Fifty-three year Brewster Fire Department firefighter, Ex-Captain Robert "Bunky" Burns passed away on December 30,2022. My first remembrance I have of him was his southern drawl on our fire frequency. I was amazed that he was never south of Brewster!

When Bunky was a child, his father had a horse farm in Brewster. The road was called "Pony Road" by the Brewster natives and is now called ... (Full Story & Photos)

From the 1800's to the 1950's, Brewster and entire area around it in Putnam County was composed of farms. The majority of these farms raised cows for milk. (I personally remember going to five barn fires in a single night in the late 1970's when Homer Stephen's was Chief). The milk was transported by train to New York City. In 1856, Gail Borden received a patent for condensed milk. He ... (Full Story & Photos)

The Brewster Fire Department (BFD) regrets to announce that life member Ed Hojnacki has passed away. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Lawrence Church in Brewster, NY on August 20,2022 at 10 AM. He was a member of the department for fifty-three years. He joined the Brewster Fire Department on August 5,1969. and died on August 1,2022. He was a former Captain of the Ambulance (1974-1978), Chief of ... (Full Story & Photos)

It was July 29,1997 and former Chief Bill Rieg and I were sitting in the day room that Tuesday afternoon. It was approximately 3:30 PM. Over the monitor, the Sheriff's Department (then called 40 Control) said there was an explosion at the Bum Steer Restaurant. The Bum Steer was a popular steak house and bar on RT 121 that was close to the Connecticut border. At first I did not believe my ears. ... (Full Story & Photos)

It was June 22, 1997.

I vividly remember responding on the Ladder Truck as its Captain. We were passing Putnam County Savings Bank just before 2AM. The temperature on the bank said it was over 90 degrees and it was humid. Little did I know that this was to be the worst day for me and the Brewster Fire Department. Michael Neuner (photo #1) was one of my Ladder Truck Lieutenants. He was responding ... (Full Story & Photos)