Ryan Derkowski ’26, a junior majoring in biology, is a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician at the historic Fayetteville Fire Department.
It’s one thing to talk about community service; it’s another thing to do it. For Ryan Derkowski ’26, such engagement might lead to a full-time job.
“I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter,” says the Syracuse University junior, who volunteers at the nearby Fayetteville Fire & EMS (aka the Fayetteville Fire Department). “I now have a chance to turn my passion into something more.”
A certified firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT), Derkowski participates in the Fayetteville Fire Department (FFD)’s Bunk-In program. The 12-year-old program is part of a nationwide initiative enabling college students to earn a degree while getting on-the-job training in fire and emergency medical services (EMS).
Derkowski credits Syracuse University for making him a “more knowledgeable and empathetic” first responder.
Derkowski is convinced that a liberal arts foundation makes him more knowledgeable and empathetic. “It also prepares me for graduate or professional school in case I want to move into leadership,” says the biology major, who’s based in the College of Arts and Sciences.
His commitment to academic success and community leadership is underscored by his selection to the S. Louise and Howard Phanstiel Scholars Program. In addition to supporting middle-class students, the program imparts the value of philanthropy, mentoring and financial literacy.
“I wouldn’t be at Syracuse if it weren’t for the Phanstiel program,” continues Derkowski, who gets additional aid from the Chancellor’s Scholarship and Orange Distinction Award. “Being a Bunk-In participant allows me to obtain a well-rounded education while providing a critical public service.”
Putting Skills Into Action
An obvious perk of community service is skill development. Every shift at FFD’s Station 20 enables Derkowski to put hard and soft skills into action.
Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and training—in his case, activities like hose deployment, forcible entry and throwing ladders. “We hone them to razor-sharp perfection,” says Derkowski, who regularly works two 12-hour shifts a week. “They might save somebody’s life, including my own.”
Soft skills include critical thinking, creative problem-solving and effective communication. They not only enhance his technical prowess, but also help him navigate the psychological complexities of the job.
Like the time Derkowski responded to a fatal motorcycle crash. Or the RV blaze that was punctuated by a series of propane tank blasts. It took everything in him to help contain the fire while explosions went off around him.
“Sometimes you have to emotionally detach yourself from a situation to do the impossible,” he says.
A Second Family
Training is a way of life for Derkowski, who is a member of FFD’s Bunk-In program.
Volunteering for fire duty is like applying to college in that both involve a competitive application process—interviews, background checks, station visits, etc. And because of the training and teamwork that go into fire service, Derkowski sometimes feels like a student-athlete.
“I visited multiple fire departments when I applied to Syracuse,” says the former lifeguard and U.S. Soccer referee. “But Fayetteville was always my first choice. The crew has become my second family.”
Derkowski is part of an intrepid community of 70 active volunteers and 30 full- and part-time career members. A “combination department,” in firefighting parlance.
Founded in 1845, FFD is one of the area’s oldest and busiest departments, responding to approximately 3,500 fires and medical emergencies a year. Many of them are “mutual aid” jobs, where FFD works with departments out of its jurisdiction.
FFD is a “combination department,” where volunteers like Derkowski (left) work alongside full- and part-time career members. “They’re my second family,” he says.
Such collegiality engenders a “more coordinated and efficient response” to emergencies, explains Derkowski, who doubles as an interior firefighter and ambulance crew chief. “Mutual aid allows us to serve a wider community when needed.”
During a typical 12-hour shift, he goes on six to 10 runs, most of which are EMS related. The rest are “fire calls”—structural and vehicle fires as well as smoke investigations.
At his disposal is a fleet of sophisticated vehicles: Engine 20, Ladder 20, three ambulances, Rescue 20 and Medic 20.
Derkowski is particularly fond of Ladder 20, a $1.2 million apparatus with a 107-foot, heavy-duty aerial ladder. “It’s highly versatile,” he says, describing the truck as a “basic tool” for rapid response, ventilation, extinguishment and rescue operations. “The work is an adrenaline rush.”
Derkowski’s understanding of various biology topics, like anatomy, physiology, immunology and nutrition, enhance his EMT duties.
Dedication. Pride. Integrity.
Derkowski became obsessed with firetrucks at a young age. His younger brother, Tyler (a first-year student at Onondaga Community College), is one of his bunkmates at Station 20. Both credit Keith Johnston—their uncle who’s a past assistant fire chief and current firefighter in Plattsburgh, New York—for inspiring them to answer the call.
When Derkowski turned 17, he enlisted in the Endwell Fire Department, near Binghamton, New York, and climbed the proverbial ladder to success. Joining FFD was like getting called up to the majors, although he still volunteers for Endwell whenever he returns home.
An immaculate, state-of-the-art facility adjacent to Fayetteville Village Hall, Station 20 runs on dedication, pride and integrity. Access to the latest equipment and technologies is also part of the deal.
“I do everything here—eat, sleep, study, train, workout,” says Derkowski, who also cooks the occasional meal for the department.
Like most firefighters, he considers the station’s kitchen table sacred. A metaphor for workplace culture. “It’s where everybody comes together, regardless of age or rank,” Derkowski says. “We bond over meals as well as stories and traditions.”
Fellow volunteer firefighter and EMT Patrick Mannion G’80 is usually there alongside Derkowski. “Ryan is an exemplary member of our department,” says Mannion, who also is FFD’s public information officer.
Onsite sleeping quarters not only contribute to Derkowski’s safety and well-being, but also improve his fire and EMS response time. “I do everything here,” he says of Station 20.
Mannion characterizes Derkowski as a “vital part” of the FFD community, someone who adheres to station rules and requirements. “He’s held in high regard by our leadership and by his fellow firefighters,” adds the New York State Regent and Whitman Advisory Council member.
High praise for someone who, to paraphrase legendary firefighter and author Dennis Smith, faces death with every alarm bell. “Mental strength is like physical strength—you never stop developing it,” Derkowski adds. “It makes me a better student, a better firefighter and a better person.”
