Firefighter Christine Marinaccio was part of a team of Batavia Local 896 firefighters who participated this past weekend in the American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb at the Main Place Tower in Buffalo.
Marinaccio won the trophy for Fastest Female Firefighter, beating out the other women in the climb up the 24-floor staircase. Her time was seven minutes and 27 seconds. The five-member team raised $2,100 for the ALA.
Press release:
City Manager Jason Molino announced today that Stefano (Steve) Napolitano has accepted the position of the City’s new fire chief.
Chief Napolitano will be leaving his current position as Deputy Fire Chief for the Village of Herkimer and begin his Batavia post on April 17.
“It has been a long and thorough search to fill this important position with the City’s fire department,” Molino said. “Steve brings with him a great breadth and depth of experience in the fire service and has the proven skills and passion for leadership that we’ve been looking for. I look forward to introducing him to our community.”
In addition to his 25 years with Herkimer’s fire department, Chief Napolitano has served as a New York State Fire Instructor since 2006. He continues to conduct training at the State Academy of Fire Sciences in Montour Falls.
Napolitano also worked as Deputy Director of the Herkimer County Office of Emergency Services from 2008 through 2015 where he assisted in development, revision and implementation of local disaster and emergency management plans, along with assisting in 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.
Chief Napolitano, who has two adult children; a daughter, Alyssa and a son, Steven, will relocate to Batavia.
“I anticipate becoming an integral member of the community and immersing myself in various civic organizations,” Napolitano said. “In addition, the City is experiencing many quality of life enhancements, and along with being able to work with an outstanding group of men and women in providing critical services to the citizens of Batavia, I’m looking forward to taking advantage of all the community has to offer.”
Molino also thanked Interim Chief Dan Herberger who has served in the temporary capacity for a little more than a year, saying “Chief Herberger has proven himself to be an outstanding senior leader and integral member of our management team.”
Molino added that Herberger contributed immensely not only to the fire department but to the entire City through his wisdom, work ethic and incredible sense of commitment.
Press release:
City Manager Jason Molino announced today that Stefano (Steve) Napolitano has accepted the position of the City’s new fire chief. Chief Napolitano will be leaving his current position as Deputy Fire Chief for the Village of Herkimer, NY, and begin his Batavia post on April 17, 2017.
“It has been a long and thorough search to fill this important position with the City’s fire department,” said Molino. “Steve brings with him a great breadth and depth of experience in the fire service and has the proven skills and passion for leadership that we’ve been looking for. I look forward to introducing him to our community.”
In addition to his 25 years with Herkimer’s fire department, Chief Napolitano has served as a New York State Fire Instructor since 2006. He continues to conduct training at the State Academy of Fire Sciences in Montour Falls, NY. Napolitano also worked as Deputy Director of the Herkimer County Office of Emergency Services from 2008 through 2015 where he assisted in development, revision and implementation of local disaster and emergency management plans, along with assisting in the county 911 dispatch communication center and the administration of the county’s mutual aid plan, mutual aid radio system and state fire training.
Chief Napolitano, who has two adult children; a daughter, Alyssa and a son, Steven, will relocate to Batavia. “I anticipate becoming an integral member of the community and immersing myself in various civic organizations,” said Napolitano. “In addition, the City is experiencing many quality of life enhancements, and along with being able to work with an outstanding group of men and women in providing critical services to the citizens of Batavia, I’m looking forward to taking advantage of all the community has to offer.”
Molino also thanked Interim Chief Dan Herberger who has served in the temporary capacity for a little more than a year. “Chief Herberger has proven himself to be an outstanding senior leader and integral member of our management team.” Molino went on to say that Herberger contributed immensely not only to the fire department but to the entire City through his wisdom, work ethic and incredible sense of commitment.
City firefighters are continuing to collect Toys for Tots at the Fire Hall on Evans Street, Batavia.
Photo: via City of Batavia Firefighters - IAFF Local 896
Hailey Kirkpatrick, one of the winners of City Fire's annual fire safety poster contest, got a special ride in a fire truck to Batavia Middle School today with firefighters Greg Ireland and Matt Pillsbury.
Yesterday, Xavian Cramer got a ride to John Kennedy School and tomorrow Lillian Clarke gets a ride to Jackson School.
Winners of City fire's annual fire safety poster contest were at the Fire Hall yesterday for their pizza party and tour and demonstrations of firefighting equipment.
