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Firefighting

Massive Fire Destroys Building At NY Golf Course, Propane Tanks Complicate Response Massive Fire Destroys Building At NY Golf Course, Propane Tanks Complicate Response
Massive Fire Destroys Building At NY Golf Course, Propane Tanks Complicate Response A large overnight fire tore through a maintenance building at a Putnam County golf course and was complicated by compromised propane tanks, firefighters said.  Firefighters from the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department were called to the Putnam County Golf Course on Hill Street in Mahopac at around 2:15 a.m. on Friday, March 20, the department said in an announcement. Upon arrival, crews found a maintenance building behind the main clubhouse fully engulfed in flames, according to the department. To make matters worse, the situation was made more dangerous by two 1,000-pound propane…
Decorated NYC Firefighter Killed In Hit-Run Motorcycle Crash Decorated NYC Firefighter Killed In Hit-Run Motorcycle Crash
Decorated NYC Firefighter Killed In Hit-Run Motorcycle Crash A decorated FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Manhattan. Matthew Goicochea, 31, was riding his motorcycle on the FDR Drive around 3:45 a.m. Thursday, July 25 when he collided with another vehicle and fell onto the roadway, according to police. A second vehicle then struck him before fleeing the scene. Goicochea was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests had been made as of Thursday evening. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or online. Goicochea joined the department in September 2022 …
Video Shows Troopers Carry Woman Out Of Burning NY Apartment Amid Shooting Chaos Video Shows Troopers Carry Woman Out Of Burning NY Apartment Amid Shooting Chaos
Video Shows Troopers Carry Woman Out Of Burning NY Apartment Amid Shooting Chaos As fireworks lit up the sky above Albany’s Empire State Plaza, chaos erupted blocks away — and newly released bodycam footage reveals the harrowing moments when troopers sprinted toward the danger. The dramatic video, released Wednesday, July 9, by New York State Police, captures troopers charging into smoke-filled buildings and navigating flaming debris after a teenager was shot and a fire broke out during post-fireworks pandemonium near Madison Avenue and Swan Street. It all unfolded around 10 p.m. Friday July 4, when gunshots rang out near 337 Madison Avenue, just as crowds were dispersi…
Ex-Chief Of FD In HV Dies After 9/11-Related Cancer Fight: 'Lived, Breathed Fire Service' Ex-Chief Of FD In HV Dies After 9/11-Related Cancer Fight: 'Lived, Breathed Fire Service'
Ex-Chief Of FD In HV Dies After 9/11-Related Cancer Fight: 'Lived, Breathed Fire Service' A Hudson Valley fire department is mourning the loss of one of its own who died after a long and courageous battle with 9/11-related cancer.  Former Tappan Fire Department Chief Fredrick Simms Jr. died on Thursday morning, June 12 at home surrounded by his family, the department said in a statement.  Simms, known as “Freddie” to friends and fellow firefighters, was a lifelong firefighter. He joined the Tappan Fire Department in March 1998 and rose through the ranks, serving as Chief of Department from 2014 to 2016.  His passion for service extended beyond Rockland …
PA Fire Chief Dies During Wildland Fire Training PA Fire Chief Dies During Wildland Fire Training
PA Fire Chief Dies During Wildland Fire Training A longtime Dauphin County fire chief died while mentoring fellow wildland firefighters in Cumberland County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced on Friday, May 30. David Warfel, the current chief of the Carsonville Volunteer Fire Company and a beloved figure in Upper Dauphin County’s firefighting community, collapsed Thursday, May 29 at the DCNR’s Wildland Fire Academy hosted at Shippensburg University. Warfel was instructing and mentoring wildland firefighters during the training session when he passed away, DCNR officials said. He also served as th…
Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor
Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor A 19-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with setting the massive wildfire that scorched 15,000 acres and destroyed a commercial building this week, officials announced. Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with the Tuesday, April 22 blaze, according to a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski. The fire was first spotted at 9:45 a.m. by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, which reported seeing smoke near Jones Roa…
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service An otherwise idyllic spring day along the New Jersey coast was darkened by thick plumes of smoke as a massive wildfire scorched through 12,500 acres — threatening homes, destroying property, and leaving thousands without power Wednesday, April 23. 🚨 A massive wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, is tearing through 1,200 acres in Barnegat Township’s Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, Ocean County, NJ, as of April 22, 2025, with 0% containment. Mandatory evacuations are underway for Wells Mills Road from Bryant… pic.twitter.com/61nPv8YRcH — Laszlo Varga (@LaszloRealtor) April 2…
Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair
Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to return to a Texas airport shortly after takeoff when its engine caught fire, prompting an emergency evacuation. The Boeing 737, which was en route to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, had to turn back to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport at approximately 11:45 a.m. local time Thursday, April 17, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. Upon landing, firefighters swiftly extinguished the blaze, along with a small grass fire that had ignited near the runway, according to authorities. No injuries were reported among the 134 passengers on board.&nbs…
