a snapshot of those that answered the call of the siren

Mark Anthony, son of Gale and Cynthia Anthony, was born and has lived his entire life in North Rose. He is married to Colleen Stewart Anthony; together they raised two children, Nolan and Erin. Nolan is an active fourth-generation firefighter and EMT.

"I am a third-generation firefighter, joining the fire department right out of high school, inspired by my father and my grandfather Herbert Hendershot. In our small town, joining the fire department was simply what you did as a young man with a desire to help your community. Though times have changed in our community, the feeling I get when helping people in their time of need has not."

"Thankful: I would not have been able to do any of this if it were not for my wife. Though she was never a member of the fire department, she has done as much for them as any member. I can't tell you how many birthdays, anniversaries, dinners I have missed because the siren went off and I got up and left the house."

"I am now a senior member and though my desire remains strong, I am no longer able to do the things I used to. Sustaining membership is a challenge. In years long past the department offered an opportunity to serve and social interaction; there was not much to do in a small rural town. Life is much busier now, leaving little time to meet the demands placed on members such as extensive training requirements."

"Looking back on a long and fruitful career, there is nothing I would have done differently, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve the community, my family and friends."

In earlier times many members worked locally, and employers routinely released them to respond when the siren sounded at the center of town. The nature of the emergency was rarely known; it did not matter — someone needed help. Those businesses are gone, and most members now work out of town.

"Remember that you are here for your neighbors, not yourself."

"A message I carry with me, offered by a senior member: you did not put these people in this situation, but you will do whatever you can to get them out of it."

Personal narrative provided by Andrew Guthrie (June 2026).

“I became a fireman in January 1986 when I was just 18 years old. I was sponsored by my brother Sean. Back then we did initiations and mine was to roll in the snow and then I got thrown into the portable pond. Being a ‘good sport’, I was ok with all of it. I remember my first fire; it was on Lake Bluff Road and at that time my brother was my mentor. When the tones went out, he told me to stay behind him and just watch, which I did. Then my first driving experience was on New Years 1987 when we had a chimney fire on Ridge Road, my brother and Alan Walker took Engine 17 but then they needed the rescue truck. So, my first experience driving a fire truck alone to a call was on a windy snowy night, not a great night to drive a bread truck during my learning curve.”

“I took many New York State classes such as Fire Police, Pump Operator, Vehicle Extraction, RIT Team, Preparing for Command, ICE Water Rescue, Boating Safety, OSHA, Hazmat Awareness, Fire Fighter Essentials, EVOL along with many other classes. Then in 1997, I was asked to run for department President. Who knew I would hold this position for 23 years (I believe I was the longest seated President. If I wasn’t then Fred Jenks was, and I was the 2nd longest). In 2020 after 23 years as President of the North Rose Fire Department; I stepped down. Currently, I serve as a District Fire Commissioner and am still doing what I can to ensure the department is operating well and that there are trained people available when our community needs them.”

“Why did I become a Firefighter? I thought it was my destiny to follow all of my family that serve and has served before me. I wouldn’t change a thing as this experience has given me some of the best days of my life. The Fire Department is Family, as I feel it should be.”

“I am grateful to my Father David and his wife Ella, Uncle Bobby, Brother Sean, and my Mother Pat, who were in the department with me. My Grandfather, Gerald Guthrie, died in 1978 before I was old enough to be in the department. I just wish my Grandfather, who also was a member, could be with me too, but deep down I believe he is.”

“As for hopes and visions for the future, I just hope that the department continues to exist and that members care about each other as they have in the past.”

“What would I want people to know about me in 50-100 years from now? Well, it would be that l did it my way wrong or right. I believe that with a title comes respect and it has meaning. I took the position of Department President right to the top; all 23 years’ worth.”

“As for leaving a message for followers, it is simple, don’t let our department fail. Think about all those past and present members that made this department great. We are here to protect the community; our loyalty to the town’s people is what should drive us to do the best we know how to do.”

"I had always admired the volunteers of the North Rose Fire Department. My husband David Guthrie, brother-in-law Bob Guthrie, his wife Becky, step-sons Sean and Andrew, our son-in-law Ric Guthrie, his father Dick, and brothers Steve and Mark were all members. Often there were dinners left to get cold and family celebrations missed, because someone in the community needed help. It was a big responsibility, a big commitment — and secretly I wished to be part of all that."

"In 2003 I joined the North Rose Fire Department. I had to pass all the firefighting requirements before I could join the ambulance crew: climbing ladders, dragging 150 pounds through a building, air pack, radio protocol, qualifying to drive a fire truck. My biggest worry was backing the trucks into the bay. My first time behind the hose I was knocked on my butt from the pressure — amusing for our instructor, who knew exactly what was going to happen."

"My husband David was my most trusted mentor. He had been a fireman for 37 years when I joined. He explained what I needed to know, but more importantly why we followed procedures as taught. Eventually I earned the role of Ambulance Captain — at the same time David was the elected Fire Chief. He was my driver and I was the medic in the back. Many nights we answered calls and then reported to work at Xerox with little or no sleep. That was a sacrifice we willingly accepted."

"A lot has changed. Our ambulance territory is now staffed by Wayne County paid employees. Our department no longer owns or houses an ambulance. But the brother- and sisterhood of a fire department and EMS agency is one like no other. When David and I were moving out of New York, we planned to do it with a few family members — and on moving day we were surrounded by members of the department who came out of nowhere to help. We will never forget their kindness."

"Thank you, North Rose Fire Department; it was an amazing ride."

Frederick Edwin Jenks was born July 13, 1924, and died December 7, 2007 — a fifty-eight-year member of the department. The son of Edwin Thomas Jenks and Estelle Ocumpaugh Pillow, he was raised in Painted Post, New York, where he played football and performed in the orchestra at Painted Post High. He attended Cornell University in agriculture and, before finishing, enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

The following women have been, or are, members of the North Rose Fire Department. Each met the qualifications for firefighters, and many went on to become Emergency Medical Technicians serving a vital role in the department and the community. This list is not complete and remains in process.