The winners:
Photo and info submitted by Batavia Fire Department.
The Memphis Belle, a New York State Police rescue helicopter, was in Batavia today for a short training session with City of Batavia firefighters in the parking lot next to Falleti Ice Arena. The training, which did not include any flying, covered the apparatus on the helicopter and how it worked and how the helicopter was used in various rescue scenarios.
The helicopter crew is Trooper Jamie Schweiger and Trooper Adam Marciniak (top photo, left and center). Dan Cordell, a Department of Environmental Conservation forest ranger, is a trained crew chief, and he was also on hand to talk about his role in rescues. A crew chief directs much of the operations during a rescue.
Press release:
On Tuesday, Nov. 8th beginning at approximately 10 a.m. the City of Batavia Fire Department and the New York State Police Aviation Unit will be conducting training in the area of Evans Street. During this training residents can expect to see and hear a low-flying helicopter in the area.
Press release:
The City of Batavia Fire Department is sponsoring the fourth annual Fire Prevention Week Poster Coloring Contest. This coloring contest is open to students from grades K – 5.
“Our hope is to get the children to discuss fire safety with their teachers and fellow students, as well as parents and guardians,” said City fire Lt. Greg Ireland. "Information has been distributed to City schools, but we wanted to include any City area home-schooled children as well."
Copies of the official coloring page and contest rules can be picked up at City Fire Headquarters, 18 Evans St. All eligible students are encouraged to participate.
The 2016 Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15) theme is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” Additional information can be found at the Fire Prevention Week website www.FPW.org
Poster submission deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13.
Judging of the posters will take place between Oct. 14 – 16. 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 or by contacting the fire department via email or Lt. Ireland at: gireland@batavianework.com
Press release:
This week is National Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 18-24). As part of the campaign, National Safety Check Saturday will be hosted by the City of Batavia Fire Department this Saturday, Sept. 24, at City of Batavia Fire Headquarters, located at 18 Evans St. in Batavia. It begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.
Nationally Certified Technicians will be able to ensure your child passenger's seat is installed correctly and answer any questions caregivers may have regarding installation, selection and the use of car seats.
Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 through 12. Most tweens (8- to 12-year-olds) seriously injured or killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts or were wearing them incorrectly. Tweens are also more likely to get hurt in crashes when riding in the front seat. Many deaths and injuries could be prevented if children were properly secured in an appropriate child restraint.
Many parents and caregivers assume they know how to choose and use the correct child restraints for their children, but sadly these restraints are frequently used incorrectly. In fact, three out of every four children are riding at an increased risk of injury because their car seats are not being used correctly.
As always, technicians are available by calling Fire Headquarters at (585) 345-6375 to schedule an appointment.
When I left Batavia High School, where the Genesee Symphony Orchestra was rehearsing last evening, I spotted Ladder 15 over at Dwyer Stadium, so I drove over and found firefighters there doing some training.
Pictured from left are: Chief Dan Herberger, Lt. Greg Ireland, Firefighter Mark Holley, Firefighter Sean Huggins, Firefighter Matt Morasco, Firefighter Ryan Clair, Firefighter David Pollock, Firefighter Matt Pillsbury, and Capt. Robert Fix II.
Press release:
City of Batavia Fire Department held its inaugural swearing-in ceremony on July 7th at fire headquarters. Interim Chief Dan Herberger delivered the oath office that evening to the six newest firefighters and two newly promoted fire officers.
The firefighters' range of hire is from May 2015 to April 2016 and the officers were promoted in June 2015.
Members being sworn-in also had their badge pinned by a family member or Chief Herberger.
Firefighters would like to thank all special guests who attended and especially family members for being so supportive.
Special guests in attendance were Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Councilman Brooks Hawley, City Manager Jason Molino, Batavia Police Chief Shawn Heubusch, Public Works Director Matt Worth, and Fire Department Chaplain Kenneth Comer.
City firefighters have two new buildings that they can use for training because they are scheduled to be demolished.
Today, a crew practiced a second-floor window escape. The scenario is that a fire has expanded and blocked the stairwell, so the only way out is through a window. A few years ago, the state required fire departments to acquire the necessary equipment to make such escapes possible after a tragedy in NYC where firefighters had to jump from the upper story windows of a burning building.
