On arrival, companies found heavy fire through the roof of a large single-family dwelling.
See story on page 5
Initial fire crews found a welladvanced fire already through the roof of two stores in the strip.
See story on page 8
First companies on scene found a single-story home heavily involved.
See story on page 10
Companies were dispatched following reports of an incident involving a fallen tree atop an occupied school bus.
See story on page 12
South Jamaica House Fire
FDNYcompanies in the South Jamaica section of Queens battled a second-floor fire.
See story on page 19
On arrival companies found heavy smoke coming from a single-story commercial building.
See story on page 25
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The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has announced a change in venue forthe 2023 National 9/11 Memorial StairClimb for Fallen Firefighters.
This annual event benefits the FDNY Counseling Service Unit and NFFF programs for families of fallen firefighters. The 2023 National Stair Climb will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTABillie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open Championships. More info at www.nationalstairclimb.org.
Post-9/11 combat veterans who served between 2001 and 2013 have until September30, 2023, to enroll in Department of Veterans Affairs health care. The date will conclude a one-year “special enrollment period” provided by the PACTAct. This provision of the PACTAct took effect in 2022. It gave the potential to receive compensation to mil-
lions of veterans or their survivors who were exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals while in uniform, going back to the 1960s.
The VAenrollment period for post-9/11 combat vets is meant to get those veterans deemed to have been exposed to toxins based on their deployments onto the VA’s rolls and into care in which the providers are cognizant of toxic exposures, said Cory Titus, an Army infantry veteran and director with the Military Officers Association of America who led the association's PACTAct advocacy.
The bill automatically assumes troops who served in certain locations were exposed. Once enrolled, veterans’individual circumstances will dictate how much care they'll actually be eligible to receive.
ACampus Fire Forum will be held in Grapevine, TX, from November6 to 9, 2023 The forum will cover Lithium-Ion batteries, MicroMobility devices, Safety issues on campus (from codes to management issues), Active shooters, Blocked/Locked exits, Crowd Management, Drones and Rockets, Students with Disabilities, the fire aspects of special events on campus and more. For more info: https://www.myccfs.org/forum.
The University of Maryland Autonomous Micro Air Vehicle (AMAV) student team competed in the First Responder UAS Challenges hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Annual Design-Build-Vertical Flight Competition hosted by the Vertical Flight Society (VFS). Their AMAV’s Gambit was a low-cost, easyto-fly drone specifically tailored to operate indoors, while providing full light, low light, and thermal imaging. The drone design, fabrication, assembly, and testing were performed by University of Maryland students. The students won over $150,000 in the national competition.
Thermal, HD, and night-vision cameras were mounted on a remote-controlled gimbal with a 180° range of motion, which enabled the drone to precisely maneuver in constrained environments and positively identify objects of interest in any lighting condition. Theirdrone was based on the DJI Matrice 300 drone, a popularchoice forfirst responders. For more go to https://www.nist.gov/ctl/pscr/amav-umd.
On July 2, 2023, Pittsford firefighters along with Henrietta Fire were dispatched to Sutton Point forthe report of smoke coming from a home. On arrival, companies found heavy fire through the roof of a large single-family dwelling. Crews made an initial interiorattack to try and get to the main body of fire but were soon forced out due to a structural collapse. Firefighters would transition to defensive operations with multiple large handlines and a towerladder. The fire was knocked down shortly after.
- Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography.com
On July 9, 2023, Rochesterfirefighters were sent to Park Avenue for the report of a fire. First arriving units found a large multi-apartment home with heavy fire coming from the A/B side. Aworking fire was declared and crews went to work stretching lines and opening
up. Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire and keep it to the room of origin.
- Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography.com
The Hillcrest Fire Department responded to a call fora possible structure fire on North Main Street early in the morning of July 8, 2023. As they responded to the 0330 call, a police officerreported that the entire strip mall was on fire. Initial fire crews found a welladvanced fire already through the roof of two stores in the strip. With the stores in the centerof the mall, several additional business-
es were also threatened by the growing blaze. Starting with a defensive attack on the involved stores, additional companies concentrated on interioroperations on the uninvolved businesses. With the help of fire walls on eitherside, the main body of fire was held to the originally involved pizza and bagel stores. The cause of the fire was underinvestigation.
