Murray Joint Fire District honors firefighters for service, including 2 for 50 years

District responded to 776 calls in 2022, up about 100 from previous year

Photos by Tom Rivers: Don Blosenhauer receives certificates of commendation for 50 years of service a firefighter in Fancher-Hulberton-Murray. He is congratulated by, from left, county legislators John Fitzak, Ed Morgan and Skip Draper (representing State Sen. Rob Ortt), and Eileen Banker (representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley).

CLARENDON – The Murray Joint Fire District held its installation dinner and awards banquet on Saturday at the Clarendon rec hall. The joint district includes firefighters from Fancher-Hulberton-Murray and Holley. They started a joint district on Jan. 1, 2021.

Two firefighters were recognized for 50 years of service. James Mingano has a half century with Holley. He was unable to attend the dinner.

Don Blosenhauer also was honored for 50 years of service, all as an active firefighter. Blosenhauer joined Fancher-Hulberton-Murray at age 18. His father Joseph was one of the charter members of FHM, and young Don hung out at the firehall often as a kid. He eagerly joined as a volunteer firefighter when he turned 18.

“It seemed exciting,” he said on Saturday. “I don’t regret any of it. It’s a lot of camaraderie.”

Blosenhauer worked his way up as a line officer and twice served as chief of FHM. In December he was elected as one of the commissioners of the Murray Joint Fire District.

Mark Porter, president of the Murray Joint Fire District Board of Commissioners, presents a plaque to Don Blosenhauer in appreciation for 50 years of service as volunteer firefighter.

Blosenhauer said training requirements are much more demanding now than when he started, and those requirements keep many from volunteering. He said those regulations, while time-consuming, make firefighting safer for the volunteers.

“It has changed a lot,” he said about the fire service. “There is much more of a safety focus now.”

Blosenhauer has two sons who are active firefighters: Adam and DJ. Blosenhauer’s wife Mary also has been active with the Ladies Auxiliary for about 40 years. Her father, John Sanderson, also was a charter member at FHM.

Blosenhauer said his family has been very understanding of the times when he left family gatherings and missed some of his children’s activities to respond to a fire call or other emergency.

He said he plans to keep staying active as a firefighter. He retired two years ago after a full-time career that included working as a welder, at a stone quarry in Hulberton, as a fabricator with the former Liftec in Holley, and lastly at Bonduelle in Brockport.

Rick Cary, the fire district chief, said firefighters from FHM and Holley responded to 776 calls in 2022, which was up about 150 from the previous year. EMS was the leading call, followed by lift assists, Cary said.

He commended the Murray firefighters for also assisting on about 100 mutual aid calls.

“That speaks not only to the dedication to our community but to our neighbors as well,” Cary said.

Cary announced the fire district will be looking to step up fire prevention efforts this year, educating people from Pre-K to senior citizens.

Fire Chief Rick Cary presents Colton Tuttle with the top responder award. Tuttle made it to about 600 of the fire district calls which Cary said is amazing dedication.

Richard “Dick” Alvut walks to the podium to accept the chief’s award from Rick Cary. Alvut has been very dedicated to the fire district, especially with the fire police. About 140 people attended Saturday’s dinner and banquet.

Frank Balys also is commended for 25 years of volunteer service as a Holley firefighter. He received awards from the local legislators, the Murray Joint Fire District and the Holley Fire Department.

Greg Stafford also was recognized for 30 years to the Holley Fire Department.

Mark Porter presents a plaque to Ed Morgan for his 30 years of service as a fire commissioner, including with the transition to a joint fire district. Most of his time was with the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire district.

Fran Gaylord, president of the Holley Fire Department, presents a president’s award to Kevin Dann for all of his assistance, including helping to organize the department’s roster on the computer.

Gaylord also said Ron Meiers, a long-time member who was unable to attend the dinner on Saturday, also will get a president’s award for his reliability to the department in so many ways.