City Fire

Christina Matrella demonstrates how to provide first aid to a baby who is choking for state fire officials who spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Batavia for a series of training classes.

The classes, which included a range of topics, including hazardous material, provides state officials with uniform training that they can use to better assist and support local fire departments.

There are more than 200 state fire officials now, said Deputy Chief Brian Benstead, and getting them all in one place at one time for training and meetings can be difficult, so the agency is trying regional meetings and Batavia was chosen as a location in Western New York this training session.

"This is primarily our safety training like anyone else goes through, just like any other fire department or police department goes through on a regular basis," Benstead said. "Ours is enhanced by the fact that this is how we make that connection to the local communities and how we support them."

About 20 fire officials were in Batavia for the two days, staying at local hotels and eating at local restaurants.

The training was held at Batavia's fire headquarters.

Chief Stefano Napolitano said he was proud the state chose Batavia for a meeting location.

Olivia Bezon's classmates cheered when Engine 11 pulled into the parking lot at St. Joseph's School this morning with the first-grader as a passenger.

As a winner in the City Fire Department's fire protection poster contest, Olivia got the ride in the fire truck this morning as part of her prize.

Press release:

This week members of the New York State Department of Homeland Security, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, were in the City of Batavia to train members of the Fire Department in Confined Space Rescues.

This course provided practical training in confined-space hazards; air monitoring and ventilation; space isolation techniques; personal protective equipment, including both supplied air, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and respirators, as well as retrieval systems and retrieval methods. Practical evolutions enabled the members to evaluate a specific confined-space incident and perform the necessary procedures to safely and effectively rescue the victim.

Several confined space entries occur at businesses throughout the City each week. After completing this four-day, 32-hour course, the City of Batavia Fire Department now has 23 new Confined Space Rescue technicians ready to respond 24 hours a day should an incident occur. 

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department is reminding everyone to change their clocks and change their smoke alarm batteries.

Daylight Savings Time ends this Saturday, Nov. 5th at 2 a.m.

“When you turn your clocks back one hour, it’s a great time to make sure your smoke alarms are working properly and to change the batteries,” said Chief Stefano Napolitano, City of Batavia fire chief.

“Plus with winter quickly approaching and most everyone turning their heating systems on, it also makes this an ideal time to make sure your heating system is working properly. This is a great opportunity to check your carbon monoxide detectors as well.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 71 percent of smoke alarms which failed to operate had missing, disconnected or dead batteries.

Fire Prevention Officer for the City of Batavia Fire Department, Lieutenant Greg Ireland, knows how this simple but important task can be overlooked.

“As parents, we’ve got a lot on our minds -- jobs, busy schedules, mealtime; so it’s easy to let home fire safety slip from our radars. You never think a fire will strike your home, but it certainly could and it’s important to take as many proactive steps as we can to protect our families.”

The City of Batavia Fire Department would like to see every home in our community equipped with a working smoke detector. If you do not have a smoke detector or if you are unsure the batteries are working properly, members of the City of Batavia Fire Department will come to your home and ensure that you have a working smoke detector, absolutely free of charge.

Call (585) 345-6375 to set up an in-home appointment.

“The message is simple,” Chief Napolitano said. “Change your clock, change your batteries. Using that extra hour is a perfect time to do it.”

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, Oct. 30, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area north of Main Street and east of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected.

These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.

The children who were winners in the fire prevention poster contest sponsored by City of Batavia firefighters were invited to the station today for a pizza party and a tour of the fire hall.

For a list of winners, click here.

Press release:

City of Batavia firefighters are proud to announce the winners of their 5th Annual Fire Prevention Contest.

Two groups well known for their stellar response times, the Batavia Fire Department and Domino’s Pizza, have joined forces for Fire Prevention week Oct. 8^th to the 14^th.

Some people ordering Domino’s pizza were surprised when Engine 12 showed up to deliver their pizza. Ryan and Mark form the Batavia FD asked the customers that ordered pizza if they could inspect their smoke alarms. If the alarms were in working order, Domino’s would give them their pizza for free. If the alarms were not in working order, the Batavia FD would replace the battery or provide the residence with a free smoke detector.

Either way it’s a win for the lucky Domino’s customers. Batavia FD fireman Ryan, who became a fireman because his house burnt down, said at the first house they arrived at he heard a chirping smoke detector as they approached the door. That house now has a working smoke detector.

The Batavia FD also handed out fire hats and badges to the children they met when they delivered pizzas.

