Williamsville Fire Department

05/31/2026

Congratulations to our own Luke Readling who graduated from basic exterior and basic interior firefighting school today! Great job Luke!

05/24/2026

05/03/2026

The 2026 officers of the Williamsville Fire Department were installed last evening and are ready to continue the exemplary service that the citizens, homes, businesses, and surrounding areas of our district are accustomed to and deserving of!

Prior to the celebration dinner, the department stood in formation for the tradition of the Inspection of the Ranks by the Williamsville Village mayor and Board of Trustees. Appearing sharp in dress uniforms, the volunteer entourage stood at attention to welcome their annual review.

Installed in the top ranks of the department are Chief Mike Vogel, 1st Assistant Chief Chris Manning, 2nd Assistant (and Past Chief) Chris Petrie, and President Eric Weinreber. Outgoing Assistant Chief Jim Zymanek was recognized for his years among the chiefs’ ranks, serving 16 of his 45 years in those three positions alone, twice at the helm as Chief.

Jimmy Maddigan was the recipient of the Chief’s Award. The President’s Award honoree was Holly Schiferle. Rich Maddigan received the honor of being presented with the Brotherhood Award, a recognition established in 2023 and selected by the membership.

Peter Strobel received the distinguishment as the department’s 50 Years of Active Service award recipient this year.

The event welcomed Josh Reed, WIVB Sports Director, as emcee. A light hearted interaction with the attendees yielded an upbeat question answer session about our local sports teams.

The words in the poem among these photos was written by one of our members and featured in this year’s program.

An evening out is not complete without the support of our neighboring departments for their coverage for the event. Special thanks go out to the Main-Transit Fire Department and the Snyder Fire Department for their protection of our district which allowed for a night out for our members with their second

04/09/2026

The annual statewide BURN BAN is in effect now through May 14.

The combination of dry fine fuels, wind gusts and low humidity values will contribute to an elevated risk this afternoon. Use caution if handling ignition sources, machinery or matches. Properly extinguish and dispose of cigarette butts.

For more on the spring Burn Ban, refer to the NYS Department of Environment and Conservation at: https://loom.ly/0eNwf9w

03/21/2026

“7 Firefighters in 7 Days.”
This week we are introducing some of our membership to the community in what we are calling “Faces of the Fire Service: 7 Firefighters in 7 Days.” Today’s Firefighter Spotlight is on Mike Measer.

Mike Measer has been a dedicated member of the Williamsville Fire Department for 33 years this summer. Mike proudly served as Chief of Department from 2014 to 2019 and has responded to thousands of calls over the course of his career.

Service runs deep in Mike’s family. He is the 4th generation in his family to serve in the fire service, following his dad, who gave 50 years of active service. Mike and his wife, Kara, live in the heart of the Village of Williamsville with their son, who is currently in college at Mercyhurst University.

Outside the firehouse, Mike is a top-producing real estate agent with 716 Realty Group WNY, helping buyers and sellers across Williamsville, Amherst, and the Buffalo area.

The Measer family’s commitment to the community goes beyond the firehouse. Their family owned Bee Publications Inc, which published nine weekly newspapers, including The Amherst Bee for over 117 years before recently selling it in 2024, continuing a long tradition of keeping the community informed and connected.

During his five years serving as Chief of the department, Mike and his group of officers accomplished the task of updating the fire apparatus fleet with new state-of-the-art twin fire engines, a new medium rescue truck, a light rescue vehicle, numerous equipment upgrades and a large building renovation of the main fire station on Main Street.

While emergency calls are a major part of the job, Mike says the most memorable part of serving the community has been the moments spent face-to-face with residents at local events throughout the years, including block parties, Old Home Days, and other community gatherings.

The Volunteer Fire Service is made up of a diverse group of men and women and possibly someday YOU will be among the Williamsville Fire Department ranks as well.

03/20/2026

“7 Firefighters in 7 Days.”

This week we are introducing some of our membership to the community in what we are calling “Faces of the Fire Service: 7 Firefighters in 7 Days.” Today’s Firefighter Spotlight is on Hunter D. Konkle.

Hunter Konkle began his service with the Williamsville Fire Department in March, 2024, transferring from the New York City area where he spent the previous ten years.

Hunter is thankful to have come from a long line of firefighters dating back to 1885, when F.R. Konkle, brother to his 5th great grandfather, played a role in incorporating the Willing Hand Hose Company in Montoursville, NY.

The fire service has been a defining part of his family for generations, and he especially credits his passion and love for firefighting to his late grandfather, Don Konkle Sr., and his father, Craig Konkle. Hunter is among the officer ranks of the Willliamsville Fire Department, serving in the role of Firematic Lieutenant.

At 14 years old, Hunter joined his family’s lineage fire department as an Explorer, marking the start of his continued commitment to the fire community.