Woman, 85, Killed In House Fire In Capital Region Woman, 85, Killed In House Fire In Capital Region
Woman, 85, Killed In House Fire In Capital Region A devastating house fire in the Capital Region claimed the life of an 85-year-old woman. Firefighters in Montgomery County responded to a residence on Abraham Road in the town of Florida for a fully-involved structure fire shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13. Multiple crews responded to the home, including firefighters from Amsterdam, Fort Hunter, Tribes Hill, and Pattersonville, however conditions made it impossible for them to get inside, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Once the flames were extinguished, crews located the homeowner, 85-year-old Delores Phelps, dea…
Arsonist Sets PA Governor Josh Shapiro’s Residence On Fire Arsonist Sets PA Governor Josh Shapiro’s Residence On Fire
Arsonist Sets PA Governor Josh Shapiro’s Residence On Fire Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate their residence as an arsonist set the governor’s residence ablaze while they slept overnight.  The blaze broke out at 2 a.m. on Sunday, April 13, in North Front Street in the city of Harrisburg in Dauphin County. Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement they has confirmed that the fire was a deliberate act of arson. The alleged arsonist has since been identified and arrested, click here to read our full report.  The Shapiro family was located in a different part of the mansion and was safely evacuated…
Funeral Set For Hero 'Cat Man,' Volunteer Police, Fireman Killed In NY Sanctuary Blaze Funeral Set For Hero 'Cat Man,' Volunteer Police, Fireman Killed In NY Sanctuary Blaze
Funeral Set For Hero 'Cat Man,' Volunteer Police, Fireman Killed In NY Sanctuary Blaze Funeral services are set for Christopher Arsenault, whose devotion to his feline friends right up until the very end has earned him admiration around the world. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home in Manhasset, according to his obituary. The service will be open to close friends and family only, but plans are underway for a larger public memorial in the near future. Lovingly known as "The Cat Man," Arsenault, 65, was killed early Monday, March 31, when a fire tore through his Medford home, which also served as the longtime headqu…
Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island
Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island A massive wildfire that erupted Saturday afternoon, March 8 at the edge of the Hamptons has burned through over two miles of land, destroyed two structures, and sent one firefighter to the hospital, officials said. The fire, which started around 1 p.m. in Center Moriches, spread rapidly due to 35 mph winds, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at a Saturday evening news conference. The flames quickly moved to East Moriches, Eastport, and then Westhampton, igniting a massive blaze just north of Gabreski Airport, he said. On Saturday, all eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway were closed bet…
NY Fire Chief, Dad Killed In Train Collision Will Help Others Live: 'Friend To All' NY Fire Chief, Dad Killed In Train Collision Will Help Others Live: 'Friend To All'
NY Fire Chief, Dad Killed In Train Collision Will Help Others Live: 'Friend To All' Tributes are flooding in for a young assistant fire chief and dad who was killed in a train collision in upstate New York. Cattaraugus County resident Zach Golley, 24, was gravely injured when his truck was struck by a train in the village of Ellicottville on Thursday, Feb. 27, according to fire officials. Golley, a dedicated assistant fire chief for the Ellicottville Volunteer Fire Department, was found trapped inside his vehicle when his own fire crew arrived on scene, the agency said. They worked tirelessly to free their brother in service and rushed him to the hospital, where he succumb…
Fire Rips Through Garage In Hudson Valley Fire Rips Through Garage In Hudson Valley
Fire Rips Through Garage In Hudson Valley Fire crews in Orange County battled an early morning garage fire that was quickly knocked down before it could spread, firefighters said.  Crews responded just before 3 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, to a reported fire at 15 Franklin St. in Port Jervis, according to the Port Jervis Fire Department.  Arriving firefighters found a working fire at the rear of the property. Crews soon gained access from both Hammond Street and Franklin Street and had the flames under control within 10 minutes. Port Jervis crews were assisted at the scene by Milford FAST and Huguenot Engine 814. Firefight…
NY Firefighter, Father Of 3 Killed In Blaze Remembered As 'Fearless, Dedicated' Public Servant NY Firefighter, Father Of 3 Killed In Blaze Remembered As 'Fearless, Dedicated' Public Servant
NY Firefighter, Father Of 3 Killed In Blaze Remembered As 'Fearless, Dedicated' Public Servant A firefighter and father of three who was killed battling a blaze in upstate New York is being remembered for his dedication to the community. Binghamton Fire Department member John “JR” Gaudet, 40, was gravely injured when a wall collapsed during a firefight on the city’s Main Street on Wednesday night, Feb. 12, the agency confirmed. The 11-year veteran of the department later died at Wilson Hospital. Two other firefighters were hospitalized and listed in stable condition. Gaudet’s untimely loss sparked a flood of tributes, including from his brothers and sisters in uniform. “JR embodied…
'It Started So Quick': 3 Killed, 2 Injured In 'Hoarding'-Fueled House Fire In Region 'It Started So Quick': 3 Killed, 2 Injured In 'Hoarding'-Fueled House Fire In Region