At approximately 0200 on August 8, 2023, the Lake George VolunteerFire Department was dispatched to a house fire on Mill Road behind the Lyn Aire Motel on Route 9. First companies on scene found a single-story home heavily involved. The homeowner made it out of the home to safety, but not before desperately trying to rescue his beloved dog “Buckaroo.” It was reported that a large
propane blast forced the homeownerto end his search due to dramatically deteriorating conditions inside the home. Several local fire departments responded on mutual aid: Central, West Glens Falls, Pilot Knob, Chestertown, South Queensbury and Corinth. The fire was underinvestigation but believed to be accidental.
- Fire News photos by FireGroundImages.com
Firefighters from the FDNY’s 52 Battalion battled a five-alarm fire on HarperStreet in Queens on September4, 2023. Members were met with fire through the roof of a single-story Department of Transportation building just after2200. The Marine Unit, Hazmat 1, fourtowerladders and five hose-lines were put into operation to knock down the main body of fire. The fire took fourhours to bring undercontrol.
- Fire News photo by Lloyd Mitchell
FDNYEngine Company 290 and LadderCompany 103 transmitted a 10-75 forheavy smoke from the roof of a mixed occupancy building in East New York on August, 31, 2023. Members used a hoseline to knock down the main body of fire. The fire went to an all-hands but was placed undercontrol at 2040.
- Fire News photo by Lloyd Mitchell
On the afternoon of September8, 2023, at approximately 1605, Mahopac Falls Fire and EMS, in conjunction with Mahopac VolunteerFire Department EMS and Carmel Police Department, were dispatched to AgorLane following reports of an incident involving a fallen tree atop an occupied school bus. Upon arrival, 2nd Assistant Chief Tompkins discovered a school bus, occupied by a driverand 25 children, with its front end severely damaged by a sizable tree entangled with wires. The bus’s occupants were swiftly
evacuated and examined on-site by both Mahopac EMS and an Empress Supervisor. Fortunately, injuries sustained during the incident were deemed minor. In a commendable display of efficiency, Mahopac Central School District Transportation swiftly coordinated transportation arrangements forthe affected students. Simultaneously, they promptly notified all relevant parties responsible forthe well-being of the children.
Galway Fire Department celebrated their100th anniversary on August 26, 2023. The day began with a dress parade that included over50 vehicles from over20 surrounding departments. Afterthe parade. the community was invited to the department where there were vendors, food trucks and local businesses. Live music played
throughout the day and the event ended with a fireworks show. Senators and assemblymen joined the event riding in the parade and presenting the department with honors. Congratulations to Galway Fire Department.
- Submitted by Lori Washburn; photos by Photos By Truck
The Dutchess County VolunteerFiremen’s Association held theirConvention at the Millbrook Fire Department. President Robert Boyles opened the convention with an invocation and a salute to the flag. Present at the convention were officers, members, elected officials, scholarship winners and firefighters who have done heroic actions.
- Fire News photos courtesy Vincent Galvin, Financial Sec., DCVFA
On June 17, 2023, The Hudson Valley VolunteerFirefighters Association held theirannual parade. This yearthe parade was in West Glens Falls. The Hughsonville FD and the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company from the City of Beacon participated. The Lewis Tompkins Hose Company received two trophies; one forsecond best color guard and best appearing 38-and-over bloused uniform. The Hughsonville FD received two trophies one forbest appearing ladderand third best appearing fire unit bloused uniform 20-26 in line.
- Fire News photo courtesy of Vincent Galvin
Hybrid, Electric Vehicle, & Lithium-Ion Incidents
On May 27, 2023, Ballston Spa held its annual Memorial Day parade. More than a dozen neighboring departments and MacBoston18 Truck Memorial Truck participated in the parade with hundreds of citizens lining the streets. Afterthe parade, a memorial ceremony was held.
- Submitted by Lori Washburn; photo by Truck
In recent weeks, Mahopac Falls VFD Lieutenant Scagnelli has bee n hard at work organizing a series of crucial training sessions addressing the challenges posed by Hybrid, Electric Vehicle (EV), and Lith iumIon incidents.
The comprehensive training sessions covered several key areas: Rapid and accurate identification of these specialized vehicles ; Effective immobilization techniques, including the critical ste p of cutting all power. Properly disconnecting batteries ensures safety for all responders; ensuring firefighter safety during initial responses; skillful assessment of the situation, considering battery location, pote ntial hazards, and safe approach routes.
