Friday morning 2/26/2010, the volunteers at Station 57 were requested to respond along with Department 56 for a reported house fire. The Squad left with 5 volunteers as it was staffed for Engine 99.  The Pumper Tanker followed shortly behind with 4 volunteers units arrived to find a problem with a wood stove.

First run for the squad At 20:19 hrs on Wednesday,  Fbruary 3rd, the volunteers at Coconut Cnter were dispatched to a report of a chimney fire in the first due district. Chief 57 arrived first on the scene to find a large 2 1/2 story wood frame residence with fire showing from the chimney. the pumper tanker went enroute with 6 volunteers. The pumper tanker secured its water source and the crew went to work on the  interior operations.

Task Force 1, Inc.'s Managing the Mayday Choconut Center Volunteer Fire Company will host a two day training program on March 27 and 28, 2010.  This program, which is presented  nationally, is coming to Broome County for the first time.  Enrollment is limited. Pre-registration is required. Download the flyer!

Fallen Angels FOOLS Chapter
With the loss of Chief Shear's son Hayden and Chief Sculley's son Gavin in 2009 several departments in Broome and Tioga Counties have joined together to start the Fallen Angels FOOLS Chapter. 

The Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society (FOOLS) is an organization that was started in 1995 by a group of Central Florida Firemen. This group, known today as the Founding Fools, had a passion for not only the camaraderie and brotherhood that is forged between firefighters, but the rich tradition and heritage of the Fire Service. Since 1995, this brotherhood has grown to over seven thousand strong. There are chapters all over the world, with new chapters starting almost every day.

The Leatherhead is a term used for a firefighter who uses the leather helmet for protection from the hazards we face everyday on the streets. The Leather Helmet, is an international sign of a Firefighter, a symbol that is significant in not only tradition from the early years of firefighting, but one of bravery, integrity, honor and pride. The helmet is a sign of who we are, not what we are. 

The FOOLS, like the traditional leather helmet, has always existed throughout the brotherhood of the Fire Service, and will continue to grow and flourish as long as there are fires to fight and emergencies to respond to. The FOOLS are about the brotherhood and tradition that the fire service is based on. When we are in our gear, and trying to make our way down the dark Smokey hallway, we are all the same. All that matters is that you have my back, and I have yours. We do not care if you are a chief, a recruit, a volunteer or a career firefighter, a male, a female or the color of your skin. All we ask is that you are true to your brother and sister firefighter, and to the fire service. All firefighters are welcome to be a part of this great organization; one does not have to own a leather helmet to be considered a "Leatherhead". Our membership is growing everyday, and we encourage you to start a FOOLS chapter in your department. 

The FOOLS are not a political organization. We will not be involved in union, management, or any other political issue. We are about preserving the tradition and heritage of the fire service and taking care of our brother and sister firefighters. We have been involved with fundraisers, charity events, and helping disadvantaged children receive gifts for Christmas. We believe that this part of what being a member of the FOOLS is all about.

The FOOLS also believe in providing real fire training for real firefighters. We believe that it is our duty to be as well trained as we possibly can. This can only keep us, and our brothers and sisters safe on the fire ground. We owe it to ourselves, our brothers and sisters, their families, and to the citizens we protect.

We believe in Pride: In our departments, in our stations, in our apparatus, and pride in ourselves.

One last thing that we as the Founding Fools ask of each and every one of you, let us never, ever forget those that have gone before us in the line of duty. Because those brave souls have given all, it is up to us to keep them alive in our hearts and our memories. 

The Fallen Angels FOOLS will now be hosting the training weekend that was started in memory of Hayden M. Shear. The training weekend that was known as the Hayden M. Shear Memorial Firefighters Training Weekend will now be the Fallen Angels Memorial Firefighters Training Weekend in memory of Hayden Miles Shear 9/18/08 - 3/7/09 and Gavin Nicholas Sculley 11/24/09 - 11/26/09. Rest in peace our angels your are gone but never forgotten.

The next meeting will be Thursday 1/14/09 1900 hours at Whitney Point Fire.
 

PT 57 On House Fire in 66's First Due A 10:34 hours on Friday,  January 8th, Pumper Tanker 57 was due on the second alarm in department 66"s first due for a well involved house fire.  The pumper tanker stretched a line to protect exposures and help knock down the large body of fire in the fire building.

