June 2015, Page 37

Athens Puts New Truck in Service

The Athens Volunteer Fire Department acquired a new Spartan 78foot Quint Smart Aerial, with a 400 gallon tank and a 1500 gpm pump. In honor of the arrival of the new Quint, the fire department held an open house on March 28, to bless the truck and to thank everyone who was involved in the truck’s design. Athens Fire Chief Adam Greco said the truck is appropriate for serving its community, at a rate he said doesn’t afflict the taxpayers. Chief Greco thanked the hard work put in by the fire department’s Truck Committee, consisting of Tim Albright, Sr.; Bill Tompkins; John

Greco; Dave Disbrow; Peter Alberti; and James Robinson III. State Senator George Amedore, (R-Rotterdam), spoke of how proud he was to see a safer community for the residents of Athens. Athens Fire Department Chaplain Fredrick VanLoan led the audience in the dedication of the truck. The truck was consecrated Truck 2-3 Rolling Thunder by Chaplain VanLoan as he blessed it with holy water, making the truck an official part of the Athens community.

-Fire News photos by John C. Miller

Page 38, Fire News, June 2015

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No Guts, No Glory!

There are different ways to learn than just in a classroom. And we all agree firefighters are a competitive bunch. So this year Firehouse Expo is offering firefighters the opportunity to compete in the inaugural Fire-Rescue Competition Powered by Firehouse. The timed competition will simulate a Mayday involving a downed firefighter and will require teams to perform a relay rescue operation to search, locate and extract the downed firefighter. The three fastest, most efficient times will move on to the finals on Saturday, July 18, 2015.

A voluntary pre-conference training session will be provided the day before the competition for all registered teams. The training will include classroom instruction and hands-on training.

Skills being evaluated during the competition include: Command and Control Operations; Personnel Accountability and Reporting; Fireground Communications; Forcible Entry Techniques; Navigating a Diminishing Clearance Obstacle; Overcoming Entanglement Hazards; Up and Over/Lifts and Carries; Wall Breach; Victim Search, Packaging and Removal; Restricted Opening Rescue and Removal Operations Applications are currently being accepted for state and regional conferences interested in hosting a qualifying event for the 2016 National Championships. For this year’s event, the top three teams in regional events being offered at Fire-Rescue East (Daytona, FL) Smokey Mountain Weekend (Pigeon Forge, TN) and the Maryland Fireman’s Convention (Ocean City, MD) are slated to participate in this year’s championship. All events are being Powered by Firehouse. The team named National Champions will take home a trophy and bragging rights … until next year’s event! For a complete description of the competition, event rules, grading criteria and team registration information, visit FirehouseExpo.com.

Newburgh MVA

Fatality in East Greenbush MVA

The Coldenham Fire Department was called out to tractor-trailer into gas pump at Travel Port in the Town of Newburgh. There were no injuries reported.

- Fire News photo by Vinnie Dominick

On April 11, 2015, East Greenbush Fire Department responded to an MVA on Route 4-Troy Road, and found a vehicle had run under a tractor trailer and the driver was trapped. The extrication went quickly with the help of Defreestville Fire Department. The driver did not survive the crash.

- Fire News photo by Martin E. Miller