BUFFALO – Mayor Byron W. Brown and Fire Commissioner William Renaldo, along with family members of fallen firefighter Jason D. Arno, Buffalo Fire Chaplain Paul Seil and Buffalo firefighters, gathered for a solemn and heartfelt dedication ceremony for the new Engine 2, a tribute in honor of the late Jason Arno. Firefighter Arno was killed in the line of duty while fighting a fire last March on Main Street. He was a three-year veteran of the Buffalo Fire Department and served with distinction at Engine Company 2, which is located at the corner of Elmwood and Virginia, where the new engine will be housed.

Mayor Brown stated, “The tragic death of Firefighter Arno was a profound loss for our entire community and in honoring my vow to find ways to keep his memory alive, we are proud to dedicate the Buffalo Fire Department’s newest engine in his name. Firefighter Arno made it his mission to make our city a better and safer place for everyone. He died a hero and will forever be a hero.”

The recently acquired engine is the newest addition to the Buffalo Fire fleet and was purchased at a cost of

$775,000. Also on hand was the Department’s newest Aerial Ladder, purchased in February of this year at a cost of $1.8 million and assigned to Ladder Company 15, housed on Clinton Street near Bailey Avenue. Both fire vehicles were blessed at today’s special ceremony.

In addition, Mayor Brown and Fire Commissioner Renaldo discussed the Buffalo Fire Department’s upcoming fire prevention open houses that are scheduled to take place the first week in October in Buffalo as part of the 101st Anniversary of Fire Prevention Week, the nation’s longest-running public health observance on record. Coincidentally, this year’s theme is “Cooking Safety Starts With You”. Prior to becoming a firefighter, the late Jason Arno took culinary classes and worked in the restaurant industry. He also enjoyed sharing his culinary skills by fixing his fellow firefighters gourmet meals in the fire house.

At this year’s Fire House Open Houses in Buffalo, firefighters will be educating everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safer when cooking. Cooking is one of the leading causes of reported home fires and home fire injuries.

Commissioner Renaldo stated, “As part of Fire Prevention Month this year, the Buffalo Fire Department would like to remind the community to remain vigilant in the kitchen. Cooking injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of injury in the United States. We look forward to meeting residents in person at our upcoming Fire House Open Houses to share a few more safety tips to keep people safe in the kitchen.”

Below is a list of October 2023 Fire House Open Houses in Buffalo:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2023

ENGINE 2 / 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 376 Virginia & Elmwood

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023

ENGINE 36 / 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM 860 Hertel Avenue

ENGINE 4 / 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM 939 Abbott Road & Hollywood

ENGINE 21 / 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM 1229 Jefferson Avenue & Kingsley

ENGINE 23 / 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM 3226 Bailey Avenue

The Buffalo Fire Department encourages all City residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. Following are key messages behind this year’s “Cooking Safety Starts With You”.

• Always keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. For foods with longer cooking times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
• Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Keep a lid nearby when cooking.
• If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Finally, Mayor Brown also announced that at each of the Fire House Open Houses, City staff will be on hand to assist residents with signing up for BUFFALERT, the City’s easy-to-use emergency text alert system. BUFFALERT enables users the opportunity to get real time text updates about severe weather events, public safety issues, and serious traffic incidents. People can sign up in seconds for this possibly life-saving alert by texting their zip code to 38276.

Mayor Brown concluded, “It’s important to stay alert and be prepared during emergencies and getting good information out quickly is equally important. BUFFALERT is an excellent tool for people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to use and stay informed.”

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Buffalo, go to www.buffalony.gov or contact the Buffalo Fire Departments Fire Prevention Bureau at (716) 851- 5333 extension 752.