Volunteer firefighters from across Central New York are gathering in Auburn this weekend as the Aurelius Fire Department hosts the 132nd Annual Central New York Firefighters Association Convention and the 73rd Annual Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary.
The convention, which runs through Saturday, marks a return to the birthplace of the association. Founded in 1893, the Central New York Firefighters Association held its first convention in Auburn in September of that year.
“We are excited to host fire service members from across the state this weekend,” said Barrie-Lyn Foster of the Aurelius Fire Department. “It’s nice to have our association back at its birthplace all these years later.”
The association represents approximately 14,000 volunteer firefighters from nearly 500 fire departments across 20 counties. Events are being held at the Aurelius Fire Station on Half Acre Road and at the Fingerlakes Mall.
Saturday’s activities begin with a joint memorial service from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Aurelius Fire Station. The ceremony will honor firefighters from throughout the association’s member counties who died during the past year. The service includes the traditional ringing of the bell, a fire service tradition that symbolizes the beginning and end of a firefighter’s shift, as well as the end of a firefighter’s final call.
An awards program will follow from 10 to 10:30 a.m. The association will present its Firefighter of the Year Award and four $500 scholarships funded through a partnership with VFIS and Gates-Cole Insurance. The James W. Wright Fire Service Journalism Award will also be presented. This year’s recipient is Rachel Culver of CNY Central/WTVH for her coverage of the fire and EMS community.
The public is invited to attend the afternoon’s Firematics Competition from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Fingerlakes Mall parking lot outside the former Sears store. Teams of five firefighters will compete in timed hose and ladder events that test the skills used in emergency responses. The defending champion Owego Hose Team is expected to return to defend its title.
The weekend concludes with the annual firefighters parade beginning at 5 p.m. around the Fingerlakes Mall, featuring firefighters and fire apparatus from departments across the region.
