New York Flags Lowered to Honor Fire Chief David Gagnon
The longtime volunteer firefighter and National Guard veteran died while clearing a fallen tree from a roadway.
New York state flags will be lowered to half-staff on Thursday, July 9, to honor Fire Chief David Gagnon, who died in the line of duty while helping clear a fallen tree from a roadway in Ulster County. Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags on all state government buildings lowered from sunrise to sunset as New Yorkers mourn a firefighter remembered for decades of public service.
Gagnon, chief of the Cottekill Volunteer Fire Company, died July 3 after a section of a tree unexpectedly broke and struck him while crews were working in the Town of Rosendale, according to state officials and local reports.
Flags Lowered Across New York
Hochul announced the statewide tribute on July 8.
The order applies to flags displayed on New York state government buildings. They will remain at half-staff from sunrise through sunset on July 9.
Lowering flags is a traditional public sign of mourning and respect. In this case, the gesture recognizes both Gagnon’s death in the line of duty and his long record of service as a firefighter and military veteran.
“For more than three decades, Dave lived a life of extraordinary service to his country and his community,” Hochul said.
The governor offered condolences to Gagnon’s family, friends, fellow soldiers and members of the Cottekill Fire Department.
Fire Chief Killed During Roadway Emergency
Gagnon was among the firefighters responding to a report of a tree blocking a roadway on the afternoon of July 3.
The emergency occurred on Lucas Avenue Extension near the Rosendale Municipal Center. While firefighters were attempting to remove the obstruction, part of the tree suddenly snapped and struck Gagnon, according to reporting based on statements from the fire company and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency aid was provided by fellow firefighters and personnel from several agencies, including:
- The Bloomington Fire District
- Marbletown First Aid
- The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office
- The Rosendale Police Department
Despite those lifesaving efforts, Gagnon died from his injuries.
The incident shows how even routine-looking emergency calls can place firefighters in unpredictable and dangerous conditions. Volunteer departments often respond not only to fires, but also to crashes, storms, medical emergencies, fallen power lines and blocked roads.
More Than 30 Years of Fire Service
Gagnon joined the Cottekill Volunteer Fire Company in 1991, giving him more than three decades of firefighting service.
The department remembered him for his leadership and commitment to the community.
“His passing is a profound loss to his family, fellow firefighters, the department and the community,” the fire department said in a statement shared by another Hudson Valley fire district.
His work reflected the role volunteer firefighters play across New York, particularly in smaller towns and rural communities. These departments depend heavily on residents who train, answer emergency calls and leave their families or workplaces when help is needed.
Gagnon ultimately lost his life while performing that service.
A Distinguished Military Career
Gagnon also served for 35 years in the New York Army National Guard, according to a tribute published by the Pleasant Valley Fire District.
He graduated from the U.S. Army War College and reached the rank of colonel before retiring from military service.
That record means his public service extended across two demanding fields: military leadership and emergency response.
Hochul said Gagnon served with honor and continued protecting his neighbors until the end of his life.
Leadership Beyond the Firehouse
Gagnon was also a certified public accountant and managing partner of Gagnon & Associates, a family accounting firm.
He earned an associate degree in business administration from SUNY Ulster and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Siena College, according to his published obituary.
His community leadership included service as a past chairman of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. He led the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when many local businesses were struggling with closures, staffing problems and financial uncertainty.
He also contributed time to Scouting America, including leadership roles within the Rip Van Winkle Council.
These roles show that Gagnon’s influence reached beyond emergency response. He worked in business, youth development, military service and civic leadership.
Ulster County Community Mourns
Tributes from public officials, emergency agencies and community organizations followed Gagnon’s death.
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger also ordered flags at county buildings lowered in his honor. She described his death as a reminder of the courage emergency responders demonstrate when entering unstable and dangerous situations.
The Rosendale Police Department remembered Gagnon as a dedicated leader whose service had a lasting effect on those who worked beside him.
Members of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce recalled his steady leadership during the pandemic and his habit of asking how he could help.
The public response paints a consistent picture: Gagnon was not only a fire chief, but also a mentor, colleague and community problem-solver.
Why the Half-Staff Tribute Matters
A half-staff order cannot erase the loss felt by Gagnon’s family or fellow firefighters. It can, however, ensure that his sacrifice is publicly recognized across New York.
The tribute also draws attention to the risks accepted by volunteer firefighters. Many serve without receiving the public visibility associated with larger professional departments, yet they face many of the same dangers.
Their work may include:
- Entering burning buildings.
- Responding to severe storms.
- Assisting crash victims.
- Clearing dangerous roadways.
- Handling hazardous materials.
- Supporting communities during disasters.
Gagnon’s final call involved a fallen tree rather than a fire. The danger was no less real.
Remembering a Life of Service
Fire Chief David Gagnon was 58 years old when he died. He is remembered as a father, grandfather, partner, brother, firefighter, military veteran, accountant and civic leader.
His death is a painful loss for the Cottekill Fire Department and the wider Ulster County community. It is also a reminder that public service often takes place quietly—during storms, along blocked roads and at moments when most residents are seeking safety.
As flags are lowered across New York, residents can honor Gagnon by remembering his decades of service and supporting the volunteer emergency organizations that protect their communities.
New Yorkers are encouraged to keep his family, fellow firefighters, military colleagues and loved ones in their thoughts during this period of mourning.
Sources
- Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul, “Governor Hochul Directs Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Fallen Fire Chief David A. Gagnon,” July 8, 2026.
- Times Union, reporting on the fatal Rosendale emergency and community response.
- Pleasant Valley Fire District tribute to Chief David Gagnon.
- Keyser Funeral and Cremation Service obituary for David A. Gagnon.
- WRGB CBS 6 Albany report on the Cottekill Fire Department incident.