'It Started So Quick': 3 Killed, 2 Injured In 'Hoarding'-Fueled House Fire In Region A family is reeling after three people were killed and two others were hospitalized following a fast-moving house fire in Upstate New York. Multiple agencies were called to a Colonie residence on Locust Park shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27. Firefighters and police arrived to find the home fully engulfed in flames and multiple residents trapped inside, Colonie Police said. Despite the efforts of first responders, three people died and two others were taken by ambulance to Albany Medical Center Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The victims had not been publicly …
New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed
New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed The number of confirmed deaths from six separate wildfires in the Los Angeles area has climbed to 16. The situation remains dire, with at least another 16 people still reported missing, and authorities anticipate that this number may increase as the search continues. The wildfires have destroyed 40,000 acres -- more than twice the size of Manhattan and almost the size of Washington, DC, while The creating apocalyptic scenes that seem straight from a horror movie. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed. A red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions through Wednesday, Jan.…
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires 32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires A former child star and motivational speaker is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his family has confirmed. Click here for a new, updated story - Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed Rory Sykes, 32, an Australian who gained media attention as a boy for sharing his experiences living with disabilities, died on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at his family’s estate in Malibu, his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in a post on X. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yeste…
Wildfires Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Response Wildfires Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Response
Wildfires Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Response As the wildfires continue to burn across the state and in the Hudson Valley, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined the extensive efforts to combat them, highlighting the crucial roles played by local and national agencies in tackling the blazes. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Hochul provided an update on the ongoing wildfire situation in the state, prompting a robust response from more than 400 fire departments and over 1,300 personnel.  These teams have worked tirelessly to contain fires in Orange and Ulster counties, closely coordinating with local fire departments and first responders. Hochul said th…
New Fire Station In Region Celebrates Opening New Fire Station In Region Celebrates Opening
New Fire Station In Region Celebrates Opening Hundreds of residents, city officials, and firefighters turned out to unveil a fire department's new station, which consolidates three stations into one. The event occurred in Dutchess County on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Beacon. According to Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou, the new central station for the Beacon Fire Department, located at the “gateway” to Beacon on Route 9D opposite City Hall, represents the culmination of decades of studies and plans to consolidate three fire stations into one central location. Kyriacou said the 17,000-square-foot facility, which costs $14.7 mi…
Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later
Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later After almost one whole week, the Jennings Creek Wildfire had been 75% contained on Thursday, Nov. 14, officials said. The wildfire continues to burn across Passaic County, NJ, and into Orange County, NY, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and New York Department of Environmental Conservation leading containment efforts. The fire has burned 2,283 acres in New Jersey. While no structures are currently threatened or evacuated in New Jersey, residents are advised to avoid the area. Road closures remain in effect on East Shore Road from Awosting Road to Greenwood Lake Turnpike, as well as B…
Governor Provides Update On Wildfires In Region Governor Provides Update On Wildfires In Region
Governor Provides Update On Wildfires In Region As the wildfires continue to burn across the Hudson Valley, Gov. Kathy Hochul updated what's being done to mitigate and contain them. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Hochul said a multi-agency response had been deployed to fires in Orange and Ulster counties in close coordination with local fire departments and first responders.  According to Hochul, an aerial investigation shows the Orange County fire named the Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park wildfire in New York and New Jersey now encompasses 5,000 acres, half of which is in New York, and is 10 percent contained in both states. The fire in …
Massive Wildfire In Region Spreads To 600 Acres Massive Wildfire In Region Spreads To 600 Acres
Massive Wildfire In Region Spreads To 600 Acres A massive wildfire in the Hudson Valley is now 95 percent contained as firefighters continue establishing a control line to try and gain full containment.  The Whitehouse Fire in Ulster County in Denning had grown to 630 areas as of late Monday, Nov. 11. Metzger said Tuesday, Nov. 12, firefighters from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and more than 200 volunteer firefighters from Ulster, Sullivan, and Greene counties continue to work toward full containment. "Burn bans are in effect in every municipality in Ulster County, and outdoor burning is prohibited," Ulst…
West Milford Wildfire Swells To 3,500 Acres As Firefighters Battle Fierce Winds West Milford Wildfire Swells To 3,500 Acres As Firefighters Battle Fierce Winds
