From the Firehouse by Jack Halchak, Past Chief HFD
June 2021
The Hurleyville Fire Department is always looking for help to fight fire or to support those that do. We even supply all of the gear and provide all of the training needed for free. Stop by any Monday night and find out how you can help.
Finally, places are starting to open up and events are starting to be scheduled.
The 20th Annual Morningside Fishing Classic sponsored by the Town of Fallsburg Parks and Recreation Program, the Hurleyville Fire Department and the Loch Sheldrake Fire Department will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Morningside Lake on Brickman Road in Hurleyville. This is the first day of the 2021 Bass Season. The tournament will start at 5 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.
There will trophies for first, second and third places in three different categories: Bass, Walleye and Pickerel. In addition, there will a Lunker prize of $50 for the largest single bass, pickerel or walleye caught by weight at the contest.
Registration will take place at the lake and will be $10 per person.
Fishing can be from boats with trolling motors only and everyone in the boat must be registered, or you can fish from shore. You can contact me at (845) 436-5418 or Woody at (845) 434-3103 for more information.
The Fire Department has also scheduled the 10th Annual Bill Carlson Golf Classic on Saturday, August 21 at the Tarry Brae Golf Course located on Pleasant Valley Road in Fallsburg. More information will follow.
Sullivan County fire departments have been extremely busy. Here is a partial summary of some of the incidents they have responded to since our last edition. A two-car motor vehicle accident with two fatalities, a boater drowning, a boater rescue, a deer-motorcycle collision with a fatality, a car-into-a-pond incident with a fatality, four hazardous material incidents, a couple of shootings, a multi-building structure fire, numerous activated alarms, a number of structure fires, a couple of large brush fires, and many motor vehicle accidents. The call volume is up significantly in the county. Traditionally, the call volume goes up from June thru September, with the increase of population and second home owners populating the county.
When you see a fireman, thank them for their service. They are all volunteers.
With a little bit of a gas shortage, people are filling any type of container with gas and putting them in the trunk of their car. These are ticking bombs. In the warn weather the gas will give off dangerous explosive vapors. What happens if you get into an accident and get hit in the rear or roll over? Use only containers approved for gasoline. The same goes for a Bar-B-Q propane tank. Left in the trunk in the heat the propane will expand and it could release propane gas. Both situations are just waiting for an ignition source to create a disaster. Never leave the tanks in your vehicle longer than it takes to transport them.
Now that you have a fresh tank for your grill, here are a few safety tips for safe grilling:
• Keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house.
• Clean your grill regularly.
• Check for gas leaks.
• Keep decorations away from your grill.
• Keep a spray bottle of water handy.
• Keep a fire extinguisher within a couple steps of your grill.
• Turn on the gas while your grill lid is closed.
• Never leave a grill unattended.
Every year fire departments respond to fires caused by grill fires.
Summer storm season is now approaching. Are you ready? Did you ever buy that new flashlight or portable radio/flashlight that you can crank for power? Have you enrolled in NYAlert yet?
Now is the time to think ahead for what you may need in the event of a prolonged power outage.
Be safe out there and use some common sense.