Menands Fire Department

10/13/2026

🚒 WELCOME HOME, SQUAD 6! 🚒

Tonight marks the first major milestone in rebuilding the Menands Fire Department.

Since the fire, I have said many times that rebuilding our department was going to be a long and slow process. There are still many questions to be answered and a great deal of work ahead of us, but tonight we finally get to celebrate a major step forward.

Tonight, I am incredibly proud to welcome Squad 6 home to Menands.

Our new Sutphen engine, purchased through Vander Molen Fire Apparatus Sales & Service, will serve as our frontline engine and is the first replacement apparatus for our department as we continue to await official word on the future of our Rescue and Truck.

I want to personally thank the Village of Menands, Worldclaim - Public Adjusters and Disaster Assistance, and our insurance company for the work that has gone into making the replacement of this apparatus possible. There have been countless conversations, meetings, phone calls, emails, and decisions behind the scenes to get us to this point, and tonight we finally get to see the result of that work.

I also want to extend our deepest thanks to the Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, they stepped up without hesitation and provided us with Engine 449. Because of their generosity, our members were back on the road and responding to emergencies within just one week of the fire.

That is what the brotherhood and sisterhood of the fire service is all about. When one department is down, others step up. We will never forget what Shaker Road-Loudonville did for us when we needed it most, and we will be forever grateful.

We also continue to owe a tremendous thank you to the Schuyler Heights Fire District. They have stood beside us throughout this process, allowing us to utilize their apparatus, equipment, and facilities while we continue working toward the replacement of our remaining apparatus and determining the future of our firehouse. Their continued support has been invaluable to our department.

But most importantly, I want to thank the dedicated members of the Menands Fire Department.

The last several months have asked a lot of our members. They lost their firehouse, their apparatus, their equipment, and the place many of them have considered a second home for years. Yet through all of the uncertainty, they never stopped answering the call.

They have continued to show up, train, respond, and serve the Village of Menands and our surrounding communities every single day. They adapted to operating out of another firehouse, responding with borrowed apparatus and working through challenges none of us ever expected to face.

As Chief, I could not be prouder of the dedication, professionalism, and resilience our members have shown throughout this entire process.

There is still a long road ahead of us. We still have decisions to make regarding our Rescue, our Truck, our equipment, and ultimately our home.

But tonight isn’t about what we lost or what we’re still waiting for.

Tonight is about moving forward.

Tonight, Squad 6 is home.

Tonight, we take our first major step toward rebuilding the Menands Fire Department.

And I can promise you—we’re not done yet.

Risen from the ashes. 🔥🚒

Chief David Ognan
Menands Fire Department

10/08/2026

🚒 Something exciting is coming to Menands… 👀

After a difficult year, we’re looking forward to sharing some good news and another step forward for the Menands Fire Department.

We’re keeping this one under wraps for now, but next week we’ll be ready to lift the cover!

Thank you for standing with us as we continue to rebuild. Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss this! ❤️

09/23/2026

We’re grateful to share that the Menands Fire Department has been awarded a $90,000 New York State V-FIRE Grant for fire station improvements.

After the loss of our firehouse this year, every step toward rebuilding matters. This funding will support work to improve the safety and functionality of a station for our volunteers, our equipment, and the community we serve. The Village will coordinate the planned improvements under the grant’s requirements.

Thank you to New York State, the Village of Menands, and MJ Burben INC.. for their work on the successful application. We’re also grateful to everyone who continues to stand with our department as we move forward.

📰 For Immediate release:
Village of Menands Fire Department Awarded $90,000 New York State V-FIRE Grant for Fire Station Upgrades

MENANDS, NY — The Village of Menands is pleased to announce that the Menands Fire Department has been awarded a $90,000 New York State Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant to support critical upgrades to the Village’s fire station.

The funding will help the Village improve the safety, functionality, and long-term reliability of the station used by the Menands Fire Department. These improvements will strengthen the department’s ability to respond effectively to fires, emergencies, and other public-safety incidents throughout the Village and surrounding communities.

“This $90,000 investment is welcome news for the Village of Menands and our residents,” said Village Mayor Brian Marsh. “Our volunteer firefighters dedicate their time and place themselves in harm’s way to protect our community. This grant will allow us to make important station improvements while reducing the financial burden that would otherwise fall on Village taxpayers. We are grateful to New York State for recognizing the needs of volunteer fire departments, and we thank MJ Burben, Inc. for its work in preparing the successful grant application.

”The Menands Fire Department is staffed by dedicated volunteers who provide essential emergency services to the Village. A safe, functional, and dependable fire station is critical to protecting personnel, maintaining equipment, and ensuring that firefighters can respond quickly when called upon.

