Fire Sunday at High Rise;
investigation continuing
Story by John Zornow

Investigators are looking for definitive clues as to the cause of a fire at the Newark High Rise on July 13. 2008

'I was always afraid that this would happen,' said Dick Colacino, longtime firefighter, former Chief, and now Arcadia Supervisor.
Colacino, who had responded many times to minor calls at the 'high rise' at the corner of Miller and East Avenue, was referring to the major incident that happened late Sunday morning.

The Newark Volunteer Fire Dept. received Box 524, a radio box alarm from the Newark Housing Authority High Rise Apartment Building located at
200 East Miller St. The alarm was received at 11:46 a.m. Firefighters responded with the first arriving officer was Third Assistant Chief Dave Greco,
who upon seeing heavy smoke coming from a fifth-floor window, the apartment of Mrs. Barbara DeRoo, ordered a general alarm and called for the
Lyons Fire Department's 'Fast Team.'

Arriving at the scene, Assistant Chief Mike Colacino ordered a complete evacuation of the building which took over 30 minutes to complete. Officials
credited firefighters and Newark Housing Authority employees who reported to the scene early during the emergency to assist in the evacuation. Several
 residents were brought down from upper floors in wheelchairs or stretchers, using a firefighter's override key to enable the building's elevator. No serious
injuries were reported.

Evacuated residents were taken to the Fire Hall, until they could return to their apartments. Residents were served lunches by the Newark Fire Dept. Ladies
Auxiliary. The Wayne County Red Cross, Director Jim Love, and Disaster Coordinator Dwight (Woody) Seufert, along with several Red Cross volunteers, were on the scene early to offer help.

Five ambulances were dispatched to the scene, including Newark's equipment, and a unit each from Fairville and Port Gibson. Fairville and Newark ALS
 transported one resident to Newark Arcadia Hospital where they were treated for chest pain. Two other residents were treated and released by Newark
Ambulance, and they also provided Firefighter rehab. The Lyons Ambulance stood by for Newark Ambulance. Newark Mayor Peter Blandino arrived at
fire headquarters, prepared to help where needed.

The fire investigation team from Wayne County is determining the cause and origin, which according to investigators, might be careless smoking or an
electrical problem. All residents except Mrs. DeRoo were allowed to return to their apartments, by order of the Newark Code Enforcement Officer, who
will continue the building inspection. About 54 people, either senior citizens or disabled, live at the 'High Rise,' originally built as a Senior Citizens only
apartment building, in the 1970s.

According to Assistant Chief Mike Colacino, previous fire drills were valuable, especially in the evacuation plan. He complimented all firefighters, emergency
workers and Housing Authority employees who prevented a more serious situation from developing. Firefighters were back in service at 3:26 p.m.

According to Dick Colacino, the Fire Department has access to a complete list of tenants in a book located on the first floor of the High Rise to aid in efforts
to ensure that all residents are accounted for. Annual drills are held, but residents are not eager to leave their apartments during these drills. Colacino is concerned by the lack of fire suppression systems in apartments, and the fact that smoking is allowed inside the building.

James DeVolder, Executive Director of the Newark Housing Authority, said Mrs. DeRoo was moved to the Newark Quality Inn on Sunday afternoon, and was to be re-located to another apartment within the complex on Monday. The Housing Authority Service Coordinator was working with DeRoo to help notify family and attend to her immediate needs.

This weekend in Redding CA.Date: July 11, 2008

Your Web Master witnessed this fire Picture was taken in Early July
www.norcalemergency.com
Challenging weekend weather ahead for firefighters
REDDING, Calif. – Firefighters in Northern California won’t get much of a break from
the record heat this weekend and are likely to face an additional weather challenge –
potential lightning followed by wind.
The winds firefighters have been contending with the past few mornings should decline
this afternoon. Fire weather forecasters are predicting isolated thunderstorms beginning
tomorrow morning in Northern California, particularly in the northeastern areas.
Widespread thunderstorms will follow on Sunday. Following the thunderstorms, a low
pressure system is forecast to move into the area, bringing slightly cooler weather but
increasing the potential for wind into next week.
Additional resources to assist with new fire starts are moving into Northern California.
The Redding Smokejumper Base, for instance, is receiving additional smokejumpers to
augment those currently in place. Smokejumpers are highly trained firefighters who
parachute to fires, making them ideally suited to respond to new fire starts in difficult-toreach
areas.
National Guard firefighting crews are currently on the Mendocino Lightning Complex,
and additional National Guard crews are moving into the Shasta Trinity National Forest
today.
The more than 15,000 personnel from 38 states and three other countries involved in the
Northern California firefight have faced extremely difficult conditions this week due to
record heat, low humidity, and strong local winds.
The California June lightning events and resulting wildfires are unprecedented in terms of
size, number of fires, time of year, and resource needs. Fire suppression efforts continue
on more than 150 active fires in Northern California that have burned 366,000 acres.
All the latest Northern California Fire information is available at the Joint Information
Center’s website, www.norcalemergency.com.

