Shortly after 10:45 AM while severe storms moved through the area, East Greenbush Emergency Communications received a call reporting a male that was possibly struck by lightning while operating a crane at the Michel's Power construction site on Corliss Av off of Columbia Trnpk. The victims co-workers quickly extinguished the flames while awaiting EMS. Services arrived and found a male with burns to the lower extremities of his body and was prepared for transport. Crews operated on scene for a little over twenty minutes.

Around 1PM, Rensselaer County Public Safety received multiple calls reporting a working fire at 10 Waters Rd in the Town of Schodack. Immediately the alarm was transmitted bringing in East Greenbush Fire [Sta. 11]. With their Truck Co. out of service, a call was also put in for Truck 8 from CHFD to respond. Upon arrival apparatus found a well advanced fire making its way through the second floor of a two story single family home. Shortly thereafter a second alarm was transmitted brining in additional resources from CHFD among other departments. Upon the arrival of Engine Co. 8-5 and Rescue 8, members assisted the already deployed crews from Truck 8 and EGFD in fire attack and overhaul. CHFD members operated for about two hours with approximately eighteen personnel.

With the summer heat coming to town, pagers were activated for a report of a brush fire in the area of Brook St and Birch Ln. Arriving within minutes, Capt. Racine found approximately two acres of heavily, wooded area involved in fire. Immediately a request was put in for an additional engine to respond for water supply and manpower. With flames approaching nearby residences, crews went to work in an attempt to contain the fire. Soon after, Car 1 arrived and a request was put in for mutual aid from Best Luther [Sta. 3] and East Schodack [Sta. 12] for their ATVs’ and brush fire equipment. Additionally, a third engine from CHFD was also requested to respond and setup an attack line on the Brook Street side of the area. With the arrival of the mutual aid companies, crews continued to work the area use chainsaws, shovels, rakes and fire brooms and making fire breaks to contain the fire. Crews operated on scene for a little over two and a half hours exhausting about 33 members.

Shortly after 4PM crews from the Rensselaer City Fire Department [Sta. 29] was dispatched for a report of a fire at the Rensselaer Housing Authority at 85 Aiken Ave. First arriving units found a moderate smoke condition in a multiple occupancy apartment building and went to work. Shortly thereafter a second alarm was transmitted for a county move up bringing in members from Clinton Heights Fire [Sta. 8], Defreestville Fire [Sta. 9] and East Greenbush Fire [Sta. 11] to cover the city. In addition a special call was made for an additional engine from CHFD to respond to the scene. Once on scene, crews from Engine 8-6 assisted with overhaul and checking for extension. Apparatus operated for a little over an hour and a half. CHFD responded with 16 members in all.

With the lunch hour coming to an end and the day’s mail being delivered, employees at the East Greenbush Town Hall were alerted to evacuate when an employee in the Town Court opened an envelope containing an unknown brown powder substance, immediately emergency services were called to respond. Police Officers arrived within minutes to confirm everyone, but one subject was evacuated and secured the possibly contaminated building. Fire crews arrived, established command and began to access the situation. Simultaneously the Albany County Sheriff’s Office Capital Region Forensic/Hazardous Materials Unit and the Rensselaer County Battalion 1 Decontamination Team was dispatched. Meanwhile crews from Engine Company 8-5 & 8-7 and Rescue Company 8 suited up with hazmat suits and prepared for a possible rescue of 1 female victim still inside the building. Once arrived the hazmat and decon teams’ setup their equipment and prepared for entry. Inside crews took air readings and secured the suspicious substance. After a three hour operation the building was deemed safe and employees were allowed to return to work. Three Chief Officers managed the scene with four pieces of apparatus staffed by eighteen members not including the additional public safety personnel called to assist.

Hosted by East Greenbush Fire Company Explorer Post 11, Chief Jonas will be at the Columbia High School Auditorium 962 Luther Rd on Tuesday February 24th at 7PM. Chief Jonas was on one of the first arriving units to the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. All proceeds to benefit EGFD Explorer Post 11 & The New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. Any department member wishing to attend signup at your respective station.

Shortly after 10:00pm, East Greenbush Communications received several calls reporting a vehicle rollover at the intersection of Red Mill Rd and Robin Lane.  A box of this nature would call for Engine Co. 8-5 and Rescue Co. 8 along with the Bruen Ambulance. Chief Officers arrived within three minutes to find a Ford Expedition overturned with heavy entrapment and a male driver in critical condition; pinned between the dash, steering column, and “B” Post. The incident commander immediately requested an additional Engine Company as well as a Medic Unit from Mohawk Ambulance. Upon arrival, crews began the difficult extrication on the vehicle while Fire Department EMTs tended to the unresponsive patient.  The extrication was completed within minutes and the patient was packaged for transportation. In all, Chief Cherubino managed nineteen members at the scene with two Engine Co.'s, one Rescue Co. and two Traffic Control Units.