“This grant will make a meaningful difference for our volunteer fire department,” said Menands Fire Chief David Ognan. “Station improvements are essential to the safety and readiness of our members and to our ability to protect the public. The funding will help ensure that our volunteers have a facility that supports their training, equipment, and emergency-response responsibilities. On behalf of the department, I thank New York State, the Village of Menands, and MJ Burben, Inc. for investing in our firefighters and the community we proudly serve.”

The Village will coordinate the planned improvements in accordance with New York State grant requirements and all applicable procurement, building, and safety standards.

The Village of Menands extends its appreciation to New York State, our grant writers, MJ Burben, Inc., and everyone who supported the grant application. This award represents an important investment in the continued strength of the Menands Fire Department and the safety of the entire community.

About the Village of Menands
The Village of Menands is located in Albany County, New York. The Village is committed to providing responsive municipal services, supporting its volunteer fire department, and protecting the health, safety, and quality of life of its residents, businesses, and visitors.

Brian A. Marsh
Mayor, Village of Menands

09/10/2026

Today marked another significant day for the Menands Fire Department.

Squad 6 was removed from the firehouse and transported to a secure location, where it will undergo further investigation. As that investigation remains ongoing, we are unable to answer questions or provide any additional information regarding that process at this time.

What we can say is that watching Squad 6 being pulled from our firehouse and towed away was difficult. It is another reminder of everything our department and our members have been through since the fire.

But today is also an important step forward.

Every step in this process, even the difficult ones, brings us closer to rebuilding our department, replacing what was lost, and ultimately returning home.

The road back has been longer and more complicated than any of us would have hoped, but progress is progress. Today, we took another step.

We remain committed to moving forward and rebuilding the Menands Fire Department stronger than ever.

Thank you to our members, our community, and everyone who continues to stand behind us.

We are Menands Strong.

08/16/2026

📚🎒 **HELP US SUPPORT MENANDS STUDENTS!** 🎒📚

This Wednesday during Community Night, the Menands Fire Company & Auxiliary will be collecting donations to support the Menands Back to School Drive & Giveaway!

As we get ready to send our local students back to school, we’re asking our community to help us lend a hand. If you’re coming out to Community Night, consider bringing a donation with you!

🥫 Non-perishable food items
👕 New or gently used clothing
🎒 Backpacks & school supplies

All donations will help support Menands families and students as they prepare for the upcoming school year.

Look for the Menands Fire Company & Auxiliary this Wednesday at Community Night to drop off your donations!

The Back to School Giveaway will take place August 26th from 9 AM–1 PM at Menands School.

🔥 Menands takes care of Menands — and together we can help make sure our students start the school year off right!

Please share and help us spread the word! ❤️

08/15/2026

Menands Fire Department – Mutual Aid Standby

Squad 6 is currently standing by at the Defreestville Fire Station while crews operate at a second-alarm search and rescue at the Rensselaer Technology Park for a hiker.

Squad 6 and its crew will provide coverage for the Defreestville Fire District while their members continue operating at the incident.

08/12/2026

🔥 THE MENANDS STRONG STORE IS BACK! 🔥

We’re excited to announce that our Menands Strong online store through Wicked Smart is officially back open — with some new options!

🩶 NEW COLOR! We’ve added grey to our apparel options.

👕 YOUTH SIZES ARE HERE! We heard from many of you asking for options for our younger supporters, and we listened! Youth sizes are now available so the whole family can show their Menands Strong pride.

Every order continues to support the Menands Fire Department as we move forward following the fire at our station. The support our community has shown us has been incredible, and we’re proud to see Menands Strong worn throughout our community and beyond.

🛒 Shop the newly updated Menands Strong store here:
https://menandsfiredept.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Thank you for continuing to stand behind us. ❤️

Same community. Same pride. Still Menands Strong.

08/09/2026

🚨 Motor Vehicle Accident with Entrapment 🚨

At approximately 1:41 AM, the Menands Fire Department operated in the area of First Avenue & Lincoln Avenue, within the Schuyler Heights Fire District, for a motor vehicle accident with reported entrapment.

Upon arrival, crews located a vehicle on its side with two occupants trapped inside. The vehicle had come to rest spanning a gully, creating a challenging rescue operation due to its position and stability.

Crews worked to stabilize the vehicle, gain access to the occupants, and perform the extrication. Both occupants were successfully extricated and turned over to EMS for transport and further medical evaluation.

Menands crews returned to service at approximately 2:57 AM.

We would like to thank Colonie EMS, Colonie Police Department, Watervliet Arsenal Fire Department, Latham Fire Department, and Watervliet Fire Department and EMS for their assistance.