On November 18th, 2023, a distressing incident unfolded on Clayton Avenue in Cortland, NY as a house caught fire. In a quick response, three SUNY Cortland students residing nearby were among the first to aid two families who escaped the fire. The fire took place at 37 Clayton Avenue and caused severe damage to the homes and possessions of seven children and five adults. Firefighters removed three dogs from the house.
Holly Wright, Jessie Ciufo, and Seylah Ferguson acted. Living nearby on Clayton Avenue, these students brought blankets and coats to the families. Holly Wright is the SUNY Cortland’s women’s lacrosse team captain and Jessie Ciufo, is president of the Cortland Dance Company. These three girls offered their support for almost two hours distributing water to both families and firefighters. Most importantly, they provided hugs and reassuring words to the families, serving as a source of comfort. Holly Wright, an inclusive childhood education major, stated, “You never know how you’re going to react in those kinds of moments.” During it all, stating, “Despite being college kids in a different world, they were there for their neighbors, no matter what.” For Seylah Ferguson, a physical education major did not know the other two women initially but found common ground in aiding a dog and providing additional support.
The Cortland Mayor, Scott Steve recalled how Jessie and Holly comforted a 13-year-old boy. “They went and got one of their lacrosse coats and were just standing there hugging him.” Derek Reynolds, deputy chief of Cortland City Fire Department, expressed gratitude for the students’ actions, which provided essential support while firefighters focused on extinguishing and investigating the fire. Even after the fire was under control, the students continued to aid the affected family members.
Holly and Jessie’s family backgrounds can be credited to their immediate response. Holly’s family is rooted in public service, her dad volunteers as a firefighter, and her siblings are involved in law enforcement and social work. Jessie’s parents work in healthcare and public utilities. The morning after the fire, Holly and Jessie gave two dozen donuts and a case of water to the families gathering their belongings. Holly stated, “It’s just something to eat, and there’s little kids there, to distract them for a moment.”
The trio’s courage and quick response have not gone unnoticed. The city of Cortland and its fire company will officially acknowledge their actions through a proclamation to be read at the Cortland City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. If you want to give donations to the affected families, you can drop them off at the Cortland Fire Station, located at 21 Court Street. Updates on the families are available on Mayor Scott Steve’s Facebook page.