West Haverstraw Fire Department

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West Haverstraw Fire Department

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The West Haverstraw Fire Department provides voluntary fire protection to the residents and businesses in the Village of West Haverstraw, which includes the hamlet of Garnerville.

07/15/2026

🚨 COMMUNITY NOTICE: SMOKE & HAZE IN THE AREA 🚨

We are observing a strong smell of smoke and hazy conditions throughout the Village of West Haverstraw.

There is NO major fire occurring in our immediate area at this time. If that changes, we will alert you.

🌲 The Cause:
The haze and smoke smell are being carried down by wind currents from ongoing Canadian wildfires.

📞 Please Do Not Call 911 for the General Exterior Haze.

PLEASE, if you do see active, localized flames or a distinct column of thick smoke, please report it immediately.

💡 Tips for Residents:
Keep windows and doors closed to keep indoor air clean.

Run air conditioners on "recirculate" rather than pulling in outdoor air.

Sensitive individuals, the elderly, and young children should limit strenuous outdoor activity today.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Your WHFD volunteers are here for you 24/7, 365. Should you wish to join your fire department, please stop by either firehouse for an application.

Johnson SFE Co No 1

Hose Company #2

07/12/2026

Help US Help YOU!!!!

The West Haverstraw Fire Department kindly asks if you travel on Railroad Ave. please be mindful to NOT stop in traffic in front of the Volunteer Hose Railroad Ave. firehouse.

On multiple occasions traffic has stopped directly in front of the firehouse, blocking the BIG RED DOORS which has delayed the response of our apparatus to emergency calls for help, this can have deadly consequences.

Please take notice of the white lines painted on Railroad Ave. between Cosgrove Ave. and Demarest Ave. and if stopping in traffic, stop outside of these white lines.

Thank you for your assistance.

07/03/2026

As we celebrate our country’s 250th year of independence this July 4th, 2026, your volunteer firefighters here at the West Haverstraw Fire Department remind you to celebrate responsibly.

Please do not handle or ignite any fireworks. Please leave all fireworks shows to the professional companies that are trained and experienced in utilizing fireworks. In addition to the severe injuries/death they could potentially bring, fireworks can also cause fires.

Leading up to this holiday weekend, your WHFD has been busy handling daily calls for service throughout our village, and beyond, to our neighboring departments. When we turn the corner, we expect fire, when the summer comes, we expect hot/humid days, we are cognizant of the high heat upon us, and ensure our members operating remain hydrated and rotated in/out of operations. We remind you as well to stay hydrated and limit your outdoor activities during any stretch of high heat and humidity.

We wish you all a happy, but most of all SAFE, Independence Day.

06/02/2026

It is with deep regret the officers and members of Volunteer Hose Co. 2, of the WHFD, share the passing of our brother, Anthony "Tony" Holdampf.

Tony instilled his firefighting enthusiasm in both his son David (FDNY and 2nd Asst. Chief of the WHFD, and his son in law Robert “Bobby” LaGrow, FDNY and Ex-Chief of the WHFD).

Tony served with the 101st Airborne Division and carried that sense of duty into a 37-year career with the NYC Fire Department. He began at Engine 43 in the Bronx before transferring to Ladder 19 in the South Bronx during the War Years of the late 1960s and 1970s, when arson and poverty turned entire neighborhoods to ash and firehouses ran around the clock. Tony was then a charter member of Tactical Control Unit 712, an elite unit deployed into the most dangerous fires in the city at the height of the crisis. After the War Years he served at 37 Truck before retiring from 52 Truck in Riverdale.

After retiring he volunteered with Volunteer Hose Company No. 2 of West Haverstraw, where he was a life member and was honored as Rockland County Fireman of the Year. His fellow firefighters said it best. “If I'm in trouble, Tony is who I want beside me. No matter what, he had your back.” He never needed a reason to help someone. Once, after pulling a dog from a burning building, he gave it mouth to mouth until it came around. He did what he thought was right. That was Tony. And as he always said, “It is what it is.”

Endlessly curious and remarkably capable, there was almost nothing he couldn’t do with his hands. Whether it was electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, or sheetrock, he did it all. The members of Volunteer Hose are extremely grateful that Tony lent his construction abilities to many projects which are visible today around his firehouse. Tony was a quiet, impactful, generous soul with a witty sense of humor, the members will certainly miss our brother.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday June 3rd from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at T.J. McGowan Sons Funeral Home, Central Hwy in Garnerville, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 4 at 10 AM at St. Peter and St. Mary's Church, 115 Broadway, Haverstraw, New York.

05/22/2026

WEST HAVERSTRAW
FIRE DEPARTMENT

“PRESS RELEASE”

On Friday May 22, at 2:34am, less than one hour after responding to another call in the village, the WHFD responded to an automatic fire alarm activation at Stack Street Coffee, 55 West Railroad Ave. (The Garnerville Industrial Arts Complex).

