By Laura French
OAKS CORNERS, N.Y. — A New York volunteer EMS captain and deputy fire chief responded to a blaze on their wedding day last month, just hours before saying “I do.”
Oaks Corners Volunteer Fire Company EMS Capt. Danielle Day and Deputy Chief Zachary Rey were getting ready for their big day on the morning of July 18 when they received an alert of a fire nearby, according to the New York Times.
Day, who was with her bridesmaids as they were having their hair styled and makeup done, said she made a “deal” with them that her groom would respond first and, “If Zach gets there and it’s nothing, I won’t go,” according to the Times.
The blaze turned out to be a two-alarm structure fire in the same town their wedding was taking place, and both soon-to-be-newlyweds were on the scene at around 11 a.m., five hours before their wedding was set to start. Day, who works full-time for North Seneca Ambulance, stayed outside to provide medical care for firefighters while Rey supervised firefighting efforts from inside the structure.
Day said she was keeping track of the time, and both were able to leave the scene by 2 p.m.
The couple had met in 2013 shortly before Day joined the fire department, and Rey proposed in 2018.
Day said they were both prepared for the fire that day, being used to dropping everything during holidays and other events to respond to an emergency.
The couple were able to tie the knot, on time, in their backyard at 4 p.m., with about 100 masked and socially-distanced friends and family members in attendance.
“We were actually proud that we got to go put out that fire. Yes, it was our wedding day. But we were able to go and help somebody on their worst day, on our best day,” Day told the Times.