Summer safety starts with education, say Syracuse fire officials
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — As summer approaches—historically the busiest time of year for fire departments—first responders across Central New York are preparing not only with training, but with a push to educate the public before emergencies happen.
At the 119th Annual Conference and FIRE 2025 Expo, hosted by the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), thousands of fire service professionals gathered in Syracuse to sharpen their skills, explore new tools and technologies, and engage directly with the community.
Chief Richard Niemeyer engages with attendees at the FIRE 2025 Expo. © 2025 Maria Wainscott
“The best fire is the fire that never started,” said Richard Niemeyer, chair of NYSAFC’s Public Education Committee. “That’s why we do a lot of fire safety education and prevention. We want to make sure that fire doesn’t start in the first place.”
While structure fires remain a core concern, Niemeyer said summer emergencies extend far beyond flames.
“Obviously, swimming accidents—we want to make sure people are watching their kids,” he said. “There’s bicycle helmets… If they fall off the bike, hit the ground, they could do devastating injuries to their brain. So all these things we try to promote during the different seasons.”
The FIRE 2025 Expo brought together thousands of fire service professionals and community members from across New York state. © 2025 Maria Wainscott
At FIRE 2025, attendees of all ages explored everything from hydraulic rescue tools to baby swaddling demos for emergency birth situations. But more than just hands-on activities, the event gave firefighters a chance to connect with families in a way that could have lasting impact.
“I’m 67 years old, and I’m still learning,” Niemeyer said. “You stop learning when you’re dead. There’s always a new machine, a new piece of equipment. Every time you get something new, you have to train on it.”
For Niemeyer, public outreach and education are just as important as emergency response—and sometimes, the effects are felt decades later.
“They see me at the worst of times—but they remember,” he said. “That’s firefighter Rick—he came to my school, he taught me fire safety. Now I have kids coming back who I taught 30 years ago.”
That connection with the community, Niemeyer said, is what motivates many firefighters to keep showing up, both in the classroom and on the job. And it’s a message that seems to be resonating with even the youngest members of the community.
A young attendee at FIRE 2025 shares his future plans with NCC News reporter Maria Wainscott. © 2025 Maria Wainscott
“I want to be a firefighter like my daddy,” said one young attendee, proudly wearing a plastic fire helmet as he explored the trucks.
Whether it’s a child learning to stop, drop and roll—or a firefighter mastering new gear on the job—education remains at the heart of what fire professionals say keeps people safe.
Because for Syracuse’s fire crews, safety starts long before the sirens ever sound.