Another Clinton Heights Firefighter is expected to return home within the next 5 or 6 weeks. Paul Bednarczyk a Major in the United States Air Force is currently deployed in Bagram, Afghanistan with the Combined Joint Task Force 101 (CJTF-101) commanded by the Army's 101st Airborne Division.  They oversee the American military presence in the eastern part of Afghanistan which is called Regional Command East (RC-E).  Paul works in the Joint Operations Center (JOC) for the Joint Visitor Bureau (JVB). Before returning to New York, he will be returning to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio to be debriefed and check-in his gear. Paul was recently able to enjoy some rest and relaxation with a 4 day pass in Country of Qatar. We wish him a safe return home.

On January 26th, 26 year old Steven Frost returned home from a 135 day tour in Iraq. Steve was able to spend several days in countries throughout Europe including; Shannon, Ireland (1 day), Ramstein, Germany (16 days) and Aviano, Italy (1 day) before relocating into the Middle East with stops in Kuwait City, Kuwait (1 day), Al Udeid, Qatar (11 days) and Tallil, Iraq for 1 day. His final stop was Balad, Iraq located about 42 miles North of Baghdad. Balad Airbase is one of the largest Airbases in Iraq. Steve is assigned to the 42nd APS (Aerial Port Squadron) out of Westover Air Reserve Base located in Massachusetts, the largest reserve base in the country. Steve has also been a dedicated member of the Clinton Heights Fire Department for 10 years.

Members, friends and family from the CHFD celebrated last night at the annual Installation Dinner held at the Melvin Roads Post. The event began with a plentiful dinner, followed by the installments of the Chiefs, Line Officers, Table Officers & the Ladies Auxiliary. Retired Department Chief Robert Mehalich & Assistant Chief Robert Phelan both received numerous gifts for their years of service to the community and the department. Firefighter Greg Hart was also recognized receiving the John J. Mitchell Award. A fun time was had by all.

With the 2008 calender stamped into history, it is time again to file your 2008 state & federal taxes. Once again the New York State Department of Tax & Finance has issued the Claim for Volunteer Firefighters' and Ambulance Workers' Credit (Form IT-245). This credit applies to any active volunteer firefighter or ambulance worker in New York State. See the attached file and be sure to include it in this year tax return. For further information visit the links below.

Just after 19:30 hours, members were alerted for a building fire at 1 Poplar St in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of the district.  Newly promoted Assistant Chiefs, Tracy and Phillips, arrived within seconds to find a heavy fire condition in the attached garage of a one story single family dwelling and immediately transmitted a second alarm with a special call for one Engine Co. from East Greenbush [Sta. 11] to the scene.  A rapid deployment of lines were quickly contained the fire to the two-cars in the garage, the garage, and a breeze-way attaching the living area to the garage.  The department operated on scene for a little over two hours overhauling and checking for extension. The scene was managed with five Engines, two Rescues and a Truck Company.

With the new Chief and his staff only three hours old crews were put right back to work as the City of Rensselaer doubled up on a working fire in a two-family occupancy.  The fire, declared a second alarm on arrival brought an Engine from CHFD to scene and a FAST Assignment from DFD [Sta 9], as well as transfers from CHFD and EGFD [Sta 11].  Engine Company 86, under the Command of newly promoted CPT Racine found the second water supply and filled in as the third due Engine supporting secondary searches and overhaul.  In all crews operated for approximately one hour. 

As lunchtime came to an end, the Defreestville [Sta. 9] & Wynantskill [Sta. 42] Fire Departments were dispatched for a reported vehicle fire inside the garage at 17 Arbor Drive. Chief Officers arrived to find a 1 story single family dwelling with a well involved vehicle inside an attached garage. A second alarm was transmitted bringing in crews from the East Greenbush [Sta. 11] and Clinton Heights [Sta. 8] Fire Department as a FAST Team. Upon the arrival of Engine Co. 8-5 & Rescue Co. 8 members setup their full complement of FAST equipment as first alarm crews continued their attack on the stubborn fire. With extra manpower on hand, Incident commanders directed two members to the roof of the garage to assist in vertical ventilation. A quick, precise 4x4 cut was made by FF Chris Sanabria & Lieutenant Mike Hart aiding the attack of the fire below. The bulk of the fire damage was contained to the garage area. Crews were released into service within the hour & the scene was eventually turned over to members of the Rensselaer County Fire Investigation Team & the North Greenbush Police Department.

While members were recovering from the aftermath of a powerful storm, Town of East Greenbush Communications received several calls reporting a house fire at 243 Washington Avenue East in the Hampton Manor community of the district. Running out of sequence, Engine Co 8-6 found themselves running first due as they were out of quarters finishing a water emegency.  Upon arrival Chief Mehalich reported a 2 story 60 x 40, wood frame, raised ranch home with a fire condition in the back and basement of the residence.  Apparatus arrived and water supply was established. Crews were directed to the basement of the residence and made a swift, textbook attack, on the fire. The cause of the fire was found to be a Kerosene heater in the basement. Chief Mehalich managed the scene with approximately thirty firefighters, manning eight pieces of apparatus.