Newark Man Killed By Train
By John Zornow

Wayne County Sheriff's Deputies and the Newark Volunteer Fire Department was called to the intersection of Eckert Rd. and Tellier Rd.
at about 10 p.m. on Sunday night July 6th, as the result of a report of a man hit by a train.

A CSX Freight train was traveling about 60 m.p.h. when it struck Leon Wright, 55, of Newark. He had been fishing with a friend on nearby Mud Creek and was walking along the tracks when the incident happened. Wright was taken to Newark-Wayne Hospital and Mercy Flight was put on standby. He was pronounced dead at the hospital of complications from lacerations. The Sheriff's Department indicated that alcohol may have been a factor in the tragedy.

Fire on Murray Street,
Story and photos by John Zornow

A McDermott St. resident called 911 to report flames showing at a Murray St. residence, at 4 a.m. Wednesday. July 2nd
Newark firemen responded to 406 Murray St., the home of  Kim and Mark Chapple; the back of the house was engulfed in flames.
Assisted by the Lyons Fire Department 'FAST Team,' firemen under the direction of 1st Assistant Chief Rod Bliss had the fire under control in 30 minutes.
Fireman Dick Colacino said Travis Chapple, 21, suffered burns when he attempted to extinguish the fire, caused by overheated grease on the stove. He was home alone.
 He was taken by NAVA to Newark Hospital, treated for burns, then transferred to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
The home was extensively damaged. Wayne County Emergency Response Unit was on the scene until the early morning, and the Wayne County Red Cross was contacted to assist the family.

Fire this morning on Murray Street

Newark Volunteer Firemen were called to 105 West Maple Ave. at about 1 p.m. Saturday June 28th and found flames coming from the east side of the duplex, owned by Graybill Real Estate. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, but it appears that the building suffered extensive smoke and water damage. No injuries to the occupants were reported and the Wayne County American Red Cross was notified to assist the occupants in finding shelter for the victims. The Lyons Fire Department stood by for Newark.

Fire Routs 2 Families
By John Zornow

The Newark Volunteer Fire Department held their 3^rd annual Firemen’s Rose Parade on Saturday June 14^th 2008. The event was combined with the Newark Family Festival, the St. Michael’s Festival, and the Elks Flag Day Celebration.
For a fundraising event the Newark Firefighters sold 2469 ducks to the public for $5.00 each the ducks  participated in the annual duck race  held on the Erie Canal at the T. S. Knight Park after the Elks Flag Day Celebration at 3:00PM.

The Duck Race Grand prize $1000.00 Dick Darrow won it.

With other money and gift prizes awarded

To assist in Duck Race Ticket Sales, Secor Hardware, located in the Wegmans Plaza awarded gifts to all those who purchased  Ducks on May 10^th at their 1^st Anniversary Sale. Newark’s Tower 4 was located at the front entrance of the store from 11:00 AM till 3:00PM giving rides to adults and children who participated in the contribution. They all received a gift from Secor Hardware.

Saturday June 14^th 2008

Parade time Starts promptly at 1:00PM--------------
Elks Flag Day Celebration T.S. Knight Park 2:00PM------
Duck Race T.S. Knight Park Eire Canel at 3:00PM ____ 
Fireworks you won’t believe T.S. Knight Park at 9:30PM  

Newark Fire Department
Annual Meeting

When April 8, 2008

Where Fire Hall Council Room

Time: 07;00PM

ALL MEMBERS ARE  URGED TO ATTEND

REMEMBER REFRESHMENT AFTER YOUR OWN MEETING ON APRIL 1ST

Firefighters honored at Elks Dinner

We congratulate Ken Graf and David Healy who were honored at the Wayne County Volunteers Firemen's Assn. dinner Nov.3 at the Newark Elks Lodge.

