MASSENA -- Massena fire department officials say the department responded to a record number of calls in 2023, the third consecutive year the department has posted a new record.

According to officials, MFD responded to 1,126 calls for service in 2023.

All career firefighters with MFD also serve as Code Enforcement Officers and/or Building Safety Inspectors, which adds to the workload for the department, officials say.

"In addition to Fire and EMS calls, 2023 saw the MPFF answer 712 code complaints, perform 331 commercial fire inspections and issue 251 building permits," officials said.

The fire department also offers car seat technicians, allowing the department to distribute 50 child car seats to families in need, at no cost. Safety inspections were also completed on 25 additional car seats, according to MFD officials.

The Massena Fire Department also received a new, $800,000 pumper truck to replace an aging unit within the department.

The new pumper truck, which was in the works for months, was finally delivered to the station at the end of Fire Prevention Week in October and is now serving as the main truck to respond to calls.

It took over two years to get the job done but Engine 30 is now in duty and will replace Engine 28, which fire officials say was 28 years old and past it’s expected service life.

The new engine will be used in response to vehicle fires and accidents, according to fire officials.

Fire officials also told village trustees previously that the engine will be on scene at structure fires.

Through a $5,000 "Pride in Service" grant through CSX Transportation, the fire department was also able to purchase a rapid deployment craft to be used on local waterways year round for rescue efforts.

Massena Fire Department members were also in community fundraising efforts and distributed 75 winter coats to children in need through the Operation Warm Program. The program is the department's largest annual fundraiser and giving program, officials say.

"One of our MPFF members, FF/EMT Mulvenna, was able to successfully write grant narratives and put together applications to secure funding from various sources. He helped the department obtain $20,595 in grant funding for 2023," officials wrote on Facebook.

Additional training as EMTs will continue as well as part of a new contract secured by MFD with the village of Massena. Over 101 hours of career firefighter training is required annually by New York State, officials say.

"In 2024 we look forward to another year of serving the people of Massena, and working with our brothers and sisters of the MVFD, MVFD Ladies Auxiliary, and MVEU," fire officials say.

2023 Call Breakdown:

Structure Fires: 14

Provided Structure Fire Mutual Aid: 9

Possible Structure Fires: 20

EMS: 546

Commercial Alarm Activations: 128

Motor Vehicle Accidents: 73

Lift Assists: 64

Outside Fires: 38

Residential Alarm Activations: 35

Trees/Wires/Pole Down: 30

Odor Investigations: 24

Mutual Aid Provided: 22

EMS - CPR: 20

EMS - Overdose: 17

Public Service: 15

Smoke Investigation: 12

Carbon Monoxide Alarms: 11

Electrical Fires: 9

Vehicle Fires: 9

Technical Rescues: 9

Hazmat: 7

Water/Ice Rescue: 6

County Hazmat Team Activations: 4

Fire Police: 3

Wildland Fire: 1

2023 Grant Awards:

- Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition - $250 for a pop-up tent for fire prevention events.

- Harbor Freight - $300 for hand tools and equipment to be used at vehicle extrications.

- Northern NY Community Foundation - $1,300 for CPR training equipment and fire prevention material.

- FM Global Fire Prevention - $3,745 for several iPad tablets to be installed in the apparatus to be used for mapping, code enforcement, pre planning and EMS PCR writing.

- CSX Pride In Service - $5,000 for an inflatable ice/water rescue boat and related equipment

- KFC Foundation - $10,000 for a fire extinguisher training system and related equipment to train the public on fire extinguisher usage.