August 29, 2010: Attic Fire

Snyder Firefighters had their hands full dealing with a stubborn attic fire on the hot afternoon of Sunday, August 29^th. Firefighters arrived on location and discovered heavy fire conditions in the attic and worked quickly to bring the fire under control. The firefighters worked their way inside and through the attic scuttle to access the burning attic and extinguish the fire. The fire was caused by a birds nest resting against an attic fan. The fan’s hot motor started the nest on fire and spread through the attic. Damage is estimated at $75,000 and luckily, no one was injured. Firefighters also rescued a family cat, fish and hamster. A Firefighter Assist and search Team (FAST) from Main Transit Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

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CLOSE CALL AT PARK SCHOOL

Snyder Firefighters were alerted for a fire alarm activation on Monday, August 16^th. After responding, they were notified of a fire in the dining hall. Fortunately the fire was out on arrival due to the quick actions of building maintenance staff. A gas line to a hot water tank was severed (accidentally) resulting in the fire, and subsequent fire alarm. Maintenance personnel were able to quickly turn the main gas valve off outside, causing the fire to go out.

AUTO ACCIDENT WITH EXTRICATION

Snyder Firefighters were called to a head on collision early in the morning of August 14.  One patient had to be extricated from her vehicle and three others were also treated by Snyder Firefighters/EMT’s. All four patients were transported to ECMC.

Vehicle Day at Born Hava Child Care

We love to spend time in our community, meeting our neighbors and showing the kids our equipment. In July, we were invited to Born Hava Child Care on Chateau Terrace for their annual vehicle day. Firefighter Justin Stacey met the kids and showed them the big fire engine.

Shortly after he left our station, he e-mailed copies of the photos he took, like the nice shot of the ladder truck pictured here.

 Life Member and former member of the Board of Fire Commissioners Bernard Mergler passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 26th. Bernie joined the Department as a Torch Boy in 1956, and was a very active member for many years. He served as Vice-President in 1964 & 1965, President in 1966 & 1967, Board of Director from 1968-1970 and a Junior Captain from 1972-1975. In 1973, he was elected to the position of Fire Commissioner, a position he held for 17 years. He was awarded Life membership in the Department in 1981, in recognition of 25 years of Active Service in good standing. He will be missed.

Snyder's three chief officers were formally installed in office on Saturday, April 17th. Chief Thomas Merrill, First Assistant Chief Paul Griebner and Second Assistant Chief Michael Gugliuzza were recently re-elected to their fourth terms in their respective offices. At the banquet, several members received awards for reaching career mile stones and Lieutenant Karen Murray received the prestigious President/Chief's Award for exemplary service and "going above and beyond" in the performance of her duties.

List of firefighters honored at the annual installation Dinner at Westwood Country Club

5 Years of Service: Lieutenant Sean Wilkinson

25 Years of Service (Life Member" Status): Firefighters Jeffrey Blatz and Mark Van Horn

30 Years of Service: Firefighter Duane Probst

40 Years of Service: Firefighters Richard Ansteth and Brian Parkot

President/Chief's Award in Recognition of Exemplary Service: Lieutenant Karen Murray

In addition, several members were recognized for serving in an office during 2009. Megan Soda was recognized for serving as the Department's President in 2008 and 2009. Her husband Nick, was thanked for serving as a Lieutenant in 2009. In addition, Anders Sorensen was applauded for his years as a Captain, and Charles Pearson was presented with a special plaque in appreciation for 19-terms on the Board of Directors.

 On March 19th, Snyder Firefighters responded to this rollover accident at Kensington and Roycroft. Snyder EMT's treated several patients and one was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

It has been a very busy couple weeks for the Snyder Fire Department, and many of the emergency runs have involved motor vehicle accidents, including several serious ones where the "jaws of life" had to be used to free trapped patients from the wreckage. Pictured here is an accident that occurred on Saturday evening, January 9th. Firefighters had to remove both doors and a post on the driver's side of the car to free the occupant.

Santa was ferried throught the Snyder Fire District wishing warm holiday greetings to all our residents. Seems Engine 3 went out on a fuel run and Santa just hopped on board for awhile! This time honored tradition has carried on for generations.

New Snyder Truck 6 was officially dedicated on Saturday, December 19th during the annual installation of Department officers. Chief Tom Merrill presented the Board of Fire Commissioners with the plaque from retired Truck 6 and also unveiled the new plaque that is mounted on the apparatus. Chief Merrill highlighted many of the memorable fires and runs the retired truck went on during its 20 years of service and Bud Zimmerman, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, thanked the Truck Committee for the hours of hard work and preparation that went into the purchase of the truck. After Father John Gaglione blessed the rig and recited a short prayer, Assistant Chief Paul Griebner sounded the "four-fives", in memory of all departed Snyder Firefighters.

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Snyder Accepts Delivery of New Ladder

Snyder accepted delivery of a new ladder truck on Thursday, October 15th. Manufactured by Sutphen Corporation in Columbus, Ohio, the truck replaces a nearly 20 year old unit. The new 100' tower ladder went into service on Wednesday and will proudly protect the Snyder area for years to come.

