FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Each year the American Legion Blanchard Post 1040 honors a firefighter of the year at their March business meeting. Each of the fire departments in the Town of Bethlehem has an opportunity to present a candidate for this award. We are proud of the Elsmere firefighters that been honored over the years. Each is listed below.
Captain Robert C. Baldwin, Jr.
2013
Captain Robert C. Baldwin, Jr. was honored as Elsmere Fire Company A's Firefighter of the Year at a ceremony on March 4th at the NA Blanchard Post 1040. Please click "Read More" to see comments by President John C. Murphy during the presentation of the award...
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Captain John J. Zboray
2012
Captain John Zboray joined the Elsmere Fire Company on February 22, 1973 and became an active member on March 6 of that year.
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Wayne R. Johnson
2011
Wayne R. Johnson joined the Elsmere Fire Company on March 24, 1961 and became an active firefighter on April 4th of that same year.
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Michael J. Cirillo
2010
Commander Lukaschat, Invited Guests, Fellow Firefighters, It gives me great pleasure to announce the Elsmere Fire Company’s selection of Firefighter of the Year. The past couple of years we have had occasion to provide to the Legion, the selection of a member who had performed a heroic action. But that is not always the case. Many times, this award is given to someone for their contribution over the long term, or to someone who has taken on a particular cause.Read More
Michael C. Walsh
2009
Only nine days later, on August 21st at about 12:30pm, Elsmere Firefighter Michael C. Walsh was leaving his neighborhood when he heard the call come out for "a man down, unknown" in his vicinity. The dispatcher said "the patient was believed to be not breathing."Read More
Past Chief Edward J. Costigan
2009
On August 12th, mid-morning, Elsmere Firefighter and Past Chief Edward (Ned) J. Costigan took quick action to assist victims of a motor vehicle accident and revive an elderly patient using CPR while on vacation at Saranac Lake.Read More
Chief William H. Webb, Jr.
2008
Chief Webb joined the Elsmere Fire Company as a firefighter on June 27, 1985. He was elected Fire Company Treasurer in October 1987. He served as a Fire Lieutenant from April 1989 through April 1995. In April 1995, he was elected to the position of Fire Captain. He served in this capacity until December 1997. Chief Webb was elected 2nd Assistant Chief in December 1997 and served in that capacity until December 2003, when he was promoted to the rank of 1st Assistant Chief. In February 2004, he was elected to fill the position of Chief, left vacant by the untimely line of duty death of Chief Kevin M. Shea. Chief Webb continues to serve as the Department's Chief. Chief Webb is a member of the Elsmere FAST Team and chairs the Fire Company's popular Fish Fry Dinner Committee, which many residents of the Town enjoy on four Friday evenings during February and March. He is also trained in Hazardous Materials Incident Command.Read More
Ariel L. Goodrich
2007
The Elsmere Fire Co. A, Inc. is proud to recognize Ariel Goodrich as Firefighter of the Year. A 13-Year veteran of the Fire Company, Ariel served for 10 years as the Fire Police Lieutenant. He is a quiet and unassuming person always at work behind the scenes of the Fire Company. He has helped to establish an administrative procedure to relieve some of the workload from the fire officers, so they can devote more time to their fire line responsibilities. He is always busy with fire reports so that the correct information is available to NYS and OFPC. He was instrumental in moving the fire reporting system and service awards records from paper to computer.Read More
Peter Degnan
2006
Honored for Serving Our Nation This year's Firefighter of the Year came to us through the Albany County Legislature sponsored Recruitment and Retention committee's 24-hour hotline. With an interest in joining and taking classes, he instantly signed up as a social member 3 weeks after his high school graduation. Within the next 30 days, he spent numerous hours at the firehouse captivating everything possible. In the following month, on August 26, 1999, he became an active Elsmere firefighter.Read More
Chief William H. Webb, Jr.
2005
With the unexpected death of Chief Kevin M. Shea just over a year ago, a leader and friend was lost. The future of the Elsmere Fire Company was unknown, and questioned by all. Who would now lead us and continue the pro-active direction established by Kevin and foster the respect needed to be the new Chief?Read More