As they delivered pizza to our residence they were called away to a possible fire with smoke in a basement. After the call was cleared the firemen returned to make good on inspecting the smoke detectors and showing the children the fire truck.

This is a great example of business and local services working together for the good of the community they both serve. The only down side is your pizza may be cold by the time you are done explaining to your concerned neighbors why there was a fire truck in front of your house.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on: Tuesday, Oct. 10th, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area south of Main Street and east of Jackson Street; on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 11th and 12th, in the general area north of Main Street and East of Bank Street.

Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Monday, Oct. 2, from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area west of Bank Street and north of West Main Street.

Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department is sponsoring the 5th Annual Fire Prevention Week Coloring Contest. This coloring contest is open to students from grades kindergarten – five.

“Our hope is to get the children to discuss fire safety with their teachers, other students and parents/guardians.” 

Information has been distributed to City schools, but we wanted to include any City area homeschooled children as well. Copies of the official coloring page and contest rules can be picked up at City Fire Headquarters, 18 Evans St. We encourage all eligible students to participate.

The 2017 Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14) theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” Additional information can be found at the Fire Prevention Week website www.FPW.org

“We all practice fire drills at work, at school; but how many of us have actually practiced a fire drill at home?”

“Practicing Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH) is important for the entire family. Drawing a map of your home, knowing two ways out of every room and having a meeting place outside where all family members can gather in case of an emergency are important steps that all families should practice.” 

Any posters wishing to be entered need to be at the Fire Station located at 18 Evans St. in Batavia no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12.

Judging of the posters will take place Oct. 13th – 15th. The winner of each group will receive a ride to school on a City fire engine, and be invited to a special awards luncheon with their family held at the fire station. Second- and third-place finishers in each group will also be invited to the fire station awards luncheon.

The best of luck to the students! Full rules are available at the City of Batavia Fire Department on Evans Street in Batavia or by contacting us via email. (gireland@batavianework.com)

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants on Thursday Sept. 14 from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area west of Bank Street and north of West Main Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants Monday –Wednesday, Sept. 18 – 20 from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the general area west of Jackson Street and south of West Main Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As in the past, please do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about five minutes or until clear.

A couple of City firefighters today had Ladder 15 in the parking lot of Yancey's Fancy on Evans Street to practice with one of the truck's unusual capabilities, lifting the front wheels off the ground.

Typically, if firefighters wanted to swing the bucket to the rear of the truck and lower it to the ground, the negative angle would only be 5 percent.  With wheels up, the bucket can reach a negative angle of 20 percent.

That might come in handy if the bucket was needed, say, to rescue somebody from Tonawanda Creek, or down in a gully or any situation where the truck was being used on a slope and the bucket needed to be lowered to the ground. The old Ladder 15 didn't have a frame strong enough to handle this maneuver.

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today announced $236,072 in federal funding for the City of Batavia Fire Department. The grant was awarded through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, which is designed to help first responders improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.

“The AFG program helps community fire departments access federal funding to protect their members and keep the communities they serve safe,” Congressman Chris Collins said. “This is an excellent and prudent use of federal money and it provides a tremendous service to communities here in New York’s 27^th Congressional District.

"I was proud to work with the City of Batavia Fire Department to secure this $236,072 in AFG funding and thank them for the selfless service they provide.”

The City of Batavia Fire Department will use this $236,072 federal grant to purchase 25 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air packs. This will provide the City of Batavia Fire Department with breathable air when responding to an emergency situation.

“This important grant funding will help us purchase equipment that will keep our firefighters safe and allow them to better protect the City of Batavia and surrounding communities,” said Stefano Napolitano, chief of the City of Batavia Fire Department.

“We appreciate Congressman Collins efforts on behalf of our local first responders and look forward to continuing to work with him to secure important grant funding for our department in the future.”

The AFG Grant Program provides direct funding assistance to fire departments, State Fire Training Academies, and non-affiliated EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of both the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.

Members of the Batavia City Firefighters, IAFF Local 896, were on Ellicott Street and Main Street in Batavia today for their annual Fill the Boot campaign to benefit MDA.

UPDATE: The firefighters raised $10,651.52.

Photos by Frank Capuano.

File photo from 2016.

Press release:

Members of the Batavia City firefighters from IAFF Local 896 will fan out across the streets of Downtown Batavia with boots in hand for this year's donation drive on Friday, June 2^nd.

Batavia’s Fill the Boot drive is organized by firefighter Chris Morasco. Proceeds benefit the Muscular Dystophy Association.

“In 2016, we set out to break the $10,000 mark," Morasco said. "Our members, with the help of our generous community were successful and able to raise $10,574.74 for the MDA! Look for us Friday!”

