Officers of the Port Jervis Fire Department
*****
Officers of the Port Jervis Fire Department *****
PAST CHIEF
OFFICERS OF THE PORT JERVIS FIRE DEPARTMENT
Jeffrey D. Lewis
FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF
William R. Werner
DEPARTMENT SECRETARY
James W. Rohner Jr.
DEPUTY CHIEF (DC1) / PAST CHIEF
Russell A. Scott
SAFETY OFFICER
Russell R. Potter
PAST CHIEF
Jeffrey S. Rhoades
PAST CHIEF
Harold V. Howlett
PAST ASSISTANT CHIEF
Richard F. Drew
PAST DEPARTMENT SECRETARY
36-02
Anthony W. Fuller
CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
Frank W. Fuller III
DEPUTY CHIEF (DC2) / PAST CHIEF
Father Anthony Giacona
CHAPLAIN
PAST OFFICERS
Past Chiefs - January 2026
Rocco Giovanniello
PAST DEPARTMENT TREASURER
Orange County Department of Emergency Services
SENIOR DEPUTY FIRE COORDINATOR
Christopher D. Southard
SECOND ASSISTANT CHIEF
Robert A. Waligroski
DEPARTMENT TREASURER
Division of Fire Services
James W. Rohner Jr.
Keith K. Brown
DEPUTY CHIEF (DC3) / PAST CHIEF
Thomas J. Vicchiariello
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR
FIRE CHIEF’S APPOINTMENTS
Joseph J. Kowal
PAST CHIEF
Dominic M. Cicalese
PAST CHIEF
Thomas M. Snyder
PAST ASSISTANT CHIEF
David J. Claisse
PAST DEPARTMENT TREASURER
Jeffrey S. Rhoades
DEPUTY FIRE COORDINATOR
36-18
SPECIAL RECOGNITION SECTION
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
*****
SPECIAL RECOGNITION *****
Joseph J. Kowal Jr.
IN MEMORIAM
Ralph L. Schips Jr.
E.O.W. 02/04/1992
Line of Duty Death
Age 66
O.C.V.F.A. 1999
John W. Pantis
Shane A. Fuller
ORANGE COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION
FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
O.C.V.F.A. 1999
Thomas J. Vicchiariello
HONORARY DEPUTY CHIEF
AWARDED JUNE 7TH, 2021
Russell D. Howell
E.O.W. 08/12/1983
Line of Duty Death
Age 24
“Chipper”
SERVED 40 YEARS - 1976 to 2015
The Port Jervis Fire Department wishes to thank Sharon E. Siegel for her decades volunteering as a photographer and for her extensive research and contribution to our history section.
We clearly would not have achieved our current successes had it not been for our past and present members. More importantly, it would be wrong to neglect thanking our true backbone of support, our wives, husbands, sons and daughters, mothers, fathers, grandchildren and other extended family members, as well as our friends & neighbors.
Earl J. Garrity II
E.O.W. 10/04/1987
Line of Duty Death
Age 19
Being a volunteer firefighter doesn’t mean our job is any less dangerous or we have fewer qualifications. It means we made a commitment and we chose to serve our community. And we do it without pay.
Ralph Schips, Chipper Howell, and Earl Garrity knew the risks. They served with pride and gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Schips, at age 55, was directing traffic on 11/03/1980 for a Beach Road fire and was stationed at Kingston Avenue and Hamilton Street. He was struck from behind by a vehicle operated by an 18-year-old driver traveling south. He sustained severe and lasting damage to his head and his back and succumbed to those injuries nearly 12 years later.
Howell lost his life at a workplace accident on Skyline Drive, where he attempted to rescue a 21-year-old coworker that had fallen through a 24-inch opening into a chemical separation vat containing 30 inches of mixed water, cosmetic chemicals, colorants, and preservatives. Instinctively, upon discovering the incident, he urgently summoned the facility nurse and other coworkers. He then began rescue operations and climbed into the tank but slid under the slippery substance. Rescue workers arrived on scene within minutes and rescued the coworker, who passed away hours later. Unfortunately, it took 40 minutes and a complicated process to rescue Howell, and he was declared dead at the scene. The devoid of oxygen in the atmosphere was the cause of their deaths. While not officially on duty upon entering the vat, it was he who began the call for help, and as a skilled and active firefighter, took immediate action. He was remembered for his instinctive actions to help another and for his bravery and selfless volunteer service. He was in his 5th year as a firefighter.
