Cortland Volunteer Fire & Rescue
· Fire Chief, Jerry Vrbka
· Assistant Fire Chief, Adam German
The fire hall was built in 2000 on the east side of town on the corner of First Street and Sherman Avenue. Currently the department has 18 personnel, which includes EMT’s, First Responders and Fire Fighters. Their equipment includes a tanker, a grass rig, a medical truck, a pumper truck and a utility truck. Monthly meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Training sessions are held in alternating months for medical and fire training.
Emergency Medical Services Team:
The Cortland volunteer rescue established their EMS Team in 1982 to better serve the community. The department receives financial assistance from the Cortland Rural Fire District, the Village of Cortland, and through donations. The area covered is 64 square miles, including Cortland and Princeton. Hallam and Clatonia Rescue Squads serve as mutual aide and as their transporting units. The EMTs are dedicated volunteers who donate many hours a year of their own time for monthly meetings, drills, training, classes, EMT basic and refresher courses, public relations and seminars
Cortland Explorers:
The Cortland Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department started a junior fire and rescue team around 1996 known as the Cortland Explorers. All members are certified as Professional CPR providers and go through many hours of fire and rescue training a month. Explorers have the opportunity to train alongside the fire department by going to calls to get first-hand experience of what it’s like in the field. To be an Explorer you must be 14 to 20 years old and live in the area.
