Niagara County firefighters train at National Fire Academy

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, March 6, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, March 8, 2008

Shown above, left to right (kneeling) are Frontier Fire Co. Chief Rich Silvaroli, Frontier Firefighter Mark McRorie, Youngstown Firefighter Bruce Oliphant and Frontier Fire Co. Asst. Chief Mark Perry. Standing are Jesse Babcock, fire protection Specialist from OFPC for Niagara County, Lewiston No. 1 Firefighter Rich Bilson, Frontier Firefighter Gary Hunt, Niagara Falls Fire Chief William McKay, North Tonawanda Training Chief Bill DeMonte, North Tonawanda Fire Chief Joe Krantz, Chief Tom Wutz of the OFPC Fire Services Division, Bergholz Firefighter Ralph Mauro, NYS Fire Administrator Floyd Madison, Bergholz Fire Captain Paul Eustice, Lewiston No. 1 Firefighter Les Myers, Youngstown Firefighter Jim Acome, Bergholz Asst. Chief Mark Stevens, and Terry’s Corners Firefighter Dan Hausman, also a Fire Protection Specialist from OFPC. Missing from the picture are Frontier Firefighters Bruce Mack, Rob Duchesne and Ron Licht.

Eighteen Niagara County firemen traveled to the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md., to take part in the annual New York State Weekend on March 1-2. As an entity of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the U.S. Fire Administration and the NFA is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies. With a commitment to excellence, the NFA provides public education, training, technology and data initiatives.

The trip was sponsored by the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Faculty Student Association of the State Fire Academy in Montour Falls, in cooperation with the National Fire Academy.

The two-day program brought a premier educational opportunity to 240 New York state fire and rescue personnel. The courses were specifically designed to strengthen the fire service community through education, leadership, advocacy, personal networking, and a shared collegial experience. The program offered the students an opportunity to grow professionally through a quality educational experience, and to increase their knowledge and skills to further provide and expand a safe and effective response to the Niagara County communities.

Training was presented by some of the finest instructors in the country, including Niagara Falls Fire Chief and NFA Instructor William McKay, who delivered the two-day Principles of Initial Company Operations class. Other classes taught were focused on fire prevention, managing change in the fire service, leadership and incident command.

The group was also honored by the attendance and participation of New York Fire Administrator Floyd Madison, who oversees the Office of Fire Prevention and Control throughout the state and offered both interesting dynamic and perspective to the training.

The Niagara County firefighters also took part in a memorial service held at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in recognition of those who served.

-- by Youngstown Volunteer Firefighter Bruce Oliphant.