Le Roy Fire Department

Nancy Burke (left) shows off a firefighting-themed quilt she made during a fundraising event at Frostridge Campground for the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department. The event included the waterslide (later in the afternoon) and appearance by the department's trucks, a chance auction and food. David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell have hosted an event honoring the fire department volunteers annually for the past several years. Also holding the quilt is Michelle Dries.

Le Roy Jr./ Sr. High School held its third DWI drill to make students think twice before stepping behind the wheel drunk.

The drunken driving simulation emphasized the consequences of a two-vehicle accident that involved six high school students. In the simulation, the driver of a Chevy Suburban was intoxicated and responsible for crashing into a Chevy pickup truck. The student in the passenger side of the Suburban died from injuries sustained and one of the students in the back seat suffered critical injuries. The other three students involved in the crash had minor injuries. 

The Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Le Roy Police Department, Le Roy Fire Department, Stafford Fire Department, Mercy Flight and the Genesee County Coroner participated in the simulation. Deputies from the Sheriff's Office and Le Roy police went through the process of administering sobriety tests. Le Roy firefighters demonstrated auto extrication to get the passengers out of both of the vehicles. Stafford firefighters set up an emergency landing zone in the parking lot for Mercy Flight so the passenger in critical condition could be flown out.

The drill takes place every two years at different high schools in Genesee County so all the juniors and seniors witness the simulation at least one time. 

Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Parker hopes today's simulation will influence students to question the offense and make good decisions.

"In the past, there have been crashes where kids have been killed on prom night in Elba and Oakfield," Parker said. "The worst part of my job is to notify a parent a child has died."

Detective John Condidorio, from the Le Roy Police Department, wants to make young adults aware of the consequences of drunk driving. Drunk drivers can face jail time, fines and probation. The consequences go beyond the charges as well.

"How is the driver going to deal with the fact that he kill his best friend or sister?" Condidorio asked. "The emotional toll is something that will long surpass jail time."

Jerry Diskin, past Le Roy fire chief, thought the simulation had a good turnout and educational presentation.

"It's important for kids to know the consequences of drunk driving and witness a crash because it's an important lesson you don't learn in school," Diskin said. "I hope it will stop accidents from happening in the near future."

Tim Hogle, assistant Le Roy fire chief, hopes the students realize the seriousness of drunk driving so he doesn't get called out for a crash for Le Roy's prom tomorrow night. To deter drunk driving, faculty will be randomly breathalyzing students at the prom.

Students participating were Tom Wood, Brian Hodges, Ashley Swartzenburg, Haley Steen, Emily McVicker and Karl Ehrhart.

Le Roy Ambulance service also participated.

Photos by Howard Owens.

The O-AT-KA Hose Company, part of the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department, honored one of its longtime members. Robert Radley submitted these photos and the message below:

The O-AT-KA Hose Company Number 1 of LeRoy NY would like to congratulate one of their most respected members.

James A. Spear, 82, of LeRoy has been a member of the company since 1969. During his tenure he has held many positions within the company. He served as president from 1978-1982. He was elected secretary in 1985 and continues to hold the position today. He has done the financial work and record keeping for the company for many years. Much of the work that keeps the company in business is done by Jim and his wife, Florence. He is accurate to the penny and is upset if the books for the company are off by as little as nine cents.

At the annual Steak Roast at the company rooms on North Avenue on May 9, 2015 to the surprise of Jim, the meeting room was dedicated to him. As Jim was presented with a permanent plaque to take home, geniune surprise filled his face and for a short time he was speechless. A sign over the door now reads “James A. Spear Meeting room 2015."

The membership of the company thanks Jim for all of his dedicated work over the last 46 years. Much of what we do as a company cannot be done without Jim and at every function we have he can be found near the door cash box and raffle tickets in hand and making sure that tasks are done and things go smoothly. 

Today, Frost Ridge hosts its annual fundraiser for the Le Roy Fire Department. 

The event goes until 4:30 p.m.

Just now, they're setting up dual water slides.

The ladder truck rides, however, are over.

There's a basket raffle and food.

The Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department dedicated a new truck Monday night and officially put it in service.

The truck is a 45-foot-long heavy rescue, Rescue 66, that replaces a Peterbuilt that was put into service in 1994.

A rescue carries no water. Rather it is filled with tools that can be used on every type of call a fire department might handle, from structure fires and accidents to water rescues.

In fact, the new truck contains a compartment just for an inflatable boat.

"We used to mount a steel boat on top of one of the pumpers and tie it down and drive down the road with a boat on top of a pumper," Chief Tom Wood said. "Now we have an inflatable boat in a compartment on a truck where it's always ready to go at a moments notice."

The cost of the truck was $690,000 and paid for by fire district taxes.

Among the trucks tools are cutting and spreading tools for vehicle extrication, various axes and saws and picks, a couple of extra hoses, brooms for brush fires and a cascade air tank system.

"It's basically a rolling tool box," Wood said.

The air tank system will give Le Roy the ability to refill air packs for City of Batavia fire as well as other departments in the county. Typically, Darien fire has responded to fires in the city to provide support on air pack supply, but the new truck will provide another option for City fire.

At 45-feet-long, Rescue 66 is among the biggest rescue trucks in the county.

It can carry six firefighters.

"It rolls on every call for us, whether it's a brush fire, because it's got rehab on it for heat, structure fire air, or just for manpower," Wood said. "If another department in the county calls for manpower, this is the truck that's going to go."

Deacon Dave Ehrhart performed the blessing for the truck and the department members who attended the ceremony.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer firefighter, visit ReadyGenesee.com.

Chief Tom Wood shows off some of the tool storage on Rescue 66.

Compartment with inflatable boat, engine and water rescue gear.

Bill Wood, a former chief of the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department has been a firefighter for the past year and his dedication to the department, his willingness to teach younger members and respond to numerous calls earned him the Firefighter of the Year award at the department's annual installation and awards dinner on Saturday evening.

His brother, Tom Wood, is chief for 2013. Dale Ehrhart is 1st assistant chief and Tim Hogle is 2nd assistant chief. Josh Pfendler is business president and Laurie Bater is president of the auxiliary. Bill Seeley is chairman of the fire commissioners.

For this dinner, we tried something a little different for photos. Often when I attend these dinners, getting good pictures of the chiefs and the winners proves difficult because of poor lighting or poor backgrounds (for pictures), so last week I purchased a backdrop stand and a nice cotton U.S. flag. It seems to have worked out pretty well tonight and I intend to bring this set up to any future similar events I'm asked to attend.

For those who attended and wish to purchase pictures, there is a link in the upper right of the slide show below, or click here.