named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Provides emergency medical response through two EMS squads operating 24/7 across the Town of Clay
Fire Prevention and Community Education
Conducts fire prevention activities for local businesses, churches, and preschools, including annual open house events
Fire Suppression
Operates three engines and a ladder truck to respond to structural and wildland fires across a 20-square-mile district
Rescue Operations
Deploys a heavy rescue unit, boat, and snowmobile for vehicle accidents, water rescues, and winter emergencies
Volunteer Training Program
Provides free training, gear, and uniforms to volunteers; tracks training hours via Vector Target Solutions system
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Volunteer Fire Department Services 3 activities
- Emergency fire and medical response servicesProvides 24/7 emergency response services including fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous material response, and rescue operations across a 20-square-mile area in Clay, NY. Services are delivered through a volunteer-based model using multiple apparatus including engines, a ladder truck, heavy rescue vehicle, EMS squads, a boat, and a snowmobile.
- Regional fire service training infrastructure developmentCollaborated with neighboring fire departments and government entities to establish the Clay Training Tower in 2000 and co-purchased regional training facilities to support realistic, hands-on emergency response training for multiple departments.
- Volunteer firefighter training and professional developmentConducts weekly emergency response drills and supports ongoing training for volunteer firefighters through partnerships with the New York State Academy of Fire Science, the Public Safety Institute at Onondaga County Community College, the National Fire Academy, and state-certified courses.
-
-
Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Community hall rental and event hostingOperates a rental hall with capacity for 150 people, offering setup options with round or rectangular tables. The hall is available for rent at $500 per day following a refundable deposit, supporting community gatherings and fundraising events.
-
-
Fire Safety Education & Prevention 1 activity
- Fire prevention and community safety educationConducts fire prevention education programs for local businesses, churches, preschools, and the general public. Also hosts open houses and community safety events to promote awareness and preparedness.
-
-
Emergency Response Vehicle Operations 1 activity
- Operation of fire stations and emergency response infrastructureMaintains and operates two active fire stations: Station 1 at 4383 Route 31 and Station 3 at 8129 Caughdenoy Road in Clay, NY. Previously constructed Fire Station 2 in Euclid and developed additional station facilities through land acquisition and construction projects.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.13M
Contributions & grants$44K4%
Program service revenue$984K87%
Investment income$84K7%
Other revenue$14K
expenses
Total expenses$711K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$5.68M
Cash$2.80M
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.55M
Net assets$4.12M
Liquid reserves47.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +12.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 9
- CHRISTI QUESADA — PRESIDENT
- CHUCK SIMS — HEAD TRUSTEE
- JAKE CLINTSMAN — VICE PRESIDENT
- JANE COBLE — TREASURER
- JEFF CARROW — SECOND TRUSTEE
- JOHN COLWELL — FINANCIAL SECRETARY
- MARY ANSON — ASSISTANT TRESURER
- RICK RIOUX — THIRD TRUSTEE
- TIMOTHY SHAUGHNESSY — ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRET
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Brewerton Fire Department Partner — Jointly funded the purchase of a regional Fire Training Tower
- Brewerton Fire Department Partner — Member of the Clay Fire Tower Committee and participant in joint training programs.
- Caughdenoy Fire Department Partner — Jointly funded the purchase of a regional Fire Training Tower
- Cicero Fire Department Partner — Member of the Clay Fire Tower Committee and participant in joint training programs.
- Clay and Cicero Fire Department Partner — Has a mutual aid agreement to automatically respond to daytime alarms
- Facebook Partner — Social media presence on Facebook
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook for public communication and outreach
- Instagram Partner — Social media presence on Instagram
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram for public communication and outreach
- Moyer Corners Fire Department Partner — Jointly funded the purchase of a regional Fire Training Tower
- Moyers Corners Fire Department Partner — Collaborates with the Clay Volunteer Fire Department in establishing and operating the Clay Training Tower.
- National Fire Academy Partner — Provides training courses attended by department personnel.
- New York State Government — Provides funding for the Clay Training Tower and conducts OFPC courses at the facility.
- New York State Academy of Fire Science Partner — Provides training courses attended by department personnel.
- North Syracuse Fire Department Partner — Collaborates with the Clay Volunteer Fire Department in establishing and operating the Clay Training Tower.
- North Syracuse Fire Department Partner — Jointly funded the purchase of a regional Fire Training Tower
- Northwest Fire Department Partner — Member of the Clay Fire Tower Committee and participant in joint training programs.
- Public Safety Institute at Onondaga County Community College Partner — Provides training courses attended by department personnel.
- South Bay Fire Department Partner — Member of the Clay Fire Tower Committee and participant in joint training programs.
- State of New York Government — Collaborated on funding for the regional Fire Training Tower
- Take The Door Training Partner — Recent addition to the Clay Fire Tower Committee, participating in joint training initiatives.
- Town of Clay Government — Contractual provider of fire protection services under the Town of Clay Fire Protective District
- Town of Clay Government — Provides funding and land for the Clay Training Tower used by the Clay Volunteer Fire Department.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- ISO Rating Optimization to Improve Community Fire Protectionmethodology: ISO_rating_optimizationBy aligning training, equipment, and response metrics with ISO standards, the department improves its fire protection rating, which enhances community safety and may reduce residents’ insurance costs, thereby increasing public value.
- Training and Preparedness for High-Quality Responsemethodology: safety_compliant_trainingBy providing NFPA-compliant training and integrating post-9/11 safety protocols—including threat awareness and scene security—the department ensures operational readiness and enhances response effectiveness under modern emergency conditions.
- Volunteer-Based Emergency Response Modelmethodology: volunteer_based_emergency_responseBy relying on local volunteers who are embedded in the community, the department delivers emergency response and fire prevention services while fostering long-term community relationships and sustained member engagement, which strengthens trust and operational continuity.