From 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., city firefighters will be at the intersection of Main Street (Route 5) and Court Street, and also at Ellicott Street (Route 63) and Court Street collecting donations for MDA.

With creek water running high, Capt. Bob Fix wanted to use the opportunity this week for swift water training for City of Batavia firefighters.

This morning, a crew assembled on the banks of the Tonawanda just off South Lyon Street to first practice keeping themselves safe in the water and then work at grabbing a floating person and hauling him to shore.

The safety training involved floating down the stream feet first and then trying to climb over a boom (simulating a log in the water). Fix wanted firefighters to see that if they encountered such an obstacle in a real-life situation, they could never pull themselves over it. On the next evolution, the firefighters swam hard right at the "log" and then propelled themselves over it.

At the end of seven days on the job, City Fire's new chief Stefano (Steve) Napolitano said he likes what he sees -- he likes what he sees of the City of Batavia and he thinks the local fire department is filled with good people from the rank and file up to the line officers.

"This city is very well served by the men and women of this department," Napolitano said. "I can tell you that in seven days of being here, talking with them, of working with them, meeting them, watching them, listening to them, this city is very well served by these fine men and women here."

He said the department was in good hands for the past 16 months with Dan Herberger serving as interim chief and he takes over a department that is in good shape. Right now, he's getting to know department policies and procedures, but he doesn't anticipate any big changes in operations.

"I don’t see any need to change anything and if were are gong to change anything it will be consensual among officers and the rank and file to see where we can improve, what we can improve and what services we can offer," Napolitano said.

The rise to chief comes after a 25-year career in Herkimer that took him from a rookie firefighter to assistant chief. Over that span he attended more than 600 career-related classes and earned a master's degree in executive fire service management.

A lot of young firefighters start out thinking they would like to rise to the rank of chief, but Napolitano stuck with the career path. This is his first chief assignment.

"It's a great feeling when you finally get here on one aspect and it’s a huge unnerving feeling on the other aspect knowing that you are responsible for the lives and property of 15,000-plus people and the men and women in the fire department," Napolitano said. "I’m responsible not only to the citizens but to these men and women, and these men and women’s families, to make sure that our firefighters are safe and that they get home at the end of their tour."

Napolitano said he recognizes his fiduciary responsibility to manage taxpayer money well and make sure it is spent wisely and to its proper purpose. He's also motivated, having worked hard to make it to the top, to work hard at being the best chief he can be.

"It's a great feeling being here," Napolitano said. "I feel I've accomplished a goal, but my goal is not just to have the position, but to excel at the position, to enhance the department."

Napolitano isn't married. He has a lady friend in Herkimer with a son who is a junior in high school, so she's staying in Herkimer for the time being and they'll spend weekends together. He's rented an apartment in town and is getting settled in.

His friend and Napolitano's family were part of the decision on whether to take the job in Batavia, he said.

"She and the rest of my family were definitely behind me taking the position," Napolitano said. "I made sure. I said I’m not going to do this unless you guys are supporting me. I don’t think a person is anything without their family. I’ve got a good support system."

He said he's enjoyed exploring the city, getting to know the local restaurants and finding out more about the community.

"I've really enjoyed myself so far," Napolitano said. "The city's a cute city. It's a cute city with a lot of amenities. I think it's just going to keep getting better and better."

Anne Stefaniak, City fire's first female firefighter, who joined the department April 13, 1997, is retiring.

A farm girl from Attica, Stefaniak said she grew up a bit tomboyish and thought becoming a firefighter -- with its physical work, problem-solving requirements and helping-people aspect, would suit her. She wasn't trying to do anything special.

"I wasn’t trying to cause waves or blaze trails," Stefaniak said. "I just wanted a chance to do something I thought would fit me and I would really want to do, and I was right. I love it. I still love it to this day. I’ll miss it terribly."

Yesterday, barring an emergency call between now and Saturday, was Stefaniak's last official day of duty.

She's retiring right at 20 years, she said, because it will allow her to devote more time to her youngest children, two daughters -- a junior and a senior at Batavia High School, and because of health concerns associated with being a firefighter.

"Cancer rates are so much higher for firefighters," Stefaniak said. "Twenty years is long enough to poke that bear and take that risk."

Growing up on a farm prepared her well for the job, she said.

"I’ve never been a girly girl, like prissy, do my hair, do my nails or makeup, and you definitely can’t be that way if you are in this job," she said.