Graf and Healy were named Firefighters of the YEAR by the Wayne County Volunteers Firemen's Assn.

 These two firefighters helped save a life in January 2007, when
a pick-up truck went out of control at the intersection
of Route 31 and Blue Cut Road, Town of Arcadia. The truck
was on its side in the ditch, which was full of water.

The victim was partially submerged in the water and at
risk of drowning. Graf and Healy broke the back window
of the truck and went into the ice-cold water. They kept
the man's head above the water and tried to keep him calm.
They explained to him what was happening, while other
firefighters and EMS personnel worked to free the victim.

Fire on W. Miller Street

Newark Volunteer Firemen, under the direction of Assistant Chief Dave Greco, were called to West Miller St. at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning November 3rd to knock down a fire in the basement.

. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was candles left burning in the basement.

There was some fire damage and smoke damage to the house. The blaze was declared under control at about 6: 15 a.m., but firefighters stayed on the scene to clean up and clear smoke from the house until around 8 a.m.

Chain Reaction Accident

Newark Volunteer Fire Dept., Newark-Arcadia Ambulance and the New­ark Police responded October 28 for· a three­ vehicle accident on East Union Street. Three victims were taken by ambulance to Newark Hospital.

Information was not available for photo below, taken at Welcher and Route 88 North, last Friday November 2nd

September 10 2007

Fire on Maple Court

caused by a lamp

The Newark fire Dept. was alerted by the Wayne County 911 Center at 12:07 a.m. on September 10 by a caller from one of the five apartments at 107 Maple Court, reporting an odor of smoke.

Firefighters' observed heavy fire coming from a window on the second floor. Firefighters under the direction of First Assistant Chief Rod Bliss made a search for any trapped occupants and then attacked the fire with a quick knock-down. The fire was confined to one upstairs apartment with smoke and water damage to the apartment below the apartment where the fire started.

During the fire suppression three Newark firefighters were injured and taken to Newark Hospital by NAVA and private autos. Firefighter Jason Rose of Deluge Hose Co. #1 suffered an apparent rib injury; Capt. Kevin Velte and James R. Colacino of the Excelsior Hook & Lad­der Co. #4 were injured - Velte suffered heat exhaustion and Colacino suffered a broken foot.

Marbletown Volunteer Fire Dept. was dispatched for stand-by duty at the Newark hall, and Lyons Fire Dept. was called for their "fast team" to report to the fire scene.

Also responding were the Newark Police Dept., the American Red· Cross, and the Newark Arcadia Ambulance.

Dick Colacino, Public In­formation Officer for the Dept. reported that the majority of the structure was untouched by the fire. The displaced occupants may move back into the apartment building once the structure is declared safe by Code enforcement Officer Mark Peake.

The fire investigation was conducted by Newark Police Chief Fire Investigator Dick Bogan, who reported that the apparent cause was a lamp from a gooseneck­ style desk light placed too close to combustible furniture, resulting in the stuffing material being ignited.

Transformer Overheats

The Village of Newark was experiencing power outages early Thursday, August 29th as a result of an overheated main transformer at the VanBuren Street substation. Late Wednesday afternoon, NYSEG requested the services of the Newark Fire Department in an effort to cool down the transformer. Volunteers under assistant Chief David Greco worked into the night, directing, a constant spray of water on the substation. Firefighters poured more than 750 gallons of  water per minute from a. hydrant, while fire police shut down Van Buren St. from North Clinton to East Avenue .
                Thursday morning NYSEG began the process of shutting down power in selected areas of the village to manage the power load until a mobile transformer arrived from Brewster, near New York City,

SECOR helps NFD by donating Sawsall

Newark's new lumber & hardware supplier for the third time has made a valuable contribution to the Newark Volunteer Fire Dept .

   Shown Aug. 25 are Rusty Havert, FireDept. Treasurer, and SECOR Lumber & Hardware Supply Manager John Roberts. Roberts gave the department a new Sawsall with, a complete set of blades.

Havert is a member of the new Fire-Rescue truck, Engine 15 Committee.     

Fire Chief Steve Prinz1 is pleased with SECOR's contribution and said the Sawsall will be placed in, service on the new "Engine 15."  The tool is manufactured' by the Milwaukee Co. SECOR is located in the Newark Plaza: