Contact
Address:
1766 Latta Rd
Rochester, NY 14612
Phone #:
585-865-2887
Board of Commissioners
The North Greece Fire District is a political subdivision of the state and a district corporation, encompassing part of the Town of Greece and a portion of the Town of Parma. The North Greece Fire District is governed by a separate board of five fire commissioners, elected by the qualified voters of the North Greece Fire District at the annual election held on the second Tuesday of December of each year. Each commissioner is elected for a five-year term commencing on the 1st of January following the election. One commissioner is elected each year so that there will always be experienced commissioners on the board. Fire district commissioners receive no compensation. Every commissioner must at the time of his or her election or appointment and throughout his or her term of office be a resident of such fire district.
The District's ELECTION POLICY can be found here.
Public Meetings
Beginning in 2025, the board will meet to organize on the first Tuesday of January and at 6 PM on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. A second meeting will be held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 3 PM. All meetings will be held at our headquarters (1766 Latta Road, Rochester, NY 14612)
District Management Staff:
Fire Chief: Kevin Battaglia
Deputy Chief: Joe Lissow
District Administrator: Tina Gretzinger
District Secretary: Kari Dutton
District Treasurer | Information Technology: Andy Hinds
History of the District
William Schmitt, a Buick dealer, formed the North Greece Fire District. A Pierce-Arrow truck was purchased for $6,700, the first motorized fire truck in the Town of Greece. In June of 1922, the Blacksmith Shop at the corner of North Greece and Latta Roads became the first fire house, and William Schmitt, the first chief. During the 20’s the Department responded to many fires and traveled out of the District to assist surrounding Fire Departments.
In 1935, Chief William Schmitt declared the 1922 Pierce-Arrow unsafe; two 1936 American-La France pumpers were purchased. The Fire Department had grown to 55 members.
With the beginning of the 40’s, the District purchased an inhalator and placed it in a squad car to be used or medical emergencies. In 1944, the Ladies Auxiliary was formed.
The 50’s saw rapid growth in the North Greece Fire District. The first radio was placed in truck #5. The truck could communicate with the Rochester Radio Control Center. In 1955, Fire radio receivers were purchased for all volunteers. As more homes were built in the eastern part of the District, it was determined that a second fire house was needed. On July 27, 1958, the new house at Latta Road and Mt. Read Blvd. was dedicated. In September of 1958, two new Seagrave pumpers were placed into service at the new fire house.
As we moved into the 60’s the District saw an even faster rate of growth. Many family farms along Latta Road disappeared, and tracks of homes sprung up. On September 15, 1963, the construction of a new communication center and three bay addition was dedicated at the station at North Greece and Latta Roads. In October 1963, the State installed a traffic light at the corner of Latta Road and Mt. Read Blvd. On Sunday, March 21, 1965, a disastrous fire struck the business district in Hilton. Over 500 fire fighters from 15 companies battled the fire. A large portion of the business district was lost. One person died in the fire. The department newsletter, the Alarm, was started in the Fall of 1969 by Patty Williams and Jane Burgess.
As the District continued to grow, the Spring of 1970 saw the ground breaking for the expansion of the Latta Road and Mt. Read Blvd. station. Also, at the same time, Headquarters was moved to that location. The North Greece Benevolent Association was organized in July 1970. 1972 saw the first ladder truck purchased for the District, a Tele-squirt. Also, the ladder truck was the first to be painted with the new truck color – “chrome yellow.” The Department celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1972. In December of 1972, the Department announced the creation of the Fire Prevention and Inspection Division; Gene Preston was in charge. On February 11, 1973, the North Greece Fire Department assisted the Lake Shore Fire Department at the Crescent Beach Hotel fire. The hotel was completely destroyed and one employee lost his life. Tragedy struck the Department on October 4, 1975, when firefighter Charles Werner fell from the back seat of a pumper and was killed.
As the size of the District’s population increased and the demand for service continued to grow, in 1981 it was determined that four full time fire fighters would be hired. They worked 6 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. In April of 1983, station #3 was completed on English Road.
The history of the North Greece Fire Department up to 1982 was taken from the book Milestones Along The Way 1922 to 1982, written by Eugene Preston and John Stageman.
1983 also saw the opening of the Training ground at 3666 Latta Road. A three-story cinderblock building was constructed as a smoke house. In 1986, Thomas Grace was promoted from career fire fighter to Lieutenant. He was assigned to direct the career fire fighters, dispatchers and administrative staff. This was the year that the new attack pumpers were purchased, and the apparatus colors were changed to white over red. In 1988 the tele-squirt ladder truck was replaced with a 75 foot quint.
With a concern for the many facets of emergency rescues, in 1991 the District purchased a Heavy Rescue Truck. As the North Greece Fire District continued to grow, a need was seen for 24 hour coverage by career staff. In 1996 Station #1 went to 24-7 coverage; and, in 1997 Station #2 joined them. Also in 1997, the first Thermo-Imaging Camera was put into service. Station #2 was extensively enlarge in the same year. In 1999 Station #3 was remodeled and the living quarters were enlarged, and it became a 24-7 operation in 2000. With the turning of the century, our 75 foot quint was replaced with a 105 foot truck.
As we look to the future new and innovative technology will be our guide to change.