Snyder Firefighters were called to assist Williamsville early on the morning of July 21st when this historic old barn burned on Reist Street. The barn was fully involved when firefighters arrived and their efforts were complicated by low water pressure. Extra equipment was called in to help secure water from hydrants located farther away that were on a different water line grid than the first in units were tied to.

Snyder Firefighters Participate in Driver Safety Course

        Snyder Firefighters recently completed a two part driver safety program that focused on responding safely to emergency calls. The program featured classroom training as well as hands on behind the wheel training as well. The class was led by Mike Dallessandro, a Grand Island firefighter and nationally recognized speaker on the topic of fire apparatus driver safety.

     Snyder Firefighters recognize that to help our residents in need, we must first arrive at the scene safely. We can't help if we do not get there. Getting there means driving in a safe and prudent manner. We felt it so important that we dedicated over six hours of our free time learning to be better at it. Just another example of our commitment to not just our residents, but to anybody who happens to be the Snyder community at any time.

Pictured here are some of the Snyder firefighters who participated in the emergency vehicle driver safety program. Pictured at the top standing from left to right: Zach Polvino, Kyle Dean, Tim Oliver, Rick Ansteth, Spilios Kiamos, Pete Voss. Kneeling: Fred Balcom, Rich Schrader, Karen Murray, Paul Griebner

           Snyder Firefighters Provide Fire Extinguisher Training at Christ the King School.

        Snyder Firefighters were on hand Friday, May 2nd at Christ the King School to provide fire extinguisher training to the staff members there. Utilizing Snyder's state-of-the-art-fire extinguisher training prop, staff members, under the direction of Snyder firefighters, were able to safely extinguish actual fires with various types of extinguishers.

     Snyder firefighters are committed to making a difference in the Snyder community and this is just one way they stand ready to assist. Being a Snyder firefighter involves so much more than responding to emergency calls. It involves interacting with the public at community events, standing by at the local High School football games in case a medical emergency occurs, bringing school children into the firehouse to teach fire prevention classes, constantly training to be prepared for any emergency (medical, fire or rescue) that may occur and just "being there" for our residents in their time of need. It's what we do and we are honored to do it.

Snyder Firefighters - Standing Guard and Protecting the Snyder Community 24/7/365

Click here for video.

Chief Merrill Re-Elected to Lead Fire Department

Thomas A. Merrill has been re-elected to his second term as chief of the Snyder Fire Department. Also re-elected were first assistant chief Paul R. Griebner and second assistant chief Michael P. Gugliuzza.

All three chief officers were officially installed at the department’s formal installation dinner celebration held at Westwood Country Club in Amherst on Saturday, April 12th.  

Also honored at the dinner were numerous Snyder Firefighters who achieved career milestones or distinguished themselves throughout the year.

Alan Craik  was acknowledged for having served as president of the department for the previous three years.

Former department secretary and past fire commissioner Fraser “Mitch” Mooney was honored for 40 years of active service to the department and Jim Sullivan was acknowledged for 35 years of active service.

Four members were granted “Life Member” status in the department, in recognition of serving for 25 years. The new life members are Firefighters Charles “Chip” Pearson, Firefighter Richard Schrader, Chief Merrill and past Chief Allan Brown.

Firefighter Mark Crosier was honored for 15 years of active service 

Snyder and Eggertsville Firefighters Train Together

Snyder got together with their good friends on drill night, Wednesday March 19th. The two departments practiced forcible entry utilizing Snyder’s forcible entry simulators. After a brief PowerPoint program and lecture, the firefighters broke into two groups and practiced conventional forcible entry as well as “through the lock” methods. 

Nearly 60 firefighters participated.

 Last month, Snyder traveled to Eggertsville's firehouse for another joint-department drill. This is just another example of how the spirit of cooperation, regionalism and mutual aid assistance has always been practiced within the Town of Amherst fire service.

Click here for more photos

Chief Merrill Interviewed for Evening News

On Thursday evening, January 31st, WIVB Channel 4 ran a story discussing fireplace safety because there have been many serious fires recently due to faulty fireplaces and people not disposing of fireplace ashes properly.  Channel 4 reporters contacted the Amherst Fire Alarm Office looking to discuss the issue with a fire chief and the dispatchers on duty put them in touch with Chief Merrill.  The video can be seen here.

New Fire Commissioner Appointed

For more photos of the Frankhauser Road fire, visit the current gallery section.

Snyder Officers Installed