Founding Member of NY Fire Co. Dies in Tractor Mishap

The man who donated the land upon which the East Berne Volunteer Fire Company fire station is built and a 60-year founding member of the department died in ‘a tractor accident Sunday afternoon.

According to local television station News10 ABC Paul Giebitz Sr., 89, died after the tractor upon which he was riding slipped a gear and entangled Gibitz in moving parts. East Berne firefighters responded to try to save one of their own, but were unsuccessful.

Giebitz was also the owner of his family’s business, Heldeberg Bluestone and Marble, and many of the firefighters had been employed by the company over the years, the television station reported.

To help the responders deal with, and accept what happened, the department is working with a grief counseling team, the station reported.