Last Updated: March 3, 2010

Locust Valley Fire Department – Month in Review

• Adam Grohman

The Locust Valley Fire Department has been busy in its never-ending efforts to support the needs of the community. On February 23, the dispatcher received a 911 call, of a report of a house fire. Chief Baker arrived first and was, as he later related, “confronted with a 2 1/2 story private dwelling under renovation with fire in the walls.” First due Engine 544, under the command of Capt. Akapnitis, “then secured the hydrant in front of the house and stretched a line to the door. The crew from Ladder 546, under the command of Lt. Smith, went to work opening the walls on the first floor and sent additional members to the basement and to the second floor to check for extension. The additional units on scene, Engines 543 and 545, along with Rescue 542, sent their crews to assist in the labor-intensive and extended overhaul operation that took place. Ambulance 541 was also on scene and established a medical command post. No injuries were reported. Glen Cove Fire Department sent 1 Engine to standby at Locust Valley Headquarters. The incident was under control within an hour and final overhaul complete an hour later” noted Chief Baker.
On February 8, when requested by the Glen Cove Fire Department who was engaged in fighting a fire on Bowne Street, units from Sea Cliff and Locust Valley raced to the scene of the two story private dwelling to support the Glen Cove Department’s efforts. Chief Baker explained that “Sea Cliff was originally requested as the FAST team, but was put to work on arrival, so Locust Valley was requested to act as the new FAST team. Glenwood Fire Company also provided standby coverage at Glen Cove's headquarters. Ladder 546 responded and setup their equipment by the Command Post for FAST operations. A Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST), also known as a Rapid Intervention Team/Crew (RIT/RIC), is a team of two or more firefighters dedicated solely to the search and rescue of other firefighters in distress. FAST shall have no other operational assignment during an incident.”
On February 6, the department was dispatched, to “assist the Bayville Fire Company with a fire in a two-story private dwelling on June Avenue. FIRECOM requested Locust Valley provide one ambulance to the scene and one engine to standby at Bayville headquarters in case of additional alarms in their district. Units 5400, 5401, and Ambulance 541 responded to the scene and were requested by Bayville Command to establish a rehab location for their firefighters. Units 5402 and Engine 544 responded to Bayville headquarters for their standby assignment.
Other news:
During these heavy snowfalls, the Locust Valley Fire Department asks residents to clear fire hydrants when clearing walkways. This work, no doubt, can make a difference when the need for water is critical. Residents are also reminded that clearing snow can be exhaustive and taxing on the human body. For this reason, only residents in good health should ever be performing such work. Those who can't should enlist the help of neighbors, friends, or family when the time comes to shovel,” noted Assistant Chief Brian Nolan in a statement.
Nolan also commented on the new Carbon Monoxide Law also known as Amanda’s Law. This new law, which took effect on February 22, mandates the presence of a carbon monoxide detector in every home. Assistant Chief Nolan commented that “law was named after Amanda Hansen, a teenager whose life was tragically ended by a carbon monoxide leak from a defective boiler while she was sleeping at a friend's house in January 2009. The department wants to remind our community of this need, and also to ensure that all residents understand that existing carbon monoxide detectors carry a useful lifespan of 3 to 7 years depending on the model and manufacturer. Your volunteers would like to remind you to take a moment to review your detector manual so you understand a few simple items you need to know. The age of your detector is of concern to the LVFD. A detector with an age beyond that of the manufacturer's recommendation may not work during an emergency. For this reason, homeowners should immediately replace it. When purchasing a new detector, choices are not difficult. A name brand manufacturer, a UL listing for safety, an LED readout for peace of mind seeing "000", or even today's new voice activated alarms all make a suitable purchase. Prior to installing your carbon monoxide detector, the homeowner should mark the date of purchase on the inside, and also mark the month and year on the battery to serve as important reminders.”
Chief Baker noted that he and the other members of the department are “proud to announce the launch of our new fire police squad.” Baker explained that the new unit “was established to provide support during various firematic operations and non-firematic events. Some of their duties include: Traffic Control, Establishing Scene Safety Zones, Crowd Control, Protecting Emergency Workers and Bystanders, Securing Incident Scenes, and Providing Incident Support. The members all completed a comprehensive fire police training class through the Nassau County Fire Academy. Richard Coyne has been appointed as the fire police squad's first captain.

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