We have taken pride in serving our community since 1823. While technology and equipment have evolved over the years, our dedication has only grown stronger. We are honored to offer fire protection and related services to the residents and visitors of Oxford, NY.
We are proud to provide the following services:
The primary role of the Oxford Fire Department is to provide firefighting services to the community. This includes responding to structure fires, vehicle fires, and other incidents involving flames or smoke.
The department has highly trained firefighters who are equipped with specialized gear and equipment such as fire engines, ladder tower, and hoses to effectively combat fires. They also have access to advanced technology, including thermal imaging cameras and aerial drones, which can help locate victims and assess the scope, size and severity of a fire.
In addition to responding to emergencies, the fire department also provides public education on fire prevention and safety measures. This includes offering tips on how to create an emergency plan in case of a fire. Public education on basic techniques taught to our school children, grades pumpkin shell through 3rd and 4th grade.
Wildland search refers to the process of searching for missing or lost individuals in natural environments such as forests, mountains, and other remote areas. It involves using specialized techniques and equipment to navigate through rugged terrain and locate individuals who may be injured, lost, or stranded. Additionally, the Oxford Fire Department has established relationships with other agencies such as law enforcement, NYS State Environmental Conservation, NYS Forrest Rangers, Chenango County Search and Rescue Team and emergency medical services, allowing for coordinated efforts in a search and rescue operation.
Auto extrication is a specialized service provided by the Oxford Fire Department, in which trained firefighters use tools and techniques to safely remove individuals who are trapped inside a vehicle. This may occur during car accidents or other emergencies where individuals are unable to exit their vehicles due to damage or entrapment.
The process of auto extrication involves assessing the situation and determining the most effective approach for removing the individual from the vehicle. This may include using hydraulic tools such as spreaders, cutters, and rams to pry open doors, removing roofs, dash lift or remove debris that may be blocking access.
Swift water rescue and water rescue are critical services provided by the Oxford Fire Department to respond to emergencies involving bodies of water. This can include rivers, lakes, ponds, and other natural or man-made bodies of water.
In cases where individuals may be stranded in these bodies of water due to accidents, flooding, or other circumstances, swift water rescue teams utilize specialized training and equipment to safely extract them from the water. This can involve using ropes and harnesses, Air Boat inflatable boats, or even entering the water personally with the right equipment to extract people and animals form the water.
Water rescue operations also encompass a wide range of situations including ice rescues, during which trained firefighters use special equipment to navigate icy waters and retrieve individuals who have fallen through thin ice.
Hazardous materials response, also known as hazmat response, involves responding to incidents involving potentially dangerous or toxic substances.
The department's is trained at the basic level which may involve substance identification, evacuation and simple containment and in some cases rescue.
Airboat operations is a specialized team within the Oxford Fire Department that provides emergency response and rescue services on bodies of water. These trained individuals operate airboats, which are flat-bottomed boats powered by an aircraft propeller.
In cases where traditional methods of transportation are not feasible due to flooded areas or other obstacles, airboats can quickly and efficiently navigate through shallow waters to reach those in need. This team may also assist with water rescues, such as retrieving individuals from stranded vehicles or flooded homes.
Wildland Fire Operations involves fighting fires in areas where vegetative materials are burning, it can be a field of hay, a brush lot and even forests. Fighting these fires require a whole different tactic than fighting structural or car fires. Weather and fuel plays a critical role in the development and spread of the fire and developing a sound plan and strategy to effectively fight it often requires quick thinking of the Incident Commander. We have crews of highly trained firefighters who work along with NYS Forest Rangers in safely mitigating and fighting these type fires.
We use backpack pumps, specialized forestry tools, saws and a state-of-the-art UTV with pump and skid unit. This tool allows us to effectively operate in a quick and efficient manner. This unit carries tools, saws and is either operated using a track system or can be changed out to tires. This tram and unit also is used in the location and extraction of people injured or lost in the Wildland Environment.
Fire prevention got its start when the Fire Marshalls Association of North America created Fire Prevention Week, and President Calvin Coolidge officially proclaimed it in 1925 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire killed 250 people and destroyed 17,000 buildings.
President Coolidge chose to proclaim Fire Prevention Week in 1925 because he recognized that more Americans were dying in fires each year than they were in World War One.
The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) is the current international sponsor of fire prevention week and selects a new theme each year to focus on a specific aspect of fire safety.
Fire Prevention Week is the longest running health observance in the United States.
The Village of Oxford Fire Department has always had a strong history of service to our community, one of the best and most effective ways we can give back is by providing fire prevention education. Though every year a week in October is set aside for Fire Prevention Activities, we at the Oxford Fire Department provide this year-round.
Every year during fire prevention week numerous department members would participate in bringing the message to the schools and community we live in. In years past we would also schedule an open house and do special programs in the evenings.
