named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Outreach & Education
Conducts fire station tours, school visits, safety demonstrations, and public education events to promote fire prevention and preparedness
Emergency Fire Service
Provides fire suppression, rescue and extrication, hazardous condition mitigation, and disaster response for the Town of Amherst
Emergency Medical Response
Delivers on-scene emergency medical care including first aid, patient stabilization, and basic life support interventions
Junior Firefighter Program
Youth program for ages 14–17 to learn firefighting, EMS, and public safety fundamentals in a non-hazardous training environment
Motor Vehicle Rescue
Performs vehicle extrication, stabilization, and scene safety operations at traffic collision incidents
NYS-Sanctioned Drill Team
Competitive firematic drill team focused on skill standardization, discipline, leadership, and tradition through structured performance events
Non-Emergency Auxiliary Support
Support team for community members to assist with fundraising, administration, outreach, and education without emergency response duties
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Fire Service History Preservation 1 activity
- Ceremonial and community representationMaintains and presents ceremonial vehicles in parades, memorials, and public celebrations to represent departmental history and community commitment.
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Fire Safety Education & Prevention 1 activity
- Community outreach and public educationConducts fire station tours, firetruck visits, school presentations, youth programs, and community events to promote fire safety, emergency preparedness, and public risk reduction. Includes open houses and educational outreach for schools and families.
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Volunteer Fire Department Services 1 activity
- Emergency fire, medical, and rescue servicesProvides fire protection, emergency medical services, and motor vehicle rescue as a fully volunteer department across a 5.2-square-mile district in the Town of Amherst. Services include fire suppression, emergency medical response, vehicle extrication, hazardous condition mitigation, and scene stabilization.
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Emergency Ambulance & Medical Response 1 activity
- Incident reporting serviceProvides incident information upon request for a $50 service fee per incident.
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Youth Firefighter Training Programs 1 activity
- Junior Firefighter and volunteer programsMaintains a volunteer force of over 90 active members and operates a Junior Firefighter program to engage youth in training and departmental activities.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Operation of banquet and event facilityOperates a banquet facility available for personal and business events, with seating for up to 230 guests formally or 300 in seminar style, and divisible space for smaller gatherings.
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Emergency Response Vehicle Operations 1 activity
- Operation of fire stations and emergency apparatusOperates two fire stations: Station No. 1 on 18 acres equipped with two class A engines, a heavy rescue, ladder truck, class III ambulance, and two utility trucks; and Station No. 2 as a secondary response site with one class A engine and a light rescue. Station No. 1 also has a diesel-powered generator capable of powering the facility for several days.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Firematic drill team participationOperates a NYS-sanctioned firematic drill team that regularly competes in state-level competitions, demonstrating precision in firefighting-related drills and ceremonial routines.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.30M
Contributions & grants$934K72%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$197K15%
Other revenue$173K
expenses
Total expenses$1.14M
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$4.91M
Cash$2.61M
Investments$0
Liabilities$773K
Net assets$4.13M
Liquid reserves27.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -12.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES LAWIDA | DIRECTOR | 4 | $39K |
| JEFF STACHURA | VICE PRESIDENT | 4 | $11K |
| DAVID GRAFF | CAPTAIN | 4 | $6K |
| SAMANTHA GARSON | CAPTAIN | 4 | $2K |
| PETER FRANK | DIRECTOR | 4 | $775 |
board members · 3
- BRADLEY SPRAGUE — FIRE CHIEF
- JEFFREY KARL — PRESIDENT
- JEN BOYLE — SECRETARY
relationships · 6
Who they work with
- Main-Transit Fire Department Government — Local fire department responsible for responding to and documenting fire incidents in its jurisdiction.
- NFPA Partner — Collaborates with NFPA to share outdoor grilling safety tips and fire safety instructions.
- New York State Parade and Drill Team Captains Association Network — Andrew "Zippy" Zippiroli recognized with Life Membership in this association for over 23 years of service to the firematic community.
- Town of Amherst Government — Provides emergency services to the Town of Amherst, indicating a formal service relationship with the local government.
- Town of Amherst Government — Provides fire and emergency services to the Town of Amherst.
- schools Partner — Hosts firetruck visits and educational tours for schools upon request.
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.
- Preparedness Through Experiential Educationmethodology: experiential_educationBy using hands-on fire station tours, youth programs, and public demonstrations, the department increases fire safety awareness and prevention behaviors because direct, experiential engagement makes safety practices more tangible and memorable to individuals and families.
- Proactive Community Safety Partnershipmethodology: community-preparednessBy emphasizing prevention, preparedness, and community collaboration, the department aims to reduce the incidence of emergencies because sustained public engagement strengthens collective resilience and lowers reliance on reactive response.
- Volunteer-Based Community Modelmethodology: community-based_volunteer_modelBy relying on unpaid community members who are trained and certified, the department maintains emergency coverage through local civic engagement and commitment, fostering ownership and responsiveness in public safety because community-embedded responders are more readily available and invested in local outcomes.