Peter J. Bennett
Peter J. Bennett, the current President of the Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, was laid to rest Saturday March 6, 2010, at the Riverside Cemetery in Coxsackie, NY.
Bennett, only 54, died unexpectedly at home Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Fire trucks from at least twelve departments lined Mansion Street in this quaint village on the Hudson River to pay tribute to a well-respected community leader.
Brother Bennett was very dynamic in the fire service. Besides holding the current position of Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Association President, he was life member of the Coxsackie Hose Company #3, where he held several administrative and firematic positions, including past assistant chief. Bennett was a past member of the D.M. Hamilton Steamer Co. #2, George H. Scott Rescue Squad and Coxsackie Rescue Squad, where he held the office of captain and an advisor for their Explorer program. He currently was a social member serving as president of the Coeymans Hollow Fire Corporation, and a member of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
Besides his firematic career, he served as sergeant of the Greene County Sheriffs’ Office corrections unit at the county jail for more than 21 years.
Bennett is survived by his loving wife Gerrilyn of 18 years. Gerrilyn is also a active member of Coxsackie Hose #3.
Firefighters saluted the motorcade as it entered the gates to the cemetery going under a large American flag held proudly by Catskill Fire Departments Tower 315 and Coxsackie Truck 57.
Coxsackie Hose Co.#3 is hosting the 2010 Greene County Convention in September. Assistant Vice President Michael Palmateer,of the Athens Fire Department will be residing over the county meetings and suggested that he does this from his own chair, and in honor of Bennett and Coxsackie Hose Co. #3, he will leave Peter’s chair empty for all future meetings. Mrs. Bennett thanked all the fire departments involved for doing such a tremendous job.
Fire News photos by John C. Miller
NEW YORK FIRE CAPTAIN DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-DURING TRAINING-MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Captain Vince Iaccino of the Roosevelt (Dutchess County, NY) Fire District has died in the Line of Duty. While training at the Dutchess County Fire Training Center in the evening, Captain Iaccino developed severe chest pains. He was transported, ALS, aboard Roosevelt's ambulance to a local hospital. While en route to the hospital, Captain Iaccino went into Cardiac Arrest. CPR and ALS interventions were administered; however, the Captain tragically never regained a pulse. We have also been advised that Captain Iaccino has two sons who are also members of Roosevelt FD. One son was at the drill and accompanied his father to hospital. The Roosevelt Fire District is located in the town of Hyde Park, NY, County of Dutchess and is located approximately half way between New York City and Albany NY on the east side of the Hudson River. Captain Iaccino was the Captain of the RFD's Emergency Service Squad.
Fire Service Safety Leadership Award to be Presented to Three Organizations
National Volunteer Fire Council, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, and City of New York Fire Department Honored for Contributions to Firefighter Health and Safety
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have selected the National Volunteer Fire Council, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association and the City of New York Fire Department for the 2010 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. The awards will be presented at the 22nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 29, 2010 in Washington DC. Named after retired-Senator Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, a strong advocate of our nation’s firefighters and rescue personnel during his 36-year career in Congress, the award recognizes organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and safety. Both State Farm Insurance and VFIS serve as the corporate supporters of the award program.
The National Volunteer Fire Council is being honored for establishing the Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities. The priorities are categorized in four areas of practices - Behavior, Equipment, Standards and Codes, and Training - forming the acronym BEST. The NVFC is sharing these practices through an aggressive outreach program that includes the production of 30,000 posters that have been sent to fire departments across the country. They have also promoted the program through fire publications and local media. Additional information about the program is available on the NVFC website (www.nvfc.org). The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association is being recognized for the Virginia Fire Officer Academy, a program VFCA established in 2007 to enforce the 16 life safety initiatives of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. To date, the program has graduated 120 students from all parts Virginia and other states. A key factor in the program’s success is the support provided by a number of organizations and associations including the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership, the Virginia Firefighters Association and the Virginia Professional Firefighters Association.
The City of New York Fire Department was selected for their commitment to enhance the safety programs within the agency and to work at the implementation of the Life Safety Initiatives through the use of a tailored video program portraying an FDNY version of the “Everyone Goes Home” Program. Under the auspicious of the Chief of Department, and in conjunction with the Department’s Safety Office they have significantly reduced burn injury occurrences to the members of the FDNY while fostering a belief that “firefighters can only save others if they remain safe themselves.”
