Senator Ryan Awards $120,000 to the Onondaga County Volunteer Firefighters Association
December 15, 2025
Grant will support purchasing of a new fire safety trailer
State Senator Christopher J. Ryan (SD-50) today announced $120,000 in state funding to the Onondaga County Volunteer Firefighters Association (OCVFA) for the purchasing of a new fire safety trailer. The trailer will be used to provide educational resources, hands-on training, and safety tools to families throughout the county.
“Our volunteer firefighters do far more than respond to emergencies — they spend countless hours educating our families and protecting our communities before a crisis ever happens,” said Senator Ryan. “This investment gives them the tools they need to teach lifesaving skills to children and adults across Onondaga County. When we help our fire service reach more people with hands-on safety training, we’re not just supporting our first responders — we’re preventing tragedies and strengthening every neighborhood they serve.”
“For more than two decades, our fire safety trailer has been one of our most effective tools for teaching children, families, and young adults how to prevent fires and respond safely in an emergency,” said OCVFA President Warren Darby. “This investment from Senator Ryan allows us to modernize a critical resource and expand our reach across Onondaga County. With this new trailer, and in partnership with local fire departments, we’ll be able to provide hands-on education, live demonstrations, and digital safety resources that help keep our communities safer before an emergency ever occurs.”
The trailer has not been updated since 2003. Over the last 22 years, the OCFVA has used the safety trailer to educate thousands of children, families and young adults on the dangers of house and dorm fires as well as giving instructions on how to prevent fires from occurring.
The OCVFA will use the new safety trailer in partnership with local fire departments to provide live demonstrations and as a resource for curating digital media content to reach an online audience. To request the safety trailer at an event, contact Mike Block at mrb2065@gmail.com or Judy Strazzere at ocvfa1@gmail.com. You will be required to submit a letter with a contact name, phone number, date(s) and location(s) requested as well as a copy of an Insurance Certificate (listing OCVFA). For more information, visit https://ocvfa.org/public-ed-trailer.