LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Bloom-
ingburg Fire Company to be celebrated on April 25, 2015

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 80th Anniver-
sary of the Bloomingburg Fire Company and to honor its past and present
firefighting members for 80 years of fire protection to the citizens of
Bloomingburg, New York, and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 80 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Bloomingburg Fire Company
have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have won
the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Bloomingburg Fire Company in public service and fire protection is
one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 80 years,
whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left their homes and
went to the aid of their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Bloomingburg Fire Company are
prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of others
and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by fire;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated by
individual firefighters, the Bloomingburg Fire Company reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 80 years; and
WHEREAS, On February 15, 1935, the Bloomingburg Fire Company was
organized, and has continually improved and expanded over the years; and
WHEREAS, The Bloomingburg Fire Company's first firehouse was a former
ice house on North Street and was leased for eight dollars per month;
while renting this small and inadequate truck house, members were
constantly raising money towards the goal of purchasing property for a
more appropriate building; and
WHEREAS, On July 31, 1939, the Bloomingburg Fire Company became incor-
porated; one month later, they purchased a piece of property, now the
Jeff Bank, with four buildings, two of which were stores; one store, a
barn and an ice house were torn down, and the remaining store, under the
supervision and work of Howard Taylor, was converted into a fire house
that was used until 1964; and
WHEREAS, As soon as the Bloomingburg Fire Company was well established
they had thoughts of expanding from the Village to a Fire District; on
December 7, 1960, the Bloomingburg Joint Fire District was established,
including the Village of Bloomingburg, an expanded area in the Town of
Mamakating and a portion of the Town of Wallkill, Orange County, New
York; and
WHEREAS, The Bloomingburg Fire Company turned over their property and
equipment to the Bloomingburg Joint Fire District; in return, the newly
formed District provided necessary housing, equipment and maintenance
for the firefighters, under a tax structure; and
WHEREAS, The Bloomingburg Fire Company is comprised of three organiza-
tions, including the Bloomingburg Joint Fire District, Bloomingburg Fire
Company No. 1 and the Bloomingburg Ladies Auxiliary; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, the Bloomingburg Fire Company moved into its new
15,300 square foot state-of-the-art firehouse; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Bloomingburg Fire Company is comprised of dedi-
cated volunteers who provide numerous services to the Bloomingburg Joint
Fire District, including cellar pump outs, extraction of victims at
traffic accidents, resuscitator calls, and search and rescue efforts for

lost persons; it also provides, on a reciprocal basis, the same services
to neighboring communities through the County Mutual Aid System; and
WHEREAS, The officers and members of the Bloomingburg Fire Company
also teach educational programs concerning home safety for any group,
and conduct tours of the fire house and demonstrate how to use their
specialized fire equipment; and
WHEREAS, The current officers of the Bloomingburg Fire Company are
President, Steve Schwartz; Vice President, Kevin McGowan; Secretary,
Diedra Angley; and Treasurer, Larry Arnold; and
WHEREAS, Jon Gillen, John Besson, Larry Arnold, Brian Hultslander,
Bill Tobin, Rob Brinckerhoff, and Garry Call Sr. make up the Blooming-
burg Fire Company Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to
those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give
special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment
of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works
performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State,
their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Bloomingburg Fire Compa-
ny to be celebrated at its Annual Dinner on April 25, 2015; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to President Steve Schwartz, Bloomingburg Fire Company.