Firefighter Accused of Calling in False Alarms

A New York volunteer firefighter is facing five felony charges related to calling in false alarms to 911. Cyril Uebbing, 23, was arrested by New York State Police following an investigation requested by the fire chief of the Hillside Fire Department.

According to a press release issued by the NY State Police, the chief reported that a new member had called in five incidents between December 23, 2024 and December 26, 2024 that turned out to be false alarms. The incidents were called in via cellphone. According to the press release, the incidents were:

• On December 23rd, 2024, at 1:57 pm, an individual contacted Dutchess County 911 to report black smoke coming from a chimney at the Southlands Farm located at 5771 Route 9 in the Town of Rhinebeck. 
• On December 24th, 2024, at 10:38 am, an individual contacted Dutchess County 911 from the phone number that came back to Cyril Uebbing and reported an outdoor odor of sulfur in the area of Primrose Hill Road and Ackert Hook Road in the Town of Rhinebeck.
• On December 24th, 2024, at 2:30 pm, Dutchess County 911 received a call of an ATV in a ditch in the area of Mill Road and Lynwood Road in the Town of Rhinebeck. This matter was turned over to the New York State Police for further investigation and was ultimately unfounded. 
• On December 24th, 2024, at 6:44 pm, an individual contacted Dutchess County 911 to report smoke in the area of Albany Post Road and Old Route 9, Habitat on the Hudson.
• On December 26th, 2024, at 12:07 pm, an individual contacted Dutchess County 911 to report the outdoor odor of gas in the area of 31 Riverview Drive and Mill Road in the Town of Rhinebeck. 

The five felonies are for Falsely Reporting an Incident – 2nd degree, which are considered class “E” felonies. Class E are the lowest level of felonies in New York, with up to four years in prison, five years of probation, and fines up to $5,000. Here is the link to the NY State Police press release.