The local area healthcare system is currently operating beyond capacity due to many factors including elevated respiratory illnesses throughout the region. Please see the above statement from the Southwestern Emergency Medical Services Council. To assist system capacity and support community health: 

1. Follow CDC and NYS Department of Health guidance on influenza and respiratory illness precautions.
2. Use telehealth options for non-emergency care, when appropriate. Check with your insurance available telehealth options.
   
3. If unwell, practice masking, physical distancing and staying home when possible. 
   
4. Consider delivery and/or rideshare services for medications or groceries as needed. 
   
5. Local influenza activity remains elevated, contributing to patient volumes. Plan for extended wait times when seeking care in hospital emergency departments. 
   

fire department

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The Village of Lakewood Fire Department is a fully volunteer organization consisting of firefighters and medical providers. We respond to over 1,100 calls for alarm annually as the busiest volunteer agency in Chautauqua County. With a rich history steeped in tradition dating back to 1893, we dedicate ourselves to providing the highest level of professionalism during all of our emergencies in our community and neighboring ones.

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
​Thank you for your interest in the Lakewood Fire Department. We are an all-volunteer department made up of men and women from all walks of life that are willing to be on call to respond to any emergency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. In recent years it has averaged between 3 and 4 times a day that they put aside what they are doing and make themselves available to help their community. We have consistently been the busiest all-volunteer department in Chautauqua County, in 2022 answering 1,132 alarms. We cover all of the Village of Lakewood and about half of the surrounding Town of Busti. The majority of our calls are for medical emergencies and we operate two ambulances and a heavy rescue truck to handle these calls. As you will see by examining our web site, we also have two pumping engines, a 100 foot aerial truck, a 4 wheel drive pickup truck, a Chief’s car, a utility task vehicle (UTV), and a rescue boat. We are fortunate here in Lakewood to have the Village of Lakewood Board of Trustees and the Town of Busti Council that are always supportive of our needs and make it possible to have the things we need to be ready to face any emergency. Please take your time while browsing our web site and if you need further information or have additional questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

KURT W. HALLBERG
CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT

links

• Lakewood Fire Department History
• Facilities
• Apparatus
• EMS - Emergency Medical Services
• Billing
• Prospective Members
• Benefits

leadership

Department

Chief of Department: Kurt Hallberg
First Assistant Chief: Stephen Smouse
Second Assistant Chief: Alexander Hallberg
Captain: Vincent Certo
​Assistant Captain: Benjamin Troche
Lieutenant: Brandon Fardink
Assistant Lieutenant: Mark Zamborik
Fire Police Captain: Patrick Marlinski
​EMS Captain: Donna Bryant

Lakewood Volunteer Company, Inc.

President: Daniel Imfeld
Vice President: Bruce Bretz
Secretary: Laura Gilbert
Treasurer: Tom Allen
Financial Secretary: Thomas Danielson

honors and memorials

Mayor's Award
​The Mayor’s Award is presented by the Village of Lakewood Mayor and Board of Trustees. It is awarded for heroic performance in the line of duty to save life with little regard to personal safety.

1972 - Jack Knowlton
Saved a child from a house fire on Chautauqua Ave, Lakewood

1978 - Keith Flanders
Saved a woman from a house fire on Marvin Ave, Lakewood

1978 - Jack Knowlton
Saved a woman from a house fire on Marvin Ave, Lakewood

1979 - Greg Osman
Saved two elderly women from a house fire on E. Terrace, Lakewood

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Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor consists of ID numbers that have been retired and will never be issued to a member again. The number will remain with a past member who went above and beyond the call to service. 

Chief Richard J Lattimore
ID #1 (1948-1975)
First African American Fire Chief in NYS History

Chief Robert J. Fischer 
ID #3 (1953-2002)

Chief Sherwood C. Jungquist
ID #5  (1947-1994)

Firefighter Rollo T. Farnsworth
ID #6 (1938-1993)

​Assistant Chief Edwin Nelson Jr.
​ID #12 (1948-1982)

Chief Herman Knowlton
ID #16 (1943-2001)

Chief George V. Blacksone
ID #24 (1939-1999)

Assistant Chief James N. Decker
ID #45 (1954-1957, 1974-2021)

Chief Jackson W. Knowlton
ID #46  (1962-2023)

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Other Notable Awards

Steve Smouse
​2022
Chautauqua County Legislature Commendation

Donna J. Bryant
WCA Chautauqua County EMT of the Year

Daniel T. Imfeld
2001
NYS Department of Helath Bureau fo EMS - EMS Leadership Award

​Jack Knowlton
County Level

George Blackstone & Donna Byrant
District Level

Daniel T. Imfeld
1996
State Level

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In Memory of Those Who Passed Away While Active Members

George V. Blackstone
F. Everett Blood
Dick Boutelle
Fred R. Dahlbeck
​Peter Dawson
H. Leo David
James N. Decker
Marion Emory
Guy E. Farnsworth
John N. Farnsworth
Rollo T. Farnsworth
Robert J. Fischer

​Charles Guertin
Terry F. Jenkins
Herman L. Knowlton
Jackson W. Knowlton
George Lauritson
James S. Lord
John E. McMahon
Edwin Nelson, Jr.
Clyde Norton
Howard Peters

​Sherwood Jungquist
Edwin S. Rates
David Sales
Peter P. Scott
Richard Seder
Archie Skoglund
F. Leigh Swartz
Ralph A. Vincent
Horace Wilson
Clye Whitford