Present to accept an award recognizing the late Richard Martinkovic were, from the left, Deputy Fire Coordinators Brian Soller and Jack Halchak, Dick’s daughter Jill Martinkovic, Fire Coordinator John Hauschild, Deputy Fire Coordinator Don “Bosco” Hunt, Dick’s widow Janet Martinkovic, former Erie County Fire Coordinator James McCullough, Deputy Fire Coordinator Charlie Rampe, NYS Fire Coordinators’ Association President Bill Streicher, and Fire Training Coordinator Joe Mall.
Watkins Glen, NY – The Sullivan County Bureau of Fire attended the annual State Fire Coordinators’ Conference in Watkins Glen this past week. The team included Fire Coordinator John Hauschild, Chief Deputy Fire Coordinator Jack Halchak, Deputies Don “Bosco” Hunt and Charlie Rampe, Training Coordinator Joe Mall and newly appointed Special Operations Deputy Brian Soller.
“NYS Fire Administrator James Cable opened the conference by sharing updates on developments across the State. One of the most alarming statistics he presented was the rise in firefighter deaths due to cancer and suicide, surpassing the combined line-of-duty deaths from the past five years,” noted Hauschild.
Additionally, the State Fire Academy in Montour Falls is undergoing significant upgrades, including improvements to its hands-on training facilities. Other key discussions included community risk reduction, data collection on fire fatalities, and ongoing efforts to reduce cancer rates in the fire service.
The Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) highlighted the stipend program, which offers monetary rewards to firefighters who complete certain training courses. Another important development was the transition to a national fire reporting system, replacing the former state system.
Each year, a region is selected to give a report, and this year, it was the Central District’s turn. This district, which includes 17 counties, has seen a significant population increase, especially on weekends. Similar to how Sullivan County experiences a seasonal surge in summer, the Central District faces challenges in terms of the increased pressure on emergency services.
Orange County Fire Coordinator Vini Tankasali and Major Bob Rogers from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation presented an overview of the Jennings Creek Fire, a major brush and forest fire that began in New Jersey on October 18 and spread into Greenwood Lake. Despite the fire being contained at times, changing winds caused it to jump established lines, threatening up to 100 homes.
“Fortunately, they said no homes were lost, thanks to the tireless efforts of over 1,300 firefighters from 438 fire companies. Tragically, however, State Park employee Dariel Vasquez lost his life in the battle against the fire,” shared Halchak. “The situation became even more complex with narrow roads and evacuating residents, but a snowstorm eventually helped suppress the fire.”
NYS Park Police Officer Jeff Santor, part of the New York State Incident Management Team, shared his experience in Asheville, NC, following Hurricane Helene. One key takeaway was Asheville’s early recognition of its need for assistance, requesting help when necessary. A unique volunteer system was set up via an app, allowing people to sign up for shifts without overwhelming the response efforts.
Two presentations focused on fire service consolidation. Chief Dan Eggleston from the Albemarle County Fire Department in Virginia and Chautauqua County Fire Coordinator Noel Guttman discussed different models of consolidation, including countywide and fire district mergers.
Tom Jenkins introduced the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), a new data-driven fire reporting system. Unlike previous systems that used codes, NERIS will allow fire departments to report incidents in plain English, offering more accurate and comprehensive data. The system is currently being rolled out across New York.
John Usher from PESH (Public Employee Safety & Health) gave a detailed presentation on what constitutes a reportable incident, illustrating his points with real-life case histories. Dixon Robbins presented on NFPA 1321, which governs how fire investigators conduct investigations into incidents. He emphasized the complexity of fire investigations, which require thorough forensic methods and documentation, contrary to how they are often portrayed on TV.
The highlight of the conference came when Bill Streicher, President of the NYS Fire Coordinators’ Association, honored former Sullivan County Fire Coordinator Richard “Dick” Martinkovic for his years of service. Martinkovic, who recently passed away, was President and Treasurer of the Association. His wife Janet and daughter Jill were present to receive an engraved clock in his honor, to a standing ovation from the audience.
The Sullivan County team left the conference with several key takeaways:
- Many fire departments are facing an aging workforce, with volunteer numbers slow to fill the gap.
- In the past, firefighters responded to working incidents when the siren went off; today, it is harder to predict what they will face.
- Instructions must be followed during disasters. Responding with more personnel or the wrong type of equipment can cause confusion and complicate efforts on the ground.