The fire service is an ingrained part of who Hunter is and, in that commitment, he is a Territory Sales Representative for Firematic Supply Co., a company that designs, manufactures, sells and services firefighting equipment including Pierce Mfg. fire apparatus, Hurst Jaws of Life rescue tools, MSA safety and breathing apparatus, the BRAT wildland apparatus, and an extensive line of fire rescue equipment and gear. Hunter’s enthusiasm and knowledge for the service has been a valuable addition to the Williamsville rolls.

Hunter states “I've loved living in the village being able to walk to Garrison Park, Music on Main, and other events. My time volunteering at Hutchinson Hose has been an incredible opportunity to give back to the community.” Hunter finds it rewarding to work with the schools in our area during Fire Prevention Week, interacting with the eagerness of children with an enthusiasm to listen and learn about firefighters.

Outside of his professional and volunteer life, Hunter is a proud father to two daughters and is excited to be welcoming a baby boy in May, who may just be in line to continue a family tradition of service and dedication to the fire service.

03/19/2026

“7 Firefighters in 7 Days.”

This week we are introducing some of our membership to the community in what we are calling “Faces of the Fire Service: 7 Firefighters in 7 Days.” Today’s Firefighter Spotlight is on John Licata .

John Licata is a people person. His personality approaches before he even does. It is this dynamic personality that has engaged him with his brother and sister firefighters for the past 36 years.

John began his firefighting career as a member of the U-Crest Fire Department, serving the Cheektowaga area for ten years. In his time there, he rose from recruit to 3rd Assistant Chief. After relocating to the Williamsville area, it was assured that John would continue in the community service that he had started and, in this mindset, joined the Williamsville Fire Department in 2000. At Williamsville, John was quick to realize that his commitment to the volunteer fire service was becoming an allegiance to the service. John has served numerous rotations as a lieutenant and a captain, as well as a term in the chiefs’ office as Second Assistant Chief.

John, an extensive and proficiently trained firefighter, is also a New York State Fire Instructor with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Protection Technology. For the past eleven years, John has instructed enthusiastic recruit firefighters not only across Erie County, but surrounding counties as well. John can often be found on the lead of many of his home department’s firematic drills.

In 36 years of service, it’s the unique events that offer one-of-a-kind memories such as needing to make a U-turn during the October 2006 storm when the engine driver could not proceed further down the street, and needing to use the entirety of a private driveway to make that turn around. Nothing tops pulling up to your own fire station for a fire alarm activation and finding your truck bay filled with smoke (note: it was found there was an electrical short on the ATV.)

Although response as a volunteer firefighter is a 24/7 job, John spends his days as a Tech Support Specialist for Erie 1 BOCES where he has been employed for the past 20 years.

03/18/2026

“7 Firefighters in 7 Days.”

This week we are introducing some of our membership to the community in what we are calling “Faces of the Fire Service: 7 Firefighters in 7 Days.” Today’s Firefighter Spotlight is on Jim Zymanek.

The name Jim Zymanek is as synonymous to the fire service throughout Western New York as Glen Park is to the Village of Williamsville. A two-time chief serving from 1992-1997 and again from 2003-2007, Jim is back in the chiefs’ office as an assistant chief, sharing authentic knowledge and experience with the next generation. Jim is a strong proponent of mentorship, practicing that concept with his passing down of insight, skills, and take aways from real-life encounters. He has held a firematic officer position in the department for each of the past 40 years. Unyielding passion for the fire service defines Jim.

The fire service is not only a part of Jim, but he has became a part of it. As a first-generation member when he joined the department in December, 1980, he was proudly followed into the service by his two daughters, Megan and Jill, and also gets to share the experience with his wife/firefighter, Holly, and her two children, Greg and Kelly.

Jim’s volunteer fire service and his career path ran parallel to each other in his position as the Town of Amherst Director of Emergency Services, a role he retired from in June of 2024 after 44 years with the town. Not only has he been at the helm coordinating major events on behalf of his own department, but for each of the fire departments across the town as well. In being deployed to other parts of the state in various stages of emergency, each encounter brought valuable concepts back to his roots of the Williamsville Fire Department.

Jim is an enthusiastic educator, not just in the classroom definition as a current 20 year NYS Fire Instructor, but as a coach and demonstrator, providing guidance and explanation of the why’s and what ifs of every scenario, whether on scene or in post event evaluation.

Jim says “Responding to literally thousands of incidents over my career, I can’t say I can highlight only one. From the smallest of events to large scale, multi-department, multi-county incidents, each one has a place among memories. The reward however is the comfort that overwhelms you after you were able to provide care to someone in need at an EMS call, worked hard to save a family’s personal belongings from a fire, or just having a great conversation with an enthusiastic individual with an interest to learn more about the fire service and fire safety. My personal greatest reward was to have had the honor to lead and educate the finest volunteer fire department around.”

The Volunteer Fire Service is made up of a diverse group of men and women and possibly someday YOU will be among the Williamsville Fire Department ranks as well.