The Cossayuna Volunteer Fire Department is a small rural Fire Department located in Washington County,  N.Y.  Situated between Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls N.Y., we are approximately 60 miles north of the state capital, Albany.
  The Fire District covered by the Department is roughly centered around  Cossayuna Lake.  Cossayuna Lake is the largest body of water that is wholly surrounded by Washington County, although parts of the county form the eastern shore of Lake George and the southern shore of Lake Champlain.  Because of the size and nature of the lake, the area is subject to seasonal variations in population and entertainment use.  Fishing and boating remain popular through out the summer months while ice fishing during the winter presents special needs and concerns.
  Service to the community is provided through contracts with the Townships of Argyle & Greenwich, N.Y. and public donations.  The dual contracts are required because of the geographic boundaries of the two towns.  The district is roughly cut in two by the town boundaries.  Contracts between the towns are negotiated on a yearly basis and are separated from each other.  Like many other Volunteer Fire Departments, we rely heavily upon public donations to bridge the economic gap between funds provided through town contracts and operational needs.  Fundraisers include:

• Weekly Bingo games
• Annual Fireman's Carnival
• Sunday Breakfasts

  The Cossayuna Volunteer Fire Department currently has two fire stations, one ( Station I ),  located at the southern end of the lake, and the second (Station II) located about 1/2 way up the lake on the western side.  The second station serves as the meeting area, training area and community hall with banquet facilities.  Station II is also provided with an emergency generator in the event of power loss.  The station can operate for extended periods of time without outside power and thus can also serve as an emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster.
  Station II also serves as a base of operations in the event of a large scale operation, such as a mass casualty incident or multi-agency operation.  Both stations are located with easy access to major roads serving the district. (However, being a rural Department, our idea of major roads may be a little different than yours)
  Currently the Department has four pieces of apparatus: 3 Engines and 1 ETA  (Engine 231,  Engine 234   & ETA 232) .  One of the Engines and the ETA are both Hahn trucks, the remaining engines are Ford and Dodge.
 
 

  Along with traditional fire protective services, the Cossayuna Fire Department is proud to provide additional services to the community.  These services include:

• First Responder team.  As an adjunct to the Emergency Medical services provided by Argyle and Easton-Greenwich rescue squads (ambulance), the Department provides First Responder assistance to those of the community who require emergency medical care.  This service is not intended to replace care provided by the responding rescue squads, but is a "fast response" team intended to provide care while the rescue squad is in route.  Our team was one of the first in the area to provide external cardiac defibrillation.  The equipment was provided by a private grant at no cost to the Department.
• Cold Water Rescue.  Because Cossayuna Lake is used in the winter, as well as summer months, it is necessary to provide rescue assistance in the event that a person falls through thin ice.  The Cold Water Rescue team is equipped and trained to assist those people who have become trapped in cold water and can not rescue themselves.  This service is provided on a mutual aid basis to many surrounding communities, either as the lead agency or as support to another department.  Much of the start-up expenses of the team were provided by donations from the community or local business.
• Fire Prevention.  The Department is proud to support, and be active in a multi-agency Fire Prevention team.  This team presents fire prevention and safety programs to grade school students at the Greenwich Central School.  The program has been very successful and well received by local educators.

  Membership in the Department is open to any resident of the district.  Any and all equipment needs are provided for by the Department (with the exception of personal courtesy -or blue- lights).  Training is also provided by the Department.
  You do not have to be a "Smoke Eater" to be a member, rest assured that there will be plenty of work available to you without your having to work "the front line" if you choose not to.
  For further information, contact: