VOLUME 53 Issue 5 Friday, July 9, 2021

“COMPLIMENTARY COPY”

Editor Emeritus: Stuart L. Gates, Stony Point, NY 10980

Editor: Sheryl Rose Copy Editor: John Kryger

WE’RE ON FOR 2021 CONVENTION!

It’s official! The 2021 RCVFA Convention and Parade are set for Sept. 17 and 18 in West Nyack. The late dates, which will conflict with Westchester but couldn’t be helped, are due to the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Your host, West Nyack Fire Engine Co. 1, has secured Albertus Magnus high school in Bardonia for the 7:30 pm Convention, Sept. 17. The repast will be back at the West Nyack fire house on Strawtown Road. Letters have gone out to all new Life and 50-year members, and last year’s Life and 50s will also be recognized at the convention.

CARTOONS BY PETE CARNEY

Jun Jul Aug

RCVFA SCHOLARS PICKED

The Stuart L. Gates Scholarship committee concluded its operations for the year with the announcement of the three 2021 winners, honored at

the July meeting.. Each winner received a $1,500 check. The winners are: Alyson Novick, a 2021 graduate of Glen Rock high school, member of the National Honor Society, she played soccer, basketball and ran track. and was a camp and referee volunteer and a three-time Relay for Life volunteer. She had a 4.068 GPA and will attend Ohio State University studying actuarial sciences. Her grandfather is RCVFA treasurer Michael Kramar of the Hillcrest Fire Co.1. Alison Kryger, a 2021 graduate of Tappan Zee high school, a member of the Science, Math and French honor societies, she played soccer, was a founding member of the TZ Environmental Club, and a member of the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps. She had a 94.239 average with high honors. She will attend Binghamton University for a BA degree in biology. Her grandfather is RCVFA corresponding secretary John Kryger of Volunteer Hose Co. 2, West Haverstraw FD. Gabriella Leone, a 2021 graduate of Tappan Zee high school, a National, Italian and Science hnor societies member, she lettered in soccer and cheerleading. She was a Valley Hospital volunteer and a Tappan Zee tutor. She graduated an AP scholar with honors and had a 100.4 average. She will attend Fordham University to study for a medical doctorate. Her father is RCVFA member Christian Leone of the West Nyack Fire Engine Co.

JOHN COYLE IV HV VFA 2ND VICE-PRES

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At the annual Hudson Valley VFA conference & convention hosted by the Saugerties Fire Department at the Glasco Firehouse on June17th & 18th, the following members of the RCVFA were elected to office. John Coyle IV past president of the RCVFA was elected as 2nd Vice President and Nick Gatti will serve as our County Vice President. Jim Hartwick continues as a director until 2022. Tom Bierds, a former Director was honored for 50 years of membership. During the Memorial Service deceased Rockland members acknowledged were Willie Allen of Hillcrest, Past HV President Frank Knower of Tappan and Line of Duty Death Jared Lloyd of the Columbian Fire Co. Spring Valley Fire Department.

Several RCVFA members will be serving on the various committees; By-laws Jim Hartwick, Chaplains Stuart Gates, Fire Police Co-chairman Douglas Mann, Haz-Mat Homeland Security Kurt Mulligan, Legislative Chairman Jim Hartwick and, Parade Rules Ken Gordon. NJ-NY VFA Past President Nick Gatti Sr. is the County Vice President for Rockland

Robert Outhouse from Buchanan in Westchester is now the President of the HVVFA and Eric Orr from Wallkill in Ulster County is the new 1st Vice President.

The HVFA is one of seven sectional associations in NY State and the area includes sixteen counties in the Hudson Valley from Lake Placid in the north to the Bronx border on the East and the New Jersey border on the west side of the Hudson River.

HV VFA UNIT CITATION AWARD

On June 18, 2021, members of the Hillcrest Fire Company were honored with a Unit Citation for an extrication on June15, 2020 on New Hempstead Road when a passenger van hit a tree with multiple entrapments. Those who were awarded are as follows: (Front Row Left to Right:) Firefighter Adam Zelcer, Engineer Jeffrey Potischman, Firefighter Mike Iarocci, Engineer Seth Conklin (Back Row Left to Right:) Lieutenant Corey Martin, Ex-Chief Chris Kear (coordinated inside vehicle ops on the opposite side of van from 6-3), Ex-Chief Frank Bifulco, and Ex-Chief Frank Youngman, as well as (not pictured) Chief Robert Murdock Jr. (operations), Assistant Chief Pete Gessner (coordinating inside vehicle ops on one side of van), Ex-Captain Shlomo Pomeranz, Firefighters Donald Harris (used his expertise as an EMT to facilitate interior life saving measures) and John Wamsley. Those awarded were led in by

Hillcrest FD Color Guard. Congratulations to all! Job well done! This group also won the RCVFA non-fire 2020 Joseph K. Wright Memorial Unit Citation award.

WORKING FIRES

Photo/G. Zayas

June 6, 22:33 hours: Dept .6 (Hillcrest) dispatched for a structure fire at 5 Timber Trail, Wesley Hills. 6-2 reports signal 12, re-tone, 2-story dwelling, unoccupied, heavy fire showing 2nd floor and into the attic. 44-1, 4 and 5 responded. 22:39 26-FAST (Thiells) dispatched. 22:48 7-Engine (Monsey) dispatched, 22:59 17-Engine (Spring Valley) to the scene. 23:22 26-FAST to work, 23-FAST (West Haverstraw) to the scene. Signal -19 (BCI Fire) to the scene. Under control 00:09 hours.

Photo/A. Feuer

June 23, 1406 hour: Dept. 17 (Spring Valley) and 6-75 (Hillcrest) dispatched to a structure fire at 6 Nancy Lane, Spring Valley. 17-2 asked for a re-tone at 1409 for a signal 12 with smoke in the sky. 44-1, 7, 9 and 12 responded. 1410 hours 7-FAST (Monsey Rescue) to the scene. Fire in a 2-story frame hi-ranch, heavy fire out the front and extending throughout. 1427 hours 8-1500 (Nanuet Engine) relocated to 17-103. Signal 19 (BCI fire investigators) request at 1441 hours. 8-1500 to the scene at 1441. 24-1750 (West Nyack pumper) and 19-99 (Suffern ladder) relocated to 17-103 at 1443 hours. Under control at 1531 hours. PROPANE FLARE BURN OFF INCIDENT

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On June 28 the RC HazMat Team was called to assist the Blauvelt FD with a leaking propane cylinder. As the picture shows, Blauvelt FD provided a cooling stream for the propane flare. A flaring op involves hooking up a propane hose line to the leaking cylinder, interconnecting a double valve redundant controller with a pressure gauge and discharging propane from the bad cylinder up thru the flare tripod. A pilot flame ignites the propane vapor passing thru the hose, thru the controller and to the flare outlet. Once the system is stabilized with vapor flowing, team members gently turned the cylinder over to get liquid propane to flow. RC Hazmat in coordination with Blauvelt FD Incident Commander emptied the tank in about 10 minutes. A water spray protects the rubber flare hoses from excess propane liquid that sprays out from the flare tip and falls onto the hoses. Thanks to the officers and members of Blauvelt FD and both Nyack and West Haverstraw Fire Departments for supporting the operation with a unified command post, set up of our live TV camera and decon capability. Jerry Knapp HM-1

2021 AL “FOXIE” DEFLUMERE AWARD

June 19 the Al “Foxie” DeFlumere Heroism Award was presented posthumously to Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd of the Columbian Engine Co. 1. The ceremony was outdoors, in front of the Rockland County Fire Training Center. Accepting the award were Lloyd’s mother Sabrail Davenport (pictured with her two grandsons) Jared’s father, Calvin Lloyd and Chief Ken Conjura of the Columbian Engine Co. 1 and the Spring Valley Fire Department. The DeFlumere Award of Valor is bestowed upon individuals who have shown unusual heroism and courage in risking their lives, while attempting to save the lives of others, and is named for former Blauvelt Fire Dept. Chief Al DeFlumere, 49,

who died trying to save the life of his son, Matthew, 6, at a fire in their home Oct. 26, 1996.

