Brockport consolidates fire company operations

Brockport consolidates fire company operations

For the past 125 years, the Brockport Fire Department has had five companies chartered under the laws of New York state. Within the next month, the companies will consolidate their internal operating structure - the physical buildings and location of apparatus will not be affected by the consolidation.

"We've always only been one department," Chris Martin, public information officer for the department said. "We will probably be called the Brockport Fire Department and we will all operate under one banner and continue to be owned by the village and continue to contract services to the Towns of Clarkson and Sweden as we have done in the past."

The five companies of the BFD are the Harrison Hose Co. No. 2; Horace Silsby Co. No. 1; The Protectives Co. No. 3; CD Dewey Hook & Ladder Co. No. 6; and Capen Hose No. 4.

"There will be no visible changes in the way we conduct service and respond to calls," Martin said. "The biggest changes will be seen internally."

In the past, the departments had five presidents, five vice presidents, five secretaries and five treasurers. "The consolidation will reduce those numbers to one of each position and we will now have 10 council wardens as the ruling body of the department," he said. "By reducing the internal administrative structure we can streamline the operations of the five companies. We will be more efficient."

The consolidation of the departments has been discussed for several years but truly only came to fruition in the past year, Martin said.

"We've been working toward this for many years and are pleased to be able to accomplish our goal of creating a consolidated fire department," Fire Chief Laurence Vaughan said.

A board of directors was elected in early September. The president is Willard Bird, Jr.; vice president, Norman Knapp; directors are Michael Corey, Dean Westcott and Emily Cokeley.

An Honor Guard stood in respect throughout the day Monday, September 11 at the Firemen's Monument at Brockport's Station #4. This year was the fifth year the solemn vigil has been held to pay tribute to rescue workers who died 9-11-01. Photograph by Rick Nicholson.

9/11 memorial services well attended
Many people gathered at the Firemen's Memorial in the village of Brockport on September 11 to remember those lost five years ago. Chris Martin, public information officer for the Brockport Fire Department, said Congressman Tom Reynolds was on hand for the noon ceremony, Assemblyman Bill Reilich spoke at the evening ceremony and Brockport Mayor Mort Wexler spoke at all three remembrance ceremonies.

The department sold commemorative coins as a fundraiser for work needed on the monument. "We had 250 coins on hand and took orders for an additional 250," Martin said. "We also had several memorial bricks sponsored that day."

Bricks are still available for sponsorship. Visit www.brockportfire.org or call 637-1030 for information and a sponsorship form.