ALBANY, N.Y. – Gov. Kathy Hochul honored 53 fallen firefighters at the 29th Annual New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany.

The memorial honors New York’s 2,871 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty, paying tribute to them as well as thousands of firefighters across the state who continue to serve and protect their communities.

Hochul also issued two proclamations to honor New York State’s career and volunteer firefighters. The first proclamation declares October 6, 2026, as Firefighter Appreciation Day and the other declares the week of October 4-10, 2026, as Fire Prevention Week in New York State.

“For almost three decades we have come together to honor those who served New Yorkers until the end – our hearts are with these firefighters, their loved ones and the communities they called home,” Hochul said. “They made the ultimate sacrifice by putting the safety of their neighbors ahead of their own and we are eternally grateful for their service.”

As part of the 2025 State of the State, Hochul announced new legislation to ban the sale of firefighter gear containing emerging contaminant per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in New York State.

“I’ll continue making sure our firefighters and first responders have all the equipment and resources they need to protect themselves while they work to protect their communities,” Hochul said at the time.

The fallen firefighters added to the wall this year include:

David E. Bennett, South Glens Falls Fire Department
Patrick D. Brady, Fire Department of the City of New York
Joseph Brosi, Fire Department of the City of New York
John J. Brown, Fire Department of the City of New York
Jeffrey E. Campion, Yonkers Fire Department
Michael A. Carter, Fire Department of the City of New York
Edward J. Ciocca, White Plains Fire Department
Aaron M. Clark, Fire Department of the City of New York
Anthony W. Colavito, Yonkers Fire Department
Michael A. DeBenedetto, Fire Department of the City of New York
Thomas del Pino,  Fire Department of the City of New York
Thomas L. Dunn, Fire Department of the City of New York
Richard H. Eifler, Yonkers Fire Department
John J. Fasciglione, Yonkers Fire Department
Brian T. Fitzgerald, Fire Department of the City of New York
James W. Gallaher, Lincoln Volunteer Fire Department
William H. Groat, Albany Fire Department
Pieter C. Grosbeck, Fire Department of the City of New York
Peter S. Guyett, Yonkers Fire Department
James F. Hartnett, Fire Department of the City of New York
Eugene T. Kelty, Jr., Fire Department of the City of New York
Kamran A. Khan, Fire Department of the City of New York
Cliff C. Krug, Fire Department of the City of New York
Gerard R. Lennon, Fire Department of the City of New York
John G. McCann, Fire Department of the City of New York
Daniel J. McCauley, Fire Department of the City of New York
Vincent C. McMahon, Jr., Fire Department of the City of New York
Daniel G. Newman, Fire Department of the City of New York
Robert S. Okorn, Fire Department of the City of New York
Scott W. Pavlick, Binghamton Fire Department
John V. Peteani, Jr., Yonkers Fire Department
Thomas Pomplin, Piermont Fire Department
Kevin T. Reilly, Fire Department of the City of New York
Jack Rein, Fallsburg Fire Department
Michael J. Reutter, Fire Department of the City of New York
Christopher J. Revere, Fire Department of the City of New York
James J. Riches, Fire Department of the City of New York
Eduardo A. Rivera, Yonkers Fire Department
John M. Rodriguez, Yonkers Fire Department
Michael J. Ryan, Phoenicia Fire Department
Randall A. Shampoe, Jr., Clymer Volunteer Fire Department
Frederick S. Simms,  Fire Department of the City of New York
Ronald J. Smeller, Jr., Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Company
John J. Smillie, Lynbrook Fire Department
Edwin J. Steffens, Fire Department of the City of New York
James T. Sweeney, Fire Department of the City of New York
Thomas P. Tracy, Fire Department of the City of New York
Neill S. Tyndal, Jr., Yonkers Fire Department
William C. VanName, Fire Department of the City of New York
Roger F. Vitolo, Yonkers Fire Department
John H. Wensley, Freeport Fire Department
Robert V. West, Jr., Fire Department of the City of New York
Timothy G. Westhall, Fire Department of the City of New York

“Few vocations are as taxing and impose as much on an individual, family and friends as the fire service does,” Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Terry O’Leary said. “Today, we honor 53 brave firefighters who answered the call to serve as a way of life — let us never forget who they were and the sacrifices they made. May the State’s Fallen Firefighters Memorial continue to serve as a permanent symbol of their heroism.”