The new Ladder 15 was used in the training, but only as a safety backup. Typically, the urgency of the situation and the fact Ladder 15 would be tied up on other tasks at the fire scene would mean it wouldn't be available to hoist a backup rope to safety.
In this scenario, firefighters knocked a hole in a bedroom wall to expose a beam they could use as an anchor for a rope.
The two former houses are on West Main Street, just west of Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. The dealership acquired the property to further expand its new car lot. Demolition is scheduled to begin June 20.
Before then, Batavia's Emergency Response Team will also use the houses for training and drills.
Castilone also just signed a contract to acquire the property at the corner of West Main and Vernon Avenue. That property was once proposed as a new location for an Arby's Restaurant, but the plan met stiff opposition from Vernon Avenue residents. Steve Castilone said he also already met with neighborhood representatives and discussed his plans with them.
"I sat down with them and I told them all, ‘whatever is going to make you people happy, I’ll do,' " he said. " 'If I do something that makes you unhappy, I’ll change it. If I put a light up and it shines in your windows, I’ll move it.’ They asked me to not put a driveway on their street and I said when I’m done I’ll close the driveway off. They were delighted. What would you rather have, a drive-thru Arby’s on the corner or stationary parked cars?”
City firefighters were out at about 8:30 last night training with the new truck that will become Ladder 15 early next month and with all the lights on, it was a great chance to get some pictures of what it looks like at night.
This week, city firefighters will be training in Batavia's new ladder truck.
Representatives of E-One, the company that delivered the truck, will be on hand to train firefighters on all aspects of the truck's operations and equipment.
"As with any new piece of equipment detailed and repetitive training is required to develop the 'muscle memory'that enables the CBFD to perform in a proficient and expeditious manner under emergency conditions," said Capt. Robert Fix.
As part of the training, crews will set the truck up at various locations throughout the city over the next week. At times, this may cause some roadway lane restrictions as well as minor inconveniences near mid-rise and high-rise buildings, Fix said.
The new truck is expected to be in service by June 1.
(Yes, I was given a ride all the way up the 100-foot ladder.)
Members of the Batavia City Firefighters from IAFF Local 896 will fan out across the streets with boots in hand for this year’s drive on Friday, June 3rd.
Batavia’s Fill the Boot drive is organized by firefighter Chris Morasco.
“In 2015, our members with the generous help of the community were able to raise $7,523 for the MDA! We are going to try our best to top the $10,000 mark for this great cause," Morasco said.
The event is from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Main Street and Court Street and at Ellicott Street and Court Street.
Pictured with city firefighters are Patti Arroyo and her daughter Zoey.
They are a local family that has been touched by the MDA directly. They met with firefighters to explain how the MDA has helped them.
"It was a great opportunity to put a face to the cause and see that our efforts are truly making a difference and changing lives," Morasco said.
City firefighters were at a house on Ganson Avenue this afternoon for training. The house is scheduled for demolition in a couple of weeks, but before it comes down, City crews will use it for numerous training drills.
Today's scenario was dealing with a first-floor fire at a time (such as the middle of the night) when there might be people upstairs sleeping. While one crew attacks the fire, another enters through a second-story window and searches for anybody who might be trapped, injured or just sleeping and unaware of the fire.
Peter Yasses, 81, a 23-year veteran of the Batavia City Fire Department, was lain to rest today and his funeral procession was escorted from the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home on Bogue Avenue to St. Joe's Cemetery by Ladder 15. Yasses passed away Wednesday. For his full obituary, click here.
City firefighters got a first look at their new ladder truck today as it stopped by the fire hall on its trip to Hamburg, where it will receive final setup before being ready to go into service.
After that setup and training for fire crews, it will go into service, about a month from now.
The truck is a dealer's demo built in early 2015 and cost the city $912,000.
A group of city firefighters will climb 38 floors, 800 steps, in Buffalo on March 12 to help raise funds for the American Lung Association.
The effort is part of the Fight for Air Climb and takes place at the HSBC Tower.
Firefighers have an increased risk for lung disease, including lung cancer, from the exposure to gases, chemicals and smoke in the line of duty. Funds will be used for research, education and patient programs to assist firefighters.
The Fight for Air Climb has so far raised $114,000 and Batavia Local 896 has raised $1,372.
To donate, visit fightforairclimb.org and enter Batavia L896 in search.
Pictured are Jerry Yoder, Adam Palumbo, Christine Marinaccio and Zack Gowanlock.
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