Ladder Truck Reserve Vote Passes

  Wednesday, June 8th 2011

I wanted to extend a big "thank you" to all who supported the fire district's resolution to create a ladder truck reserve fund.

As per the referendum, the reserve account will be used to "finance the cost of the purchase of a ladder truck." This is a huge step forward and I hope a final solution to prevent financial oversights by the Board in the future regarding the replacement of the ladder.

The unofficial results are: YES: 53; NO: 10; VOID: 0

These results (and the official results) will be posted on the fire district's website in the near-future.

posted by spackmann in News at 12:11 PM (242 day(s) old)  Permalink

R.I.P. Bryan King

  Saturday, March 19th 2011

I received sad news today that brother Bryan King lost his long battle with cancer.

During his career, Bryan played a huge role in the Greenfield Fire District.

Bryan rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the Maple Avenue Fire Company. He was later elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners, where he also served as Chairman of the Board.

Bryan served as the district liaison during the construction of the Maple Avenue firehouse. There is no question that the success of that major project was due to the countless hours that he personally spent on site working with all the contractors day in and day out.

While I have a great many fond memories serving with Bryan, I like to share a particular one with you.

Shortly after moving into the new firehouse, some members and I were hanging new pictures and plagues in the meeting room. That afternoon a call came in for a motor vehicle accident - a car into a house. It just so happens that this accident, and the house the car hit, was Bryan's neighbor's house - in fact, the car drove across Bryan's front lawn.

The passenger compartment was actually filling up with heavy black smoke and there was a small engine compartment fire - and to make matters worse, the patient was trapped. I was ordered to grab a hose line and simultaneously extinguish the fire and ventilate the passenger compartment.

The extrication was hampered because the car was a third of the way into the house. That was one of the more intense calls I?ve responded to, and I remember thinking "please God, don?t let this man burn up." I remember hearing Bryan say "I can get my loader, and we can pull the car out of the house - then we can cut him out." I knew then, that everything was going to be okay. I have no doubt that our efforts that day saved a man's life.

And that was the type of man Bryan was, always there to lend a helping hand, whenever it was needed, and he served our great community with honor and distinction.

He was a community servant, a great father, a loving grandfather, a loyal friend and a brother firefighter.

Through this tragedy I take comfort in knowing that Bryan's servitude will live on through his son Nate (who himself is a past Deputy Chief) and his grandson Zack, who I have no doubt will join our brotherhood in good time.

May you rest in peace brother, you will be missed.

posted by spackmann in News at 7:42 PM (323 day(s) old)  Permalink

R.I.P. Brother Akin

  Thursday, October 21st 2010

There have been numerous news reports about a LODD of a Ghent firefighter named William Akin.

While responding to an emergency FF Akin went off the road and struck an electrical pole. It is unknown what caused FF Akin to go off the road, but it is believed to be medical related.

It's always sad to get news like this. Here is a link to a CBS 6 story:

• http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/akin-1279513-sheriff-harrison.html

My thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in Ghent FC and Brother Akin's family.

Rest in Peace brother!

posted by spackmann in News at 8:48 AM (472 day(s) old)  Permalink

R.I.P. Soldier David Taylor Miller

  Tuesday, June 22nd 2010

News just came out of the loss of another of our country's heroes David Taylor Miller - a 2009 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School. He was lost protecting our freedom in Afghanistan.

See the Post Star online article for more information.

My heartfelt condolences to his family, we will never forget his ultimate sacrifice in protecting us.

posted by spackmann in News at 4:04 PM (593 day(s) old)  Permalink

R.I.P. Janet Travers

  Tuesday, June 30th 2009

It is with sadness that I have been notified of one of the Greenfield Fire District's greatest members passing away.

I recieved word that Firefighter Janet Traver passed away the evening of June 29th.

I'm fairly certain that Janet was a charter member.

Many people have many fond memories of Janet.

When I joined MAFD as a "young pup", it didn't take long to learn how special Janet was. Everyone in the county knew of Janet - her trademark "grandma" voice was the corner stone of the Maple Avenue Fire Company.

As a young and inexperienced firefighter, having Janet at the firehouse just seemed to make everything "easier," well, at least "safer." Even with the "bad calls", hearing her voice over the radio - "KYK three O eight to fire control", created this sort of "safety blanket". I just knew - hearing her voice, that no matter what it was, that everything would be okay in the end.

I remember vividly when one of our junior members had something in his teeth and decided to spit on the firehouse bay floor - in clear view of Janet (a mistake he soon regretted). I'll tell ya what, for a older lady, she was quick on her feet! Janet boxed his left ear in so hard it almost knocked his shoes off. He stumbled a few feet to his right and almost fell over.

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

As he stood there rubbing the left side of his face, he looked at Janet puzzled. And Janet raised her finger and got right in his face and said "you don't spit on your floor at home do you?"

His eyes swelling up with tears he replied, "no ma'am". She then said, "if I ever see you spitting again, you'll be even more sorry - now go in the bathroom and put some cold water on that." And I dont' think he ever spit again!

But that was the type of lady Janet was, standfast in her convinctions, passionate and strong. Perhaps the best way to describe Janet is "dedication" - arguably her most endearing quality, although its hard to pin-point just one - as Janet had so many. She made every fire call, every meeting, every fundraiser - and she served the community with distinction.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

posted by spackmann in News at 10:28 AM (950 day(s) old)  Permalink

Gear Delivery Schedule - UPDATED!

  Wednesday, September 10th 2008

The gear delivery schedule has been changed due to the rescheduling of the last fit test:

1. Tuesday, September 2nd: Greenfield Center firehouse 7 pm
2. Tuesday, September 16th: Porter Corners firehouse 7 pm
3. Tuesday, September 23rd: Middle Grove firehouse 7 pm
4. Tuesday, September 30th: Maple Avenue firehouse 7 pm

Remember that if you can't make your particular firehouse evening, simply contact myself or our purchasing agent and make arraignments to make one of the other delivery nights.

This update will be posted in each of the firehouse's district bulletin board and talked about tonight at our commissioner's meeting (at Porter Corners firehouse).

posted by spackmann in News at 2:47 PM (1242 day(s) old)  Permalink