NEW APPARATUS ORDERS/ARRIVALS The Orangeburg FD has ordered a Pierce Velocity 100' Rear mount tower Ladder, 7 man seating, Cummins x15 605 HP engine, Allision 4000 Transmission, Pierce Tak-4 independent front suspension, Waterous 2000 GPM pump,500 Gallon Poly Tank,Hi-Viz scene lighting.

The Pearl River Fire District has ordered a Rosenbauer Commander pumper. Featuring a 1750 GPM Hale pump, 700 Gallon poly tank and a fully Extruded Aluminum body, this will be the 3rd Rosenbauer for Pearl River.

NJ-NY UNIT CITATION AWARD

On Sunday, June 6 the NJ-NY Volunteer Firemen's Association officers were at the Rockland Lake Fire Department for a Unit Citation Award to Rockland Lake and the mutual aid units that assisted on a mountain rescue involving an injured hiker on Friday evening May 22, 2020.

NEW MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION

The following members have joined the RCVFA so far in 2021: Tara Bertolino, Volunteer Hose Co #2, W. Haverstraw FD Thomas J. Cifuni, Valley Cottage Engine Co #1. Zachary Colon, Volunteer Hose Co #2, W. Haverstraw FD Amber Ellis, Volunteer Hose Co #2, W. Haverstraw FD Robert Glisson, Alert Hook, Ladder & Engine Co #1. Richard Heath Jr, Cosgriff Hose Co #4, Haverstraw FD Luther Kohout, Wayne Hose Co #1, Stony Point FD Stephen Kohout, Wayne Hose Co #1, Stony Point FD Thomas V. Larkin, Wayne Hose Co #1, Stony Point FD Brian Petrizzo, Alert Hook, Ladder & Engine Co #1. Marco Sinacore, Alert Hook, Ladder & Engine Co #1. Curran Skoglund, Volunteer Hose Co #1, Suffern FD Bryan Taylor, Alert Hook, Ladder & Engine Co #1.

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At 2217 hrs, Rockland Lake was dispatched along with the Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance for a report of an injured hiker on the mountain plateau at the rear of the fire station. Arriving on scene, firefighters ascended the trail and proceeded to the plateau area approximately 1200ft up from the fire house, after locating the young male victim he was found to be 20 ft. down from the ledge with serious injuries. At this time due to the assessment of the situation and location the RC Technical Rescue Team and Valley Cottage FD were dispatched to aid in stabilization and removal of the injured party. Arriving on the scene the TRT Leader recommended to the Operations Sector and the Incident Commander to have the Nyack & Piermont FD High Angle Rescue Teams, Congers and West Nyack FDs along with the Westchester County TRT be dispatched to the scene due to unstable terrain and safety of the rescuers and the victim descending the mountain with only the use of hand lights. Note: due to the weather condition no helicopters were available for lighting of the terrain. The young victim was removed from the mountain and transported to the Westchester Medical Center at 0201 hrs (May 23, 2020) by the C-VAC Ambulance. If not for this team effort the outcome may have had a different ending.

If you would prefer to receive your copy of “The Trumpet” in an electronic version rather than the paper version, please send us your e-mail address. We will add you to our e-mail list and remove you from the snail mail list. AS OF AUGUST 13,Please contact Sheryl Rose at SherylERose58@gmail.com NOTE NEW E-MAIL

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Governor Cuomo approved the legislation in “Relation to the Uniform Fire Prevention & Building Code.”The bill amends the Executive Law to strengthen enforcement of illegal modifications to buildings. The bill creates a penalty of up to $7,500 for a building owner who knowingly violates the code by impeding egress and should have knowledge of any alterations that violate the code. The law is further strengthened by including any architect, contractor, subcontractor, construction superintendent or agent thereof who has knowledge of a violation will be held liable so it ensures full compliance. Hudson Valley VFA has sponsored this legislation for many years. Previously only the building owner(s) were held liable. Governor Cuomo indicated “the legislation will ensure more frequent inspections so that violations are caught before they become problematic and deters bad actors.”

Two very important bills on the FASNY Scorecard of priority legislation passed in the Assembly and the Senate and will now be forwarded to the Governor to approve or veto.

“The Family and Firefighter Protection Act” which has taken eight years to pass, regulates manufactures in the use of chemicals in upholstered furniture, mattresses and electronic enclosures. It recognizes that carcinogenic flame retardants pose a serious threat to our firefighters and children and banning these toxic substances from everyday items in our homes is a major step in keeping our families and 1st responders safe. Similar bans have been enacted in the States of California, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island.

As noted by FASNY President John Farrell “The volunteer firefighters of this state are dedicated men and women and “It is now time for the NY State to once again show its dedication to our volunteers. Studies have shown these chemical flame retardants have no significant benefit to stopping fires, but instead release harmful cancer causing chemicals when burned, increasing firefighter’s already high cancer risk. These chemicals have additionally been linked to health risks for children and pregnant women.”

Hopefully, the governor will sign the legislation. He is already being lobbied to veto the bill by the American Chemistry Council, the Manufactures of Furnishings and the North American Flame Retardant Alliance. Along with the support of the volunteer fire associations and paid firefighter unions, additional lobbying efforts to approve the legislation will come from the National Resource Defense Council, Clean & Healthy NY and the NAACP.

The second bill, the Volunteer Firefighters Benefit Law, (VFBL) provides an increase from $450 to $650 per week for those members with a temporary total disability resulting from an injury in the line of duty sustained on or after July 1, 2021. There is no retroactivity increase available for injuries prior to July 1, 2021. Jim Hartwick, Legislative Chairman

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CALENDAR LISTINGS ARE FREE 845-364-8800 Deadline for Next Issue Last Wed. 7/28/2021

Note: although listed here, some ROCKLAND FD organization meetings are canceled,

or locations may have been changed, please check with the organization to confirm.

Tue, Jul 13 ● Dutchess County VFA, Convention, 7:30 PM, at J.H. Ketcham Hose Co. # 1 in Dover Plains,

Contact Vincent Galvin, cpcman79@aol.com

Wed, Jul 14 ● RC Fire Police Assoc, at Columbians Lloyd firehouse, 7:30 PM, with Vice Pres. Nick Gatti.

New Date Jul 14-17 ● NYSAFC 115th Annual Conference and Expo, Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. lots of exhibits

and Hands-On Training will be close by at Syracuse FD Training Center, Register now 800-676-

FIRE, www.NYSFireChiefs.com

Thur, Jul 15 ● RC Fire Chiefs Assoc, at Tallman FD, 7:30 PM, with Pres. Jason Goldsmith, Scholarships

presented

Sat, Jul17 ● Piermont FD, FDNY Battalion Chief Fred C. Scheffold Memorial Rededication, at 11:00am,

Ferry Road (Pier)

Sun, Jul 18 ● Westchester/Rockland Day at the Firemen’s Home, free to attend, more

Wed, Jul 21 ● RC Vol Safety Officers Assoc, at Piermont Fire Dept, BOD 6:30 PM. Mtg 7:30 PM, with Pres

Pete Carney

Sat, Jul 24 ● Orangeburg Fire Dept, Moto Fest @ Dutch Hill firehouse, noon-6 PM, antique fire truck, car or

motorcycle, info event@orangeburgfd.org

Tue, Jul 27 ● Association of Fire Districts, at Orangeburg, 7:30PM, with Pres Kenny Gordon

● OCVFA Regular Meeting, at Cronomer Valley (Picnic) No Orange Jacket -Golf Shirt,

Refreshments 7 PM, Meeting 7:30 PM

Wed, Jul 28 ● RCVFA Brd of Dir, at West Nyack FD, 7:30 PM, with Chairman Ken Gordon

● Deadline for articles for Trumpet

Sun, Aug 1 ● OCVFA Day at the home if allowed

Tue, Aug 3 ● FASNY Golf Tournament, Sprain. Brook Golf Course, 11:30 Reg & Lunch, 1 pm Shotgun Start,

Pre-Reg by Jul 1, only 36 foursomes, $400, contact Bob Outhouse, golf@fasny.com, fax 518-426-

0239

Wed-Sat, Aug 4-7 ● Pawling Fire Department, Annual Fireman’s Carnival and Parade. Our Parade will be on Fri Aug

6 and Fireworks on Aug 7

Thur-Sat, Aug 5-7 ● FASNY 149th Annual Convention in Westchester County

Fri, Aug 6 ● Dutchess County VFA, Pawling Fire Dept, 125th Anniversary Parade, 7 PM, Vincent Galvin

Parade Committee, PO Box 132, Pawling NY 12564

Sat, Aug 7 ● Orange County Fire Districts Assoc, six-hour Fire District Commissioners training, 8 AM until 2

PM, at Cronomer Valley firehouse, Route 32 (296 North Plank Road), Newburgh, call Frank

Simeone 845-357-2660

Mon, Aug 9 ● Orangetown Chiefs Association’s 5th Annual Lenny Sullivan Golf Outing, Rockland Country

Club, Sparkill, c/o Fred Simms, PO Box 24, Tappan, NY 10983

Wed, Aug 11 ● RC Fire Police Assoc, 7:30 PM, at Unknown, with Vice Pres. Nick Gatti.

Fri, Aug 13 ● RCVFA Next Meeting, Jared Lloyd -Columbian firehouse, Spring Valley, Nomination of Officers

night, with Pres Mike Rivera

Future Events

Sat, Aug 14 ● Orangeburg Fire Dept, Cornhole Tournament & Concert, doors open 1 PM, starts 2 PM, Band

Kickin Nash 4-8 PM, $100 a Team, $20 non players, event@orangeburgfd.orgSat, Apr 13 ●

Fri-Sat, Sep 17-18 ● RCVFA Convention at Albertus Magnus HS, parade at West Nyack FD host, Convention/Parade

Change of date because of 9/11 West Nyack FD, (Ossining FD will be hosting the Westchester

County parade on 9/18 at 3:00 pm), more details to follow.

Sat, Sep 25 ● Blauvelt Vol. Fire Co. will host our annual 550 Club Mega Picnic. For tickets, please go to our

Facebook web site or contact Mike Conklin, 845-709-3837

To view this newsletter on line, please go to the following web site: http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/Fire/default.html

Thanks to Sheryl Rose, Stuart Gates, and John Kryger

Please email Sheryl Rose with any Fire Department news, dates of events, fundraisers, etc. SherylERose58@gmail.com

NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS, AS OF AUGUST 13, 2020

FROM THE

FIRE COORDINATOR’S OFFICE

DEPUTY FIRE COORDINATOR ZAYAS

Rockland County fire service is losing a good one…………….

This past July 1st, Deputy Fire Coordinator George Zayas (aka county wide tour commander)

officially stepped down from his current position of 44-5. George informed me several weeks ago

that he and his family have decided to move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and take up full time

residence there. The Zayas’s own a condo there and decided it was the right time to make the move.

Never an easy decision but one they felt where the timing was right. George has served as a Deputy

Fire Coordinator since 2013. Just prior to that, George served as the Chief of the West Haverstraw

Fire Department from 2010 to 2012. Never one to sit still since his retirement from the Stony Point

Police Department, he has worked for NASCAR, Helen Hayes Hospital and Goosetown

Communications. I truly want to thank George for his time, dedication and professionalism as he

served as Deputy Fire Coordinator. During my short tenure as Fire Coordinator, I absolutely loved

working side by side with him as did all our coordinators. He brought a wealth of knowledge to the

position and was a consummate team player. His leaving will be a great loss to the fire service here

in Rockland County. We all wish him and his family, health, happiness and a wonderful future!