Statewide firefighters group to gather in Cheektowaga

Wutz

Hundreds of firefighters and ladies auxiliary members will converge on Western New York next week for the annual Firemen's Association of the State of New York and Ladies Auxiliary of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York convention.

Events will start on Sunday, Aug. 19 and conclude on Saturday, Aug. 25. Convention headquarters will be at the Millennium Airport Buffalo Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga.

FASNY President Michael P. Wutz, from the Hutchinson Hose Company in Williamsville, commands a membership of more than 48,000 firefighters from across the state.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the convention kicks into high gear with various FASNY committees conducting their annual committee meetings. Included are the EMS committee, credit union meeting, board of directors and trustees meeting, fire service achievement committee, and the training and education committee meeting.

Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 22, numerous exhibitors will display their fire equipment and supplies for firefighters to view and purchase. Exhibits will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. with a color guard from the Amherst Past Fire Chiefs Association.

FASNY training starts with a presentation by Selena Dell Schmidt titled "Roadway Scene Awareness: Code 200." Schmidt will go into detail regarding her fire crew being struck by a vehicle while at an emergency scene.

Paul Hashagen and Bruce Newberry (FDNY-retired) will present the "Firefighter Rescue and Removal" program at 3 p.m. Gary Ferrucci will present the "It's not Always just a Traffic Accident" program at 7 p.m., where firefighters will learn the importance of responding to and safely assisting at traffic accidents.

Exhibits reopen from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23. Training will reconvene at 1 p.m. with "CSI, New York - Crash Scene Investigation, Lessons Learned" presented by John Sroka from VFIS.

Tom Shand from the Newton Abbott Fire Co. will present "Are We Really Operating Fire-Safe Apparatus?" at 1 p.m.

The annual memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, honoring all New York State firefighters who have passed away during the past year.

The annual awards program will follow at 10:30 a.m., and there will be a "Firefighter Drive Challenge" at 1 p.m.