nbspAt the Annual Installation of Officers Dinner held this past month several members of thenbspdivClinton Heights Fire Department were given special recognition for their willingness to deploy to LongnbspdivdivIsland during Hurricane Sandy. nbspIn his presentation Chief Randy Cherubino stated On four differentnbspdivdivoccasions firefighters from our department left family and their familiar home district to ride tonbspdivdivWestport Long Island and other points of need to assist our neighbors so devastated by the hurricanesnbspdivdivwrath. nbspIn recognition for their efforts the Firefighter of the Year Award is collectively presented to thesenbspdivdivbrave and selfless members. nbspAlso of special note that evening the John Mitchell Sr. Award givennbspdivdivannually to a firefighter who goes above and beyond was presented to Lieutenant Mike Hart.nbspdivdivnbspdivdivSworn in to hold the office of Chief by Chief Jay Corcoran of the Rensselaer Fire Departmentnbspdivdivwere District Chief Randy Cherubino 1st Assistant Chief Seth Tracy and 2nd Assistant Chief Bill OConnor. nbspnbspdivdivLine Officers for the coming year were sworn in by T.J. Strack Assistant Chief of the Saranac FirenbspdivdivDepartment Bruen Hose Station 1 Captain Steve Bestler Lieutenant Truck 8 Bob Reiners andnbspdivdivLieutenant Rescue 8 Joe Faranda. nbspFor Community Hose Station II the line officers for the coming yearnbspdivdivare Captain Chris Racine Station Lieutenant Mike Hart Lieutenant Squad 8 Tom Penk Lieutenant Enginenbspdivdiv8-5 Chad Farrell Lieutenant Engine 8-7 Pat Knapeck and Special Operations Division Lieutenant KrisnbspdivdivRenadette. nbspdivdivnbspdivdivCompany Officers for the 2013 year for Bruen Hose President Tony Hazzard Vice President BillnbspdivdivOConnor Secretary Dave Jordan Treasurer Tom Burns and Members Frank Fiato Rich Hendrick andnbspdivdivSteve Bestler. nbspFor the Community Hose Fire Company President Ron Stark Vice President JasonnbspdivdivDeyette Secretary Paul Bednarczyk Treasurer Ed Pratt Financial Secretary John Farrell and Sergeant atnbspdivdivArms T.J. Laplante.nbspdivdivnbspdivdivThe Ladies Auxiliary members took the oath of office before President Meaghan Hart VicenbspdivdivPresident Bernadette Hazard Secretary Kerry Stevens Financial Secretary Michele Penk TreasurernbspdivdivHelene Reed and Chaplain Joyce Smith.nbspdivdivnbspdivdivThe Clinton Heights Volunteer Fire Department provides fire safety and protection to overnbspdivdiv12700 residents in the Town of East Greenbush. nbspThere are 65 active fire fighters currently on the roles of the fire district.divpp

nbspspan stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxnbspIn an effort to sharpen the skills of the volunteer firefighters of the Clinton Heights Fire Department Lieutenant Mike Ciampo of 45 Truck New York City Fire Department located in the Bronx and Firefighter Mike Leo of Squad 41 Bronx were on hand the weekend of March 30-31spansup stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serifstsupspan stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxnbspto offer class and hands-on experience in truck company operations.nbsp Firefighters from Rensselaer Defreestville Halfmoon and Wynantskill were invited to join the 35 volunteers from Clinton Heights for this exercise.nbspspanp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxuupp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbsp Lieutenant Ciampo offered tips tricks and techniques in window ladder entry as well as rotation and rescue.nbsp There was extensive training in forcible entry as a firefighter is faced with inwardoutward opening doors.nbsp Taught and reviewed as well was roof ventilation with an assortment of saws and tools available to truck company personnel.nbsp Actual buildings recently donated to the fire department made the experience that much more realistic.nbsp Cutting drills were also offered.uuuupp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbsp Firefighter Leo addressed the techniques of quick interior searches by ladder entry taking glass taking control of a room and conducting the primary search.nbspuuuupp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbsp In all cases both trainers emphasized the importance of communication team work and accountability. Lieutenant Ciampo has been on the job for 27 years having served with Rescue 3 in Washington D. C. as well as Truck 44 NYFD before being assigned to 45 Truck.nbsp Firefighter Leo has been a volunteer firefighter with the Islip fire department for 20 years and for 10 years with FDNY.nbsp He is also active with FEMA in the City of New York.p

nbspTspan stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13px text-indent 0.5inhe Clinton Heights Fire Department CHFD is pleased to acknowledge the recent promotion of member Vince Memole to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve.nbsp LTC Memoles current assignment is as Asst Chief of Staff G-5 Chief of Plans for the 78spansup stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif text-indent 0.5inthsupspan stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13px text-indent 0.5inTraining Division at Fort Dix New Jersey. nbspAlso fire department member Paul Bednarczyk was promoted to Major in the Air Force Reserve.nbsp He currently is with the 439spansup stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif text-indent 0.5inthsupspan stylecolor rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13px text-indent 0.5innbspCivil Engineering Squadron CES at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts.nbsp Memole who has been deployed three times has been with Clinton Heights Fire for 26 years Bednarczyk having been deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 has been a member of Clinton Heights for 10 years.spanp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13px text-indent 0.5inuupp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13px text-indent 0.5inCHFD has many members who have proudly served in the Armed Forces of the United States Tony Rossello Sr. Ted Mulberry Bob Stark Sr. Bob Phelan Ed Pratt Current Chief Randy Cherubino 2supndsupnbspAsst Chief Bill OConnor Tom Penk Adam Kraus Brian Hill Steve Frost Paul Van Wormer and Sean Racine.nbsp Fire Fighter John Schumaker will join the United States Army on August 28supthsup.uuuupp classMsoNormal stylemargin 0px color rgb34 34 34 font-family arial sans-serif font-size 13pxnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbspnbsp Also in line for recognition recently is department member Matt Boniface who graduated from Suffolk University on May 5supthsup.nbsp Graduating Cum Laude Matt was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems and International Business.nbspp