OXFORD – Nearly 160 people attended the annual Oxford Fire Department banquet on Saturday, held at the Oxford Fire Station.

Once everyone had finished digging into a Hoppies-catered feast, Oxford Fire Chief Mike Cobb thanked everyone for attending and listed a number of the department’s achievements over the past year. Fire Chief Cobb finished his address by cautioning first responders to be careful out there, pointing to a December shooting in Webster, NY, as evidence for the increasing dangers responders are facing.

Guest speaker, District 122 Assemblymen Clifford W. Crouch, took the podium next and addressed those assembled.

“It is an honor to be here, to recognize all of the responders as well as to thank them for their services,” he said, adding his remorse that emergency responders seem to be facing additional dangers.