News

Saturday, January 28, 2012, our neighbor, Tappan Zee High School hosted the Rockland County Wrestling Tournament. Three of our members are involved with this sport. Seniors Dan Wanamaker, Pete Byrne and Junior Sergei Meyer. Danny and Sergei competed and finished respectfully. Pete Byrne assisted with the clock as his injury prevented him from competing . And our life member and true fan of all TZ sports, Joey Craft, was there cheering on our members and all the TZ wrestlers. TZ as a team finished second and had four county champions. Congratulations to Danny, Sergei, Pete and Joey. We applaud your service to our community along with your commitment and dedication.

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An Ex-chief of the Orangeburg Volunteer Fire Department, Owen Duffy, has been recognized as "Firefighter of the Year" for his new fire department upstate.  Owen comes from a family that truly believes in giving back to the community.  Every member of Owen's immediate family
was either a member of the Orangeburg Volunteer Fire Department or the South Orangetown Ambulance Corp.  Several siblings were members of both. Owen's brother Hugh is an Ex-Chief and currently serves as
Vice Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

Congratulations and Thank You to Owen and to the entire Duffy family.

On Wednesday evening, January 25, 2012, the volunteers were summoned to Lowes on Route 303. When 11-2, Neil Lynady, told 44 Control he was responding Control advised him that they had received a call from the store manager that a breaker box in the store was smoking. Asst Chief Lynady met the manager at the front door and proceeded into the store advising 11-3, Pete Byrne, to go around back. Asst. Chief Lynady advised Byrne that there was a working fire in the high voltage breaker panels in the loading dock area of the store and the store was filling with smoke. Asst. Chief Lynady directed Interior Operations while Asst. Chief Byrne handled Command.

Crews were sent inside and to the roof. Roof Sector was handled by Sparkill's Chief Mike Yannazone while the crew off the first due engine, the 11-2000, stretched a 2 1/2 line and dry chemical extinguishers. An additional 1 3/4 hand line was also advanced into the store. After 90 minutes the volunteers were released.

Units on scene
11-2 Asst. Chief Neil Lynady
11-3 Asst. Chief Pete Byrne
11-2000
11-Tower
11-EQ 
11-Patrol 
Dept 16 - Ladder Truck
Dept 21 - FAST
Dept 12 - Standby at 11-100 for other emergencies
South Orangetown Ambulance Corps
Rockland Paramedics
Orangetown Police Department
RC Deputy Fire Coordinator George Drescher

Just past 11PM on Saturday evening, January 21st, the volunteers were dispatched for a car fire at the Getty Station at the corner of Route 303 and South Greenbush Road. While en-route Control advised 11-3 Pete Byrne that the vehicle was in the stations parking lot with smoke coming from the dashboard area. Control also advised 11-3 that they were getting multiple calls for this incident. Once on the scene Asst. Chief Byrne directed the 11-2000, driven by Ex-Chief Ken Gordon, to approach the scene by South Greenbush Road, thus keeping apparatus off Route 303. The 11-EQ, driven by Lt Brett Wolowitz, was directed into the stations parking lot to stage.

The 2000's crew stabilized the vehicle and removed the battery connections to lessen the danger. The crew then took apart the driver's side door and dashboard to get to the fire which was promptly extinguished.


11-3 Pete Byrne
11-2000
11-EQ

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The volunteers were summoned to the Palisades Interstate Parkway for a vehicle leaking fuel. After establishing Command 11-1 Chris Jackson directed the first due engine, the 11-2000, driven by Ex-chief Hugh Duffy, to get on the PIP at Exit 5 and head northbound. The Chief gave a size up indicating two vehicles involved in the accident with one experiencing a fuel leak. Once on the scene Captain John Ahlf directed his crew to first contain the fluids in the roadway, stabilize the vehicle and then disconnect the battery.

11-1 Chief Chris Jackson
11-3 Asst Chief Pete Byrne
11-2000
11-Patrol

 

 

                                                                  On Thursday evening, January 12, 2012 Rockland County held a graduation for their new firefighters. Graduates from Orangeburg were Ray Wang, Stephen Jastow, Carl Ahlf and Danny Wanamaker. The graduation ceremony was held at Rockland Community College Cultural Arts Building. Rockland County's Firefighter of the Year, Andy Kolesar of the West Haverstraw Volunteer Fire Department, was the key note speaker.

    Photo's are of Stephen and Carl receiving their certificates from Mike Healy (Training Coordinator for Rockland County Fire Training Center), Frank Bifulco (Instructor), Les Greenwood (State Fire), Orangeburg's 1st Assistant Chief Neil Lynady, and Orangeburg's Captain John Ahlf. Captain Ahlf is an Ex-chief of Orangeburg and a proud father of Carl Ahlf. Carl is the third generation of firefighters from the Ahlf family.
Photo's courtesy of Tom Bierds