Village of Saugerties

The Fire Chief for Saugerties is Chief Scott Campbell (scampbell@villageofsaugerties.org).

Address: 43 Partition Street
                 Saugerties , NY 12477

Phone: Emergencies: 911

Phone numbers for individual stations (not for emergencies):

• Uptown Station, 43 Partition St. - 845-246-9701
• C. A. Lynch Fire Company, Theodore Place -  845-246-2027
• Cedar Grove, Route 32 - 845-246-4739
• Centerville, Route 212 - 845-246-5223
• Glasco Fire Company, Plenty Street - 845-246-9600
• Malden West Camp, Malden Turnpike - 845-246-3287
• Mount Marion Fire Company, Kings Highway - 845-246-2290
• Saxton Fire District, 3853 Route 32 - 845-246-1121
• West Camp Station, West Camp Road - 845-246-9008

Website: www.facebook.com/SaugertiesFD

The image (upper right) is of the Fire Department trucks displaying the American Flag at a "Touch a Truck" event.  The Fire Department gets involved in numerous Saugerties events.

Organization

The Saugerties Volunteer Fire Department, as the name implies, is an entirely volunteer, unpaid firefighting organization. It has relied the courage and devotion of its members for the last 154 years, to protect the lives and properties of the residents of the Village of Saugerties. These volunteers have responded to calls, despite the rigors of weather and fatigue, any time day or night, and the dangers of fire fighting, including severe burns, toxic smoke, chemical hazards, building collapses, falls, and other injury that may result.

Additionally, the Saugerties Fire Department serves other residents through both our fire protection district and by the long established "Mutual-Aid" agreements with neighboring fire districts and departments, and on occasion even beyond the Town of Saugerties and the County of Ulster.

Saugerties Fire Department Organization

Toastmaster: Mike Karashay
Fire Commissioner: Brian Martin, Sr.
Secretary/Treasurer: Chris Mason

The current Chiefs of the Saugerties Fire Department are:

• Scott Campbell (Village of Saugerties Fire Chief)
• Chris Mason (First Assistant Fire Chief)
• Chris Wade (Second Assistant Fire Chief)

In addition to the Chiefs and First and 2nd Assistant Chief, the officers of the SFD are:

R. A. Snyder Hose Company No. 1

• Dave Mason, Captain
• Kassiddy McGirr, First Lieutenant
• Brian Mason, Chief Driver
• Richard Jackson, PresidentDon McCaig, President Emeritus

Washington Hook & Ladder Company No. 1

• Steve Nadal, Captain
• Maggie Wade, First Lieutenant
• Chris Wade, Chief Driver

C. A. Lynch Hose Company No. 2

• Cody Rocco, Captain
• Joe Carmody, First Lieutenant
• Stan O'Dell, Second Lieutenant
• Cody Rocco, Chief Driver
• William Mergendahl, President
• Carroll Kimble, President Emeritus

Exempt's Fire Police

• Jim Gage, Foreman
• William "Boo" Schaefer, First Assistant Foreman
• Ed Quirk, Second Assistant Foreman
• Ed Quirk, Chief Driver and Fire Police Captain
• Anthony Bell, President

Roles

The Saugerties Fire Department has four distinct roles in its primary mission. They are fire protection, fire suppression, fire training, and fire prevention. The department also maintains a good neighbor role through its community activities.

Fire Protection

The Saugerties Fire Department consists of four individual companies:

• The R. A. Snyder Hose Company No. 1
• The C. A. Lynch Hose Company No. 2
• The Washington Hook and Ladder Company No. 1
• The Saugerties Exempt Firemen's Association and Fire Patrol with about 75 total active members.

Each company is commanded by a Captain or a Foreman.  There are three Chiefs who have overall responsibility for the Department's operations, each representing one of the three line companies.

Each Company maintains its own apparatus and equipment which is provided by the Village, with a chief driver in charge. Every Firefighter is provided with protective gear which must be worn in fires, emergencies, and training.

