Saugerties Fire Department

100% Professional

100% Dedicated

100% Volunteer

Mission Statement

The purpose of this organization is to protect life and property from the threat of fire and other hazards within the Village of Saugerties and surrounding communities.  Other goals of this organization are, but not limited to, promoting fire safety in the community, continually training and improving firefighting technique, and conforming to standards and laws set forth by Local, State, and Federal Governments.

The Saugerties Fire Department is an entirely volunteer, firefighting/emergency service organization.  Organized in 1856, the department has relied on the courage, dedication, and selfless service of its members to protect the lives and property of the residents of the Village of Saugerties.

Our volunteers proudly respond to emergencies at any time of day or night, often under challenging conditions.  While the work of the fire service involves inherent risks, the members of the Saugerties Volunteer Fire Department are committed to serving their community with professionalism, skill, and dedication.

In addition to protecting the Village of Saugerties, the Department serves surrounding residents through its fire protection district and long-established mutual aid agreements with neighboring fire departments. 

The Department

The Saugerties Fire Department is comprised of three  individual line companies and one association:

• R. A. Snyder Hose Company No. 1
• C. A. Lynch Hose Company No. 2
• Washington Hook and Ladder Company No. 1
• Saugerties Exempt Firemen’s Association and Fire Patrol 

Each company is led by a Captain or Foreman. 

The Department’s overall operations are overseen by three Chiefs, each representing one of the three line companies. 

Saugerties Fire Department Officers

The Saugerties Fire Department is administered by the following officers:

• Fire Chief - Chris Mason
• First Assistant Fire Chief - Chris Wade
• Second Assistant Fire Chief - Cody Rocco
• Department Secretary - Mike Karashay
• Department Treasurer - Brian Mason

Roles of the Saugerties Fire Department

The Saugerties Fire Department fulfills several essential roles in support of its mission to protect life, property, and the community.  These roles include:

• Fire Protection – Maintaining readiness through staffing, apparatus, equipment, and operational planning to ensure a rapid and effective response to emergencies.
• Fire Suppression – Responding to fires and emergencies to control, contain, and extinguish fires while prioritizing life safety.
• Fire Training – Providing ongoing training and education to ensure members are properly prepared to safely and effectively perform their duties in accordance with recognized standards and best practices.
• Fire Prevention – Reducing the risk of fire through public education, inspections, code enforcement support, and community outreach initiatives.

In addition to these core functions, the Saugerties Fire Department serves an important community role, maintaining strong relationships with residents and organizations through public events, educational programs, and civic involvement.

Fire Suppression & Emergency Response

Throughout the year, the Saugerties Fire Department responds to a wide range of emergency incidents in dedicated service to the community.  In a typical year, the Saugerties Fire Department responds to an average of approximately 190 to 200 calls for service.

These responses include, but are not limited to, fire-related incidents, flooding and cellar pump operations, carbon monoxide detector activations, public assistance calls, motor vehicle accidents, automatic fire alarms, mutual aid requests, hazardous materials responses, EMS assists, and other emergency and good intent calls.

In short, the members of the Saugerties Fire Department remain continuously engaged, providing essential emergency services and dedicated support to the residents and visitors of the Village of Saugerties.

Training & Professional Development

The Saugerties Fire Department maintains a comprehensive firefighter training program to ensure all members are prepared to operate safely, effectively, and in accordance with applicable standards.  Training is conducted at multiple levels, including New York State, Ulster County, and in house departmental programs, as well as company-level instruction and informal skill building sessions. 

Firefighters are encouraged to participate in advanced training opportunities that address complex and high risk operations.  Members who attend external training routinely share knowledge and skills gained with the Department, contributing to overall readiness and operational effectiveness.

To promote safety and regulatory compliance, all members participate in annual OSHA safety training to help protect firefighters, fellow responders, and the public.

In addition to formal instruction, members frequently engage in informal hands on sessions to review apparatus, equipment locations, tool operation, and departmental procedures.

Fire Prevention & Public Education

The Saugerties Fire Department is committed to educating residents about fire safety and prevention.  Through ongoing public education initiatives, the Department works to reduce fire risks and promote a safer community. 

Each October, the Department participates in Fire Prevention Week, conducting educational programs at local schools, coordinating fire drills for children, distributing fire safety information, offering apparatus demonstrations, and providing hands-on learning experiences using age-appropriate equipment.
In addition to Fire Prevention Week activities, the Department conducts fire station tours throughout the year for scout troops, school classes, and civic organizations.

