Union College Fire Safety

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

What happens when you call 911… and no one comes?Every day across New York State, thousands of people rely on EMS without ever realizing how fragile the syst...

05/25/2026

05/25/2026

A fire at the Menands Fire Company No. 1 this afternoon heavily damaged the station and destroyed multiple pieces of equipment. Schuyler Heights, which voted to shut down May 16, made its firehouse and all of its equipment available to Menands.

05/25/2026

The same day a firefighter from an adjacent city died in a house fire, I found myself falling through a floor, trapped

05/22/2026

Firing up the grill this weekend? Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use. Be mindful of safety when cooking outdoors and follow these safety tips from NFPA.

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

Two minutes — the time it takes to brush your teeth, load the dishwasher or tidy up your desk.

But could you and your loved ones get out of your home in that amount of time?

On average, that’s how long people have to escape during a fire, and that time begins when the fire starts.

That’s why it’s so important to have working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan — so you’re alerted as quickly as possible and you know exactly how to get out.

In the first four months of 2026, there have already been 35 confirmed fire deaths.

Last year, there were 61 fire deaths in total. Even one death is too many.

Make a plan, test your alarms and practice your escape plan.

05/20/2026

A Tale of Two Fires: Why Matter-Over the weekend, we saw firsthand how fire sprinklers make a life-altering difference. Saturday: A cooking fire extended into a kitchen cabinet. Because this building was retrofitted with a sprinkler system in 2017, a single sprinkler contained the fire instantly. The damage was minimal, the system was quickly reset, and residents experienced almost zero disruption. Monday: A devastating fire struck a different building—this one without a sprinkler system. While we are incredibly thankful no lives were lost, the building was destroyed, and multiple families lost everything that made their apartment "home" Both bldgs were built before modern codes, but the bldg w/retrofitted sprinklers completely changed the narrative. Thanks to Fire Officials for sending us this great example of the difference!

A Tale of Two Fires: Why Matter-Over the weekend, we saw firsthand how fire sprinklers make a life-altering difference. Saturday: A cooking fire extended into a kitchen cabinet. Because this building was retrofitted with a sprinkler system in 2017, a single sprinkler contained the fi...