Westchester County Department of Emergency Services

08/27/2026

08/13/2026

A ceremony was held at DES last night to recognize our County’s newest volunteer firefighters who completed their Firefighter 1 training in the last 18 months.

In all, 201 men and women completed Firefighter 1 training in 12 classes between January 2025 and June 2026. Many were on hand last night and their accomplishment was celebrated by local Chiefs, the Westchester Volunteer Firefighters Association, and families and friends in attendance.

We congratulate these newest firefighters and thank them for the service they provide to their communities and the people of Westchester. Volunteer fire service is truly rewarding and a tremendous way to give back to your community. We encourage anyone who has been considering it to stop in at their local firehouse for a conversation and to get more information.

Completing this training program was no small achievement. It required dedication, discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and the willingness to push well beyond your comfort zone.

Throughout their training, these new firefighters developed the skills needed to operate safely and effectively in challenging environments—from working with protective equipment and breathing apparatus to advancing hose lines, operating ladders, conducting searches and working together during emergency scenarios.
They faced demanding conditions, long hours, and high expectations while learning what it truly means to be part of a fire company and serve their community.

DES would also like to thank the many excellent County fire instructors who conducted Firefighter 1 training. Their talents and expertise were crucial to preparing these new firefighters to protect themselves and their communities throughout their service.

08/12/2026

What an incredible day at DES as we welcomed Ossining My Brother’s Keeper for an Emergency Services Career Exposure Day filled with learning, hands-on experiences, and inspiration.

Throughout the day, our DES staff from Fire, EMS, Communications, and Special Operations led each evolution, giving participants a firsthand look at their respective fields. They shared their knowledge, demonstrated the skills and teamwork behind the work they do every day, and gave the students an opportunity to experience the many different roles that make up emergency services.

A special thank you to our guests from the FDNY, Mount Vernon Fire Department, and Technical Rescue team members who joined us and shared their experience, expertise, and career journeys.
Participants also took part in a Go Bag preparedness session, learning what essential items to have ready in the event of an evacuation or emergency.
It was one of those days you truly had to experience to understand—the energy, curiosity, engagement, and enthusiasm throughout the room made it incredibly special.

We hope we sparked new interests, opened a few doors, and inspired the next generation of emergency responders and public safety professionals.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave their time and talents to make this day such a memorable experience.

08/06/2026

Chief Mark Iannucci, Westchester County Fire Coordinator and Director of Fire Services at the Department of Emergency Services, recently conducted a two-hour evening training class on the topic of the Incident Command System and Fire Ground Operations for members in the Battalion 14 area. Battalion 14 includes Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Fairview, Hartsdale, Hastings, Irvington and Tarrytown.

Chief officers and fire suppression personnel were presented with a case-study and made command decisions based on the information. They also received a PowerPoint® presentation detailing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the use of the Incident Command System (ICS).

Mutual Aid response necessitates the use of ICS for accountability of each agency’s resources at many large incidents, including structure fires, Hazardous Materials incidents and building and trench collapse. This annexed training allows the DES to give all Westchester County Fire Departments convenient evening training on various topics and was set up in conjunction with Battalion 14 Coordinator Russell Maitland.

08/04/2026

The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services would also like to recognize the important work of our certified fire investigators and Cause and Origin Team.

Accountability in this case was the result of a coordinated investigative effort. Our investigators responded to and processed the scene at the Tarrytown Lighthouse, determined that the fire was incendiary, and prepared the reports documenting that the fire had been intentionally set. Their findings assisted the Westchester County Department of Public Safety during the initial stages of its investigation and helped establish the foundation for the charges that followed.

We are proud of the professionalism and thorough work of our fire investigators and grateful for the collaboration among the Department of Emergency Services, the Department of Public Safety, the Sleepy Hollow and White Plains Police Departments, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. This outcome reflects the importance of agencies working together to protect Westchester County’s residents, public property, and historic landmarks.

08/04/2026

We’re Hiring! The Westchester County Department of Emergency Services is seeking an **Emergency Communication Specialist II** in Valhalla. Salary range: $68,780–$85,765. Applications are due August 14, 2026. Control No. 168-26.

Click the link below for qualifications and application instructions. Please share with qualified candidates!

https://humanresources.westchestercountyny.gov/csea-jobs/emergency-communication-specialist-ii

07/21/2026

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TORNADO
• Have a family emergency plan – know where you will meet and how you will communicate with each other if you don’t have power or are stranded.

• Sign up for alerts that come to your phone automatically. Local governments often have them, NY State has NY-Alert – you can sign up at alert.ny.gov and FEMA also has an app that will give anyone in the country weather alerts.

• Know the signs of a tornado, including but not limited to: dark or green skies; a rotating, funnel shaped cloud; and loud or roaring sounds.

• Pay attention to weather reports. When a tornado warning is issued get indoors and go to the basement or lower floor of a building.

• Identify and practice a safe place to shelter. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building.

• Build a disaster supply kit. Plan for your entire family, including those who may need additional assistance and your pets.

IF A TORNADO IS IMMINENT
• If outdoors: Seek shelter in a substantial building immediately. If there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately.

• If at home or in a small building: Go to the basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of the building. Stay away from windows. Closets, bathrooms, and other interior rooms offer the best protection. Get under something sturdy or cover yourself with a mattress.

• If in a school, hospital, or shopping center: Go to a pre-designated shelter area. Stay away from large open areas and windows. Do not go outside to your car.

• If in a high-rise building: Go to an interior small room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Do not use the elevators. Use the stairs.

• If in a mobile home or vehicle: Get out of mobile homes or vehicles - they are easily tossed about by strong winds in the tornado.

• Take shelter in a substantial structure: If there is no shelter near-by, lie flat in a ditch or low spot with your hands shielding your head.

07/21/2026

Flood Safety Reminder

Do not drive through flooded roadways.

Never drive around barricades. Barricades are placed for your safety.

Rising and fast-moving floodwaters can sweep vehicles away or cause drivers to lose control.

Stay out of floodwaters. Floodwater may conceal dangerous debris, downed power lines, contaminated water, and other hazards that can cause illness, serious injury, or death.

Stay alert and monitor local weather reports and emergency notifications as conditions change.