Senate Resolution No. 4834

BY: Senator TEDISCO

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of Burnt Hills
Fire Department, Inc. on May 12, 2018

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of Burnt Hills Fire Department Inc. and to honor its past
and present firefighting members for 100 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Burnt Hills, New York, and its surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Burnt Hills Fire Department, Inc.
to be celebrated at an event on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at the Ballston
Town Hall in Ballston Spa, New York; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 100
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Burnt Hills Fire
Department have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and
have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1900s, several Burnt Hills people felt the
need of fire protection for the area, so they decided to incorporate,
and Lieutenant Commander Baily chaired the first meeting; and

WHEREAS, The Burnt Hills Fire Department was officially established
in 1918, and charter members were A.T. Sitterly, Tom Denty, Nate Seely,
A.B. Phillips, Russ West, Carl Larkin, Abe VanPatten, Gil West, Fred
Higgins, R.C. Masterson, Otto Frieberg, Floyd Bates, Dave Baylis, Frank
Gardner, Martin Gilmore, Charles Fairman, Gilbert Seeley, Ira Abbs, A.B.
Bates, Floyd Johnson, Valley Bubb, Alan Sharpley, George Bates, Lee
Hammond, Ed Hammond, Ashley Baker, and Lieutenant Commander Claude
Bailey, as well as William Nessle; and

WHEREAS, Two years later, the Department purchased a hand drawn
vehicle, and a siren which was installed on the roof of the corner store
which was located on South and West Streets; after purchasing land,
construction of the firehouse began in 1923; and

WHEREAS, In 1926, fire districts boundaries were laid out, and a
Model T Ford Pumper was purchased in Poughkeepsie; and

WHEREAS, In 1928, Union Free School, now known as Burnt
Hills-Ballston Lake Central School was destroyed by fire; all local
churches, halls and other properties were used for classes until the
central school could be rebuilt; today, this school is now known as
Francis L. Stevens Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, The firemen started their Annual Roast Beef dinners at the
high school cafeteria in 1938, a tradition that has continued for
numerous decades; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, the Burnt Hills Fire Department was
pretty well depleted as many members were enlisting or being drafted to

serve the country; those who served were Donald and Robert Flicker,
Gilbert Gardner, Elwood and George Kline, Melvin and Albert Smith,
William Smith, James Yates, Arthur and Russell Young, Edward Plath,
Darwin Reynolds, Paul Smith and Fred Foss, all of whom returned to their
hometown safely; and

WHEREAS, During this time, the Department purchased an old Packard
convertible car and made it into its first squad truck; in the late
1940s, the firemen decided they needed a larger firehouse, and saved
much of the initial cost by giving their savings to the commissioners to
purchase land on Route 50; and

WHEREAS, In 1950, neighboring fire companies, scouts, school bands,
and local residents attended the cornerstone dedication ceremony of the
new building; the ladies of the community baked so many cookies for the
event that they were later donated to various organizations all over the
area; and

WHEREAS, Seven years later, the Burnt Hills Fire Department bought a
lot to build the North End Firehouse, and fire station No. 2 was
dedicated on January 4, 1959; the wash bay section was added in 1972;
and

WHEREAS, Through the next 45 years, the Burnt Hills Fire Department
continued to fight fires, perform rescues, and serve its community; the
Department has also strived to keep up with technology, and installed a
911 system, which allows for direct calls from fire control to the fire
department, and instant calls for mutual aid when the need arises; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Burnt Hills Fire Department is led by: Chief,
Bill Crawford; Assistant Chief, Greg Bradtke; Captain Station One,
Michael Fowler; Captain Station Two, Michael Brooks; Captain Fire
Police, Robert Hodgson; Lieutenant ETA 161, Angele Steady; Lieutenant ER
162, Todd Axton; Lieutenant ETA 171, Stephen Mudge; and Lieutenant F
171, Miranda Koster; and

WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Burnt Hills Fire Department in public service and fire protection is
one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 100
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 Burnt Hills Fire Department
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 Burnt Hills Fire Department reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 100 years; 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 100th Anniversary of Burnt Hills Fire
Department, Inc. on May 12, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Bill Crawford, Chief, Burnt Hills Fire Department, Inc.