1st Responder News Long Island October Edition

This section is exclusively dedicated to coverage of Long Island emergency services PUBLISHING SINCE 1993

LONGISLAND WWW.1RBN.COM

NEWS

OCTOBER, 2015

BLAZE DESTROYS SMITHTOWN HOME

JEFF BRESSLER

The Smithtown Fire Department was toned out for a structural fire with possible occupants inside at the location of 44 Marquette Drive at 2:10am on Sunday, August 9th.

Upon arrival the call was upgraded to a fully involved structural fire.

- See more info on page 2

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October, 2015

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CHRIS BRENNER

Working van fire in Southampton

JEFF BRESSLER

On September 11th at 3:48 a.m., the Southampton Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a car fire at the intersection of David Whites Lane and Edge of Woods Road.

Upon arrival of the chiefs, it was determined to be a van that crashed head on into a tree, causing it to burst into flames.

The driver fled before fire department arrival. Crews quickly knocked down the flames and turned the scene over to the Southampton Town Police and the Southampton Town Fire Marshals Office. Chief Michael Kampf was the chief in charge.

JEFF BRESSLER

Blaze destroys Smithtown home The Smithtown Fire Department was toned out for a structural fire with possible occupants inside at the location of 44 Marquette Drive at 2:10am on Sunday, August 9th.

Upon arrival the call was upgraded to a fully involved structural fire. Three occupants were assisted out of the house before units arrived. The occupants were taken by Smithtown FD and Kings Park FD ambulances to the Stony Brook University Medical Center with their conditions unknown at this time.

JUMP TO FILE #081015101 2 ½ “hose lines were deployed around the structure to fight the blaze. The fire was also attacked from above by Ladder Company 7. Lines were also used to attack a fire that was starting to spread at an adjacent house. The fire was quickly put out with significant damage to the siding.

One Smithtown firefighter was injured and transported to Stony Brook University Medical

Center with a minor injury.

Cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

On scene were Smithtown Chiefs 4-2-30 (Murphy), 4-2-32 (Fitzpatrick) 4-2-33 (Diecidue), Engines 4-2-3, 4-2-4,4-2-5, Ladder 4-2-7, Ambulance 4-2-61,4-262, Fire Police 4-2-10. Mutual aid was provided by St. James FD, Nesconset FD, Hauppauge FD, Kings Park FD, and Nissequogue FD. - JEFF BRESSLER

CHRIS BRENNER

Dumpster fire in Southampton On August 8th at 11:28 a.m., the Southampton Fire Department was toned out for a dumpter fire on Mariner Drive in Southampton Village. The first unit arrived and found the dumpster to be fully engulfed. Additional units arrived on scene quickly and extinguished the fire. Southampton Fire Chief Mike Kampf was in charge of the scene.

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

October, 2015

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October, 2015

ADVERTISER

2015 New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy

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Page

1st Priority Vehicles

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Branch Corp.

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Firematic

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Grant Guys

6

Long Island Mega Show

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Safety & Environmental

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Safety First Divers

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Task Force Tips

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Waterway

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CORPORATE INFORMATION 1st Responder News (ISSN 1525-1683) - New York edition - Vol. 16 No. 10 - is published monthly, 12 times a year for $36 per year by Belsito Communications, Inc., 1 Ardmore Street, New Windsor, NY 12553.

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No one covers Long Island like 1st Responder News does!

The Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission’s Wildfire Task Force, will hold the eighteenth annual New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy (NYWIMA) from October 22 through November 1, 2015 at the Brookhaven National JUMP TO FILE # Laboratory in Upton. 082415165 Following on the success of three previous Brush Truck Training for the Volunteer Fire Service courses, the academy has dramatically expanded its offerings to the volunteer firefighting service on Long Island and throughout the state.

Among the courses offered at the academy this year are Wildfire Powersaws and Storm Debris Removal, Basic Firefighting and Wildfire Behavior and Brush Truck Training for the Volunteer Fire Service. The academy will also offer three free courses: Basic Wildland Search Skills and Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery.

The academy offers Basic Firefighting and Wildfire Behavior along with Fire Operations in the Urban Interface free of charge to Nassau and Suffolk County volunteer firefighters. Basic Firefighting and Wildfire Behavior is offered as a five day classroom session or as a one-day field day session. Both options are fully recognized by the National Wildfire and Coordinating Group (NWCG), which governs wildland firefighting standards across the country.

