In this joint interview, fire chief Tom Lucchesi and veteran firefighter Pat Kelliher talk about fires and firefighting in Beacon.

Not so long ago, volunteer firefighting in Beacon was a generational tradition. “When I started, there were 200 volunteers,” says Pat. “Your grandfather was one. Your father was one. You were one.”

In those days the city’s three firehouses had as many as 75 volunteers each. By contrast, today’s fire department has 18 career firefighters and just five volunteers. The downward trend in volunteerism is not unique to Beacon. Across New York and the United States more broadly, the equipment and techniques of firefighting have become far more advanced and professionalized, requiring extensive training, and the nature of fires has changed as well. People also have less time — and time off from work — to answer the call when a fire breaks out.

Tom also talks about the new $14.7 million firehouse, which is nearing completion.

A little more on our guests:

Pat Kelliher is a 54-year veteran of Beacon’s volunteer force who retired earlier this year. The son of a Beacon police officer and the grandson of Irish immigrants, he was among the earliest wave of Vietnam draftees. On returning home, he found the fire department offered some of the camaraderie and shared purpose he experienced in the war.

Fire Chief Tom Lucchese was obsessed with emergency services from a young age. Raised in New Windsor, he worked for the Newburgh fire department through a series of budget cuts and layoffs. During a single one-month period he was demoted from Captain to Firefighter, then promoted to Captain, then promoted again to Assistant Chief. “It would only happen in Newburgh,” he says. “We can laugh now, but I feel very fortunate. There were many firefighters who lost their jobs.”