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a smoke condition and further investigation revealed an active rubbish fire extending into the cockloft (the area between the ceiling and the roof). Members immediately stretched lines to the interior top floor and additional members coordinated roof ventilation.

WHFD Chief Mulero, the on scene incident commander, noted “the members operated swiftly, we’ve been here before no less than 15 times for fire alarm activations, and the members were prepared upon arrival. Cockloft fires can run on you pretty fast, but the members worked quickly to stop it from taking off.”

Approximately 75 firefighters fought this fire for approximately 2 hours. One firefighter was treated by EMS for exhaustion at the scene, no other injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation by the RC Sheriffs’ BCI Arson Investigation Unit as is standard when the cause is unknown.

The Garnerville Terminal is a 14 acre industrial complex built in the 1800’s, consisting of multiple buildings, some connected and some independent, housing over 50 mixed use businesses.

The WHFD thanks the following departments who provided mutual aid either to the scene, or stood by, the Haverstraw, Thiells, Stony Point, Hillcrest, Central Nyack and Suffern fire departments. The RC fire coordinators, the Haverstraw Ambulance Corps. Rockland Paramedic Services, and the Town of Haverstraw PD.

Photo Credit: Ken Connolly, Ex-Chief, TFD

05/06/2026

Please Note,

This is the official page of the West Haverstraw Fire Department. We utilize this resource to keep our community informed regarding issues as they pertain to the fire department.
We do not comment regarding investigations, nor speculate publicly as to cause or origin of fires that are under investigation by law enforcement agencies.

Should you have any information that may assist a law enforcement agency in their investigation, we encourage you to contact the Town of Haverstraw Police Department to report your information at 845-354-1500 as they work in conjunction with all investigating agencies.

Comments of an inflammatory or derogatory nature will be removed from our posts, so we ask you respectfully refrain from posting such comments on this page.

Thank you,

The Office of The Chief, WHFD

05/05/2026

"West Haverstraw Fire Department - Press Release"

On Sunday May 3rd, at 11:21pm, the West Haverstraw Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 29 Samsondale Ave. Upon arrival, members encountered a fully involved commercial building.

WHFD Chief Jose Mulero, the incident commander, stated “We had heavy fire throughout the structure upon arrival and the members went to work fighting this fire from multiple vantage points. We knew we were working with an already unstable structure since this building, which has been abandoned for over 20 years, had partially collapsed into itself over time. The building was fenced in years ago due to the hazard it created with the multiple sections of collapsed roof and interior walls, prior to this fire. Additional interior and exterior walls also collapsed while members worked to extinguish this fire.”

Approximately 100 firefighters operated at this fire for just over 9 hours. The CSX rail line, whose trains run in close proximity to this building’s east side, was temporarily halted so firefighters could establish, and work from, the building’s entire perimeter.

Chief Mulero stated, “I want to thank my members, and our mutual aid members from the Stony Point, Haverstraw, Thiells, Hillcrest, West Nyack, Valley Cottage, Monsey, New City, & Congers fire departments, and the fire coordinators from the Rockland County Office of Fire & Emergency Services for their assistance, the Haverstraw, Stony Point, and Spring Hill Ambulance Corps. The Town of Haverstraw Police Department’s drone unit who worked in conjunction with the WHFD’s drone unit to provide aerial overviews of the fire to aid in tactical decisions.”

No firefighters or civilians were injured while operating at this alarm. The Rockland County Sheriffs Department’s Arson Investigation Unit is working in conjunction with the HTPD Detective Unit, in conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this time.

04/12/2026

Changing of the Guard....

This week marks a biennial tradition in the West Haverstraw Fire Department as Chief Rafael Brito completes his two year term as Chief of our Department. Chief Brito joined the WHFD as a member of the SW Johnson SFE Co No 1 company in 2006, and feeling he wanted to do more, was elected to the position of second lieutenant, and eventually rising through the ranks of first lieutenant, captain and that of Chief.

Rafael has continued our tradition of advancing this department forward by securing equipment, apparatus, and most important, training of our members over his tenure. A highlight of his accomplishments under his watch was the formation of the North Rockland Emergency Rail Organization Task Force which has played a critical role in preparing our members' response to a rail incident/accident.

We thank Chief Brito for his leadership and are happy to announce he will be continuing to serve our department, and community, in the capacity of Fire Warden as a sitting member of the WHFD board continuing to guide the WHFD forward.

The WHFD welcomes its new leadership under Chief Jose Mulero, first assistant Chief Michael Fenner, and the newly elected second assistant Chief David Holdampf. All 3 of these Chiefs bring a range of their own experience and together will lead the WHFD for the next two years. More to come....

Address

35 Firemen's Memorial Dr
Pomona, NY
10970

Website

http://www.volhose23.com/, http://www.swjohnsonsfe.org/

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