North Country This Week

MASSENA — The Massena Volunteer Fire Department and Permanent Firefighters IAFF Local 2220 have been busy training this summer, recently completing pediatric emergency care training, as well as extrication training with new battery powered equipment.

Officials say two career firefighters, Tyler Mulvenna and Justin Niles, who are duel trained as EMTs, have been appointed by New York State as Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECC) for the Massena Fire Department.

A PECC is “an individual who is responsible for coordinating and promoting pediatric-specific training for emergency personnel. In return, emergency personnel are more comfortable and prepared to care for children,” officials say.

With the appointments, officials say the two firefighters will now be able to provide training to both career and volunteer firefighters alike.

“FF/EMTs Mulvenna and Niles are also our two department Car Seat Technicians and FF/EMT Mulvenna is a “Safe Travel for All Children” (children with disabilities) car seat technician - so they are uniquely qualified to fill these essential positions,” officials posted on Facebook.

The fire department has also begun utilizing battery powered equipment on all trucks, according to Foreman Aaron Hardy.

Village Mayor Greg Paquin raised the subject during the village board meeting on Aug. 14, noting the change over in equipment.

“Everything on the trucks is now battery operated, it’s really incredible,” he said.

Village Trustee Ken McGowan noted that equipment used for extrication previously utilized long hydraulic hoses, however the new equipment can be deployed much faster and is much easier to operate, he said.

Massena Fire will also have a new fire engine in the near future, officials say.

Engine 30, which was ordered last year by village officials, has undergone the first batch of testing, officials say.

The fire engine will be delivered sometime in the next few months, however no official timeline or specific date has been given.