Bergen Fire Department

06/01/2026

05/25/2026

From all of us at the Bergen Fire Department, thank you to all who have served and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our liberty and freedom.

Today, we remember. 🇺🇸

05/19/2026

Last night was night two of our water supply training.

Building off last week’s fundamentals review, our crews took those skills out into the field at two separate locations in town and worked through real-world scenarios designed to test our efficiency, communication, and ability to secure a positive water supply quickly.

Our first scenario took place on Dublin Road and was built around a working garage fire. The challenge was simple: operate with only our own apparatus and personnel. The engine laid in from the hydrant while our tanker completed the hydrant connection and boosted pressure forward to the engine, helping ensure an adequate water supply for multiple handlines and operations.

Our second scenario took place on Appletree Road and focused on a residential structure fire with a slightly different tactic. This time, our engine laid in from the end of the driveway up to the house, while the tanker laid out from that point back to the hydrant. This allowed our crews to successfully complete what is known as a split lay. It is not something we use every day, but it is an important skill to refresh so we are ready when the situation calls for it.

Despite the intense heat, our members worked with incredible efficiency and secured water within just a few minutes of arrival at both locations.

Water supply is one of those behind-the-scenes pieces of firefighting, but it can make all the difference on the fireground. Before the first line can do its job, before the fire can be pushed back, and before a scene can truly begin to come under control, crews have to make sure the water is there.

That is why we train.

Great work by everyone who came out, pushed through the heat, and continued building the skills our community depends on. 🚒

05/18/2026

EMS Week gives us a chance to recognize a part of our department that often works quietly in the background.

EMS can sometimes be overlooked because the nature of their calls is often private. You may not see those stories shared on our page the way you might see fire calls, training nights, or public events. But day after day, night after night, our EMS members are answering the alarm when someone in our community needs help.

Medical calls make up more than half of our total call volume. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, falls, lift assists, motor vehicle accidents, illness, injuries, and countless other emergencies. Our EMS team is there for people during some of their most vulnerable moments, often without recognition, without fanfare, and without expecting anything in return.

Right now, we have around 15 EMTs serving our community, with a few more members preparing to begin class over the next several months. We are also proud to remain one of the few fully volunteer EMS agencies left in our area. That is something our Fire Department and EMS team take great pride in, and it is something our community should be proud of as well.

To our EMS members, thank you for your hard work, compassion, dedication, and willingness to serve. Your work may not always be seen, but it is always felt! ♥️

Happy EMS Week 🚑

05/04/2026

Today, on International Firefighters Day, we honor the men and women who answer the call in our community and across the world.

Firefighting is built on courage, sacrifice, training, teamwork, and a commitment to helping others when they need it most.

To every firefighter who serves, and to every family that stands behind them, thank you. 🚒

05/01/2026

Yesterday was a busy day for our members.

The day started with an MVA on Route 490 involving a vehicle rollover. Thankfully, the driver was able to self-extricate with the assistance of some passerbys and sustained only minor injuries.

Later in the day, we responded mutual aid to the Brockport Fire District for an odor of smoke inside a residence in their district. Tanker 29 responded to assist with water supply and an interior search as crews worked to locate the source of a strong electrical odor.

While returning from that call, Tanker 29 was rerouted to assist the LeRoy Fire Department - LeRoy, NY for a tractor trailer vs. car MVA with entrapment. Le Roy crews went to work on the vehicle while our crew was assigned to help ensure the tractor trailer was secure.

Things can go from quiet to busy at the drop of a hat without warning and we are very proud of our members for continuing to step up and answer the call! 🚒🚑

04/30/2026

The story is finally starting to reach more people. 🚒🚑

Recently, Spectrum News visited our firehouse to film a piece about the volunteer firefighter shortage and the launch of The Heart of the Volunteer, a podcast created to help bring attention to the challenges facing volunteer fire departments.

This is an issue that affects departments everywhere, including communities like ours. The calls still come in. The trucks still roll. But behind the scenes, volunteer departments like ours continue to face the challenge of needing more people willing to step forward and serve.

If you have ever thought about volunteering, now is a time to ask questions. There is a place for you in the fire service, whether you want to fight fires, help with EMS, support operations, assist with events, or simply learn how you can serve your community.

If this story hits home, please share it. Better yet, stop down to your local firehouse and ask what you can do.

Watch Here:

The best way to solve a problem is to tackle it head-on. An approach Paul Cummings is taking.

04/28/2026

On one of the nicest nights we’ve had so far this year, our crews took time out of their day to get familiar with two important buildings in our community.

We started at the Gillam Grant Community Center, where members toured the facility and laid in from a nearby hydrant before stretching a hand line off the front of the truck. This allowed us to test our limitations on distance and evaluate how far we can realistically operate effectively. It gives us the ability to plan ahead, build strategies, and prepare for different scenarios, including a working fire at the GG and surrounding buildings, including the doctor’s office located behind it.

From there, we moved to the town garage to get eyes inside that building and talk through how we would approach an incident there if the need ever arose.

As always, Monday night participation was strong, a direct reflection of the commitment these members have to this community. 🚒🚑

04/21/2026

Why we train!

Last night, we reviewed our extrication equipment and intentionally worked with smaller crews than normal. We built the scenario around a daytime response, when staffing is typically lower and mutual aid can take a few extra minutes to arrive. The focus was simple… how do we get the job done with what we have, right now.

Fast forward 12 hours and we put that scenario to the test.

Just after 7:00 this morning, we were dispatched to a one vehicle rollover at the corner of North Bergen and West Sweden. The vehicle had traveled approximately 100 yards off the road before coming to rest on its side with the driver still inside.

With limited manpower on scene, Engine 27’s crew went to work. The vehicle was stabilized, and a portion of the roof was removed to safely extricate the driver. The driver was then transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

There’s no script for when the tones drop. No guarantee of numbers. No perfect conditions.

That’s why we train! 🚒