Fire prevention and public education events are conducted throughout the year as part of the Department’s continued commitment to community outreach and safety awareness.

Community Activities & Public Engagement

The Saugerties Fire Department is committed to being an active and positive presence within the community through a variety of public events and civic traditions held throughout the year.

The Department coordinates the Village’s Fourth of July Parade, widely regarded as one of the largest in the Hudson Valley.  The day’s events include the Department’s annual inspection, the recognition of the Firefighter of the Year, and participation by honored guests and visiting emergency service organizations.

The Department also sponsors and participates in numerous family-oriented events, including the annual Halloween Parade, where children parade through the Village in costume before gathering at the firehouse for judging, prizes, and refreshments, as well as Touch-A-Truck events that provide residents with hands-on opportunities to explore fire apparatus and learn about emergency operations.

During the Village’s Holiday in the Village celebration each December, the Department concludes the festivities with the Firemen’s Parade of Lights, which travels through the streets of Saugerties and ends at Seamon Park, with the lighting of the trees and park decorations.

Additionally, the C. A. Lynch Company continues its long standing Christmas Day Candy Run tradition, with firefighters and Santa Claus traveling throughout the Village to distribute candy to children a special event that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019.

Become a Member - Get Involved - Serve Your Community

The Saugerties Fire Department welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and skill sets who are interested in serving their community.  Fire service involvement extends well beyond emergency response, and there is a role for everyone within the Department. Members contribute in many ways, including emergency operations, training support, fire prevention and public education, community outreach, administrative assistance, and event coordination.  The minimum age to become a member of the Saugerties Fire Department is 16 years old.  Whether responding to incidents, supporting behind-the-scenes operations, or engaging with the public, every role plays a vital part in the Department’s mission.

Those interested in learning more about membership opportunities are encouraged to contact the Department by phone at 845-247-9701, by email at sfdchief53@gmail.com, or through the Department’s social media pages:

• Saugerties Fire Department Facebook Page
• Saugerties Fire Department Instagram Page

Prospective members are also welcome to stop by the firehouse (43 Partition Street) on Wednesday evenings or Sunday mornings to speak with members and learn more about how to get involved.

Help Us Help You

The Saugerties Fire Department encourages residents to take an active role in community safety by utilizing the My Local Safety app.  This free tool allows residents to securely provide important household information such as emergency contacts, access notes, pets in the home, and special medical or mobility considerations that may be critical during an emergency.  All personal information is kept secure and is made available only to authorized emergency responders.

Information submitted through the My Local Safety app is integrated into the Department’s mapping and response systems, allowing responders to quickly identify key details associated with a specific address before or upon arrival.  This improved situational awareness helps reduce response delays, enhances firefighter safety, and enables the Fire Department to provide faster, more effective service to the community. By keeping your information current, you help the Saugerties Fire Department help you.

Visit this page -- Customizing the MyLS App - to get this important "My Local Safety" app installed and customized, and add your home's information to the database, to hasten any safety measures that might be needed.  

 

Contact Information

The Saugerties Fire Department welcomes inquiries from residents, visitors, and prospective members.

Saugerties Fire Department
43 Partition Street
Saugerties, New York 12477

Phone: 845-246-9701

Email: sfdchief53@gmail.com

Residents may also follow and contact the Department through its official social media pages for updates, announcements, and community information. 

• Saugerties Fire Department Facebook Page
• Saugerties Fire Department Instagram Page

History

For a List of Past Chiefs of the Saugerties Fire Department, from 1856 to present, open the section immediately below.

Phone numbers for surrounding Town Fire Departments (not for emergencies):

• Cedar Grove, 2885 Route 32 - 845-246-4739
• Centerville, 859 Route 212 - 845-246-5223
• Glasco Fire Company, 139 Liberty Street Extension - 845-246-9600
• Malden West Camp, 139 Malden Turnpike - 845-246-3287
• Mount Marion Fire Company, 766 Kings Highway - 845-246-2290
• Saxton Fire District, 3853 Route 32 - 845-246-1121
• West Camp Station, 6 West Camp Road - 845-246-3287

Photos

Fire trucks from the Washington Hook and Ladder, C. A. Lynch and R. A. Snyder fire companies.  Photo comes from the Saugerties Fire Department Facebook page.

The Saugerties Fire Department holds various interesting talks and demonstrations involving children.  Here, some junior firefighters are attentive as they learn about fire trucks.