EMS Provider of the Year Award
On July 6, 2024, Otisco Fire Department responded to a rare and difficult early morning call. A woman had been seriously injured and trapped under a tree while resting in a hammock at a 400-acre concert venue. The scene was deep in the woods, beyond open fields and in wet and muddy conditions.
Otisco members — Austin Shute, Ben Reed, Don Nichols, Doug Bloodgood, Harry Harty, Kate Fischer, Mike Spicer, and Terry Fischer — reached the patient quickly and assessed the complex situation. A large tree had snapped and crashed down, collapsing the canopy over the hammock and pinning the woman underneath. She had a serious head wound, and her neck and back were broken.
With calm focus and teamwork, members used chainsaws and hand tools to carefully cut away branches just inches from the patient’s body. After 15 tense minutes, she was freed, stabilized, and moved into a stokes basket. Thanks to the department’s planning, their UTV was already onsite and helped transport her safely to an ambulance.
The woman later underwent emergency surgery and is now recovering. She credits the Otisco crew for saving her life. For their skilled, brave, and compassionate response, Otisco Fire Department is honored as the 2025 EMS Provider of the Year.
2025 EMS Provider of the Year Sponsored by:
Past Award Recipients
| 2024 | Stony Point Ambulance Corps | |
| 2022 | Tom Bingham and Shawn Disanto | Aurelius Volunteer Fire Department |
| 2021 | Fabius Fire Department | |
| 2020 | Christopher Hann and Jake Lawlor | Fairview Fire District |
| 2019 | Christopher Tracey | Brighton Volunteer Fire Co. No. 5 |
| 2018 | Shane Sharkey | Southampton Volunteer Ambulance |
| 2018 | Ian King | Southampton Volunteer Ambulance |
| 2017 | Brandon Sutton | Rapids Volunteer Fire Co. |
| 2016 | Riley DeJong | Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps |
| 2015 | Andrew Melamed | Albertson Fire Company |
| 2015 | Joel Melamed | Albertson Fire Company |
| 2014 | William Street | Ulster Hose Company #5 |
| 2013 | Karen L. Haab | Springs Volunteer Fire Department |
| 2012 | Kyle J. Reitan | Miller Place Fire Department EMS Corps |
| 2011 | Karen L. Rathke | Southside Fire Company |
| 2010 | Valerie White | Community Ambulance |
| 2009 | No Award Given | |
| 2008 | Firefighter/EMT Mark W. Gilson | Olcott Fire Co. |
| 2007 | Firefighter James Rosse II | South Schodack Fire Department and Castleton Ambulance |
| 2006 | AEMT-CC Patrick Barriere | Keeseville Fire Department |
| 2006 | Chief Leonard Martin | Keeseville Fire Department |
| 2006 | Firefighter George Bassler | Keeseville Fire Department |
| 2006 | Firefighter Ronald Ouimette | Keeseville Fire Department |