Garrity, against his parent wishes on that particular day, responded to a mutual aid motor vehicle accident, assuring his parents that it was his responsibility to respond, his commitment to duty. There was an early season snowfall and as he approached a railroad tunnel on North Maple Avenue, drove over a patch of snow-covered leaves, sliding into the structure. His vehicle’s shifter lever hit him, slicing the aortic artery to his heart, and he bled to death within minutes. Only a firefighter for approximately 18 months, he was no less eager and no less dedicated to serve.
Staff Sergeant Brian L. Pavlich, U.S. Army
EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
O.C.V.F.A. 2024
Michael C. Kowinsky Jr.
Zachary W. Morris
Richard F. Drew
PAST DEPARTMENT SECRETARY
Brian, while serving as a member of Tri States Hose Company No. 6, enlisted in the United States Army. On 03/11/2003, at age 25, during a training exercise at Fort Drum, he and ten other soldiers were killed when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed.
In loving memory of all of our departed members.
O.C.V.F.A. 2023
Anthony W. Fuller
COMPANY MEMBERSHIP
Neversink
Engine Company No. 1
George A. Belcher Jr.
Jeffrey J. Bodensieck
William D. Brewster
Dominic M. Cicalese
Joseph J. Curtis
Hunter L. Dean
Diane DeGroat
Daved DeLaCruz
George R. Haas
Donald T. Hannigan
Fred R. Harding
Bruno W. Hartmann
Ralph R. Hessberger
Dennis Horner Sr.
Jerry Lee Horner
Kenneth J. Howell
Wendy J. Howell
James H. Kinzel
Preston J. Kinzel
Steven Kolvenbach
Peter N. Kowal
Michael C. Kowinsky Jr.
Robert A. Launt
Victor E. Mascary Jr.
Helen Mason
Robert G. Mason
Senie M. Mason
Wayne D. McBride
Thomas P. McKeon
David J. Mills
Robert J. Mills
Brianna N. Moore
David D. Moore Sr.
David D. Moore Jr.
David D. Moore
Matthew R. Moore
Christopher M. Morock
James H. Ranich
Jeffrey S. Rhoades
Stephen J. Rhoades
Gregory S. Robinson
James W. Rohner Jr.
James W. Rohner III
Adam P. Scopino Jr.
Richard R. Senkiew
John P. Shannon Jr.
John J. Shimer
Bryce G. Sotelo
Brent M. Spoonhower
Robert A. Waligroski
Francis W. Werlitz
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP LISTINGS
*****
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP LISTINGS *****
Howard Wheat
Engine Company No. 4
Randall D. Aber
Michael Amato
Richard J. Amato
William P. Conklin Jr.
Henry H. Dunn III
Thomas N. Enright
Jeffrey W. Ewing
Frank H. Felter Jr.
Raymond J. Finch
Earl J. Garrity
John M. Gushue
Harold V. Howlett
Michael R. Jersensen
George M. Kurtz
Michael B. Latini Jr.
Daryl F. Piatt
Sidney Quick Jr.
Joseph J. Rennish Jr.
Jeffrey J. Rohrer
Stanley B. Siegel
Scott B. Swires
William T. VanHorn Sr.
Kaeliann W. Wieboldt
William H. Young Jr.
Excelsior
Engine Company No. 5
Tri States
Johnny L. Allen
Johnny L. Allen Jr.
Vincent J. Atkinson
Aaron M. Aumick
Michael E. Aumick
Justin M. Brewster
Keith K. Brown
Charles M. Connors
John H. DeVore
Richard F. Drew
Anthony W. Fuller
Edward C. Fuller Sr.
Frank W. Fuller Jr.
Frank W. Fuller III
Shane A. Fuller
Rev. Anthony Giacona
Justin T. Gibbs
Daniel J. Hill
Michael J. Hill
Ronald R. Kalin
Denis A. Livingston
Ryan A. Livingston
James R. McElroy
Phillip J. Moroz
Michael A. Myers
Riley J. Norman
John W. Pantis
Stephen J. Pantis Jr.
Gary W. Predmore
Dana J. Presto
Dana J. Presto Jr.
Michael E. Reilly
John Sardina
Joseph A. Scott
Russell A. Scott
Timothy J. Simmons
Zaine E. Storms
Michael R. Swingle
Robert E. Thompson
Robert C. Tripp Jr.
Daniel A. VanKleeck
Jason C. Vicchiariello
Thomas J. Vicchiariello
William R. Werner
Leigh C. Wood
Wayne T. Wood
Hose Company No. 6
Brandon S. Barton
Charles A. Barton
Andrei T. Bell
Charles Bell
Richard L. Card
Allen Cherry
Craig W. Cherry
Brandon S. Cole
Kelly B. Decker
Harold DeGroat Jr.
