HAMBURG — The Erie County Fair is showing its gratitude to those who assisted Lockport firefighters on the blaze that started Wednesday and still burns on.
Today is Firefighter’s Day at the Fair — a day that the Fair pauses to say thank you to the region’s first responders with free admission. But the the Erie County Agricultural Society has announced that it will extend its Firefighter’s Day free admission program to those individuals and companies who responded to the massive, mutual aid blaze in Lockport through the end of the fair, Aug. 21.
All firefighters and auxiliary members whose companies responded to the Lockport fire will receive free admission with proper ID from today until the end of the Fair.
“We realize that the lives of many Western New York firefighters were put on hold this past week,” said Marty Biniasz, Community Relations Manager for the Erie County Agricultural Society. “Many families were looking forward to attending Firefighter’s Day but cannot due to exhaustion from battling the blaze in extreme conditions. Others are still on the scene. It’s our hope, that after a few days of rest, that those responders can again enjoy a day at the Fair.”
More than 200 firefighters from 40 different fire companies have played some part in battling the fire.
Firefighters and auxiliary members eligible for free admission to the Erie County Fair with proper ID are members of the following companies:
Niagara County units
- Adams
- Barker
- Bergholz
- Cambria
- Frontier
- Gasport
- Hartland
- Lewiston No. 1
- Lewiston No. 2
- Lockport
- Middleport
- Miller Hose
- North Tonawanda No. 1
- Niagara Active
- Niagara County Auxiliary Police
- Niagara County Emergency Services
- Niagara County Haz-Mat
- Niagara Falls
- Niagara Falls Air Base Fire
- Olcott
- Pekin
- Ransomville
- Rapids
- South Lockport
- South Wilson
- Sanborn
- Shawnee
- St. Johnsburg
- Terry’s Corners
- Upper Mountain
- Wendelville
- Wilson
- Wrights Corners
- Youngstown
Erie County units
- Akron
- Brighton
- City of Tonawanda
- Clarence
- Clarence Center
- Crittenden
- East Amherst
- Ellicott Creek
- Getzville
- Grand Island
- Newstead
- North Amherst
- River Road
- Sheridan Park
- Swormville
Orleans County units
- Lyndonville
- Shelby
Genesee County units
- Alabama
- Darien Center
- Oakfield
Firefighter’s Day has been a tradition at the Erie County Fair since 1932. It was the brainchild of early Fair Board member George B. Abbott as a way of promoting fire prevention, to demonstrate firefighting skills and to express gratitude to those who put the lives of others in front of their own. Firefighter’s Day is coordinated by the Erie County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association.