West Milford Wildfire Swells To 3,500 Acres As Firefighters Battle Fierce Winds The Jennings Creek Wildfire, now spanning 3,500 acres across Passaic County, NJ, and Orange County, NY, is only 20% contained, with strong winds and low humidity posing continued risks for rapid spread.  The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and New York’s Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management are working in unified command to strengthen containment lines in preparation for tomorrow’s forecasted weather. Firefighters focused efforts Tuesday, Nov. 12 on reinforcing the eastern containment line, using controlled burns to remove unburned pockets of fuel.  Resources deployed…
Remembering Dariel Vasquez: 18, HS Baseball Captain Killed In Sterling Forest Wildfire Remembering Dariel Vasquez: 18, HS Baseball Captain Killed In Sterling Forest Wildfire
Remembering Dariel Vasquez: 18, HS Baseball Captain Killed In Sterling Forest Wildfire Shock and sadness spread following the death of 18-year-old firefighter Dariel Vasquez, who was killed on Saturday, Nov. 9, while bravely battling the Jennings Creek Wildfire that spread from New Jersey into Greenwood Lake, New York.  Vasquez, a young Parks and Recreation Aide with the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department, lost his life in the line of duty, a heartbreaking end to a life full of promise and service. New York State Police are investigating the circumstances of his death. Known as a rising star in his community, Dariel was a former Ramapo High…
School Bus Goes Up In Flames In Region School Bus Goes Up In Flames In Region
School Bus Goes Up In Flames In Region A busy road in the region was temporarily closed as crews battled a school bus fire.  The blaze happened on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 7 in Northern Westchester County when the bus caught on fire in Valhalla on Grasslands Road (Route 100), according to the Valhalla Fire Department. Luckily, no students were aboard the bus at the time and no injuries were reported. The blaze was quickly put out and the bus was removed from the road, the department said, adding that the roadway was then reopened to traffic. 
Large Brush Fire Breaks Out At State Park In Region Large Brush Fire Breaks Out At State Park In Region
Large Brush Fire Breaks Out At State Park In Region For two days, numerous Hudson Valley fire departments battled a stubborn brush fire atop Nordkop Mountain. The fire occurred in Rockland County on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, in Harriman State Park in Hillburn. The Hillburn Fire Department, with the assistance of several fire departments and New York State Park rangers, battled the blaze that consumed acres. According to the Hillburn Fire Department, firefighters cut fire lines and worked to put out the blaze, which they described as "difficult and stubborn." The department said the fire was contained on Sunday, and park range…
Major Brush Fire In Region Spreads Smoke For Miles Major Brush Fire In Region Spreads Smoke For Miles
Major Brush Fire In Region Spreads Smoke For Miles A major brush fire over at least a dozen acres in the Hudson Valley produced smoke that spread across the New York border into Connecticut. The blaze broke out at around 12:05 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in Putnam County in the area of Route 301 and East Boyds Road in the town of Kent and was finally contained late in the day on Sunday, Oct. 27. While responding, crews observed a large fire on the mountain and immediately requested mutual aid from neighboring departments, according to the Kent Fire Department.  Responding crews located the large brushfire of approximately 5 to 6 acres…
Large Brush Fire Erupts In Region Near Country Club Large Brush Fire Erupts In Region Near Country Club
Large Brush Fire Erupts In Region Near Country Club Several fire and police departments are battling a large brush fire near a country club in the Hudson Valley.  The fire began in Putnam County on Thursday, Oct. 24 around 11:30 a.m. in the area of Golf Ridge Road and China Circle Court near the Sedgewood Club golf course in the town of Kent, the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services announced around 12:45 p.m.  Several departments are now operating at the scene of the fire. A Department of Environmental Protection helicopter is also circling the skies over the blaze providing images from the air, officials said.  M…
Car Fire Extends To Surrounding Woods In Hudson Valley Car Fire Extends To Surrounding Woods In Hudson Valley
Car Fire Extends To Surrounding Woods In Hudson Valley A blaze that consumed a vehicle in the Hudson Valley became even worse after it extended to the surrounding woods. The incident happened in Putnam County on Wednesday, July 10 just after 9:30 p.m., when a car caught on fire in Carmel in the area of Gipsy Trail Road, according to the Lake Carmel Fire Department. Arriving crews soon discovered that the blaze had extended to the surrounding woods. Despite the complication, firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames with help from the Frozen Fun Ice Cream Truck, which helped crews at the scene by providing them with frozen treats.…
NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral
NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral A decorated veteran and retired firefighter from upstate New York is going viral for his heartbreaking posthumous revelation. Lifelong Rensselaer County resident Col. Edward Thomas Ryan, of Rensselaer, died with a long-kept secret that rendered him “afraid of being ostracized,” he wrote in his own obituary, which was published in the Albany Times Union on Saturday, June 8. "I must tell you one more thing. I was gay all my life: thru grade school, thru high school, thru college, thru life,” Ryan wrote. “I'm sorry for not having the courage to come out as gay. I was afraid of being ostraciz…