Applications are being accepted for the 2025 PERMA MiniGrant Program! Grants are available to assist members in obtaining gear washers and dryers to reduce exposure to carcinogens. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be members of both PERMA and NYSAFC (Department Members only). PERMA has expanded their offering for 2025! 20 grants of $5,000 each will be provided. The deadline to apply is November 10, 2024. 

NYSAFC has introduced a new Regional HOT program – Fire Behavior From the Outside! This two-hour course is different from the association's other Regional HOT offerings. It can be delivered on any day of the week at any time and is ideal for a fire department drill. Training includes a classroom presentation followed by an interactive demonstration using a 10-square-foot dollhouse prop. The unit provides a safe, inexpensive way to discuss fireground strategies/tactics to improve firefighter safety and victim survivability.

Join NYSAFC and Islip Town Fire/EMS Museum Educational Center from January 31 – February 2 for our educational event and exposition at Nassau Coliseum. More than 4,000 first responders turned out for our 2024 event and exhibit space was sold out! Attendee registration is $25 per person, per day. Attendee pre-registration will be opening soon. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Education programs will be announced soon!

The Fire & Life Safety Educators’ Training Series will be back in 2025! The New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control and NYSAFC will host one-day conferences in Monroe (May 9), Saratoga (May 3), and Suffolk (April 26) Counties. Attendee registration will be opening soon. For those interested in lecturing, presentation proposal forms are due by December 1, 2024.

Funding secured in FY24 enacted budget will help volunteer fire departments improve facilities, response capabilities, and overall preparedness.

The New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony was held on October 8, 2024, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY. 32 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty were honored. NYSAFC joins in paying tribute to those who have made the supreme sacrifice while serving their communities and protecting the citizens of the Empire State. A tribute video in honor of the fallen and a recording of the ceremony are available from the New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services.

The FDNY held its 117th Memorial Day Service on October 9, 2024, to honor 14 members who have died over the past year, including two who died in the line of duty.

The town of Vestal board came to a unanimous decision to go through with the proposed dissolution of the existing fire district to implement the new district.

The proposed formation of a fire district in the area of Odessa has been deemed unsuccessful, according to Odessa Fire Chief Adam Mahnke.

The state of Florida counted at least 64 lithium battery fires following Hurricane Helene.

CDC Issues EMS Report; Podcast on Promoting the Long-Term Viability of EMS in NYS.

In the demanding field of public safety, where the stakes are as high as human life, the continuous pursuit of performance excellence must be at the core of every organization’s mission.

First Deputy Commissioner Mark Guerra and Chief of Department John Esposito were among those sworn in during the October 24 ceremony at the FDNY Fire Academy.

In 1900, what’s now known as the Edward M. Cotter Fireboat was built and brought to Buffalo.

View the NYSAFC calendar of events.