The Prison Escape, the Firefighters & Mutual Aid

Unless you have been in hiding or working on the Donald Trump Campaign, you are well aware of the Clinton Correctional Facility (New York) “great” escape that took place on June 6 when two inmates were discovered missing during a bed check at 0530 hours at the maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility. The inmates both had been convicted of murder. Neither has been found yet and the story will make quite a movie. Hopefully, Hollywood will include the impact this escape has had on one area fire department.  

Small Towns & “The” Firehouse
If you grew up in a relatively small town, you would definitely remember that the firehouse was the town’s focal point, from being the social place to the place where that giant whistle, siren or horn would blow for a fire call, everyone knew where the firehouse was. It was where parades started; boy and girl scouts had meetings; where people would go to vote and just a really cool place. In our home town on Long Island, on Memorial Day, the 4th of July and others-the Alerts, Vigilants and Manhasset-Lakeville fire departments were the center-and often the leaders-of activities.

So What?
So what does this have to do with murders escaping from a maximum security prison? Turns out it has a lot to do with it. Earlier the Cadyville Fire Department located in Clinton County was getting ready to hold their annual and very major fund raising event. However because of the escape and all the activity it was cancelled. Not postponed, cancelled.  

Prisoners and a “Needing” Fire Department
Police dogs had picked up a scent, and potential signs emerged that the two inmates had been sleeping in a heavily wooded area approximately five miles in size. Police swarmed Cadyville, roughly five miles southeast of the Clinton Correctional Facility and set up a perimeter overnight that blocked off Cadyville, pretty much from, the rest of the world.

Because of the manhunt, the logistics and the fact that two convicted murderers were on the loose, the Cadyville Fire Department and their firefighters had no choice but to cancel their event.

The Event
This popular field day, parade (read: fundraiser) was Cadyville’s 50th, a milestone event that they had been planning for the last year. This is their single largest fund raiser for the year and they typically make $8,000 each year. For the last week the Cadyville Firefighters have provided 24/7 logistical support for the manhunt and operated with a law enforcement roadblock in front of their firehouse. If this wasn’t enough, several of their members and their families including 3 Chief Officers work for, Corrections, and Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement …and have worked 100+ plus hours in the last week searching for the murderers.

Once again, the members of the Cadyville Fire Department focused on what’s best to protect their community-not themselves. However-it takes funding to run a fire department-as we all know.

CAN YOU, YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOUR LOCAL OR YOUR ASSOCIATION PROVIDE SOME MUTUAL AID?
The food is gone, the rides are cancelled and their “world famous” clam chowder won’t be available. More importantly, their funding was cut. Not by some clueless politician, but because of a genuine public safety emergency involving two escaped murderers, one, a cop killer.

So this request is simple, obvious but very real. PLEASE consider sending what you can to help. $5.00, $10.00 or whatever you can send. Whatever you can afford will obviously make a huge difference in helping the Cadyville Firefighters maintain their equipment and service.

Please send whatever you can to help:

Mutual Aid: Cadyville Fire Department
PO Box 97
Cadyville NY 12918

(Make the check out to Cadyville FD)

Hopefully we can help the CFD in this truly unusual circumstance.