Between June 9th and June 12th, The Dunkirk Fire Department was fortunate to have a vacant residence to use for training that is scheduled for demolition. Captain Allen Loeb and Lt./Municipal Training Officer Gary Katta prepared the building for training, and planned evolutions for all 4 shifts. At an unknown time to the crew working, Captain Loeb placed a rescue manikin in a specific location of the residence, and prepared a picture of the house with fire showing in a certain location. Then a call was made to Fire Headquarters, and crews were dispatched to this location for a reported house fire. All units responded in non-emergency mode to the scene. Crews were presented with Captain Loeb advising the first arriving unit that there is a victim inside, where the victim was last seen, and where the main body of fire is. With our limited manpower, crews went to work. In all 4 events, the victim was quickly located and rescued from the building. Times were noted from dispatch to rescue, and were very impressive. (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER AND PAUL TRIPPY)At shift change, 1659 hours on Tuesday dispatch received multiple calls reporting a structure fire at 253 Franklin Avenue in the Fourth Ward. FF. Piglowski on Engine 4 arrived moments after dispatch reporting heavy smoke coming from a 2 1/2 story occupied dwelling. One resident suffered burns in the fire and was treated by EMTs at the scene before being transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital by Fredonia Rescue 14. Crews found a fire in the second floor that had quickly extended into the attic. Multiple 1 3/4" and 2 1/2" hand lines were used along with numerous ground ladders and Ladder 1's Aerial Ladder. A pregnant dog was rescued from the second floor, and treated at the scene by Firefighter EMT's. The #2 and #1 shift were on duty for the fire and the Incident Commander was Captain Allen Loeb. Engine 2 was placed into service at the incident and many off duty firefighters assisted. The building was left in care of the Chautauqua County Fire Investigation Team to determine a cause. Crew on duty: C2- Captain Loeb, R1-Lt. Katta/Acting Lt. Muscato, E1-FF.Barter/Pencek, E3-FF.P.Ossman/J.Ellman, E4-FF.Piglowski, and L1-FF.Kirell
On Memorial Day 2009, The Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Association Local 616 Honor Guard marched in the Annual City of Dunkirk Memorial Day Parade. This is the first parade the unit has participated in. The Honor Guard was organized in 2008, under the direction of Firefighter Joseph Michalski and Retired Lieutenant Thomas Brown. The members that marched in the parade were Ret-Lt. Brown, MTO/Lt. Gary Katta, Union President/Lt. Michael Edwards, FF. Robert Trzaska, FF. Michalski, FF. James Muscato, FF. Anthony Thomas, FF. Jared Meyer, and FF. Paul Trippy. The performance in the parade was a success, and members hope to participate in future local parades with greater numbers. During the parade, FF. Trzaska was commended for his tours with the U.S. Army, as he has returned from his third tour overseas. (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER) 
At 0507 hours, Headquarters received a report of a house fire on Central near West Lucas. Rescue 1 and Engine 1 arrived onscene finding a multiple family 2 story residence with heavy fire conditions in the rear. Crews quickly extinguished the main body of fire from the outside, and interior crews contained the fire to the first floor addition only. (2) 1 3/4" and (1) 2 1/2" Hand lines were used off Engine 1, receiving a 5" supply laid by Engine 4 700' away at East Lucas near Eagle. Multiple ground ladders were used and the roof was ventilated. The three family residence was vacant at the time of incident, and the cause was determined as probable human involvement. Many off duty personnel assisted, and Reserve Engine 2 was manned at HQ. The #4 shift was working for the fire, and Chief Keith Ahlstrom was the incident commander. Crew on duty: C1-Chief Ahlstrom, C2-Captain Loeb, R1-Lt.Hyland, E1-FF.Trzaska, E3-FF.K.Ossman, E4-FF.Barter, L1-FF.T.Ellman, Off duty personnel: E2 @ HQ-FF. Kucharski, Scene-FF.Kirell, Lt.Katta, FF.Kujawa, FF. Wright, FF.Stern, FF.Michalski, FF. Thomas, FF.Trippy, and FF.Thompson. (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER) 
Local 616 members Jim Ellman, Matt Hanlon, Tony Thomas, Paul Trippy, Robert Thompson, Jason Kirell, Gary Katta, and Hank Pencek were the winners of the first annual Dunkirk Wreck and Roll Hose Races. This marks the second time that Local 616 has participated with a hose race team, and has won both events. There were 8 teams competing in the races held at 1800 hrs on Friday night, 2 from Sunset Bay Fire Company, and one team from Fredonia Hooks and Hose, East Dunkirk Fire, Sheridan Fire, and Stockton Fire.Members Michael Edwards, Joseph Michalski, and Anthony Thomas constructed a boat out of plywood and air filled fire hose to participate in the annual Ya-Gotta Regatta held Saturday afternoon in the rain. Members Todd Ellman and Hank Pencek also participated as they navigated the waters in a Little Tykes Bed constructed to float. Boat 1 manned by Gary Katta and Patrick Ossman was in the water assisting participants of the regatta (PHOTOS BY ALLEN HOLLANDER) 
