NEW YORK – Two volunteer firefighters from Dutchess County have received New York’s highest honor for heroism in the fire service. Pleasant Valley Fire Chief John Cronk, a retired career firefighter from the City of Poughkeepsie, and Pleasant Valley firefighter-turned-lieutenant Eddie See were named 2025 Firefighters of the Year by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) during its annual convention on Thursday.
The recognition comes for their actions during a deadly blaze in the Town of Clinton on October 13, 2024, inside an illegal Airbnb. The pair rescued a mother and her two young children from the inferno. Tragically, the mother, Shannon Hubbard, and her infant later died from their injuries, but her three-year-old son survived, along with his father.
Dedication to a Fallen Mother
Both men dedicated the award to Hubbard, whom they described as the true hero.
“The real hero in this story is Shannon Hubbard, the mother who ran up those stairs that terrible night, knowing she was going to save her children or pay the ultimate sacrifice in doing so,” Cronk said tearfully. “This entire experience has changed my life forever… I’m determined to be a better person, father, friend, firefighter, and Chief.”
See echoed the sentiment, calling the recognition “humbling” and emphasizing the emotional impact of the incident.
Recognition Beyond the State Level
Cronk and See have been honored by multiple organizations, but Cronk said the most emotional moment came when the Dutchess County Volunteer Firemen’s Association recognized them. At the county convention, Pleasant Valley Town Supervisor Mary Albrecht presented commendations alongside other local, county, and state officials.
The highlight of the evening was a proclamation written by Town Clerk Mary Beth Muir, which Albrecht read aloud, moving the audience to silence. The poetic resolution vividly recounted the events of that October night, praising the firefighters’ courage and dedication.
Cronk remained humble afterward.
“We are not heroes. Everyone in the Pleasant Valley Fire Department would have done the same thing if they were in that situation,” he said.
Commissioner’s Praise
Pleasant Valley Fire Commissioner Melissa Lawlor, who was present at the fatal fire and many of the award ceremonies, described their actions as the embodiment of the fire service’s highest ideals.
“Their courage in saving a young child, and their compassion in dedicating this honor to the mother and baby lost, reflect the very highest calling of the fire service and the deep humanity at its heart,” Lawlor said.
A Poetic Tribute to Courage
Muir’s resolution, presented during the county ceremony, painted a vivid picture of the fire scene — a calm October evening turned into a nightmare by fast-moving flames. The verses honored “Johnny and Eddie” for braving smoke-filled halls and climbing to the second floor to rescue the trapped family, working together to carry them to safety despite worsening conditions.
The tribute concluded with a powerful reminder of the firefighter’s creed:
“We do not stop when things go wrong. We do not rest when we are tired. We press ahead, fully inspired. We stop not when the day is won, we only stop when we are done.”
As FASNY’s top honorees for 2025, Cronk and See’s names now stand alongside generations of firefighters recognized for risking everything to save others — a legacy of courage deeply rooted in the Hudson Valley.
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