Chief Anthony V. LaFerrera of the North Babylon Volunteer Fire Company, Suffolk County, took office as president of the association on June 14, 2024, during the NYSAFC 118th Annual Conference & FIRE 2024 Expo. The Installation Ceremony was held at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown in Syracuse, NY. LaFerrera is a 45-year fire service veteran and a retired FDNY EMS lieutenant. Congratulations to all of the new NYSAFC officers.

Thank you to our vendors, sponsors, attendees, instructors, and volunteers for participating in the 118th Annual Conference & FIRE 2024 Expo in Syracuse. Special thanks to the city of Syracuse, Syracuse Fire Department, Onondaga County, and our host venues for the hospitality and support. Pictures from the event will be available in the coming weeks. Join us at FIRE 2025 in Syracuse from June 4-7! To avoid conflicting with Father's Day weekend, we'll be seeing you a little earlier next year. Exhibitor and attendee registration will open this fall.

The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and Islip Town Fire/EMS Museum Educational Center are excited to announce the dates for next year's Long Island Metro Fire/EMS Expo. Join us from January 31 – February 2 for this exciting fire/EMS educational event and exposition held at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. Exhibitor registration will open this fall. Details on educational opportunities will be available in the coming months.

Initial stipends totaling $140,250 were issued to 105 students from more than 50 fire departments throughout the state. The program was developed to help strengthen recruitment and retention in New York’s volunteer fire service by offsetting required training costs.

The next step is for President Joe Biden to sign S. 870.

Some counties are shelling out themselves to help fill the gaps in volunteer EMS crews, including in Niagara County.

Syracuse fire investigators have determined the house explosion earlier this month was caused by a free-flowing natural gas leak in the house's basement.

Firefighters were dispatched to a fire in the quarters of Engine Co. 163 and Ladder Co. 83.

The Nassau County fire marshal says the home on Front Street was illegally subdivided into multiple apartments and rental rooms.

The town of Tyre in Seneca County now has its own fire company. Integration and training are the next steps.

Responders with PPE had a dementia rate of 5-6 per 1,000, while those without PPE in high-risk activities, like searching Ground Zero, had a rate of 42.36 per 1,000, the study found.

“Everything’s fine, until it’s not.” For firefighters, heat-related illness can fulfill this prophecy like few other fireground events.

NYSAFC congratulates Ed Tremblay on his retirement.

The Dexter Fire Department celebrated its ‘Last Station’ project with a ribbon cutting. The ‘Last Station’ is a miniature museum next to the Dexter Historical Society, dedicated to the history of the department.

The Atlantic Steamer Fire Company held a heartwarming celebration on June 8 to honor Firefighter Raymond Hornosky for his 75 years of dedicated service.

The New Hackensack Fire District and Fire Company were formed on March 3, 1949.

Firefighter Joseph Pendergast was driving to work when he noticed the smoke coming from the four-story building.

Niagara Falls Firefighter-EMT Josh Carey said there was “massive amounts of blood in the water.”

View the NYSAFC calendar of events.