Spring Recruitment Drive

The Cayuga Heights Fire Department is gearing up for our annual Spring Recruitment Drive. Within the next few weeks, we will be releasing the important membership dates and gathering information from interested respondents. Be sure to check back soon!

12-16-11: Apartment Fire with Entrapment in Lansing

At 0110, CHFD was requested as mutual aid to Lansing at 134 Graham Road for an apartment fire with entrapment.

As the first unit onscene, 264 established initial command and confirmed a fire in a first-floor apartment at the apartment complex. No entrapment was present in the apartment that was on fire; however, six residents in two separate apartments were unable to escape due to heavy smoke.

Within three minutes of dispatch, a fully-staffed 202 arrived and established water supply. 202's interior crew entered the apartment and quickly extinguished the fire that was confined to the first-floor apartment's kitchen. 231 arrived shortly after 202 and set its aerial device to the third-floor, bringing a family of three to safety. A second crew from 231 went to the rear of the complex with a ladder and brought another family of three to safety.

Responding agencies also included the Lansing Fire Department, the Ithaca Fire Department, Bangs Ambulance, Tompkins County Sheriff, and the New York State Police. Onscene operations lasted for just over an hour.

12-13-11: Industrial Warehouse Fire in Lansing

At 0220, CHFD was requested as mutual aid to Lansing at 41 Dutch Mill Road, MLP Inc., for a building filling with smoke. 262 arrived and, along with Lansing 1167, found an industrial manufacturing plant and warehouse with smoke and fire visible from the exterior.

Responding with a full, interior crew, 202 was the first due engine and was charged with establishing water supply and engaging in the initial fire attack of the building. 231 arrived, set its aerial device to the roof, and cut a hole for ventilation. 203 and 241 also responded, bringing rehab supplies and additional CHFD manpower to the scene. A total of sixteen CHFD firefighters responded. Onscene operations lasted until 0453 for a total of approximately two-and-a-half hours.

Responding agencies also included Bangs Ambulance and the Ithaca Fire Department.

11-21/22-11: Two MVCs in Two Days

On Monday and Tuesday, the 21st and 22nd of November, CHFD saw two MVCs in the upper portion of the district.

At 1630 on the 21st, CHFD was dispatched to the 200 block of Warren Road for a rollover with entrapment. 202 and 241 responded w full crews to find a 'SMART car' on its side in a ditch at the entrance to Cornell University's Moakley House. Upon arrival, the patient had been extricated and was in the care of CUEMS. CHFD stabilized the vehicle and assisted with patient care and hazard control. Warren Road, between Forest Home Drive and Hanshaw Road, was closed by CHFD for the duration of the incident. On-scene operations lasted for twenty minutes.

At 0914 on the 22nd, CHFD was dispatched to the 300 block of Winthrop Drive for a car vs. tree with entrapment. 202 and 241 responded with a crew of seven. Upon arrival, units found one vehicle into a tree with approximately one foot of intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. After removing the vehicle's roof, the patient was successfully extricated and tranported to the hospital by Bangs Ambulance. CHFD cleared the incident at 1016 with on-scene operations lasting forty minutes.

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09-16-2011: Truck Fire In Lansing

At 0855 on September 16th, CHFD was requested mutual-aid into the Village of Lansing for a truck fire at the mall. Upon arrival, units found a fully involved, working tractor trailer fire in the loading dock of Best Buy.

CHFD, responding with Engines 202 and 203 and a crew of ten, assisted Lansing Fire in the extinguishing of the fire. The fire was contained to the cab of the truck without extension or damage to the trailer or load. Onscene operations lasted forty minutes.

08-28/31-2011: Hurricane Irene Deployment

Following the recent events of Hurricane Irene, CHFD along with a multitude of state and federal agencies were deployed to the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area to assist with storm damage control.

Along with Tompkins County agencies including Bangs Ambulance and the fire departments of Enfield, Newfield, Slaterville, and Varna, CHFD spent four days assisting in the flood relief of Schoharie County, New York. Asst. Chief Openshaw and FF Maley responded with 242 and were deployed from Sunday, August 28 to Wednesday August 31.

During their deployment, CHFD was assigned to provide fire protection for the Town of Schoharie, relieving local firefighters after 36 hours of continuous response. Local issues included hazardous materials spread by flooding and several barn fires due to decomposing wet hay within area barns.

The incident was being managed by New York State Fire Officials and included many state and federal agencies assisting with a Unified Command Structure. FEMA assisted along with the National Guard Air Support who provided humanitarian relief to flood victims prior to the reestablishment of usable roads to effected areas.