The five day session and the field day session allow volunteer firefighters to participate in future New York-based wildland prescribed fire operations and allows them to be eligible for out-of-state nationwide wildland fire suppression mobilizations with various federal and state agencies.

“Numerous studies of the wildland fire risk in New York State have found that the Pine Barrens Region of Long Island is the most at risk area for wildland fires that have the potential to impact neighboring communities,” Central Pine Barrens Executive Director John Pavacic said.

“Because of this risk, the Academy, in coordination with it partners at the Suffolk County Fire Academy and Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, has focused on putting on course offerings like the Brush Truck Training and Field Day versions of the Basic Firefighting course that directly relate to the risks Long Island volunteer firefighters face.”

The academy expects the driving portion of the Brush Truck Training course to be conducted on a newly constructed 1.3 mile training route at the Suffolk County Fire Training Center in Yaphank.

“The construction of this new course is a great opportunity for volunteer firefighters to gain a driving experience that will closely resemble what they may face on local wildfire response efforts,” Pavacic said. “The construction of this course would not have been possible without the co-

operation the academy received from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and from Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Commissioner Joe Williams and Suffolk County Department of Public Works Commissioner Gil Anderson, as well as other key personnel in these agencies, all of whom devoted themselves to the creation of this driving course.”

Participating fire departments in the three past sessions of the Brush Truck Training courses included: Brentwood, Cutchogue, Deer Park, East Hampton, Eastport, East Quogue, Flanders, Gordon Heights, Hagerman, Kings Park, Lakeland, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Mastic, Massapequa, Nesconset, North Babylon, North Sea, Orient, Patchogue, Shelter Island, West Babylon, Westhampton Beach and West Sayville.

This year, the classroom portion will be held on October 24 and 25 with the driving portion being held on October 31 or November 1. Volunteer departments are free to choose which day they would like to do the driving portion of the course. Brush trucks only need to be brought to the field day portion of the class.

The academy is also pleased present, in conjunction with the FDNY, an All-Hazard Field Reconnaissance course. This course is a field intelligence course designed to teach mapping and damage assessment skills so that emergency planners can better prioritize what areas should get resources in the event of a large scale disaster response effort.

“Based on the experience the entire tri-state area had after Superstorm Sandy, there is clearly a need for this class,” Pavacic said. “The personnel at the FDNY should be applauded for their work in creating a course that specifically meets the needs of emergency response personnel in densely populated areas.

Good field awareness is crucial to developing incident response plans that get emergency resources to areas as quickly as possible.”

Building upon the academy’s success in training Town of Islip emergency management personnel in a variety of incident command positions at the 2014 academy, the academy has added an observer position to its incident management team training options.

The observer designation is designed to be a maximum five day training opportunity allowing people who only have limited exposure to the actual functioning of the incident command team and system to come in and learn how the planning process works, how local resources interact with incident management teams and to learn how local goals and objectives can be heard and acted upon in a response.

“The heroic efforts of local volunteer and professional emergency responders during Superstorm Sandy is something in which the whole region can take pride,” Pavacic said.

“Once the initial response ends, though, the long term support that incident management teams can provide to storm-ravaged communities cannot be underestimated. Incident management teams can, through

their connections and organizational structure, bring many resources into play that can help communities recover more quickly than they would without these resources. It greatly benefits local firefighters, police officers and public officials if they know how these teams work so that they can be called back in at a moment’s notice to assist local emergency responders.”

Participants in the Incident Management Team trainee program will shadow and work with academy managers in the academy’s operations, planning and logistics sections.

The trainee programs will be held in two sessions that are scheduled to run from October 22 through October 26 and from October 26 – October 30.

Training activities during this time frame will involve developing operational and safety plans for activities that include extensive chainsaw activities, prescribed burns, dozer and heavy equipment operations, helicopter operations and all-terrain vehicle and brush truck operations.

In total, the academy will offer 29 courses. Since the Academy was formed in 1998, it has trained nearly 6,800 local and emergency response personnel in incident management and wildland firefighting courses.

This year’s academy will feature three advanced level classes in incident management that the academy is offering in conjunction with the New York State Office of Emergency Management. Course offerings are: (COMT) Communications Unit Technician, (L-958) Operations Section Chief and (L-962) Planning Section Chief.

“The academy appreciates the support it receives from the New York State Office of Emergency Management,” Pavacic said. “This partnership has resulted in raising the preparedness level of emergency response personnel in the region and across the state. The courses offered this year are important building block courses for positions in the operations, logistics and planning sections of an incident management team.

