Machias Volunteer Fire Department

10/02/2026

Welcome back to Fleet Friday! Today we are showcasing Machias 5A. This unit is a 1989 GMC Topkick 7500 with an 1800 gallon tank. This truck has a lot of history, being the oldest in service piece of apparatus in Machias. It started its service brand new to us in 1989, featuring a front bumper mount pump (which was later removed due to mechanical issues) and has been serving the community ever since. It is the second due tanker for fire response within Machias. It was technically replaced in 2009 with Machias 5, but the district decided to keep it in service and has been one of our favorites! She always starts right up and is ready to serve at a moments notice!

10/02/2026

Congratulations are in order for Janet Leary! She is officially online as a NYS EMT-Basic. Janet has been busy the past year. She started EMT class in January, which lasted until June. While she was in EMT class she took the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course, and most recently she took the Traffic Incident Management Systems course. Janet has been with the Machias Volunteer Fire Department since October of 2025, where she started brand new to the fire service. Always willing to learn and grow her knowledge, and help out wherever it’s needed. Thank you Janet and once again, Congratulations!!

09/23/2026

Huge shout out to Dan Curtis with Code 3 Health and Safety, LLC! Thank you for coming out once again for our annual PESH Refresher. What is PESH some may ask. Well we will tell you! The annual Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) refresher is a mandatory 8-hour training program required for all volunteer and career firefighters in New York State to maintain safe operations and comply with state and federal safety regulations. We do this 8hr refresher every year to stay up to date on changing regulations and continue to provide safe, reliable, and effective services to our community. Thanks again Dan! We will see you again next year!

09/20/2026

Yesterday members of the Machias Volunteer Fire Department went up to the Tunnels To Towers 5k in Cheektowaga. Why do we support this event so far from our response area you might ask. Here’s a little history behind “tunnels to towers”

On September 11, 2001, Stephen, who was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Upon hearing the news, Stephen called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear.
Stephen drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.

Every year people gather at the Bellevue Fire Company in Cheektowaga and run/walk this 5k to support the foundation in remembrance of Stephen Siller.

09/02/2026

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for our area.
A WATCH means that conditions are favorable for severe weather and tornadoes to develop. Now is the time to prepare, NOT panic.
What you should do right now:
📱 Stay Alert: Charge your phones and keep multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings turned on (NOAA weather radio, local news, emergency alerts).
🏠 Identify Your Safe Space: Know where you will go if a warning is issued—a basement, storm shelter, or an interior room on the lowest level (like a hallway or closet) away from windows.
📦 Gather Essentials: Have shoes, flashlight, phone charger, and any critical medications ready to grab quickly.
🚗 Check Outdoors: Secure loose items in your yard if it is safe to do so.
Watch vs. Warning Reminder:
Tornado WATCH: Be Prepared. Weather conditions can produce a tornado.
Tornado WARNING: Take Action! A tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar. Seek shelter immediately.
If a Tornado Warning is issued for Machias, move to your safe room immediately.
Stay weather-aware, Machias! We will share updates if conditions change.
(In the event of an immediate emergency, as always, call 911.)

545pm radar update. We have severe thunderstorm warnings out for the Lake Ontario counties and over Wyoming County. We are watching these storms across Ontario. Environmental Canada has multiple severe thunderstorm warnings on these storms. Should reach WNY in the next few hours.

Stay weather aware. We are in for a long evening. 75mph winds, 2" sized hail, and possible tornados.

08/28/2026

Jared "Skip" Haines was a member of the Machias Volunteer Fire Department and chairman of the board of fire commissioners. He was diligent to his duties and cared deeply for our fire department’s mission. Skip, thank you for your years of service to the fire district and fire department.

Machias- Pastor Jared R. Skip Haines Jared R. Haines of Roszyk Hill Road passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at the Select Medical Hospital In Erie following a lengthy illness. Jared was born December 20, 1956 in Olean and was the son of Gerald R. and Frances R. Canfield

08/14/2026

Welcome back to fleet Friday!! We took a little hiatus but we’re back! Today we would like to feature Machias 5. Machias 5 is a 2009 International WorkStar/E-One Pumper Tanker… purchased brand new by the Machias Fire District, that features a 1500 gallon per minute pump and a 1800 gallon tank. Tanker 5 is our frontline tanker, first out for all alarms in the town of Machias and Surrounding communities. This piece of apparatus has been and will serve the Machias community for years to come. It can serve as both a typical pumper truck and a tanker so it is a very versatile piece of equipment in our coffers. Stay tuned for next time as we will feature our second due tanker, Machias 5A!