An Important History to Remember The Hogansburg-Akwesasne Fire Department
It may seem like it has always been here - and maybe most of us cannot remember a time without our own fire department at Akwesasne- but, like all things, it started because of a need in the Akwesasne Community.
Today, the well trained, Hogansburg-Akwesasne Fire Department services the whole Akwesasne community and is renowned as an International Fire Department. It has signed mutual aid agreements with neighboring communities and is known for its commitment and well-trained volunteer department that is knowledgeable on land, on the river and the numerous other terrains at Akwesasne.
Members
Membership of the HAVFD is drawn from within the community and has a Mohawk majority. All members respond to alarms regardless of the district they reside in and can choose the station they want to attend. Membership has varied from 18 to 65 and has settled at 55 for several years.
Training
The members of the HAVFD receive most of their training in house by HAVFD instructors. Initial fire schools and additional ratings are completed under New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and is administered by Franklin County. HAVFD also works with the Ontario Native Firefighters Society, US Department of the Interior (BIA), US Department of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard, US Environmental Protection Agency, Ontario Fire Marshalls Office and Quebec Provincial Government on training initiatives.
A Brief History of Hogansburg Fire Stations
The department was organized in March, 1954 following a fire in which seven children died when a home owned by the Cree family was completely destroyed. This tragic fire was considered to be the beginning of the Hogansburg Volunteer Fire Department. Due to the Cree Family’s loss and courage to go on, people from the community began to organize a fire department.
Edgar Reyome, owner of a local grocery store, was the leader of the group and became the first chief operating with a used fire engine which was parked in Reyome’s backyard. Another local storekeeper, Hubert Lantry, donated an old garage to be used as a fire station. The garage’s loft was used to hold meetings.
Station #1, Hogansburg, NY of the Hogansburg/Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department formally began in 1960 when the HVFD built a new station of cinder block construction, 100 by 60 feet. The company had three pieces of apparatus and was equipped for mutual aid assistance. James Rouselle was chief in 1960 succeeding Edgar Reyome, who held that post for six years. Other officers included Hurbert Lantry, President; Francis Donahue, Secretary; and Syl Morin, Treasurer.
In the spring of 1981 an ice jam formed on the St. Regis River immediately downstream of the hydro dam and Station 1 causing the river to crest it’s banks. In the ensuing flood firefighters braved the rising waters and were able to get the trucks out of the station just before it was inundated. Flood waters reached four feet inside the station. Most of the losses weren’t covered by insurance since most carriers don’t offer flood coverage.
In 1998 Akwesasne suffered a natural disaster in the form of an Ice Storm. During the ice storm the St. Regis River crested again causing the HAVFD to suspend emergency operations to deal with the flood. The impact of this incident was so severe that a grant was written at the behest of local FEMA agents responding to the disaster. FEMA’s Area Office in New York City rejected the application without review in favor of funding utility companies. The application didn’t go away. Instead, it was forwarded by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to US Housing and Urban Development almost verbatim and funded under a disaster mitigation grant. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the HAVFD went forward to construct a new Station One. Land was donated by Native Trading Associates along Rte. 37 and, importantly, away from the flood plain.
Construction began in 2002 and continued on until late 2003. The HAVFD began moving into the new station in December 2003 and officially occupied the structure in January 2004.
In June 2004 the HAVFD celebrated its 50th anniversary and officially transferred the flag in a ceremony attended by approximately 750 people. Several of the original members were on hand as the station was officially dedicated in their honor.
The Cornwall Island Fire Station: Station #2, Cornwall Island, of the Hogansburg/Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department was a vacated bus garage on the western side of the island. The only fire apparatus was a 1964 Chevy engine/pumper with its hoses and associated equipment. The building proved inadequate and also insecure as it was the target of many break-ins. The station and members were organized as the Cornwall Island fire brigade and then became part of the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department. Akwesasne was added to the name of Hogansburg Volunteer Fire Department to represent the community as a whole.
In early 1984 the members of the Fire Department began searching for funding to build a new station. A centrally located tract of land was purchased from Elijah Benedict in July of 1984. A deposit was paid on the property; when the balance was paid to Mr. Benedict he donated the money back to the fire department. After funding was secured the Band Council Work programs began construction on the facility.
In the spring of 1985 the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department members of Kawehnoke moved their equipment from the converted bus garage into the new fire station. The grand opening took place a few weeks later.
The Snye Fire Station Station #3, Snye, Quebec of the Hogansburg / Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department began back in 1976 after the residents of Snye got together and decided to start a firefighting organization. They converted a vacant school house into a fire station with one bay and rooms for training and meetings.
A 1952 American Lafrance triple combination pumper was donated by the Canadian Armed Forces stationed in Kingston. A few repairs and modifications and the pumper was put into service.
Initially funds were raised with fish feeds, raffles, pool tournaments and the ever popular bingo games. In 1978 the Snye firefighters joined the Hogansburg Volunteer Fire Department and received training from the Franklin County Fire Training Grounds.
HAVFD Equipment
Station One
E-91 1978 King Seagrave Ford 900 Engine
E-291 1995 Freightliner FL-80 Engine with Hurst Tools
ETA-296 2005 Freightliner FL-80 Engine/Tanker
L-94 1984 Mack 125 foot Aerial Platform with Standpipe
BT-5 2005 Polaris Ranger Brush Truck with skid mount fire pump
M-99 1985 Cheverolet Suburban Miscellaneous Unit
Station Two
E-92 1992 Ford Engine with Hurst Tools
ETA-295 1997 Freightliner FL-80 Engine/Tanker
M-3 Airboat with V8 powered fan
M-298 1989 Cheverolet Suburban Miscellaneous Unit
Station Three
E-93 1998 Freightliner FL-80 Engine with Hurst Tools
E-95 2006 Freightliner FL-80 Engine/Tanker
MC-1 1985 International School Bus converted to a mobile command post
M-1 1989 Marine Firefighting Vessel with 10” draft and firefighting pump
BT-3 2000 Polaris Ranger Brush Truck with mounted fire pump
 ETA-295 1997 Freightliner FL-80 Engine/Tanker |
 ETA-296 2005 Freightliner FL-80 Engine/ Tanker |
 BT-5 2005 Polaris Ranger Brush Truck with skid mount fire pump |
 M-3 Airboat with V8 powered fan |
