Buchanan’s Engine 161 responded with a crew of three interior firefighters. Units stood by with Lake Mohegan’s Engine 258 and a ladder from Tarrytown Fire Department. Buchanan was released and returned to service at around 6:40 a.m.

The training demonstrated fire behavior and building construction. Participants learned how modern furniture and household contents can pose safety risks for both firefighters and residents. The class also covered methods for firefighters to perform their duties safely and efficiently.

Here is a look back at some incidents and other notable events that took place in the month of January.

We started off the new year with two medical calls on Jan 1st.

On Jan 7th our Chiefs were sworn in at village hall. Jan 9th the rest of the company officers were sworn in.

On Jan 11th our engine was requested mutual aid to Montrose for a commercial structure fire, see the news post for more info.

During the month of January, we removed Rescue 26 and Engine 160 from service permanently. They were both sold to other departments. Our new Engine 162 was delivered on Jan 30th.

Units operated on scene for over five hours to fully extinguish the fire. Assets from Westchester County DES were requested to the scene to help with foam operations and hazardous material operations. Multiple fire and ems agencies from all around Westchester were on scene to help with operations.

During the entire operation our headquarters was staffed with a crew to ensure coverage for any alarms in the village. After our units were released from the scene we remained on stand by to cover the Montrose fire district, for about one hour. During this time our members worked to decontaminate our gear and equipment.

All photos are from LoHud.

For over twelve hours, Buchanan units worked alongside units from Orange, Rockland, Greene, Albany, and Oneida counties, as well as departments from New Jersey. This will likely be Engine 160's last fire with us after 33 years of service, as Engine 162 will be delivered next month.

State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg Secures $595,000 in Grants for First Responders in District

State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg recently secured nearly $600,000 in capital and operating grants for first responder organizations in Assembly District 95. The recipients of funding are:

The Village of Croton Fire Department for a new tower ladder truck ($250,000)
The Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps for a new ambulance ($200,000)
The Yorktown Heights Fire Department for a new fire training center ($125,000)
Buchanan Fire Company No. 1 for extrication and auto accident equipment ($20,000)

The grants were secured through New York State’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology (CREST) program and the fiscal year 2025 state budget, as part of New York State’s ongoing efforts to support local communities and their economic development.

Of the grant awards, Levenberg said, “We cannot have healthy communities without a strong cadre of first responders. It is an honor to support the work of these four organizations, which provide invaluable, essential services. We are so grateful for all the work our fire departments and ambulance corps do to keep our residents safe and healthy.”

Village of Croton Mayor Brian Pugh said: "Our firefighters provide tremendous skill and talent as volunteers, and they deserve the very best when it comes to equipment. We are very grateful to be able to replace this tower ladder with the help of Assemblywoman Levenberg. Because of this grant and other funding sources, our new ladder truck will only cost Village of Croton taxpayers $10,000. This investment will help our firefighters serve the Village of Croton and an adjoining fire district along with other communities throughout northern Westchester, through mutual aid. Thank you again to Assemblywoman Levenberg and the State of New York for enabling us to make this purchase without overburdening our local taxpayers."

Joshua Karpoff, Chief of the Croton Fire Department, said: "I would like to thank Assemblywoman Levenberg, Mayor Pugh, and the rest of the Village Board and staff for their work to help us replace our aging tower ladder. Our existing apparatus is over 20 years old; to expect it to last much longer would not really be good planning for the future. The new apparatus will be state of the art and allow us to protect not only the Village, our outer fire districts and our mutual aid neighbors, but also one of Metro-North's main maintenance yards, which is right here in Croton. Thank you again to everyone for your efforts in funding this new equipment, and to the members of our fire department for everything they do every day to help this community."

Nick Franzoso, Director of the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said: “Thank you to Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, her staff and the NYS Assembly for supporting the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps and EMS services in our community. This vital funding will help ensure our ability to meet the needs of the community and answer our growing call volume.”

Cortlandt Town Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker said: “We thank Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg for her continued support of emergency responders in the Town of Cortlandt and the Village of Buchanan through her award of a CREST grant to the Buchanan Fire Company. The Tri-Village residents will greatly benefit from the new automobile accident equipment purchase.”

Village of Buchanan Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker said: “On behalf of the Village of Buchanan, I would like to thank Assemblywoman Levenberg for this much-needed funding for equipment for Buchanan Engine Company. The funding is much appreciated, especially as the Village is still dealing with the effects of the closure of our largest taxpayer, Entergy.”

Kieran J. Outhouse, Second Assistant Chief, Buchanan Engine Company No. 1, said: "Our department remains steadfast in our commitment to fiscal responsibility, and thanks to the efforts of Assemblywoman Levenberg, we have secured a grant to update our vehicle extrication equipment. This funding enables us to improve our capabilities and ensure the safety of our community without straining the Village's budget."

4/1 - Four minutes into the new month Buchanan FD was requested to go on stand by for Montrose for a residential patio fire.

4/11 - Around 6:48 A.M. Buchanan FD was requested to go on stand by for the Montrose FD for smoke in the structure. Moments after Montrose chiefs arrived they requested one engine from BFD, and one ladder truck from Verplanck FD. E-160 and 2552 Handled this request.

4/15 - Early in the afternoon Buchanan FD was requested to a contractor who struck a gas line, gas line was reported to be hissing.

4/22 - Early in the afternoon Buchanan FD was requested to go on stand by for the Montrose FD for smoke in the structure. Moments later it was confirmed there was a basement fire. E160 was requested to the scene with other mutual aid companies.

4/25 - Just after 5 P.M. Utility 162 was requested to the City of Peekskill for a large area brush fire.
During this incident an additional alarm was handled in the village. Units operated for just over one hour at an oven fire.

4/29 - Members joined Croton FD at the Millwood FD training center to perform a combined drill on Fire ground operations.