Stottville Volunteer Firefighter Connor McCagg has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association Firefighter of the Year Award. McCagg’s dedication, quick thinking, and life-saving skills exemplify the core values of the volunteer firefighter community in Columbia County.

Connor McCagg, an active member of the Stottville Volunteer Fire Company for six years, is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a certification he achieved at the age of 18 to better serve his community. His dual roles as a firefighter and EMT highlight his commitment to public safety and emergency response. On October 20th, 2023, McCagg’s EMT training was put to the ultimate test. While teaching a class at the Schenectady City School District, where he is a new educator, McCagg heard a commotion in a nearby classroom. He quickly discovered that a fellow teacher had collapsed and gone into cardiac arrest. Responding immediately, McCagg assessed the situation, took control of the scene, and initiated CPR. He coordinated with colleagues to ensure emergency services were alerted while maintaining the correct administration of CPR. When an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was brought from the other side of the school, McCagg and his coworkers used it to deliver three defibrillation shocks, successfully reviving the teacher before Schenectady City Fire and Mohawk Ambulance arrived.

The Schenectady fire medics later confirmed that the teacher’s survival was due to the prompt and effective CPR performed by McCagg and his colleagues. The teacher, a man in his 50s, subsequently received a pacemaker and, after a month-long recovery, returned to his teaching duties. McCagg’s principal praised him for his composure and expertise during the emergency. In recognition of their heroic actions, McCagg and his coworkers received citations from the Schenectady City School District, the City of Schenectady, and the New York State Assembly.

Connor McCagg’s actions on that critical day not only underscore his dedication to his role as a volunteer firefighter and EMT but also reflect the high standards and capabilities of the Stottville Volunteer Fire Company and volunteer fire services across Columbia County.

The Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association was proud to honor Firefighter Connor McCagg as the 2024 Firefighter of the Year, celebrating his bravery, skill, and unwavering commitment to saving lives.