06/12/2026
Firefighter Ryan Kokoszyna has officially completed his probationary year with the Sunderland Fire Department as of today. However, in the eyes of many within the department, he has demonstrated the capabilities and commitment of a full firefighter for quite some time.
Ryan exemplifies dedication. He has consistently been a top responder for both drills and emergency calls, and over the past 365 days, he has proven himself to be a skilled and reliable firefighter on the training ground and in the field. His training experience includes hose operations, ice rescue drills, entrapment scenarios, search and rescue, forcible entry, first responder duties, UTV/ATV operations, boat drills, swim and water rescue evaluations, driver training, and pump operations. He also successfully completed the intensive Franklin Six program.
Over the past year, the department has responded to a higher number of significant incidents than in previous years. Ryan’s strong commitment and high response rate have placed him on scene for many of these calls, including the apartment fires in Amherst and Sugarloaf Estates in Sunderland, as well as multiple residential structure fires, motor vehicle accidents—including one involving 11 patients—brush fires, woodland rescues, and a variety of medical emergencies, some involving CPR in progress.
Ryan consistently conducts himself with professionalism both on and off the fireground. He brings a strong work ethic, a willingness to contribute wherever needed, and a clear understanding of his role and limitations. Notably, after many calls, he proactively seeks feedback from officers, asking what he could have done better and striving to understand the decisions made so he can learn and improve from every experience.
We are proud to recognize Ryan’s accomplishments and to call him a Sunderland firefighter.
