Assemblyman Steve Hawley recently signed on with the Assembly Republican Conference to sponsor legislation that would divert state and federal funds received for COVID-19 relief to frontline firefighters and EMS workers who have been on the clock since the lockdown in New York started.

With these organizations relying heavily on donations and fundraisers to support their services, and with the lockdown draining them of their resources, Hawley wants to ensure these workers are protected and ensure their success.

“During these tough times, with a budget that is struggling to keep up, we need to be provide state and federal funding to those risking their health and safety on the front lines,” Hawley said. “There is just about $90 million that’s been generated from wireless surcharges that is deposited into the state’s General Fund and not used for emergency response purposes; my recommendation is to start there.

“Despite these trying times, it’s important that we keep in sight the health and safety issues that our frontline workers are facing. They need this funding to offset the costs they can’t make back otherwise during this pandemic. The legislation proposed addresses the need for state funding as a result of COVID-19.” 

To further support these frontline workers, Hawley is urging Speaker Heastie and the Chair of Assembly Racing and Waging Committee, Assemblyman Pretlow, to allow a full vote on his Assembly Bill A2250, which would legalize the selling of raffle tickets online for nonprofit organizations who fundraise, such as local firehouses, volunteer organizations, service clubs, or EMS operations.

Press release:

The spring Basic Exterior Firefighter Operations (BEFO) program was held at the Genesee County Fire Training Center. The 79-hour program began in March and concluded on May 15. Fourteen students completed the 79-hour program from eight county departments. 

The BEFO program is an entry level program for the volunteer fire service designed to prepare students to respond to emergencies as exterior firefighters. Students are instructed in fire extinguishers, building construction, forcible entry, ladder deployment, incident command, drafting operations and hazardous materials operations level. In addition, students are trained in ropes and knots, and first aid/CPR. 

Participants included: 

ALABAMA

Press release:

Nineteen firefighters from Genesee County completed an 18-hour Vehicle Rescue: Operations Level training program held over five nights in June; concluding on June 27.

Operations level requires the rescuer to enter the hot zone and perform the rescue in normal-type passenger vehicles.

Student who successful completed the program are able: to demonstrate the ability to perform a situational assessment of the accident scene; to determine what support services, if any, are needed and to determine the effective application of tools, equipment and personnel; recognize existing and/or potential hazards and take appropriate steps to control the same; gain access to the entrapped patient(s); provide for patient assessment and any necessary emergency medical care; assess and perform disentanglement of the patients so as to facilitate patient care, patient packaging and extrication; provide for patient packaging and removal; and assess for and perform patient extrication from the damaged vehicle.  

Participants included:

ALABAMA

Press release:

The Fire Investigation for the Line Officer course is a six-hour, NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control program, which was conducted at the Genesee County Fire Training Center earlier this year.

Forty-three volunteer firefighters completed this program; of those, 32 reside in Genesee County

The program addressed the purpose of fire investigations, the responsibilities of the fire chief, and responsibilities of line officers.

The process used to determine the cause and origin of fires, the importance of scene and evidence preservation, and fire behavior were also discussed.  

The Genesee County residents completing the course were:

ALABAMA

• Richard Brunea

CITY OF BATAVIA

• James Call
• Greg Ireland
• Stefano Napolitano
• Scott T. Maloy 

BERGEN 

• Jared Hicks

BETHANY 

• Gregory W. Johnson
• Peggy J. Johnson
• Richard J. Klunder III
• Christopher M. Page
• Corrie A. Rombaut
• Kyle L. Rombaut

BYRON

• Victor L. Flanagan 
• Zachary Johnson 
• Robert A. Mruczek

DARIEN

• Joe T. Marino
• David W. McGreevy 
• Theresa A. Tesch

EAST PEMBROKE 

• Andrew D. Martin 
• Thomas E. Dix

ELBA 

• Michael Heale
• Nicholas Guarino 
• Christopher P. Lane
• Michael J. Pfendler
• Michael Schad Jr. 
• George M. Underhill

LE ROY

• Thomas E. Feeley

PAVILION

• Kelly Kraft
• Bryen Murrock
• Tyler Schiske
• Jason True    

STAFFORD

• Timothy Eckdahl

Press release:

Several offerings of the Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Refresher course were given across Genesee County over the past few months, providing first responders the opportunity to complete the OSHA required annual refresher.

