Binghamton Fire Department

09/29/2026

Line of duty death memorial:
September 29, 1975

Chief John Cox and Captain Donald McGeever

Following the incident one day prior, Chief Cox and Captain McGeever made efforts to recover Firefighter Russell’s remains. Both drowned after their rescue boat capsized at Rock Bottom dam. There is a memorial site on Conklin ave. near the dam.

- Please take a moment of silence in memory of Chief John Cox and Captain Donald McGeever.

09/28/2026

Line of Duty Death Memorial:
Firefighter John Russell

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the tragic Rockbottom Dam incident. On September 28, 1975, Firefighter John Russell gave his life trying to rescue two people from a capsized raft. During the rescue, FF Russell drowned after the boat overturned. Two other firefighters were pulled from the water.
The following day, Chief John Cox and Captain Donald McGeever also lost their lives while assisting with recovery operations.

We ask everyone to take a moment to remember Firefighter John Russell, Chief John Cox, and Captain Donald McGeever. Their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

09/25/2026

This past weekend, six members of the Binghamton Fire Department had the honor of accompanying members of the Gaudet and Pavlick families to the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony in Colorado Springs.

This year’s ceremony held special meaning for our department and our community as the names of John R. Gaudet and Scott W. Pavlick were added to the memorial wall, ensuring their service and sacrifice will forever be remembered alongside their fallen brothers and sisters.

Not a day goes by that John and Scott aren’t missed. Their impact on our department, our members, and our community will never be forgotten.

09/11/2026

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our nation. We gathered to honor those who lost their lives, their families and others still battling illness caused by this tragedy.

We will never forget the firefighters, police officers, EMS and civilians who made the ultimate sacrifice while aiding others.

09/10/2026

The City of Binghamton will hold its 9/11 Memorial Ceremony tomorrow, Friday, September 11, at 8:45 AM at the 9/11 Memorial outside City Hall.

We encourage members of the community to join us as we remember the lives lost, honor the heroes who responded, and remember all those impacted by September 11, 2001.

Never Forget.

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

Back to school!

School starts tomorrow for most of the area, which means more kids walking, riding bikes and getting on and off buses throughout the morning and afternoon.

Please slow down, stay alert and watch for children crossing the street. Remember, when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing, do not pass.

Good luck to all the students, teachers and staff as they start another school year. Stay safe!

09/07/2026

Labor Day has been celebrated for more than a century as a day to recognize the contributions, dedication, and the hard work of American workers who have helped build and strengthen our communities.

While many are enjoying a well-earned day off, public safety never takes a holiday.

Today, we are especially proud to recognize the professional firefighters of the Binghamton Fire Department. Our members dedicate themselves every day to protecting the residents, businesses, and visitors of our city. Their hard work, professionalism, and commitment to serving Binghamton are something we are incredibly proud of.

We also extend our appreciation to all first responders working this Labor Day — including the law enforcement officers, EMS providers, dispatchers, and fellow firefighters we work alongside here in our community, as well as first responders serving communities across the nation.

To our members and to all those whose hard work keeps our communities moving forward, Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸

09/05/2026

Binghamton Fire stood by tonight for the final fireworks show of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies season. The Ponies made it a good night all around with a 2-0 win!

Thanks to the Rumble Ponies for another great season of fireworks and baseball!

09/02/2026

Today at approximately 10:49 a.m., Quint 2 responded to the Emma Street underpass for an individual stranded in flood water. A firefighter entered the water and carefully made his way toward the individual, using a pike pole to sweep and check the ground ahead of him for hazards, including debris, changes in terrain and potentially displaced or open manhole covers. The individual was then assisted safely to dry ground.

Over the past several days The Binghamton Fire Department has responded to multiple calls involving motorists who attempted to drive through standing water and became stranded after their vehicles stalled or flooded.

This incident serves as an important reminder: Never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway or underpass.

It can be extremely difficult to judge the depth of standing water from inside a vehicle, and conditions beneath the surface may be very different from what you can see.

If you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and find another route. A few extra minutes of travel is always the safer option.