The River Reporter

Fire & EMS

Featured Most recent

Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
For all older stories, please use our advanced search.

19 results total, viewing 1 - 19

Shades of days past: old apparatus on display.

Ready to become a volunteer firefighter?

Before diving into an intensive training program with your local fire department, it’s important you’re sure about becoming a volunteer firefighter. To better understand if becoming a … more

By LAURIE STUART | 4/27/22

Thomas Davies, a volunteer firefighter with the Youngsville Fire Department and a member of the Sullivan County Dive & Rescue team, was designated as the primary diver during the recovery operation at White Lake.

Diving: search, rescue and recovery

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — On February 20, a couple of young women riding an almost-new four-wheeler broke through the ice in White Lake during the annual King of the Ice festival. By all … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/27/22

Alex Rau, Sullivan County EMS coordinator, is pictured with Megan Sauer, a firefighter from the Liberty Fire Department, at the February 22 memorial service for William “Billy” Steinberg. Steinberg, a veteran officer with the Forestburgh Fire Department, died in the line of duty while battling a structure fire that was allegedly sparked by an arsonist...

The first first responders

WHITE LAKE, NY — The Sullivan County E-911 Communications Center, a centralized dispatch service, located at the Sullivan County International Airport, was established in 1987. In the early … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/27/22

Chief Warren Wagner also serves as the co-captain of the Dive & Water Rescue Team.

‘We need help desperately; everybody does’

HIGHLAND LAKE, NY — Like most volunteer fire departments in the country, the Highland Lake Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is struggling to retain its roster of active firefighters and to … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/27/22

Assistant chief of the Florida (NY) Fire Department and co-presenter from the Professional Brotherhood, Tom Andryshak joined the fire services as a junior firefighter in 2004.

‘You’ve got to keep ‘em busy’

SWAN LAKE, NY — The big news in the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire during the past few months is the recent announcement of a $250,000 grant. In published reports from January 2022, the … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/27/22

Chris Ramirez, a documentary photographer/cinematographer, was hired by New York State Sen. Mike Martucci to create promotional material for the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire. The mission: to attract volunteers to the local fire service.

Showing ‘The Way Forward’

WURTSBORO, NY — The numbers of folks volunteering for community service are shrinking nationwide. So in the early spring of 2021, the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire established the … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/27/22

Fire & EMS 2022

4/27/22

Alarms save lives

NATIONWIDE — The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week, which takes place October 3–9, is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” According to information published by … more

By TED WADDELL | 10/6/21

Fire company vice-president and line officer/firefighter Russell Yerkes shows a group of youngsters where everything is located in a modern-day fire apparatus, during a 2020 Fire Prevention Week demonstration at the Damascus School.

Learning about fire prevention starts young

BEACH LAKE, PA — Each year in October, during Fire Prevention Week, dedicated members of the Volunteer Fire Company of Beach Lake (VFCBL) visit local preschools and the Damascus School to teach … more

By TED WADDELL | 9/29/21

John Hauschild, Sullivan County fire coordinator and Emergency Services Training Center coordinator, proudly stands in front of the center’s “Flag of Heroes,” which lists the names of the emergency services personnel who gave their lives to save others on September 11, 2001...He is pictured holding a smoke detector and a fire extinguisher, two key elements of fire prevention...“We will always remember and never forget them... the sacrifices that were made by all,” said Hauschild of the roster of heroes.

Practice fire prevention every day

SWAN LAKE, NY — “Fire prevention is very, very important to the community,” said John Hauschild, Sullivan County fire coordinator and the county’s Emergency Services Training … more

By TED WADDELL | 9/29/21

Monticello’s Great Fire of 1909

MONTICELLO, NY — On Tuesday, August 10, 1909, at about 8:30 in the evening, the Village of Monticello was devasted by a fast-moving fire that destroyed most of the businesses, reducing them to … more

By TED WADDELL | 9/29/21

The sounds of safety

NATIONWIDE — Listening to your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms can save your life, the lives of your loved ones or your cherished home and a lifetime of beloved possessions. So if you hear … more

By TED WADDELL | 9/29/21

Guardians of the community. Members of the Yulan Volunteer Fire Department pose by the department’s recently acquired Class A pumper. This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Yulan Fire Department.

Yulan VFD celebrates

YULAN, NY — The Yulan Volunteer Fire Department (YVFD) has a proud history of service to the local community in the Upper Delaware River Valley. According to “In the Eye of the … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Michael Bunce, captain of the Town of Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, served as a United States Marine Corps corpsman before becoming a highly-trained paramedic in civilian life.

The little mouse that roars

COCHECTON, NY — The Town of Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. held its first meeting on December 8, 1969. Chairman James Creegan called the assemblage to order. The corps was … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Sullivan County Division of Public Safety Commissioner Rick Sauer. The division oversees the county’s Office of Emergency Management/Homeland Security, Bureau of Fire, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the E-911 Center. Sauer previously had a noteworthy career with the New York State Police.

Neighbors helping neighbors

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — In 2017, former NYS Trooper Rick Sauer was appointed as Sullivan County’s Commissioner of Public Safety, taking over the helm of the division with more than three … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Alex Rau, Sullivan County E-911 and EMS coordinator, joined the Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps at the age of 16. “We have a great team of public safety people,” said Rau of the 911 Center that serves more than 70 agencies.

‘We’re here for them’

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — As Sullivan County E-911 and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordinator Alex Rau explained, the mission of the bureau is to “provide the leadership, support, … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Sullivan County Fire Commissioner John Hauschild was inspired to join the fire services by his father Donald “Pop” Hauschild, who served for 56 years.

‘You’re giving back to your community’

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — “I was born and raised in the fire service,” said Sullivan County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild, adding that his father Donald “Pop” Hauschild … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Scott “Wally” McGowan serves as chief of the Jeffersonville Volunteer Fire Department Protection Hose Co. No 1. He joined the department as a 16-year-old in 1993, two years before graduating high school.

‘It’s something I always wanted to do’

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — The Jeffersonville Volunteer Fire Department recently received a 50/50 matching grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to purchase a new … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Volunteer fire departments serve their communities in more ways than responding to emergencies. Last year, several local fire departments helped out during a demolition derby at Bethel Motor Speedway by providing safety backup and wetting down the track. Pictured are members of the Kauneonga Lake Fire Department: Ryan Pennell, left, and Bill Pammer with the nozzle.

Calling all volunteers

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Your local volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps need dedicated volunteers every day of the year, 24-7. A recurring theme when talking to folks involved in … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/28/21

Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
For all older stories, please use our advanced search.