— August 24, 2026 — After resolving an odor-of-gas investigation at Hasbrouck Apartments in Ithaca on Monday morning, a staffed crew from the Cayuga Heights Fire Department was available to help a nearby department.

Members of Cayuga Heights were responding to a gas odor call at around 10:10 a.m. when they heard that Dryden Fire Rescue had been called to a motor vehicle collision in the Town of Dryden with reported injuries.

Chief George Tamborelle, 261, informed dispatch that Cayuga Heights had a manned engine ready to arrive as Dryden Command started asking neighboring departments for assistance. Dryden then requested and received responses from Engine 203 and U261. Cayuga Heights firefighters were assigned to establish a landing zone for an incoming medical helicopter. LifeNet 7-10 subsequently landed at the designated landing zone, and the patient was transported by air to Upstate University Hospital, according to the department.