David Mortensen of the Branchport Keuka Park Fire Department has been named New York's 2026 Fire Prevention Educator of the Year after more than three decades of teaching fire and life safety across the Finger Lakes.
The Firefighters Association of the State of New York selected Mortensen, known locally as "Fireman Dave," from among the nominations it received for the annual award.
Mortensen began organizing fire safety programs at Branchport Elementary School in the early 1990s. His lessons covered home escape planning, smoke alarms, stay-low-and-go techniques and emergency response.
After the school closed through consolidation, Mortensen expanded the program into the Penn Yan Central School District. He also brought safety education to homeschool groups, summer camps around Keuka Lake and schools in the local Mennonite community.
Mortensen later added ice safety lessons focused on ice thickness, self-rescue and cold-water survival.
Mortensen is a former fire chief and serves as chairman of the Branchport Keuka Park Fire District Board of Commissioners. He credited other department members with supporting the education programs over the years.
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