Assembly Resolution No. 363

BY: M. of A. Stirpe

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Clay
Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
vital volunteer fire departments within our communities, and to honor
all of its past and present members, for providing their citizenry with
years of exemplary fire protection and safety; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Clay Volunteer Fire Department,
Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer fire departments are an integral part of
community protection in localities across this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, For the past century, the courageous and dedicated
firefighters of the Clay Volunteer Fire Department have valiantly
devoted their hard work and effort to respond to various fire
emergencies, all while earning the praise and respect of the community
in which they serve; and

WHEREAS, The founding members of the Clay Volunteer Fire Department
were farmers from the area who laid the bricks themselves to build their
first fire station on Route 31 in Clay, New York; The Clay Volunteer
Fire Department was established on February 26, 1917; and

WHEREAS, The Clay Volunteer Fire Department's first firefighters
would jump off their tractors when the alarms sounded to help their
neighbors in need; the department's sole fire truck was housed in a
garage across the street; and

WHEREAS, Charles Newman was named as the first Fire Chief of the
Clay Volunteer Fire Department, and William Kopp was elected as its
first President; currently, Kenneth Stach is serving as Fire Chief and
Richard Rioux is the President; both were respectively voted into their
posts in April of 2016; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, The Clay Volunteer Fire Department Ladies
Auxiliary was formed with 21 members; over the year, the auxiliary has
sponsored various turkey and chicken suppers and bake sales to
supplement the department's funds for supplies, hoses, and equipment;
furthermore, the Ladies Auxiliary had the tradition of making coffee and
food at the fire station and then shuttling it to the scenes of fires;
and

WHEREAS, Since its establishment in 1917, the Clay Volunteer Fire
Department has grown its fleet to 13 modern fire and rescue vehicles,
and has increased its emergency services and its membership; and

WHEREAS, Presently, the Clay Volunteer Fire Department has two
stations in operation, one on Route 31 and another on Caughdenoy Road;

both have grown significantly throughout the years to include a wide
array of modern fire equipment; and

WHEREAS, The Clay Volunteer Fire Department's Station No. 1 has a
state-of-the art Fire Training Tower that provides training for all area
fire departments; the Clay Fire Training Tower was a collective effort
of the Clay Volunteer Fire Department, the North Syracuse Fire
Department, the Moyers Corners Fire Department, the Town of Clay, and
the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, The Clay Fire Training Tower was completed in two phases
and established in September of 2000; the facility has hosted the New
York State Chief's Live Hands on Program for Thermal Imagining, as well
as numerous New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC)
courses; and

WHEREAS, The Clay Volunteer Fire Department has grown to provide
various fire, rescue and emergency services to the residents of the Town
of Clay, such as: fire suppression, fire prevention, vehicle rescue,
life support medical services, and community education programs; and

WHEREAS, The Clay Volunteer Fire Department responds to roughly 500
alarms annually; in 2016, the department responded to 491 calls; and

WHEREAS, Each day, the brave and dedicated members of the Clay
Volunteer Fire Department prepare to risk their lives, and sacrifice
time away from their families, in order to protect the life and property
of those living within our community; the fire department currently has
40 members on its roster; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York cannot express sufficient gratitude
to all those trained and devoted individuals who serve their
neighborhoods through volunteer fire departments across the state, and
enough cannot be said about the important role that a volunteer fire
department plays in its community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize and commend the Clay Volunteer Fire Department upon the
occasion of its 100th Anniversary to be celebrated with a dinner on
Saturday, May 6, 2017, at Traditions at the Links Restaurant in East
Syracuse, New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Chief Kenneth Stach and President is Richard Rioux, Clay
Volunteer Fire Department.