Highland Falls Fire Department

05/25/2026

HFFD members have kept busy this month drilling on Rope Rescue and Foam. On Mother’s Day afternoon crews responded to a car fire. We congratulate firefighters Larry Dunn and Ryder Goen on completing Firefighter 1. And today members attended the community’s Memorial Day service and held our annual remembrance for HFFD member Harold Bock who lost his life in service to his country during World War II.

05/05/2026

Congratulations to Firefighter Lorelei Pfaff on being awarded the Highland Falls Fire Department’s Annual Scholarship at James I. O’Neill’s Senior Scholarship Awards Ceremony last week. She was presented her award by HFFD President Clarissa Marvin. Lorelei will continue her studies next year at the University of Maryland where she’ll major in Fire Protection Engineering. Congratulations Lorelei and all the seniors who received awards last week.

04/04/2026

Tuesday Fire School
With the arrival of spring (finally) and some warmer weather we have taken the opportunity to get back outside for hands on training. Crews and all apparatus made our way to the sewer plant to train on standard evolutions. We were able to break people up and train on the different tasks necessary to get water quickly on the fire. Newer members handled the hydrant evolutions. Interior firefighters practiced quickly deploying hose lines and donning their PPE to flow water soon after arrival. And prospective drivers arrive supply tank water and transition to the hydrant without. All under the supervision of officers and senior firefighters. As you can see firefighting is a team effort and we’re looking for new members to join our team. If you would like to learn more contact us or stop by the firehouse on a Tuesday night.

02/22/2026

With the area under a blizzard warning we brace for heavy snow and winds. The high winds have the potential to make snow next to your house pile up. This potentially presents a dangerous condition when vents from gas fired appliances becoming blocked by the snow. Take time to know if this is something on your home and remember to keep them clear. Also help us by clearing the hydrant closest your home.

01/27/2026

Winter Storm Fern
Winter Storm Fern visited Highland Falls on Sunday and dumped over 21” of snow. HFFD staffed a crew of 10 in the firehouse during the peak of the storm and a crew of 4 bunked in overnight to maintain and engine crew in the house overnight for quick response. We responded to one call Sunday which was minor in nature but having the crew in house allowed for a rapid response. Firefighter/Chef Rogers prepared a meal for dinner and we were able to feed our DPW crew who was putting in long hours keeping our streets passible. A crew returned to clear hydrants later on Monday. As residents dig out, we ask them to clear the hydrant near their home and park in a way that doesn’t impede our ability to respond-many of our streets are narrow to begin with so when you park further into the street due to a snow bank you may block our ability to get to you. Please shovel to the curb and park as close as you can. Thanks to our members who have been putting in long hours of service over the past few days.

01/23/2026

Winter Storm Fern is predicted to impact Highland Falls Sunday into Monday with significant snowfall. In preparation for the storm, we offer the following tips for residents to remain safe during the storm and help us do our job.

Help us help you by clearing snow around the fire hydrant near your home making it accessible and easy for us to spot when responding.
Clear snow and ice away from your house’s Gas Meter, Furnace, and Dryer Vents as well as any other exhaust pipes on the side of your home.
Make sure all portable electronics (cellphones, flashlights, emergency radios, and battery packs, etc) are charged up in case of a power outage.
Only plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use a surge protector.
Having a cleared path to your home allows emergency responders to quickly and safely access your home in an emergency. Consider helping elderly or physically impaired neighbors with their snow removal.
Do not travel in the snowstorm unless necessary.
Follow the tips included here on generator safety.

01/11/2026

Ice Rescue Training
This morning, we completed our annual ice rescue training. We ran a classroom portion on Tuesday with some skills stations and this morning meet at Roe Park to run through hands on scenarios. Rescuers practiced shore-based techniques along with a number of go rescues putting our people on the ice and in the water overseen by our Captain and Lieutenants. With our members who refreshed their skills 3 new members achieved technician status including 2 junior members. We were happy to be joined by several members of the Fort Montgomery Fire Department who attend the training on both days and trained with us.

01/03/2026

Firefighter 1 Graduation
Today Orange County held their annual Firefighter 1 Graduation Ceremony for all firefighters who graduated from the program in 2025. Two HFFD members were in the group. Matthew Lewis and Lorelei Pfaff were both Junior Members when they took and completed Firefighter 1. Matthew has since turned 18 and is an interior firefighter. Lorelei a senior at O’Neill will turn 18 soon and become an interior firefighter then. These members completed hundreds of hours of training both in house and at the Orange County Fire Training Center to complete Firefighter 1 and our Interior Firefighter Task Book. We are very proud of their accomplishments. HFFD members, family, and friends attended the ceremony to congratulate them on their accomplishments.
The HFFD has a Junior Firefighter program open to 16- and 17-year-olds with parental permission. These members undergo training and respond to emergencies with restrictions for their safety. They learn the skills to become active firefighters upon their 18th birthday. Our program over 20 years old has yielded many successes. Four of our current officers started as Junior Firefighters. Many junior members have gone on to careers in the fire service and related fields. If you are interested in joining our team to serve your community contact us or stop by our firehouse on a Tuesday night.

12/29/2025

The Highland Falls Fire Department mourns the loss of HFPD Dispatcher Tanya Hurst wife of Ex-Chief Life Member Kevin Hurst and Aunt of Firefighter Larry Dunn. May she rest in peace. We pray for the comfort of her family, friends, and colleagues at the police department.

12/21/2025

A well deserved honor for long time HFFD member and public servant Joseph McCormick.

The 613-foot-long road that leads to Eagle Valley Cemetery in Highland Falls, just off Rt. 9W, has no official name, and never has. But now, New York State has informed Town of Highlands officials …