EMT/Firefighter John McMaster of the Baltimore City (MD) Fire Department will deliver the 119th Annual Conference & FIRE 2025 Expo Keynote Address "The Anatomy of a Collapse – How I Survived" on June 5. The presentation, open to all attendees, will take place in The Oncenter Ballroom at 2:00 p.m. On January 24, 2022, a three-story row home collapsed trapping four members of the BCFD. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Kelsey Sadler, Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth Lacayo, and Lieutenant Paul Butrim died as a result of the collapse. John McMaster was the only survivor. He will join us in Syracuse to discuss how skip breathing and the efforts of his brothers and sisters saved his life.
Visit https://www.nysfirechiefs.com/fire2025keynote to view the full article online.
|
|
NYSAFC Codes Training will be delivered on June 4 & 5 at The Oncenter in Syracuse in conjunction with the 119th Annual Conference & FIRE 2025 Expo. Personnel have the opportunity to earn 16 hours (8 per day) through code enforcement in-service approved courses. This year, course registration includes a Conference Full Term pass.
Visit https://www.nysfirechiefs.com/fire2025codes to view the full article online. |
|
Fire Service Attorneys Terry Hannigan and Mark Butler will once again present two programs during the NYSAFC Conference & Expo at The Oncenter in Syracuse. Accredited “New York State Fire Commissioner Training” will be held on June 4, and the interactive program "Fire Chiefs and Fire District Commissioners: Who’s Really In Charge?” will take place on June 5. Students can register for one or both programs. New for 2025 – course registration includes a Conference Full Term pass.
Visit https://www.nysfirechiefs.com/fire2025commissionertraining to view the full article online. |
The NYSAFC climb to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001, will be held on Friday, June 6 in conjunction with the 119th Annual Conference & FIRE 2025 Expo. This year's climb will be held at a new venue – Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial – next door to the exhibit hall. Also new for this year – if you can't participate in the climb but are attending the expo, consider taking part in a virtual walk. You will receive an honor badge and challenge coin, and walk the exhibit floor (open June 5-7) to show your support. The climb benefits the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and FDNY Counseling Services Unit.
Visit https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/nysafcfire25?bbeml=tp-2bSFl-5S_0yPYZgk4QHpdQ.j9mLQzKu31E-_YrejFes2nA.rk8lHpmXAHkec17O7a_djsA.lVhPEc7eOLUCdlqKBZ8RQ5w to view the full article online.
|
|
|
Former fire administrators warn that suspending in-person NFA firefighter training weakens disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Visit https://www.firerescue1.com/congress-fire-officials-warn-fema-halting-national-fire-academy-training-puts-public-safety-at-risk to view the full article online. |
|
NYSAFC joins in encouraging fire chiefs and fire and emergency services leaders to contact their members of Congress and ask them to reopen the National Fire Academy.
Visit https://www.nysfirechiefs.com/blog_home.asp?Display=144 to view the full article online. |
|
The bill is aimed at strengthening recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in New York.
Visit https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2025/03/12/tenney-introduces-bill-to-boost-tax-free-benefits-for-volunteer-firefighters-amid-ny-shortage/ to view the full article online. |
|
Binghamton Firefighter John Gaudet, 40, was hit by debris when a wall collapsed at a fire last month.
Visit https://www.firehouse.com/lodds/news/55275071/man-indicted-for-murder-for-fire-that-killed-binghamton-ny-firefighter to view the full article online. |
|
Dash cam video shows traffic stopping as the Medford Fire Department truck, with its lights and sirens on, proceeds through an intersection, then hits a sedan.
Visit https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/medford-long-island-fire-truck-deadly-crash/ to view the full article online. |
|
The New York State Comptroller’s Office says the former chief stole money from the Marbletown Volunteer Fire Department in Newark for years before being caught.
Visit https://www.whec.com/top-news/former-fire-chief-in-wayne-county-accused-of-stealing-over-100k-from-his-department/ to view the full article online. |
|
The departments faced complaints over alleged Confederate flag displays and unlawful applications asking about citizenship and felony history.
Visit https://www.firerescue1.com/legal/n-y-fds-to-pay-fines-for-displaying-confederate-flag-discriminatory-policies to view the full article online. |
|
A new comprehensive study on the city of Troy’s fire response services finds staffing remains a problem.
Visit https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-03-13/staffing-at-troy-fire-department-remains-a-concern-a-new-study-reports to view the full article online. |
|
At least four wildfires erupted, burning an estimated 600 acres.
Visit https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/10/long-island-wildfires-police-investigation-arson/82218613007/ to view the full article online. |
|
The Ontario County Sheriff says the 19-year-old intentionally set a dumpster on fire and then responded to put it out.
Visit https://www.whec.com/top-news/its-hard-to-believe-mother-of-firefighter-accused-of-setting-fire-and-responding-to-put-it-out/ to view the full article online. |
| 
|
|
2025 BLS and ALS Protocol Updates.
Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nfc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=871931&issueID=107734 to view the full article online. |
|
Schedules and workshop details are now available for this year's series, hosted by NYS DHSES and NYSAFC. Single-day conferences are scheduled this spring for Monroe, Saratoga, and Suffolk Counties.
Visit https://www.nysfirechiefs.com/pubedtraining to view the full article online. |
|
Albany County is launching a Fire Service Academy Pilot Program. Officials said trainees will learn the basics of firefighting, gain valuable emergency readiness skills, provide wildfire response skills to current firefighters, and encourage interest among those who may want to become a firefighter.
Visit https://www.news10.com/news/albany-county/albany-county-launches-free-fire-service-training-program/ to view the full article online. |
|
In the Rochester area, some fire departments are working with strength coaches and trainers with a goal of helping them stay strong, healthy, and safe.
Visit https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2025/03/02/firefighter--fitness--injury--prevention?cid=share_twitter to view the full article online. |
|
First responders gathered recently to pay tribute to retiring Arlington Fire Chief Bill Steenbergh.
Visit https://midhudsonnews.com/2025/03/03/arlington-fire-chief-steenbergh-ends-34-year-career-video/ to view the full article online. |
|
Rescue 2 went into service on March 1, 1925, providing service to Brooklyn and all of New York City.
Visit https://www.nyc.gov/site/fdny/news/Y30125/the-fdny-celebrates-100th-anniversary-rescue-2-brooklyn to view the full article online. |
|
County legislator Mel Chesbro and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay recently joined in honoring Danny Dunn for his service with the Phoenix Fire Department.
Visit https://oswegocountytoday.com/politics/barclay-opinion/leader-barclay-honors-danny-dunn-60-years-of-service-to-phoenix-fire-dept-beyond/ to view the full article online. |
Staying on top of numerous legislative and best practice changes is one of the biggest policy challenges for fire and EMS leaders. But it's essential to staying legally compliant, delivering the highest quality, professional service, and maintaining community trust. At Lexipol, legal and policy development experts continuously monitor changes to both federal and state statutes and regulations, as well as changes in case law and NFPA standards. Members can download a tip sheet from NYSAFC partner Lexipol to identify five policy trends every fire and EMS leader should be aware of.
Visit https://info.lexipol.com/l/171882/2025-03-11/71z5k2 to view the full article online.
|
|