Chief Russell Brooks Memorial Fund
A memorial fund established by the friends and family of Chief Russell E. Brooks II, Ret. UFD.
Overview
Retired Utica Fire Department Chief Russell E. Brooks II passed away on June 2, 2024 after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. Brooks followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle when he joined the fire service on September 4, 1975, giving 43 years to the department until his retirement in 2018. Brooks served as chief for 13 of those years.
During his tenure, Brooks was noted for starting the Utica Fire Academy, the city's ambulance service and assisted in New York City following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
In December 2023, the city of Utica named the Central Fire Station in his honor. The Chief Russell E. Brooks II Central Fire Station is located at 552 Bleecker St.
The donations to this fund will be used for the purchase of E-Bikes for the Utica Fire Department so paramedics can respond quickly and easily to emergency situations during community events.