Officers for 2010 

Fire chief - Randy Shear  1st Ass't Chief- Brian Stimak  2nd Ass't Chief - Chris Steed  Captains - Chris Cooper, Graham Macdonald  Lieutenant - P. J. Malenda

Business officers President -Al Shear Vice president -Bill Holmes Secretary- Samantha Lindow  Treasurer - Otis Kaufman

New Squad Delivered 
After staffing the Central Region Engine 99 with two runs for the day, the members returned to have the new squad arrive. The 2009 Sutphen will replace both the old squad and the previous rescue truck now in service in Deer Creek, Illinois . After some intense training and some extra tool mounting,  we look to have the truck in service within the next month. 

Some of the features include: 425 hp Cummins Motor  1750 GPM Hale Pump  Seating for 6 firefighters  Wil Burt Night scan Tower  Onan 15KW generator  Full Compliment Genesis Rescue Equipment  2 Respond Ready Tool boxes  Roto Ray  Power Call Siren Upper Hatch Compartments

A fallen angel 
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Gavin Nicholas Sculley, son of Chief Nicholas Sculley Chief of the Whitney Point Fire Department. The Officers and members of the Choconut Center Fire Department offer Chief Sculley and family our deepest heartfelt condolences. Services for Gavin are as follows Monday at the Nichols Funeral Home Whitney Point NY viewing 9AM-11AM service to follow.
 

New addition to the family at 57 On Monday morning at 11:30 hours  the family at Choconut Center received a new addition.  Mackenzie Lee Shear was born. Mackenzie is the daughter of Firefighter Samantha Lindow and Chief Randy Shear . Mother and baby are doing well and should be home shortly. Congratulatiosn on the new baby and welcome to the family!

Squad runs pin job in 56's area  Monday night during the department meeting the MVA assingment was dispatched in Department 56's (East Mine ) for a single car roll over with entrapment. Squad 57, due on the alarm, responded with 7 volunteers. The squad aided in stablization and preformed a third door conversion to free the trapped occupant. Utility 57 was later requested to aide in traffic control all units were back in service in an hour .

Busy Friday for the volunteers at Station 57  On Friday, September 25th, the volunteers at Choconut Center started the day with a EMS alarm for a male who had fallen. Units cleared the scene only to return moments later for a car vs. tractor trailer MVA.

Originally called in with entrapment in Department 56's area. Squad 57, due on the alarm responded with 5 volunteers to find a male patient self extricated from the vehicle. The squad handled vehicle hazards and helped with patient care. 

While units were taking up to go in service from the MVA the assignment was struck in Department 57s first due for an activated fire alarm in the new First Baptist Church.  Pumper tanker 57 responded within minutes with a crew of 5 volunteers. While responding the pumper tanker was advised of an alarm malfunction by alarm workers on scene, The assignment was reduced to PT 57 only. Al units were cleared and back in service.

Memorial Training Weekend a success
The Choconut Center Fire Company and Hayden Family would like to thank all that attened and all who helped make the event a success. A special thank you to the Whitney Point Fire Department and Past Chief Chuck Franklin and the Broome County Fair Board for use of the grounds, and to Ron Richards of Task Force 1, Inc. Without these people help the event would not have been a success stay tuned for event photos and video thanks to all and we hope to see you next year.

Our Sponsors

Garys U Pull It  Lantz Salvage Yard  Howell rescue systems  Al Smith Rigging  Five Star Equipment  JC Smith  ESIP Saturn Software Elizaco  Melankos Body Shop Dougs Towing  Rockwell Collins  Gault Toyota  Roberts Scrap Yard  Delorenzo Body Shop  Terrenzis Auto Body

NYSEG  Bert Adams Disposal  Belknap Lumber  Broome County firefighters  Team World  Subway of Whitney Point  Gregs Big M  Calleo Logo Wear  Union Center Fire Company  Chenango Fire Company  Port Dickinson Fire department  Mike and Sue Rasmussen  Austin Lindow Castle Creek Fire Company   Chief Nick Sculley Whitney Point Department  Deputy Chief Mike Sura Whitney Point Fire Department   Captain John Hickey Campville Fire Department

Annual 9/11 memorial event 
We will never forget the fallen brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice  The volunteers  at Choconut Center will once again go on duty for 24 hours at the firehouse in remembrance of the 343 fallen New York City Firefighters. The members will participate in a memorial service at @ 08:46 hours  at the station and also will staff the Central Region Engine 99. The same events will be mirrored at the Whitney Point Fire Department.
 