A total of 148 fire personnel from 11 county fire departments in the area reviewed the competencies for First Responder Awareness and Operations Level Responders.

The competencies included: the nine classes of materials; the use of the U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook; and principles of containment, confinement and extinguishment within the scope of the duties of a first responder at the Operations Level. 

Visit your local fire department to find out more about volunteer opportunities.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Batavia/Genesee Police and Fire Hockey Team participated in the third annual 2018 Police and Fire Ice Hockey Tournament in Buffalo this past weekend.

Twenty teams participated in the tourney, coming to Buffalo from as far south as South Carolina, and as far north as London, Ontario, Canada.

It was another enjoyable, face-paced weekend for our local boys, who played against teams from Canada, Erie County, and Homeland Security.

All our thanks to those who came out and cheered us on! The team was once again sponsored this year by Ken’s Charcoal Pits & BBQ, with many thanks going to Ken Mistler.

Alexander Fire Department

• Matthew F. Grimes                    
• Adam F. Meier                 
• Douglas G. Mess                 
• Heidi L. Richmond                    

Bethany Volunteer Fire Department

• Timothy J. McCabe                    

Darien Center Chemical Fire Company

• Megan R. Brown                    

East Pembroke Fire Department

• Lloyd J. Casselbury

Pavilion Fire Department

• Amanda A. Goodwin                    
• Sean P. Vogt Jr.                    
• Timothy R. Zipfel Jr.                     

South Byron Fire Department

• Aaron N. Belluscio                 
• Theresa E. Hammer                 
• Andew L. Konieczny                 
• Vitorrio J. Muoio                    

Stafford Volunteer Fire Department

• Samantha S. Call                  

TRENCH RESCUE AWARENESS COURSE

Problems that can and do occur in trench rescue incidents were discussed. Safety techniques, shoring techniques, proper procedures, team operations and hazard assessment were addressed.

Trench Rescue Awareness participants included:

This slide show is a collection of some of the photos from 2015 of the fires, accidents, ceremonies and other events involving our first responders in 2015.

It was a year in which law enforcement responded to at least three incidents where officers' calm professionalism, despite the looming risk to their own safety, avoided rash action and prevented the situation from getting worse.

This year, we tragically lost a volunteer in the line of duty, and another had his life threatened, plus whether volunteers or paid personnel, these professionals have sacrificed time away from family, businesses and jobs to respond to both the routine and the difficult calls and they put in countless hours training.

We thank our first responders for keeping us safe and responding when we need them.

There are not as many opportunities to get photos of police officers on the job, but we also want to extend a thank you to the members of our local law enforcement community for all they do to protect and serve.

To find out how to become a volunteer firefighter, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

Firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty were honored Saturday at Pembroke Town Park as part of the four-day Cost of Freedom event held in Pembroke. Genesee County Fire Coordinator Timothy Yaeger applauded those men and women of courage who give unselfishly in aid of others and remembered those who have lost their lives.

Good, reliable firefighting equipment is of course essential. And there are times when that equipment has just as much of a story to tell as those who fight the fires. In this case, it is South Byron’s Rescue 88 vehicle.

“Rescue 88 was just about brand new with the Floral Park Fire Department in Long Island,” Scott Blossom said. “This vehicle was there, on that day, at ground zero.”

The Long Island Fire Department was retiring this truck out of service when South Byron Fire Department was looking to add an ambulance to its inventory.

“This truck was donated. All we had to do was go pick it up,” the Assistant Chief of South Byron Fire Department said. 

Not only did this truck serve New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, this vehicle was also used to bring a life into the world.

“Floral Park (Fire Department) has this neat tradition. They place a stork sticker, with a pink or blue blanket, on their rescue vehicle if a child was born in the ambulance,” Blossom said. “I often wonder how long after 9/11 that baby girl was born in this vehicle.

“Oftentimes, ambulances are on a scene because someone has left this world,” Blossom continued. “I thought it was neat that this one was also used to bring someone into this world.”

In addition to the stork emblem, the ambulance also has an insignia of the badge of one of the Floral Park paramedics who lost his life Sept. 11.

“We’ve had this ambulance for about four or five years now. She’s finally coming up on 50,000 miles,” Blossom said. “She’s a special girl for us.”