Snyder Stands By At Smallwood Drive's Fall Fest

Snyder Firefighters were on hand Friday, September 25th at the Smallwood Drive School Fall Festival. Over 1200 residents attended the festival and were treated to a chicken and ribs dinner, pony rides, face painting, live music and all kinds of other family activities. Of course they all made time to stop by and visit with their Snyder firefighters and check out the trucks.

Community Service - It's What we Do!

One Vehicle Accident/Rollover On The I-290 Westbound

Snyder Firefighters were on the scene early Monday evening September 21st for a one vehicle rollover accident on the I-290 Westbound between Main Street and Sheridan Drive. Snyder Firefighter/EMT's treated two patients along with crews from Twin City Ambulance. One patient had to extricated from the vehicle and both patients were transported to ECMC.

Snyder Deals with Jet Fuel Spill:

A tanker truck containing 10,500 gallons of jet fuel rolled over on Thursday, September 10^th on the exit ramp from the I-290 Eastbound to Main Street. First arriving Snyder crews confronted a very hazardous Situation because they quickly determined that the truck was leaking a large amount of the jet fuel. The fuel was leaking into a storm receiver and making its way into ditches and storm receivers located along the I-290. Crews quickly isolated the area, contained the spill and worked with special contractors to safely clean it up. The I-290 had to be shutdown  in both directions and the Ridgewood Drive/Avalon Drive area had to be evacuated for several hours. After the clean up and off loading of any fuel left in the overturned truck, special tow operators were able to safely turn the truck back over onto its wheels and tow it away. The call came in at 12:36 and Snyder crews were back in service by 6:48 PM. It was determined that between 7000-7500 gallons of jet fuel spilled out of the truck. The Brighton Fire Department and the Williamsville Fire Department assisted Snyder at the scene and the Buffalo Niagara Airport Crash/Fire/Rescue unit responded in case large amounts of foam were to be needed. Also, the Eggertsville Hose Company filled in at the Snyder firehouse and handled two additional Snyder calls. Multiple other agencies assisted Snyder throughout the incident and it was deemed a very successful collaborative and cooperative effort. 

Joint Training with Williamsville FD

Continuing with the long-standing spirit of inter-agency cooperation, Snyder and Williamsville participated in a joint tower drill on Wednesday evening, May 20^th.  

Over 50 firefighters from the two departments participated on this beautiful warm evening. The drill was extremely well coordinated by officers from both departments with numerous evolutions conducted simultaneously.   

This joint exercise is yet another example of the cooperative and collaborative spirit that has been exibited by the Town of Amherst Fire service for decades.

For additional pictures of the drill  click here 

2 Alarm Fire at Amherst Collision

Snyder Firefighters were alerted to a building fire early in the morning on Friday, May 15th at Amherst Collision at 5252 Main Street. Arriving firefighters were confronted with a large volume of fire, the possibility of people being trapped in the upstairs apartments and the potential for fire spreading to the collision shop involving unknown amounts of paints, thinners, solvents and other hazardous material used for auto repair. 

Many firefighting crews were put to work quickly to locate, confine and extinguish the fire and also search the apartments for anybody still inside. The majority of the fire was extinguished within 30 minutes, but not before causing over $400,000 in damage to the four apartments located within the building. Fortunately nobody was hurt and all occupants safely escaped the building. In addition, the fire was stopped in its tracks, preventing it from spreading to the collision shop, which was open for business the same day. 

This two alarm fire also brought in help from the Williamsville Fire Department and a Firefighter Assist and Search Team responded from Main Transit Fire Department. The Eggertsville Hose Company covered the Snyder district during the fire, and assisted at two additional calls for help in Snyder during the fire. 

For additional pictures of the fire click here 

Snyder Extricates Injured Students in Simulated Car Crash

Everybody into the Pool!

Snyder Firefighters spent a water soaked evening in the Amherst High School swimming pool on drill night March 25^th. They learned and practiced important water rescue tips and even jumped into the pool with full turnout gear on to learn how to properly float in the water in case they were to ever fall into a pool or other body of water while in full gear.

Car Fire On The I-290

Snyder Firefighters tackled a fully involved car fire on Sunday, March 22. The incident occurred on the I-290 Westbound near Sheridan Drive. The driver told firefighters she heard a loud noise, pulled over and discovered the fire in the engine compartment. Firefighters discovered a large hole in the engine block.

Snyder was alerted for a possible chimney fire at 162 Frankhauser Road at 4:14 PM on Saturday, November 29th. Firefighters arrived on location within four minutes and discovered flames were coming through the roof of a back family room. Firefighters worked quickly to bring the blaze under control and contained the fire to the family room, preventing fire damage to the rest of the house. However, the blaze caused significant smoke and heat damage to the rest of the structure, and damage was estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire appears to be a problem with the wood burning fireplace. No injuries were reported.

For more photographs of this fire, please visit the Gallery Section of our web site (Recent Action Photos)