William A. Dickson
Anthony J. Ellis
Richard F. Galloway
Brendan J. Hess
Nicholas A. Kinman
Joseph Klimkiewicz
Todd R. Kowinsky
Tyler R. Kowinsky
Jeffrey A. Martin
Michael J. Masanotti
James S. McGaw Jr.
James Millspaugh Jr.
Camrin S. Northrop
Anthony A. Olenick
Brian Olenick
John A. Olenick Sr.
Richard R. Oppelt
Robert D. Padgett Sr.
Edward C. Pavlich
Edward C. Pavlich Jr.
Russell R. Potter
Anthony M. Roberts
Richard K. Roberts
Peter J. Sigreto
Mark Spradling
Robert W. Stempert
Elias N. Wright
Randall G. Knight
Anthony J. Ziffino Jr.
Maghogomock
Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1
Andrew J. Aumick
Dean A. Aumick
Wyatt Burghardt
David J. Claisse
Victor J. Claisse Jr.
Daniel Clune
Kevin E. Cunningham
Robert A. Donahue
Tyler R. Donahue
Richard G. Finan
Rocco Giovanniello
Justin J. Grusz
Eugene M. Hughes
William T. Imholz Jr.
Wayne E. Kidney
John R. Kowal
Joseph J. Kowal
Joseph J. Kowal Jr.
Matthew J. Kowal
Ryan R. Kowal
Daniel S. Lewis
Jeffrey D. Lewis
Gary W. Lopriore
Peter J. Maillet Sr.
Charles D. McBride Jr.
Brandon T. Meyer
Scott T. Morris
Zachary S. Morris
Robert M. Pierson
Harley J. Scherman
Dustin R. Sebring
Christopher D. Southard
Peter O. Tomasi
Frances Westfall
Nathan J. Westfall
Anthony J. Woolsey
Justin M. Worden
Robert J. Worden
Robert J. Worden Jr.
William J. Worden
CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
MEMBERS ONLY SECTION
CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
CREDENTIALS REQUIRED
MEMBERS ONLY SECTION
FIRE POLICE
Randall D. Aber
Vincent J. Atkinson
Andrei T. Bell
William P. Conklin Jr.
Richard F. Drew
Henry H. Dunn III
Frank W. Fuller Jr.
Jeffrey D. Lewis
Jeffrey A. Martin
Robert D. Padgett Sr.
Edward C. Pavlich
Edward C. Pavlich Jr.
Daryl F. Piatt
Stanley B. Siegel
Adam P. Scopino Jr.
William R. Werner
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
EXTRICATION TEAM
Michael E. Aumick
Justin M. Brewster
William D. Brewster
Keith K. Brown
Dominic M. Cicalese
Anthony W. Fuller
Frank W. Fuller III
Shane A. Fuller
Justin T. Gibbs
Daniel J. Hill
Michael J. Hill
Tyler R. Kowinsky
Jeffrey D. Lewis
Edward C. Pavlich Jr.
Jeffrey S. Rhoades
James W. Rohner III
Joseph A. Scott
Russell A. Scott
Timothy J. Simmons
Thomas M. Snyder
Bryce G. Sotelo
William R. Werner
SPECIALTY UNITS
TECHNICAL RESCUE
ROPE TEAM
ACCIDENT VICTIM
Michael E. Aumick
Keith K. Brown
Anthony W. Fuller
Frank W. Fuller III
Dana J. Presto
Timothy J. Simmons
WATER OPERATIONS
TEAM
Michael E. Aumick
Justin M. Brewster
William D. Brewster
Keith K. Brown
Anthony W. Fuller
Frank W. Fuller III
Shane A. Fuller
Justin T. Gibbs
Daniel J. Hill
Tyler R. Kowinsky
Dana J. Presto
Timothy J. Simmons
Thomas M. Snyder
Bryce G. Sotelo
OFF-ROAD (UTV)
VEHICLE OPERATOR
Michael E. Aumick
Keith K. Brown
Dominic M. Cicalese
William P. Conklin Jr.
Jeffrey W. Ewing
Anthony W. Fuller
Frank W. Fuller Jr.
Frank W. Fuller III
George R. Haas
Harold V. Howlett
Jeffrey A. Marrtin
Robert D. Padgett Jr.
Jeffrey S. Rhoades
Dana J. Presto
Timothy J. Simmons
Thomas M. Snyder
William R. Werner
DRONE TEAM
Andrew J. Aumick
Michael E. Aumick
Keith K. Brown
Daniel S. Lewis
Jeffrey D. Lewis
William R. Werner
