Fights fires for the community, not accolades
On Sept. 14, Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, hosted the 2nd Annual Salute to First Responders ceremony at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. Storm King Engine Company’s Lt. Tom Trainor was among the 15 honored across the 99th Assembly District. Despite being nominated by the Cornwall-on-Hudson Board of Trustees, Trainor downplayed the honor.
“It was a surprise,” Trainor said when he received a call from Schmitt’s communication director, “because I don’t think of myself as the first person to be recognized. I don’t do it to be recognized. I do it because I like doing what I do. I want our members to know, it’s not a personal accolade. It’s as much theirs as it is mine because we are one big family and we do things together and for the community.”
Trainor is a third generation volunteer firefighter who joined the department as soon as he turned 16-years-old. The tradition started in 1949 with his uncle Joe Trainor and continued with Joe Trainor, Jr., his grandfather Rusty O’Dell, uncle Chris O’Dell, uncle Bill Trainor (honorary member), and his father Chief Mike Trainor.
In March 2017, Trainor joined Storm King Engine Company as a probationary firefighter, not because he was following in his family’s footsteps, but because it felt like the right thing to do.
From the age of five, he started spending time at the firehouse with his father. He would help prepare the softball field for the Clancy Armitage Classic, as well as assist at the annual Firemen’s Fair.
His first experience fighting a fire came at the age of thirteen. It was a September morning, just before dawn. Trainor woke to the smell of something burning. A few moments later, his father’s pager sounds alerted him to a reported structure fire at a neighbor’s house. The elder Trainor headed to the firehouse while his son rushed to his neighbor’s house.He grabbed a garden hose and extinguished the small fire before the fire department arrived.
That same year, Trainor started his fire service as an Explorer with the Cornwall-on-Hudson Explorer Post. In 2018 , he completed the necessary training and education to become an interior firefighter. Last year, Trainor achieved the rank of lieutenant. He has also held the positions of recording secretary and trustee.
“To me it means more responsibility,” Trainor said of his rank. “It means striving to be a better leader and a better listener and just being there for our members.”
Although he has no set duties, Trainor responds to calls, splits duties with the other officers, and oversees the equipment and the trucks.
He said everyone in the department helps each other to make sure everything gets done. He logs about 20 hours a week between calls, work details, and training.
Trainor said he’s not sure if he’ll aspire to become chief one day, but prefers to focus on his current position. He does hope to make a career out of being a firefighter and plans to stay with the department as long as possible.