- Fire News photo by Ellen Sacher, PIO, Mahopac Falls
One person was seriously injured in an apartment fire at the North Shore Towers in Queens in the early morning July 24, 2023. FDNY companies responded to the scene aftera blaze broke out around 0500 on the 30th floorof the 33-story residential high-rise building along the Grand Central Parkway.
- Fire News photo by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
On June 24, 2023, the Irondequoit Fire Department held its annual Fireman’s Parade. The parade allowed residents from the area to come out and see the fire trucks and meet the members protecting the town. - Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography.com
Ten FDNYfirefighters suffered minorinjuries and multiple businesses were destroyed in a massive fire in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn on August 20, 2023. The first calls came around noon fora fire in a store on Lee Avenue in Williamsburg. The fast-moving blaze quickly consumed adjoining stores and went to five
alarms, bringing more than 200 firefighters to the scene. Extremely warm weatherand a deep-seated blaze hampered firefighting operations. The incident took nearly three hours to bring undercontrol.
- Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
FDNYcompanies in the Hollis section of Queens battled an allhands fire in a private dwelling on August 21, 2023. Units responded to the 201st Street address just before 0930 to find a fire in the
basement, possibly involving a lithium-ion battery. Two extra truck companies were needed forextensive overhaul.
- Fire News photos by FirstOnScenePhotos.com
The Dutchess County Fairwas held in Rhinebeck from August 22 to August 27, 2023. It was great to see all the livestock, acts, great foods, rides, and my favorite: the Dutchess County Firefighting Museum. This is a must see if you plan to head up to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds orto next year’s event (opening day will be August 20, 2024). This year, the museum displayed a Millerton Fire
Department 1892 Hose Cart, Pine Plains Fire Department 1899 Laddertruck, Rhinebeck's 1859 Hand Pumper(Old Pokie), the Texaco 1955 2nd edition pumper(which served the Texaco research centerin Beacon), and many otherartifacts that go back to early 1900s.
- Fire News photos courtesy of Vincent Galvin, VPDutchess County Firefighter's Museum
Firematic Supply Co. Inc., a leading provider of firefighting equipment and services, is excited to announce its acquisition of Churchville Fire Equipment, a prominent supplier of fire and emergency response products. This strategic merger brings together two industry leaders with a shared commitment to enhancing public s afety and serving those who protect us all.
The acquisition of Churchville Fire Equipment marks a significa nt milestone for Firematic Supply Co. Inc. as it expands its reach to the entire state of New York, and strengthens its position in the firefighting equipment market. By combining resources, expertise, and product offerings, Firematic aims to provide an even more comprehensive range of solutions to fire departments, emergency services, and other public safety organizations.
Churchville Fire Equipment has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality firefighting gear and apparatus, coupled with exceptional customer service. Firematic Supply Co. Inc. is dedi cated to upholding these standards and further elevating the level of service that customers have come to expect.
“We are thrilled to welcome Churchville Fire Equipment into the Firematic family,” said Peter Hanratty, President of Firematic Supply Company. “This acquisition aligns with our ongoing commitment t o
ensuring the safety and preparedness of our communities. By combining our strengths, we are better positioned to serve the needs of firefighters and emergency responders with top-notch products and support.”
As a part of the acquisition, Churchville Fire Equipment’s team will continue to play an integral role in maintaining the compa ny’s strong presence and contributing to Firematic Supply Company’s growth. Customers of both companies can look forward to an expanded range of products, enhanced technical support, and streamlined procurement processes. Firematic Supply Co. Inc.’s dedication to innovation and excellence, coupled with Churchville Fire Equipment’s legacy of exceptional service, creates a synergy th at promises to advance the capabilities of fire departments and em ergency responders.
For more information about Firematic Supply Co. Inc, visit Firematic.com.
On August 25, 2023, Rochesterfirefighters were dispatched to Joseph Avenue forthe report of smoke coming from a building. On arrival companies found heavy smoke coming from a single-story commercial building. Lines were stretched and crews made entry to the building but were removed as the fire quickly spread through-
out the building. Asecond alarm was struck as crews worked to check and protect exposures as the roof collapsed. Multiple master streams were put into operation and the fire was quickly knocked down. - Fire News photos by PuckStopperPhotography.com
The GreaterBuffalo Pipes and Drums Unit participated in the funeral forLieutenant Jeffery Shade of the Bradford Township (PA) Police Department on August 11, 2023. Lieutenant Shade died
in the line duty on August 4, 2023. He was a 32-yearveteran of the department. The unit performed at the funeral service and at the cemetery.