These courses build the skills needed for personnel to function as members of an incident management team.”

BILL FONDA

The Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission’s Wildfire Task Force will conduct the academy along with a consortium of federal, state and county agencies including: (Federal) Brookhaven National Laboratory, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (State), Central Pine Barrens Wildfire Task Force, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Emergency Management Office, New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (County and Other Organizations) Dowling College, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services, Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, Suffolk County Incident Management Team, Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and the Colorado Wildfire and Incident Management Academy.

Class registrations must be received by the close of business on September 25, 2015. Students whose registrations are postmarked after this date will be assessed an additional $5 per day for each day of class enrollment.

Discounted enrollment fees of $60 per day per class are available for individuals who register for classes before September 1. Classes that do not meet minimum enrollment standards by September 14 will be cancelled.

Academy attendees are encouraged to register online for the academy at www.nywima.com.

Additional information about the academy is available at the Academy’s website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/73.html .

If you have any questions about the 2015 New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy, you may E-Mail the Academy at nywima@pb.state.ny.us or call directly at 631-769-1556.

- JOHN PAVACIC

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

October, 2015

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

NYSAFC ROBERT STADELMAN

Four members complete TERT Recently, four members of Exchange Ambulance Corp. of the Islips (Jackie O’Hare, Alexandra Kopsky, Lianna Happel, and Robert Stadelman) completed Technical Emergency Response Training (TERT) for Chemical, Biologic, Radiological, Nuclear, & Explosive (CBRNE) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama.

The CDP is operated by United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the only federally chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction training facility in the nation.

Training at the CDP campus is federally funded at no cost to state or local emergency response professionals or their agency.

TERT is a grueling four-day course which culminates with

JUMP TO FILE #090115122

training in a true toxic environment using the nerve agents Sarin and VX and biologic agents Ricin and Anthrax.

This is the only facility in the nation that allows civilian first responders to train using live agents.

Research has shown that measures of confidence are higher for those who train with genuine toxic agents rather than a simulated agent.

This is yet another example of the continuous training our volunteers undergo to better serve our community.

Congratulations to our four members for completing this class!

- ROBERT STADELMAN

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NYSAFC’s Company Officers Leadership Training headed to Long Island COLT will be held October 16-17, 2015, in Nassau County, featuring lectures by John Salka, Mark McLees, and Paul Melfi.

The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) is pleased to announce that an additional program has been added to its latest Company Officers Leadership Training (COLT) series, which features lectures by Battalion Chief John Salka (FDNY), Chief Mark McLees (Syracuse Fire Department), and Deputy Chief Paul Melfi (City of Olean Fire Department). The two-day COLT program will be held October 16-17, 2015, at Nassau Community College (CCB Building) in Garden City, N.Y. NYSAFC recognizes that leadership development is necessary now if we are to protect the future of the fire service. For the COLT program, the association has assembled a cadre of instructors, all nationally renowned experts on company officer leadership both on and off the fireground, for an energizing learning experience.

Pre-registration and on-site registration will be available. The program fee is $175 per person (for NYSAFC Individual and Department Members) and $200 per person (for non-members).

Training will be held on Friday, October 16 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 17 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

COLT will include the following lectures and conclude with a

JUMP TO FILE #081415143 roundtable discussion on Saturday afternoon.

John Salka’s “Five Alarm Leadership” lecture is a dynamic program that is designed to energize and motivate the people in your department to perform and excel in everything they do. It outlines many of the common situations that fire departments and fire companies find themselves in and presents suggestions and solutions to those situations.

Salka, a veteran of the FDNY for 33-plus years, has experienced many of the challenges and hurdles that your fire department is facing. He has learned through his experience as a lieutenant, captain, and chief how to treat people, how to motivate them, and even how to discipline them so that they want to come back for more. Issues such as integrity, inspiration, interest, innovation, insight, and initiative are all discussed and applied to life in the fire house and on the fireground.

Mark McLees will present “Striking the Balance Between Tradition & Progress.” An effective fire officer has many quality traits. One is the ability to keep abreast of current topics, issues, trends, and fads in the fire service.

An attribute even more critical is the ability to grasp an understanding of the importance of tradition in the fire service and the officer’s

vital role in maintaining the key points of tradition. Unfortunately, striking a balance between these two issues is difficult at best.

There is no black and white. This program intends to challenge officers and their ability to perform “critical thinking” as they develop their leadership role.

