Local attendees of the NYS Fire Coordinators’ Association Conference included, from the left, Deputy Sullivan County Fire Coordinator Jack Halchak, County Court Judge Jim Farrell, Fire Coordinator John Hauschild, Association Treasurer and former Sullivan County Public Safety Commissioner Dick Martinkovic, Deputy Fire Coordinator Charlie Rampe and Deputy Fire Coordinator Tom Totten.
Monticello, NY – Members of the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire traveled upstate to Watkins Glen March 29-31 to attend the New York State Fire Coordinators’ Association Conference, including Sullivan County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild, Deputy Fire Coordinator Tom Totten, Deputy Fire Coordinator Jack Halchak and Deputy Fire Coordinator Charlie Rampe.
Also attending from Sullivan County was Liberty resident and former Public Safety Commissioner Richard Martinkovic, who is currently Treasurer of the Fire Coordinators’ Association.
Jackie Bray, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Service, kicked off the conference with an update on parts of the Governor’s proposed 2023 Budget and where the fire service fits in. Commissioner Bray reported that there may be monies for firefighters taking Basic and Interior fire classes and Firefighter Officer’s courses.
One of the highlights of the conference was Sullivan County Court Judge and Lake Huntington firefighter James Farrell’s presentation on “Social Media Do’s and Don’ts,” considered an outstanding presentation.
Another presentation featured a full-size electric school bus to see firsthand what the fire service would encounter in the event of an emergency, and attendees also received an update on the Cancer program in the fire service, plus a case study of the Rockville Centre gas tanker rollover fire on Long Island. The last presentation was the most concerning for conference-goers: lithium-ion battery fires. Many of these fires are caused by damaged batteries and non-UL (Underwriters Laboratory)-approved batteries found in common household electronics.
