In March 2017, a fire engulfed a home on Scotland Road in Canandaigua, trapping three people inside. Sam Loiacono and Ron Bement, the only two career firefighters on duty, responded to the call. With the help of volunteers, Loiacono set up a ladder to rescue the occupants, while Bement single-handedly stretched a fire hose to combat the flames. “Knowing there was just the two of us, I really thought that was going to be a bad, bad night and morning,” Loiacono recalled. “Fortunately, the outcome was the best we could hope for.”

Loiacono and Bement, who started their careers at the Canandaigua Fire Department a week apart 30 years ago, retired together in 2024. They attended the fire academy, worked the same shifts, and responded to countless emergencies side by side. Their families vacationed together, and their children grew up together. “We’d talk back and forth. ‘How much longer do you think you’re going to go?’” Loiacono said. “We both thought it would be neat to hit 30 years.”

Bement comes from a long line of firefighters. His father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-uncle were all firefighters, and his wife, Cathy, rose to the rank of assistant fire chief as a volunteer. Their son, Jake, is also a Canandaigua firefighter. “I just grew up around the firehouse,” Bement said. “It seemed like a good job.”

Loiacono, who began volunteering for Canandaigua while working for the state highway department, loved firefighting from day one. “I loved going out helping people, all the different things thrown your way, challenging yourself to learn more, do more,” he said.

Loiacono retired as captain, a role he held for nearly 20 years. He was responsible for overseeing fire scenes in the absence of the fire chief, ensuring daily duties were completed, and conducting training. He also led fire safety and education programs, reaching approximately 2,000 people annually. “I wanted to follow in his footsteps and take the lead in overseeing that,” Loiacono said, recalling a firefighter who visited his school as a child.

Bement specialized in fire investigations for the last 14 years, including an arson case on Saltonstall Street. “I enjoyed the mystery of it,” he said. “Why things work the way they work. It’s not always apparent and cut-and-dried. It’s a challenge.”

Both firefighters have vivid memories of their calls, especially those involving fatalities. “Those times pale in comparison to all the times we’ve saved somebody,” Loiacono said. “Those were more prevalent.” Bement added, “Luckily, nothing has affected me from doing work or sleeping.”

In retirement, Bement conducts building safety inspections for the town of Canandaigua, while Loiacono works seasonally for the state, doing tasks like plowing. Mayor Bob Palumbo thanked them for their years of dedication and service. “I wish them both well on whatever new adventures they have coming up,” Palumbo said.

Reflecting on their careers, Bement praised Loiacono’s reliability and professionalism. “He was a great firefighter, a great friend and a great guy to work with,” Bement said. “It was an honor and a privilege to work on the same shift as him, up until the end.”

Both firefighters will miss the camaraderie and the opportunity to help others. “It was a good run,” Bement said. Loiacono added, “To me, this was my city. When I was working my shift, this is my city tonight. I’m going to make sure everybody is OK.”