So what does a fire engine look like after fighting fires in this cold weather? – From Kingsport (TN) Fire Department Facebook page.

What started as an emergency rescue for a local family, turned into a stay at the Buffalo Airport Fire Department and a joyful Christmas morning. Santa always finds a way to make Christmas special. 🎅 Full story here: https://t.co/DxXtxTb4go pic.twitter.com/bG7MzVc2DZ

— Buffalo Airport (@BUFAirport) December 25, 2022

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. – At the start of the blizzard on Friday, Demetrice and Danielle lost power in their home in Williamsville (NY), so they packed their kids up Aayden, (8), Aubree (4), Jordynn (2), and Judah (9 months) and headed to a local hotel, according to an NFTA press release.

The roads and visibility were treacherous and their vehicle got stuck. Demetrice and Danielle were one of many motorist stuck in the roundabout on Aero and Youngs Road. Buffalo Airport Firefighters Mike Carrubba, Mark Wolhfiel and Joel Eberth rescued 42 people, and brought them to the ARFF Facility. Demetrice and Danielle were the only ones with young children so they stayed in the firehouse. Aayden asked if he could be in uniform and was given a uniform and department T-shirt and learned about dispatch.

“It was an amazing experience for our firefighters and it definitely made us better people,” said Joel Eberth, Assistant Chief Buffalo Airport Fire Department. “With them being here, Christmas became a big concern because Aayden was so excited that Santa would know he was here and he would get to celebrate at a real firehouse and we didn’t want to disappoint, so we were able to find several items in the firehouse to wrap for the family and with the amazing help from the field office delivering some items from the terminal, we were able to make sure Santa paid a visit.”

About the NFTA 

The NFTA is a regional multi-modal transportation authority responsible for airport and surface transportation in Erie and Niagara counties. NFTA/NFTM businesses include a bus, rail and ADA paratransit system, two commercial airports, and transportation centers in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. In 2019, a J.D. Power study ranked the Buffalo Niagara International Airport highest in customer satisfaction for medium sized airports in North America.  

Kingsport officials approved a contract recently to replace Fire Station No. 2, wcyb.com reported.

A fire official said they are in the design phase for the new station, which will be located beside the current one on Crescent Drive, the report said.

The current station is not ADA compliant, being that the building is 80 years old with little storage, according to the report. The space is too small to house the fire trucks, the fire official said, according to the report.

The fire official said the $5-$7 million project is expected to begin next year.

Construction on a brand-new fire station for the Lebanon Fire District is set to begin in January now that a contract has been finalized with the builders, kezi.com reported.

Lebanon fire officials say the Lebanon Fire District Board approved a contract with Emerick Construction to build the new Station 31 on December 22. Officials say construction costs are not to exceed $13,805,290 under the terms of the contract. Construction is slated to begin in January 2023.

The construction is funded by a $16 million general obligation bond specifically intended to go towards a new fire station and vehicle for the department that voters passed in November 2019, the report said. Officials say the new station will be larger and better equipped to handle the growing community and its needs. Fire district officials say they are looking forward to the new station after several delays in its construction.