Ossining Firefighter Donald Farrell Elected President Of State Firefighters Association

OSSINING, NY — A more than 150 year old organization decided to keeping New Yorkers safe now has a familiar face at the helm.

Ossining resident Donald Farrell has been elected the 84th president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York at the group’s 154th Annual Convention in Ellicottville. The election was announced Aug. 22, 2026. Farrell took the oath of office from his son, Daniel Farrell, an Ossining firefighter, as family members and volunteer firefighters from around the state watched.

“It is a great honor to be chosen by my fellow firefighters to serve as President of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York,” Farrell said accepting the post. “I am excited for this opportunity to lead FASNY and serve our members and the entire New York fire service.”

FASNY said Farrell’s top priority during his two-year term will be expanding youth participation in the fire service. Farrell also said he wants to increase the involvement of women.

“The youth of today are the firefighters and fire service leaders of tomorrow,” Farrell explained. “I also want to expand the involvement of women in the fire service. These two initiatives will enhance and grow our current recruitment and retention efforts, strengthening the volunteer fire service in New York.”

Farrell has been a member of FASNY since 1990, according to the association. Hepreviously served as first and second vice president, a member of the board of directors, sergeant at arms and assistant sergeant at arms. The association also said he is a past chairman of its Firefighter of the Year Committee and was part of the Ossining team that received the Firefighter of the Year award in 2001 after pulling a 9-year-old girl from an apartment fire.

In Ossining, Farrell has been a member of the Ossining Volunteer Fire Department for 47 years, after joining in August 1979. He served as assistant chief from 1999 to 2002 and as chief from 2003 to 2004. He continues to serve as a deputy chief and a member of Cataract Hose Company No. 2.

Farrell has lived in the Ossining community since 1967 and lives with his wife, Shelly. The association said his public service also included five years with the Westchester County Department of Corrections and 29 years with the Ossining Police Department, where he retired as a detective investigator.

FASNY, founded in 1872, represents about 80,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel across New York State.