She said it's always been in her nature to try to get through, get around, get over barriers and obstacles, which is part of what's involved in firefighting, but it's also a job that involves people and helping people, and that appealed to her, too.

"I like to help if I can and this gives you an opportunity to do that," Stefaniak said. "I feel really blessed."

Stefaniak said there were some adjustments members made when she joined the department and that wasn't always easy.

"I think it was rough on the guys, too," Stefaniak said. "It’s a small town and they never thought they’d have to work with a girl."

It was the older department members who welcomed her into the fold first, she said.

"In the long run, the oldest guys became my best friends because they were very much 'if you can do the job, then welcome,' " Stefaniak said. " 'If you can’t, get out.' That’s how they treated any new guy."

Since she didn't set out to be any kind of example, she just wanted a chance to be a firefighter, she didn't think much about that aspect of what she was doing, but looking back, she's proud to have been in that position.

"When people tell me it made an impression, yeah," she said. "I didn’t realize at the time or even until I hear it, but yeah. It’s probably good they didn’t tell me that I'm ahead of time because I would have felt like pressure to be that (a role model), but it was like just good to do my thing and find out after the fact."

When asked if he wanted to be a firefighter since he was a little kid, Stefano “Steve” Napolitano wasted no time in responding.

“One hundred percent correct,” he said. “When I was 6 years old, my uncle John – we lived in Long Island then – took me to the fire station where he worked and when I saw those giant, red fire trucks, I said, ‘Oh, my God.’ Ever since then,

Napolitano’s dream came true at the tender age of 18 when he was accepted as a volunteer firefighter with the Frankfort fire company, and he progressed through the ranks to become the deputy fire chief for the Village of Herkimer.

In less than a month, April 17^th to be exact, he will continue his firefighting journey when he begins his tenure as chief of the City of Batavia Fire Department.

“There is a renaissance that is taking place (in Batavia) and a quality of life improvement, and as far as public safety is concerned we want to enhance that to continue to attract industry and mom-and-pop businesses,” he said.

Napolitano, a Queens native who has lived in the Mohawk Valley for about 45 of his 50 years (he turned 50 on March 13^th), said he appreciated the thorough process that resulted in his hiring by City Manager Jason Molino.

“It has been a long process; we started in September of last year,” he said. “They did an outstanding job of vetting people, and by the grace of God, I was fortunate enough to be chosen. I look forward to working with an outstanding group of individuals in the fire department and those who are part of the executive team.”

Napolitano sees himself as a “boots on the ground-type firefighter” but he also has continually taken steps to educate himself on the finer points of firefighting.

A mechanical engineer by trade, he has used his expertise to design fire trucks, consult on fire equipment and coordinate major projects. He said he has spent hundreds of hours in classroom training en route to becoming a certified code enforcement officer and state fire instructor.

His varied background – he’s been with the Herkimer fire department for 25 years -- also includes a stint as deputy director the Herkimer County Office of Emergency Services from 2008-2015, where he assisted with local disaster and emergency management plans, the county 9-1-1 dispatch communication center and the administration of the county’s mutual aid plan, mutual aid radio system and state fire training.

In 1996, he founded Advanced Technologies, a company that served as a regional fire equipment distributor offering quality products at fair market prices. He recently sold it to Herkimer Industries, a divison of the Herkimer ARC, a nonprofit agency servicing those with disabilities and special needs. Napolitano continues to serve as a consultant to company officials.

Calling his hiring “a promotion in so many ways,” Napolitano said he looks forward to meeting the 40 or so members of the Batavia department and “coming in to enhance the great things they are already doing.”

“Just look at the department’s Facebook page and you can see how much they are involved in community service projects,” he said.

He also credited Dan Herberger, who had been serving as interim chief, for doing an “outstanding job.”

Napolitano leaves behind a chief and co-workers in Herkimer who have nothing but respect for his knowledge, ability and positive outlook.

“Steve is very well regarded, and very knowledgeable in apparatus, as a state fire inspector, an EMT and deputy chief,” said Herkimer Fire Chief John Stanfelner.

“He was one of my go-to people. I’ve always said that I don’t know everything, so I go to the people who do know. If you ask him a question, he will give you the right answer or do what it takes to give you the answer.”

Napolitano said he is working with a couple of real estate agents to find a place to live in Batavia.

He has two children – a daughter, Alyssa, who just took a job at Oswego State College, and a son, Steve, a third-year student at St. Lawrence University in Canton.

And, by the way, he said to the best of his knowledge he is not related to former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano or Fox News TV personality Judge Andrew Napolitano.