In the early and middle 1980's The Oxford Fire Department partnered with the late Marty Phelps from Batavia who would travel to Oxford and spend several days and evenings here presenting his “Lives Are Precious” slide show. He would narrate the entire show with slides of the dangers of fire and the stark realism of what it is like to be burned and live with the consequences that would ultimately alter one's life. Marty would present two shows, one for the schools that were not as graphic and then one for the fire department members and community, if they chose to watch, that exhibited the realities of what burns are like and the detrimental toll it takes on the human body.
In 2006 Chief Martin then the 1st Assistant Chief recognized that one of the departments most valuable and strongest attributes was the existence of its fire prevention team and the valuable message that they brought to the community. A grant through Assistance to Firefighters Grant program was written under the Fire Prevention tab for a Scotty Fire Prevention Trailer. Later that year the Fire Prevention Grant was awarded and a state-of-the-art Fire Prevention Trailer was ordered and delivered thanks to FEMA.
Armed with the Fire Prevention trailer and the Fire Prevention Program led by Past Chief Mike Cobb, Ellen Ross, Jim Ross, Chris Rood and many others, our program expanded from not just doing presentations during Fire Prevention Week but in any cases the entire year. We found our message and Fire Prevention Trailer going to summer camps, Norwich Fair, many different communities field days and even out of the County into neighboring Counties to provide our safety message.
We take pride in our members and the quality message they deliver and impactful change it has brought to our community and continues to do.
If you are interested in or would like to see or participate in a Fire Prevention Presentation please reach out to our department and we would be glad to speak with you about our program.
We provide Emergency Medical Services often called EMS, which is within a system that provides emergency medical care.
Our Service is available 24 / 7 with paid staff on duty during our Peak times, after hours calls are covered by off-duty or Volunteer Providers. It’s important to note that we only provide 911 - Emergency Response, not routine medial transportation.
Once activated by Chenango County Office of Emergency Services (911) for an incident that causes illness or injury, the focus of our team is the Emergency Medical Care of the patient(s) and ensuring that you get the closest available ambulance which is staffed by providers with the level of care consistent with your injury or illness.
Our ambulances are staffed by Emergency Medical Technicians trained at the following levels:
- Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B) Scope of Practice (approximately 180 hours of training):For EMT-Basic certified Providers, care may include, but is not limited to basic medical assessments, vitals, anaphylaxis treatment using IM Epinephrine via autoinjector or syringe, narcotic overdose reversal administration, fracture management/traction splinting, AED, oxygen administration, internal facility transport, lifting and moving of patients, basic airway management using oral/nasal airways, suction of airway, use of a Nebulized Albuterol, BVM, CPR, CPAP administration (if trained), 12 Lead EKG acquisition (obtain only, cannot interpret). Additional skills may be added with Department of Health approval.
- Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Scope of Practice (additional 160 hours of training, must be EMT prior):For AEMT certified Providers, care may include all skills listed for the EMT-Basic, plus: IV/ IO placement, blood draws, EKG placement, IV fluids: Normal Saline, Lactated Ringers and D10 only, glucose monitoring, cardiac arrest management using an automated monitor/AED, Epi 1:10,000 IV administration during cardiac arrest, CPAP administration, airway management using a supraglottic device. Additional skills may be added with Department of Health approval.
- Advanced Emergency Medical Technician - Critical Care (AEMT-CC) (formally was approximately 700 hours - Transitioning, No longer accepting new original applications:Bureau of Emergency Medical Services And Trauma Systems, POLICY STATEMENT No. 17 - 07, Date: August 31, 2017, Re: EMT-Critical Care Certification Sunset/Transition (ny.gov)) For certified AEMT-CC Providers, care may include all skills listed for EMT-Basic and EMT-Advance plus: fluids administration, ACLS/PALS medications, cardiac arrest management using a manual mode monitor, IM/SQ/IO/IN/IV/PO/PR and nebulized medication administration, administration of controlled substances, advanced airway management (including oral intubation), management of patient having respiratory, cardiac, diabetic, endocrine, immune, infectious disease, neurological, pediatric, OB, trauma or mental health incident that requires medical intervention within their scope of practice and skills used in pre-hospital setting. Monitor ongoing IV medication drips, and documentation of patient assessments. Additional skills may be added with Department of Health approval.
- Paramedic Scope of Practice (1600 hours of training):For certified Paramedics, care may include all skills listed for EMT-Basic and EMT- Advance plus: fluids administration, blood products (may be utilized with NYSDOH approval), ACLS/PALS medications, cardiac arrest management using a manual mode monitor, IM/SQ/IO/IN/IV/PO/PR/NG and nebulized medication administration, administration of controlled substances, advanced airway management (including oral and nasal intubation/ rapid sequence intubation, see regional requirements), management of patient having respiratory, cardiac, diabetic, endocrine, immune, infectious disease, neurological, pediatric, neonatal, OB, trauma or mental health incident that requires medical intervention within their scope of practice and skills used in pre-hospital setting. Monitor ongoing IV medication drips, ventilator (if trained) and documentation of patient assessments. Additional skills may be added with Department of Health approval.