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Chimney Fire Training
Local firefighters prepare to respond to common winter fire hazards With a particularly cold winter increasing reliance on fireplaces and wood stoves, chimney fires remain a common and dangerous risk. That’s why members of the Dryden Fire Department regularly train to safely and effectively manage these incidents. On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, our firefighters practiced
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Community Message from the Fire Chief
Extreme Cold & Heavy Snowfall Preparedness On behalf of the volunteer firefighters and officers of the Dryden Fire Department, we want to reach out to our community as we prepare for an extended period of extremely cold temperatures and heavy snowfall expected in our area. As this storm approaches, we ask community members to take
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Hazardous Materials Training
Local volunteer firefighters train together to protect the community On the evening of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, approximately 50 volunteers from the Dryden, Freeville, McLean, and Varna Fire Departments participated in the annual required Hazardous Materials Training hosted by the Dryden Fire Department. The training focused on identifying hazardous materials, understanding potential risks, and reviewing
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Congrats!
Allan Dries In December 2025, Allan Dries completed the Firefighter Training Series, also know as Firefighter Boot Camp, offered at the Cortland County Regional Training Center. This 170-hour training program, with 54 units and intense classes (see below), is physically and mentally demanding. Participants learn the necessary skills to fight fires, including on-scene operations, using
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Serving Our Community: 2025 in Review and 2026 Leadership
This past year, Dryden Fire & Ambulance were proud to serve the local community by responding to nearly 3,000 calls. As new leadership steps forward, we’re looking ahead to strengthening our impact in 2026. 2025 Total Calls:
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Member Spotlight
Kaitlin Gorton Jobs: Paramedic at Dryden Ambulance, Tompkins County EMS, Groton Ambulance Awards What special projects have you participated in?I am proud that I can come to work and serve the community every week. Fun Fact: I played college basketball for 3 different colleges and I love sports! Hobbies and Passions: I love going to
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Member Spotlight
Chief Mark Bell “My love for serving the Dryden Community was instilled in me as I grew up — both of my parents served in various roles within this Department. Being Chief is the highest honor. It gives me the opportunity to lead the men and women of this Department while setting goals and standards
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RecruitNY Event
Join us on the last weekend of April for RecruitNY! This is an opportunity for you to meet your local firefighters and learn how you can make a difference in your community. Welcoming new members interested in firefighting, EMS, and/or administrative support, such as finance, marketing, event coordination, maintenance, and more! No experience necessary –
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Fire Safety Merit Badge
With Scouting America Also on March 15 (a busy community day for us!), Dryden and Freeville Firefighters helped scouts earn their Fire Safety Merit Badge at the annual University of Scouting held at TC3. As an Eagle Scout, Bryan Arnold (Dryden) appreciated the opportunity to give back: “It was great to teach the Fire Safety
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Standby Night
On Saturday, March 15, the Dryden Fire Department held a standby night with 18 firefighters immediately available to respond to any calls. Great night, always ready to serve our community
Dryden Fire & Ambulance 