2007 News

November

11/24/07 - Parade of Lights
 The First Annual Parade of Lights was a huge success with a great turnout of people. Thanks to all those who participated or came out for the event. Mark your calendars for the Second Annual Parade of Lights to take place Friday November 28th 2008!!


September

09/19/07 - Benefit Softball Game
 The Catskill Police Department defeated the CFC 20-10 in a benefit softball game this past Sunday. All proceeds went to support Zach Hughes who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

09/09/07 - GCVFA Convention
 The GCVFA Convention was a also big success for the CFC despite poor weather, and they left taking home 6 awards:

  • 1st Place - Firematic Color Guard Millenium Trophy
  • 1st Place - Best Appearing Overall Unit - In County
  • 1st Place - Best Appearing Motor Driven Apparatus
  • 1st Place - Best Appearing Motor Driven Antique Apparatus - Out of Service
  • 1st Place - Best Overall Musical Unit
  • 2nd Place - Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary


July

07/29/07 - CCVFA Convention
 The CCVFA Convention was a big success for the CFC, taking home 6 awards:

  • 1st Place Best Appearing Ladder Truck - Out of County
  • 1st Place Best Appearing Rescue Truck - Out of County
  • 1st Place Best Appearing Antique Out of Service - Out of County
  • 2nd Place Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary - Out of County
  • 3rd Place Best Appearing Non Member Color Guard - Out Of County
  • 1st Place Best Appearing Overall Unit with Ladies Auxiliary - Out of County.

07/24/07 - Evening Fire on North St
 Shortly before 7pm on Monday July 23 the CFC responded to a fire at 60 North St.


May

05/19/07 - Creekside Donates Dock Space
 The Catskill Fire Company was recently given dock space for the summer at the Creekside Restaurant for their rescue boat. They would like to thank Creekside and owner Sean Meagher for this donation.


March

03/06/07 - CFC Loses a Life Member 67 year life member, Harold Tompkins, passed away Monday March 5, 2007 at St. Peters Hospital in Albany where he has been a patient for the past week. Harold was a member of the Royal Order of the Red Vests, Royal Order of the Blue Vests, Past President of the Greene County Volunteer Firemen's Association, Past President of the Greene County Fire Chiefs Association, and Past Director of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association.


February

02/19/07 - Albany Firefighter Dies in The Line of Duty
 Firefighter Theodore Abriel, age 44, a 20 year veteran of the City of Albany Fire Department, died in the line of duty Monday February 19, 2007. Firefighter Abriel, serving as Acting Lieutenant, collapsed while battling a high-rise fire at 2 Lincoln Square in Albany, and subsequently died. Fire officials said Abriel was conducting a search of the building when he collapsed while climbing stairs to the sixth floor, and went into cardiac arrest. CPR was performed at the scene to try and revive him before he was rushed to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead. Abriel is the 48th Albany firefighter to die while in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife and four children. Firefighters are still investigating the fire and say they consider it a crime scene.

02/08/07 - Fire Destroys Vacant House and Damages Another
 On the morning of Thursday February 9, 2007 just before 5:30am, Catskill Police Department dispatched the Catskill Fire Company to a working structure fire at 233 Water St. When arriving on the scene the vacant two-story wooden house was completely engulfed in flames and the fire was beginning to spread to a neighboring home. An interior attack was performed on the second building and after about 2 hours the fire was under control. Within an hour of being on the scene the first building collapsed. Mike Ferro from Hudson Waste Management was called in with an excavator to move the debris around so they could finish putting out the rest of the fire. The first building was completely lost but the majority of the second was able to be saved.


January

01/19/07 - Delaware Man Dies in Thruway Accident
 A Delaware man was killed and his wife seriously injured following an afternoon car crash on the New York State Thruway on Friday January 19. State police said that around 3:05 p.m., a blue 2004 Audi rolled down a 125 ft embankment near the north bound lane of the Thruway about five miles south of the Catskill exit. The driver of the vehicle, Michael Handago, 66, of Wilmington, Del., was pronounced dead at the scene by Greene County Coroner Richard E. Vigilo. Cornelia Handago, 64, a passenger in the vehicle, was transported to Albany Medical Center by helicopter, which landed at the Home Depot in Leeds. A hospital spokeswomen said Monday that Handago is listed in serious condition. Police said that both Handago and his wife were both wearing their safety belts and neither were ejected from the vehicle during the crash. According to police, Handago lost control of the vehicle after veering over the left shoulder of the highway. Handago attempted to get back into the right lane, police said, but over corrected and crossed over the right shoulder of the road. The vehicle rolled down an embankment before coming to a rest on its wheels in a wooded area. The right northbound lane of the Thruway was closed in the area of the accident for roughly three hours while police investigated the crash. Around 4 p.m., while police and emergency crews were still on the scene, a two car accident occurred in nearly the same location. No one was hurt in the second crash. In addition to the state police, Catskill Ambulance and the Catskill Fire Company responded to the scene.

01/07/07 - Company Awarded Grant
  On January 7, 2007 the Catskill Fire Department was awarded a $1,000 grant from The Firefighters Charitable Foundation Inc. out of Farmingdale, NY. The grant money will be used to buy the Fire Police new winter jackets and gloves. The Catskill Fire Department would like to thank The Firefighters Charitable Foundation for their donation.

01/01/07 - New Officers Take Over
 With the new year comes new Company and Line Officers. They have both been updated so be sure to check them out. Also to note, the Catskill Fire Company finished off the year of 2006 with a total of 307 calls.