Black River Fire Department Inc.

06/02/2026

As May drew to a close, Black River Fire responded to 8 calls for service. Additionally, we hosted our annual awards banquet, department meeting, and training, while also participating in the Memorial Day parade. The breakdown of our calls is as follows.

1 - Fire Alarm
3 - EMS Assists
1 - Vehicle Lockout
1 - Motor Vehicle Accident
1 - Station Standby Possible Water Rescue
1 - Mutual Aid Structure Fire

Thank you to all of the members for their dedication and commitment to our community.

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the courageous individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Many of our members are veterans, and we acknowledge the commitment, sacrifice, and resilience required to serve in both the military and the fire service. Today, we honor the memory of those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. Our members participated in the village Memorial Day parade, taking a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made.

05/23/2026

As Memorial Day weekend begins, we honor the sacrifices of our nation's fallen heroes who gave their lives for our freedom, and we also acknowledge the importance of safety during our barbecue gatherings. We at Black River Fire wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

05/21/2026

It's that time of year again. Please review the Sportsman's Raffle particulars for this year. For a donation of $10, you can win one of four different prizes. Tickets can be obtained from any department member while still available. The raffle drawing is scheduled for September 12, 2026.

05/17/2026

On Weds August 22, 1992, in the late afternoon, the fire whistle sounded and pagers went off reporting a dog trapped in the river of the canal just down from the hydro dam in the center of town. Firefighters sprang into action, and Firefighters Dave Leonard and Alan Gaines were tasked with the rescue. The dog put up quite the struggle, but after about a half hour they were able to lasso the tired pooch and pull him to safety. This article re-made the paper again yesterday after almost 34 years. They flipped the picture from the initial and Dave Leonard (now Mayor of Black River) is on the left and Alan Gaines (Now exempt, but full time with the ambulance) is on the right.

05/17/2026

Last night was our annual banquet dinner to celebrate and to recognize the dedicated men and women who continue to answer the call and serve their community. Volunteer firefighters make tremendous sacrifices, giving their time, energy, and countless hours away from family, to protect others. Events like this are an opportunity to celebrate those commitments and recognize the service that often happens quietly behind the scenes.

Congratulations to the following members for years of service awards:
FF Lee Carpenter (5 years)
Lieutenant Paul Shepard (10 years)
FF Wayne Robbe (10 years)
Captain Jon Gaines (20 years)
Lieutenant William Mushtare (20 years)
FF Joseph Paige (25 years)

Congratulations to the following members for 2025 dedication to service awards:

Top Responder:
Captain Dan Ruggini (Top)
FF Lee Carpenter (2nd most)

Most Training:
Captain Dan Ruggini (most)
Engineer Pat Gaines (2nd most)

Captain Dan Ruggini was also recognized by Black River Ambulance for actions that were taken on December 9th, 2025. These actions resulted in saving a life by performing CPR.

2025 member of the year:
FF Mike Gaines

Thank you to all of the delegates and mutual aid partners that attended. Along with our members for a wonderful evening.

05/16/2026

At 3:10am this morning, a mutual aid request was initiated for interior personnel to respond to a structure fire in the Town of Wilna. Our crew was on scene for approximately 2 hours, participating in overhaul operations and extinguishing hotspots. Responding units included Chief 1, Chief 2, Chief 3, and Truck 6-8-1. Appreciation is extended to the personnel who responded.

05/14/2026

Yesterday we had the privilege to honor long term member of Great Bend Fire Dept.

Tonight we had the honor of partnering with the Black River Fire Department to pay our respects to a brother fireman from Great Bend who passed away. Rest easy Randy we will take it from here.

05/13/2026

The department and our Junior Firefighter Program have experienced numerous milestones over the past few months, including program inception, welcoming inaugural members, and having our first junior attend and graduate from the New York State Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations (BEFO) course. Last night, Junior Firefighter J. Williams successfully passed his final exam, marking the beginning of his fire service journey. He will proceed to the Interior Firefighting Operations (IFO) course in June.

05/10/2026

To all the moms who are always on call for their families – thank you for everything you do.

Happy Mother’s Day from Black River Fire.