Special Announcements
2008 Company Inspection and Awards
The annual Company Inspection was conducted on May 10th. Firefighters spent many hours in the weeks leading up to the event getting the fire apparatus and equipment in inspection-ready condition. The results of the scoring, conducted by neighboring fire department officials, are as follows:
1st Place: Engine 32 2nd Place: Squad 33 3rd Place: Truck 30 4th Place: Engine 31
Captain Brett Vincent received the Kevin M. Shea Award, named in honor of Chief Kevin M. Shea who suffered a Line of Duty Death in January 2004. Captain Vincent was cited for his superior drill and alarm attendance in addition to his willingness to supervise and conduct the annual in-house fit-testing of active firefighters. Captain Vincent joined the Department in November 1998. He served as Fire Lieutenant from December 2003 until he was elected Captain in December 2007.
Firefighter Robert C. White was posthumously awarded the Kenneth E. McNary Achievement Award. The award is presented annually to an individual whose performance best exemplifies the characteristics of dedication, professionalism, and concern for fellow firefighters and who maintains a high level of commitment to the Elsmere Fire Company and the community. Firefighter White joined the Elsmere Fire Company in November 1968. He served the Company as Secretary, Fire Lieutenant, Vice-President and President over a twenty-two year period. He also chaired the Company's Albany County Volunteer Fireman's Association Convention Committee in 1982. Sadly, Firefighter White passed away during his 40th year of active membership in the Elsmere Fire Company.
The following were also recognized for their service to the Fire Company and Fire District:
1 YEAR
Firefighters Charles Furman, Eli Gill, Joseph Keller, William Yates
5 YEARS
Firefighters Charles Dawson, John Lutz, Robert Madeo, Michael Wright
10 YEARS
Firefighters Eric Bettinger, Robert McElroy, Mark Platel, Kenneth Zigrosser
25 YEARS
Firefighters Scott Anson, Donald Glastetter, John Pregent, Jr.
30 YEARS
Firefighter Daniel McMahon
35 YEARS
Lieutenant John Zboray
40 YEARS
Firefighter Jerome Smith
45 YEARS
Fire Police Richard Brown
55 YEARS
Firefighter Oliver Palmer
Fire Commissioners Begin Special Training
Fire Commissioners of the Elsmere Fire District are now receiving specialized training as required by Chapter 242 of the Laws of 2006 (Section 176-e of Town Law). The new law states that effective January 22, 2007 each commissioner of a fire district must attend and successfully complete a State-approved training course within 270 days of taking office.
This training includes instruction in Fire District Management, Financial Administration, Conflicts of Interest & Ethics, Internal Controls & Detection of Fraud/Abuse, Procurement & Disposition of Fire District Assets, and Travel Procedures & Policies.
Commissioner Richard S. Webster, who was re-elected to a five-year term beginning 1/1/08, successfully completed this training in Schenectady, NY on February 9, 2008.
2008 Firefighter of the Year
Chief William H. Webb
Chief William H. Webb was named Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc.'s Firefighter of the Year at a ceremony hosted by the Nathaniel Adams Blanchard American Legion Post No. 1040 on March 3rd.
Chief Webb joined the Elsmere Fire Company as a firefighter on June 27, 1985.
He was elected Fire Company Treasurer in October 1987. He served as a Fire Lieutenant from April 1989 through April 1995. In April 1995, he was elected to the position of Fire Captain. He served in this capacity until December 1997. Chief Webb was elected 2nd Assistant Chief in December 1997 and served in that capacity until December 2003, when he was promoted to the rank of 1st Assistant Chief. In February 2004, he was elected to fill the position of Chief, left vacant by the untimely line of duty death of Chief Kevin M. Shea.
Chief Webb continues to serve as the Department's Chief.
Chief Webb is a member of the Elsmere FAST Team and chairs the Fire Company's popular Fish Fry Dinner Committee, which many residents of the Town enjoy on four Friday evenings during February and March. He is also trained in Hazardous Materials Incident Command.
Chief Webb was commended for his brave actions during a fire at a local nursing home.
At 3:01am on December 17, 2007, he responded to a report of a structure fire in an elderly resident's room. As one of the first firefighters to arrive, Chief Webb was able to make his way through a smoke filled wing of the nursing home to the elderly resident's room. Finding that sprinklers had extinguished the fire involving the resident's clothing and surroundings, he was able to remove the seriously burned resident from danger and further injury with the assistance of Bethlehem Police.
Chief Webb also received this award at Post No. 1040 on March 7, 2005.
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