House fire, first due this time At 14:33 hours, Department 57's first due area for a working fire units arrived to find a working fire on the 2nd floor of a 2 story wood frame residence, upon arrival PT 57 confirmed the working fire and stretched a 1 3/4 inch line to the fire floor.  The second alarm assingment was struck bringing two additional engines and a truck company. The intial companyies made a quick hit on the fire, keeping the fire in the room of origin. Due to a broken hydrant, a tanker assignment was started with T64, PT3. They were returned to service as the hydrant problem was fixed.  Chief 57 had the command,units on scene included PT 57, SQ 57, U57, Q63, E63, Q66, R33, PT56, C24, and C24A.  Endicott fire provided the fast team. An album for the incident is posted on the photos page.

Afternoon storm brings car  wreck for the squad At 17:57 hours on Monday, the car accident assinment was struck in Departmet 56's first due. On the job  was Squad 57 with seven volunteers. The Squad handled hazards and helped with the patient care. Units on the scene included SQ57, R56, PT56-1, BR56. Chief 56 had the command. Units cleared within 40 minutes.

PT and Squad on late night fire assignment
At 00:10 hours on Thursday morning Pumper Tanker and Squad 57 were dispatched as part of a house fire assingment in Department 56's (East Maine) first due.

Chief 57 was first to arrive on scene reporting a working fire in a 10 x 20 wood frame out building with a 2 story non combustible structure as a exposure. Pumper Tanker and Squad 57 arrived and put two lines in service to take care of the fire in the out building and prevent extension into the exposure . Units operated on scene for about 2 hourss. Chief 56 had the command. Units on scene included PT 57, Squad 57, PT 56-1 , PT 56-11, T64, T66, R66, and E63

Second fire in three days
Thursday morning at 07:00 Squad 57 was dispatched as part of the building fire assignment with entrapment in Department 24's first due. The squad took care of the RIT duties. The Whitney Point Fire Department quickly removed the 3 trapped occupants of the fire building. Thye made quick work of the second floor fire. The squad returned to service after 3 hrs on the scene.  Press news
 

PT 57 catches work in 66's  first due On Tuesday afternoon Pumper Tanker 57 was due on the second alarm for a working fire in Department 66's first due.  The pumper tanker was assigned the back up line and completed the ventilation duties. The crew returned to service in about 40 minutes.

Firefighters Graduate  "Boot Camp" Congratulations to Captain Chris Steed, FF Jordan Calandros, FF Bob Miller  for graduating from the 3 week Firefighter boot camp offered in Broome County.

Students attended class from 8 am till 5 pm Monday through Friday. Each firefighter received their New York State Firefighter 1 and 2 along with Firefighter Ssurvival. All received national Firefighter 1 recognition.
 
 

Squad takes in RIT run  At 1600 hrs Squad 57 was dispatched as part of the Northern Broome FAST team to the Glen Aubrey Fire District on a report of a garage fire the squad responded  with  a crew of 6 but was returned to service upon arrival as first arriving crews put a quick knock on the fire.

Airshow detail On Saturday July 4th, Pumper Tanker 57 and Utility 57 along with 8 volunteers headed to the Greater Binghamton Airshow. The crew was on stand-by in case of an aircraft emergency. During the show we got a visit from Lt. JP "Willie" Wilson, a Marine Corp pilot, who's father was a Deputy Chief in the New York City Fire Department.  LT Wilson shared some stories from his father's career with the FDNY in the Bronx.

His father was on duty when the Bronx was burning. His father was even mentioned in Report from Engine Company 82 . We were treated to the Blue Angels demonstration. Once the detail was complete, all units returned to service.
 

Squad on a afternoon motorcycle wreck At at 17:22 hours on Friday Squad 57 was alerted to respond with department 56 for a Motorcycle accident with serious injuries chief 57 arrived to find one male patient with compound fractures to the extremities. The squad arrived and assited EMS with removing the patient from the woods and packaging units on scene included squad 57, Rescue 56, Pumper-tanker 56-1,Chiefs 57 and 56-A.

Training Monday  The volunteers from Choconut Center spent Monday evening training on airport rescue and firefighting operations the training included training with the ARFF apparatus and foam as well as  instruction on the types of aircraft that frequent the Binghamton Regional Airport as well as the aircraft that will visit this weekend for the annual air show.  During training everyone got a preview of the air show as 2 F-16s were doing  maneuvers.

Goodbye Rescue 57  June 17,  Rescue 57 left for its new Home in Deer Creek, Illinois. The Rescue served the department from 2003 until the present It's departure makes room for the new squad set to be delivered in September.  Congratulations to the Deer Creek Fire Department and good luck with the apparatus.