Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Co.

The Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company recently took delivery of a new Argo. The 8-wheeled amphibious vehicle is a 2022 Aurora 950 SX Responder.

The unit is new, but a leftover from the '22 line. The benefit of buying a leftover was the fact that the fire company saved a considerable amount of money while still getting all of the benefits of the 2024 model. Powered by a 40hp Briggs and Stratton air-cooled motor, it is an improvement over the old Argo with a 20hp liquid-cooled motor. It also has a removable Stokes basket bracket plus many other upgrades.

The all-terrain vehicle also has, on order, a 75-gal. skid unit with a 60 GPM (gallons per minute) for brush fires. The BKFC 2005 Argo will remain in service for approximately the next 6-8 weeks while members train on the new one and have it outfitted with emergency lights, scene lights, and a mobile fire radio. The tracks on the old Argo are compatible with the new one which gives it the capability to travel in deep snow. With the tracks removed, the unit can then be used year-round for different types of incidents.

Once the new Argo is ready for service, the old Argo will be sold.

Additionally, the Walleye Challenge scheduled for Saturday, February 17th had to be canceled due to conditions on the Great Sacandaga Lake. Even though the ice was too thin to safely hold the event, it was assumed that some would still go out on the lake, so the Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company was on standby and used the opportunity for a training with GPS, knots, and the new Argo.

12 BKFC members, 2 Berkshire Volunteer Fire Department members, Lake Valley EMS, Fulton County Emergency Management, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, Fulton County Undersheriff, New York State Police, and New York State Environmental Conservation participated.

Broadalbin was on standby at the Sacandaga Boating Club from 8am-4pm.

Chief: Bill Robinson

1st Asst. Chief: Archie Rose

2nd Asst. Chief: Robert Lindsay Jr.

1st Captain: Ron Miller

2nd Captain: Tim Chace

1st Lieutenant: Charlie VanDuesen

2nd Lieutenant: Grant Rauch

3rd Lieutenant: Kathy Rauch

4th Lieutenant: Maria Oakden

5th Lieutenant: Megan Sherman

Safety Officer: Bob Wells

Safety Officer: Jason Flego

Accountability Officer: Michelle Robbins

Fire Police Chief: Robert Zurlo

President: Bob Wells

Vice President: Grant Rauch

Treasurer: Robert Zurlo

Secretary: Sue Zurlo

Chaplain: Keith Bartholoma

The Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company conducted the monthly business meeting last evening. In the meantime, two members of the BKFC Junior Firefighter program spent a couple of hours learning some of the skills necessary to be a Firefighter from a former BKFC member that has since moved to a large metropolitan city to work in the fire service.

Matt Miller, who grew up at the Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company as a Junior Firefighter and then a Class A Interior Firefighter, is now a Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of Memphis, Tennessee, and was in town, so he offered to work with these young men on one of the basic firefighting skills: stretching and advancing hoseline. While they could have been somewhere else doing something much less physical for the evening, these young men chose to push themselves and work hard learning from someone who not that long ago was in their same shoes.

It is the desire to consistently better oneself that is the basis of being successful at any profession, and these two individuals are obviously right on track. Whether they choose to stay in the trade as a volunteer or on the career firefighter side, we are confident that they will be successful at whatever they do.

The Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company conducted training with the Berkshire Volunteer Fire Department at the Fulton County Public Safety Training Facility in the Town of Johnstown on Monday, November 7th.

Members from both fire companies worked on fireground procedures such as size-up, command set-up, stretching hoses, throwing ladders, rescue, and more.

Four scenarios were staged. New York State Fire Instructors were on hand to supervise real live fire situations. Firefighters from both companies combined as Suppression and Search teams. In each case, a fire was ignited in a different area of the training structure and a mock fire call was transmitted via radio with victims trapped. A Fire Suppression Team would locate and attack the seat of the fire while a Search Team would seek victims.

At the end of the exercises, everyone gathered to discuss the training. Some highlights included communication between interior firefighters and command outside the structure. Unfortunately, volunteer fire companies experience manpower shortages, so Mutual Aid Training is imperative, and the more the members work together in a training/practice situation, the better prepared they are to be successful in real-life situations.

The Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company recently took delivery of some new turnout gear purchased through NY Fire Equipment, LLC.

The gear features a new style and color scheme, but more importantly has significant cancer protections built in for first responders. The design also allows for much easier movement, which is critical for firefighter agility and endurance.

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards require that turnout gear be taken out of service after 10 years, so it is on a constant rotation. Each set of bunkers and coat costs $3,315, which doesn’t include gloves, boots, and helmets for each firefighter. BKFC prepares to protect and serve the community in every way possible.