By Charles McChesney
The Post-Standard
OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y. — Volunteer fire departments from several Oswego County communities acted like “a giant fire department,” when they reacted to the Pulaski fire Wednesday, said county Fire Coordinator John Hinds.
Hinds said departments worked together to fight the fire and to provide coverage to communities that had firefighters on the scene.
A declining number of volunteer firefighters available during the day has been a growing challenge for departments. “We’re always trying to get the most we can out of what we’ve got,” Hinds said.
Normally, Ringgold Fire Department would be in charge of a fire in Pulaski. But on Wednesday, Ringgold Deputy Chief Scott Scharoun handed command to Sandy Creek Fire Chief Dale Thomas, so he could continue to fight the fire from inside the home of Betty Ann Brown.
Thomas checked to see what firefighters were available to cover for those who had responded to the call for mutual aid. Three firefighters from Orwell and Lacona met midway between their fire stations to stand by.
Departments from Sandy Creek, Richland, and Mexico joined Ringgold to fight the fire. New Haven firefighters stood by at their own station in case a fire began in Mexico.
“We’ve been experimenting with this for the last couple of years,” Hinds said. “It’s kind of like playing football, but of course it’s not a game.”
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