The Fire Department is charged with mission of saving life and property. When its members arrive on the scenes, they perform the following functions The are listed in the order of importance:

• Search and Rescue of Victims
• Fire Extinguishing
• Salvage and Overhaul (Extension of fire)
• Securing the Scene

Fire Suppression

Throughout the year the Saugerties Fire Department has responded to various emergency situations. During the course of a typical year, the Saugerties Fire Department responds to over 150 calls.  Calls include fire-related contacts, flooding and cellar pumps, carbon monoxide detector activation, public assistance, automobile accidents, automatic alarms, mutual aid calls, hazardous materials, medical assistance, Village Police assistance, and other calls (good intent, medical alert alarm activation and water rescue).

In a word, these teams are busy . . . busy helping the citizens of Saugerties in very significant ways.

Fire Training

The Saugerties Fire Department has an extensive firefighter training program. Training is conducted on several levels, including New York State, departmental, company level, as well as informal sessions at the Uptown and South Side fire stations.

All new members are required to attend a NY State course in the Firefighter 2000. This 20-week course is informative as well as challenging. Upon successful completion of this basic training course they receive a certificate for their efforts. Firefighters have the opportunity to attend other courses, which provide in-depth knowledge of more complex and dangerous firefighting operations, including at the State Fire Academy in Montour Falls.  Other firefighters attend conventions around the state at their own expense and receive even more training which they bring back to the department. Each firefighter is required to attend an eight hour OSHA safety course annually, to protect themselves and the people they serve.

Some firefighters take advantage of Sunday mornings to come to the two fire stations for informal training, such as the location and use of tools aboard the apparatus.

Fire Prevention

The Saugerties Fire Department has the responsibility to the residents to provide education on the danger of fire and its prevention. It holds an annual Fire Prevention week each October including classes at all local schools, holding fire drills for children , giving out information, offering tours of the apparatus and using a lightweight fire hose (booster line).

The Fire Department conducts tours of the fire stations all year round for such groups as scout troops, school classes, and civic organizations. Fire prevention events are held annually.

Community Activity

As responsible Community Citizens, the Saugerties Fire Department (SFD) engages in several events that are for the enjoyment of everyone. The SFD coordinates the 4th of July parade, which we believe to be one of the best and largest in the Hudson Valley.  On that day, prior to the parade, the SFD hosts other fire companies, and emergency service personnel at our annual inspection. The Firefighter of the Year is announced and honored guest are recognized and take part in the inspection.  Line-up for the 4th of July Parade is 10 a.m. and step off is 11 a.m.  For more information on the 4th of July events, please visit the Village's 4th of July page.

For many years the SFD has been sponsoring an annual Halloween Parade. The children march in their Halloween costumes through the village to the firehouse, after which, the costumes are judged, prize awarded, and refreshments provided.

The Saugerties Fire Department has participated in several firematic parades and competitions, and trophies we have won are proudly on display in the fire house.

During the Saugerties Holiday in the Village (first weekend in December), the Fire Department culminates the day's activities with a Firemen's Parade of Lights, which winds through the streets of Saugerties and finishes at Seamon Park, where the lighting of the trees and park decorations takes place.

Our C. A. Lynch Company has treated the children of Saugerties to candy and a visit from Santa Claus every Christmas day. Santa Claus dons his red suit as he and his helpers hand out boxes of candy as the fire truck visits every street in the Village.

Special Duty - Christmas Candy Run

2019 marked the 100th anniversary of the C. A. Lynch Company's Christmas Candy Run.   Click on the icon below to see a larger, downloadable version of the artwork below (by Mark ("Marky Mark") Lackenbacher) commemorating this tradition that ran from 1919 to 2019, and continues to run today:

History

For a List of Past Chiefs of the Saugerties Fire Department, from 1856 to present, open the section immediately below.

Photos

Firetrucks from the Washington, C. A. Lynch and R. A. Snyder fire companies.  Photo comes from the Saugerties Fire Department Facebook page.

The Saugerties Fire Department holds various interesting talks and demonstrations involving children.  Here, some junior firefighters are attentive as they learn about fire trucks.