Buffalo (NY) kicked off the 125th anniversary celebration of the Edward M. Cotter Fireboat with a reenactment of its historic arrival into Buffalo Harbor in 1900. More than 20 vessels joined the Cotter along the waterfront, featuring a water display and a flyover by Air One.

Built in 1900, this historical treasure and firefighting vessel remains an invaluable asset in the city’s fire protection package, the Buffalo Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

“The reenactment of the Cotter’s original arrival in Buffalo is a testament, and a symbol of our resilience, and rich maritime history,” the department said.

The vessel remains a vital and multifaceted firefighting apparatus. This powerful tool and flood prevention resource is poised for future success, and well positioned to serve the city and surrounding communities well into the future.

“Today we celebrated 125 years of the Edward M. Cotter Fireboat, the world’s oldest working fireboat and one of Buffalo’s greatest treasures,” Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon said in a Facebook post. “The Cotter is still in active service today, protecting our waterfront and assisting in fighting fires. Join us September 20 at Riverfest Park for Cotterfest to help preserve and support this piece of Buffalo history for generations to come.”

The post Buffalo (NY) Reenacts Historic Fire Boat’s Arrival in 1900 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The latest episode of The Apparatus Workshop, hosted by Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch, offers an in-depth look at what happens after a new fire apparatus rolls off the factory floor. While some might assume the job of a spec committee ends at delivery, this discussion reveals the complex, ongoing process involving final inspections, operational training, and maintenance planning that extends well beyond delivery day.

Wilbur highlights real-world examples where expectations didn’t match reality—for instance, ladder placement that seemed fine to taller committee members but posed challenges to shorter firefighters. These nuanced details often go overlooked until daily use begins, underscoring the need for diverse viewpoints during inspections.

Once the spec committee finishes its work, the baton passes to training officers—but the transition isn’t always seamless. Wilbur and Slauch emphasize that departments must tailor operator manuals and training programs to reflect the specific apparatus delivered. Generic manufacturer manuals won’t always match the customized build and can confuse operators with irrelevant or missing information.

One important point is that apparatus acquisition is a continuous improvement cycle, not a one-and-done event. After the rig goes in service, departments are encouraged to hold follow-up meetings at intervals—30 days, six months, even a year—to gather feedback, assess operational performance, and identify unexpected issues.

The post The Apparatus Workshop: Beyond the Final Inspection appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Mitch Hotts – The Macomb Daily, Mount Clemens, Mich.

An ambulance carrying a 55-year-old male patient was involved in a crash that sent the vehicle rolling over on to its side at a busy Warren intersection Monday morning, police reported.

The incident took place about 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Hoover Road and the Interstate 696 service drive (11 Mile Road).

According to Warren police, a preliminary investigation shows a Universal Ambulance was traveling north on Hoover approaching the service drive with its emergency lights and sirens activated when it was struck by a Jeep Cherokee.

Police said the Cherokee, occupied by a 33-year-old female driver and her 2-year-old son, had a green light as it traveled west on the service drive.

The Cherokee struck the ambulance on the rear passenger side which led to the ambulance rolling over, investigators said.

An overhead view of the crash scene. (IMAGE COURTESY OF FOX 2 NEWS)

A Warren fire rig and police officers responded to the crash scene.

Authorities said the ambulance was occupied by two medics and the patient. All three were transported to the hospital by fire department personnel for further evaluation, but no serious injuries have been reported.

The Cherokee driver and son were checked out at the scene by fire medics where they were found to be shaken up, but otherwise unhurt. Neither of the two were taken to the hospital.

Court throws out lawsuit against Warren

The Warren Police Department’s Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to investigate the incident.

“No determination on which driver was at fault has been made at this time,” police said in a news release, adding the department is “grateful that no one was seriously injured in this accident.”

© 2025 The Macomb Daily, Mount Clemens, Mich.. Visit www.macombdaily.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post Crash Causes Ambulance Carrying Patient to Roll Over in MI appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — A firefighter working at the scene of a wildfire burning since July at the Grand Canyon died Monday after suffering a cardiac emergency, authorities said.

The firefighter was actively involved in fire suppression repair near the North Rim Entrance Station at the time, the Dragon Bravo Fire incident management team said in a news release. A paramedic attempted to revive him but was unsuccessful, it said.

The National Park Service is investigating the death in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

Fire suppression repair restores land disturbed by firefighting by dismantling bulldozer piles, stabilizing soil and reestablishing vegetation.

The fire was sparked by lightning on July 4. Authorities initially managed it by clearing out vegetation to improve forest conditions. A week later, dry and windy conditions helped fan the flames, prompting evacuations of visitors and employees at Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim. The historic Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of cabins were destroyed.

The fire had burned 227 square miles (589 square kilometers) as of Monday. It was 80% contained.

A bipartisan slate of Arizona’s elected officials has questioned the handling of the fire, suggesting more could have been done early on. Gov. Katie Hobbs met with federal officials and said U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum committed to an independent review.

Apparatus Purchasing: The Prebid Conference

Some pundits in the field of fire apparatus purchasing and specification writing encourage purchasers to hold prebid conferences (PBCs).

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Driver Charged in Crash Where Downed Wires Electrocuted NY Fire Chief

Posted: Sep 9, 2025

Driver Charged in Crash Where Downed Wires Electrocuted NY Fire Chief

Greta Stuckey
syracuse.com
(TNS)

Hancock, N.Y. — A grand jury has indicted an Upstate New York man involved in a crash that downed wires that electrocuted a volunteer firefighter this summer.

Prosecutors allege the driver was drunk, speeding and using his cell phone.

On Friday, Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced an eight-count indictment against Joseph Bellows Jr., 54, of Downsville, stemming from the July 17 crash on Route 30 in Hancock, according to a news release from State Police.

East Branch Assistant Fire Chief Jason McGlone, 51, went to the crash that night. When he stepped out of the fire truck, he was electrocuted by live wires from a utility pole that had been knocked down in the crash, troopers said.

McGlone, a 25-year volunteer with the department, was driving a rescue-pumper to the crash when a low-hanging electrical wire struck the top of the apparatus, per a preliminary investigation.

When McGlone exited the truck and touched the metal door while standing on the ground, he was electrocuted, officials said.

Despite immediate life-saving efforts, McGlone was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bellows is charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated: one for operating a vehicle while impaired and another for having a blood alcohol content over the legal limit

Bellows also faces two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, one count of second-degree manslaughter and one count of criminal mischief for damaging more than $250 worth of property when his car hit the pole, according to Smith.

If Bellows is convicted of the top charge, second-degree manslaughter, he faces 5 to 15 years in state prison, Smith said in a Friday news conference.

McGlone had volunteered with the company for 25 years, serving as assistant chief for 15 years.

“Chief McGlone embodied the courage, commitment and selflessness that define New York’s volunteer firefighters,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said after his death.

East Branch Fire Department Chief Rod Keesler told the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin that McGlone loved hunting, fishing and his family. He also loved to barbecue.

Bellows was arraigned Friday in the Delaware County Court and is being held on $10,000 bail.

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit syracuse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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