Westchester County Department of Emergency Services

06/08/2026

Smoke House Construction Update:

Big things are taking shape at the Fire Training Center. Construction of our new Smoke House is moving right along, and it’s shaping up to be a major upgrade from the 50-year-old building it replaces.

This new, over 5,600-square-foot facility is being built with today’s first responders in mind, giving them the tools they need to train safely while still being challenged in realistic environments. It will feature multiple live fire burn rooms designed for a variety of training scenarios, more than 20 anchor points for rappelling and rope rescue training, and standpipe systems to support engine company operations.

The building will also include a built-in smoke machine, allowing firefighters to practice search and rescue in zero-visibility conditions that closely mimic real incidents.

Beyond the features, this project represents a continued investment in the safety, readiness and skills of our county’s emergency responders. Training like this ensures that when the call comes in, our crews are prepared to perform at the highest level.

We’re excited to see the progress and even more excited to get this building in service. Stay tuned for more updates as construction continues!

05/26/2026

Recently, members of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services Cause and Origin Team and our Fire Training staff conducted a series of controlled burns using the fire investigation training trailer.

These hands-on training scenarios were designed to simulate real-world fire scenes, giving our fire investigators the opportunity to sharpen their skills, strengthen their knowledge, and continue building expertise in the critical field of fire investigation.

The training also included members of the private sector insurance industry, helping them gain a deeper understanding of fire behavior and the factors involved in determining fire cause and origin.

A successful and valuable week of training like this helps ensure that the dedicated members of our Cause and Origin Team remain prepared to provide outstanding service to the residents and communities of Westchester County.
Great work to all involved!

05/23/2026

As EMS Week ends, we want to urge members of the public to be prepared to be their own first responder. There are many classes available to learn Basic First Aid, CPR, AED, Stop the Bleed and other skills that could save your life or the life of a loved one in an emergency.

Even when EMS is on the way, every second can count in an emergency. Knowing what to do yourself can make an enormous difference and lead to a successful outcome. It’s better to be a lifesaver than a bystander when time is of the essence.

EMS Division Deputy Chief Brett Roberts conducted training this week for members of the Westchester County Department of Probation. The probation officers received updated or refresher training in performing CPR, using an AED (Automated Defibrillator Device) and applying a tourniquet to Stop the Bleed. They are prepared to aid a fellow officer or member of the public should the need arise.

Residents can check with their local EMS agency, fire department or organizations such as the American Heart Association, American College of Surgeons and American Red Cross to find out if/when such training may be available in your community. Or suggest to your employer that providing a class is a great way to enhance workplace safety.

05/22/2026

County EMS? What’s that?

It’s a question we get all the time from residents who see County EMS personnel staged at Playland and other County parks, at the Westchester County during concerts and events, or at other public gatherings on County properties.

County EMS is a BLS-FR (Basic Life Support-First Response) agency with approximately 50 Emergency Medical Technicians on our roster. Most are per diem members who work in conjunction with our four-full time staff in the EMS Division. Deputy Chief Brett Roberts of the EMS Division oversees its operations.

County EMS is a non-transport EMS agency that provides emergency response and EMS standby. We are grateful for their contributions to DES and our County, and we salute them during EMS Week for the dedicated and skillful service they provide to keep people safe.

In addition, as EMS Week winds down, we’d also like to recognize and thank the EMS Zone Coordinators associated with our Department.

EMS Zone Coordinators are designated representatives of the Department of Emergency Services. One function of the EMS Zone Coordinator is to assist local EMS agencies at the scene of large-scale or multiple casualty incidents. The coordinators work at the direction of the Incident Commander at a mutual aid or multi-jurisdictional event.

Our EMS Zone Coordinators are:
EMS-10 (David Raizen)
EMS-11 (Guy Singer)
EMS-12 (Nick Franzoso)

Our thanks to these terrific coordinators for all they do for our Department and EMS agencies across Westchester County.

05/22/2026

The public and our County’s EMS agencies rely every day on the great work of our communications professionals at 60 Control. As we mark EMS Week, we salute the men and women who get the ambulances rolling and provide both EMS and the public with the information they need to ensure the best outcome possible.

The 60 Control Emergency Communications Center dispatched 89,143 EMS events last year, and 29,468 events this year as of April 30. It is the primary dispatch point for 35 EMS agencies within the county.

The highly skilled crew at 60 Control also uses Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols to help callers during medical emergencies, often becoming the very first point of assistance in someone’s time of need. Through EMD, dispatchers are trained to quickly gather critical information, determine the severity of the situation, dispatch the appropriate emergency responders, and provide lifesaving instructions over the phone until help arrives. This can include guidance for CPR, bleeding control, childbirth, choking emergencies, and other critical situations, helping to improve patient outcomes before first responders even get on scene.

05/21/2026

As we mark EMS Week, here's a great video that asks an essential question: What if EMS went dark?

What happens when you call 911… and no one comes?Every day across New York State, thousands of people rely on EMS without ever realizing how fragile the syst...

05/20/2026

The Westchester Regional EMS Council held its Annual EMS Awards Ceremony on 5.19.26 at SUNY WCC.

The ceremonial recognition EMS professionals, included Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Citations. Criteria: To be awarded to those individuals who, through emergency medical dispatch, assisted in the successful and expeditious provision of care that resulted in the Lifesaving Award and/or Childbirth Award being presented to the primary care givers.

Three of our DES Emergency Communications Operators were recognized: Doug Orlovitz, Brendan Porteus, Ryan Cullen (no longer employed with the County)

05/18/2026

Thank you to County Executive Ken Jenkins and Deputy County Executive Joan McDonald for inviting the Department of Emergency Services to join them in recognizing the outstanding work of our Emergency Medical Services personnel during National EMS Week, observed May 17–23, 2026.

Every day, EMS professionals answer the call with skill, compassion, courage, and commitment. They are often the first to arrive in moments of crisis, bringing lifesaving care, calm, and hope when it is needed most.

We are grateful for County Executive Jenkins’ and Deputy County Executive McDonald’s support of EMS services, not only during National EMS Week, but throughout the entire year.

We are proud to honor the dedicated EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, instructors, and EMS partners who serve our communities across Westchester County.

Thank you for all you do to keep our residents safe.