Paul Melfi’s “Leadership Safety for the 21st Century” lecture will engage chiefs, officers, and “wannabe” officers (that means firefighters) in critical thinking and situational awareness. The exciting, interactive program will be loaded with information and convincing evidence. If you are a real leader, show up and have fun with us.

Bringing your “A” game to the fight is critical to firefighter survivability and injury reduction.

Students will be challenged to enhance life safety by self-examination, using case studies of prior incidents. Participants will work on the “16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives” of the Everyone Goes Home/Courage To Be Safe® program of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

The COLT pre-registration form is available at www.nysfirechiefs.com or call (800) 676FIRE for more details.

Information on NYSAFC’s 20152016 COLT series, which will feature a new lineup of speakers and lectures, will be announced in the fall.

- NYSAFC

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

October, 2015

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October, 2015

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Where did the Volunteers go?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

JEFF BRESSLER

JEFF BRESSLER

Smithtown rescues construction worker from roof The Smithtown Fire Department was toned out for a 16-23 (EMS response/rescue) on September 9, at 1:01p.m. with the location of 18 East Main Street and Lawrence Avenue.

Smithtown EMS arrived on the scene to assist an injured construction worker on the roof of the west end of the shopping center.

Upon arrival, 3rd Assistant Chief Diecidue (4-2-33) requested

JUMP TO FILE #091015103 the Company 7 tower ladder (4-27) be dispatched for a roof rescue of the patient.

Company 7 positioned the ladder and sent the bucket to the roof with a stokes basket to move the worker.

The injured was removed from

the roof and transported to the Stony Brook University Medical Center with his condition unknown.

Units took up at 1:43 p.m.

On scene were Chief Diecidue (4-2-33), Ladder (4-2-7) Engines (4-2-2),(4-2-4), Ambulance 4-2-62 and Fire Police (4-2-10).

- JEFF BRESSLER

Volunteer fire departments across the state, as well as the country, have always had issues with recruiting and retaining members, but what can be done to alleviate this growing problem? In New York State, many fire departments have some type of “Length of Service Awards Programs” (LOSAP) in place so as to give prospective members the extra incentive to join, and it also gives current membership some type of “retirement” when they hit a certain age.

Other incentives in New York are through tax credits offered by the state. These current credits offer volunteer firefighters/EMS a small deduction on their income taxes, and may also give volunteers, who are homeowners, a property tax break as well.

The Fire Association of the State of New York (FASNY), offers Scholarships and College Tuition Reimbursement Programs, along with many discounts from various businesses.

With all of these programs available, fire departments are still finding themselves in a membership dilemma, and again, depending on where you live, it can go from bad to worse in some of the rural departments.

On Long Island, fire departments can have 200-300 members on their rosters because of the population.

These departments, though thriving, suffer the same daytime response issues as the rest of the departments due to work schedules and dducations.

Would additional members ever solve that issue? It may help, but chances are they won't. Smaller departments, such as those in the Northern and Western parts of New York, hosting a roster of 20-100 members are no different in regards to the daytime response issues, but are struggling worse for membership. One of the biggest problems, at least in New

York State, is the training. Yes, we need to train, that's not the issue.

The requirements, set forth for new interior firefighters, is a “basic training” (Firefighter I) that entails over 100 hours of training. This doesn't sound like a lot, but it is when a prospective member has a job, a family and/or an education to worry about. It's not like the “old days” when you learned as you went, most departments require that a member, wishing to be an interior firefighter, complete the course within a certain time frame.

Some of these new recruits, hearing the requirements, are running for the hills! Our younger generation that used to consist of members 18-25 years old, has changed to 30-40 years old with the current membership.

Without our younger generation stepping up, we will face larger issues in the near future, when the current membership has out lived it's own youthful abilities. Let's face it folks, we aren't getting any younger, and the need for “younger blood” is getting bigger as the days go on. The question of “What if a Volunteer didn't Volunteer?” might need to be changed to “What happened to all of the Volunteers?”

In a 2013 report, published by NFPA, there were 1,140,750 protecting the United States. Of those, 69%, totaling 786,150, were volunteers!

The volunteer fire service, being one of the largest fraternal organization in the country, has always been, and will always be, a needed asset for the communities they serve. It takes a unique dedication to fill the shoes of a volunteer firefighter. A person doesn't just wake up and decide to join, it's either been a life long dream, as it was mine, or your friends or family are involved. Either way, “probies” are very much welcomed, and very much needed. The sense of pride, of being a volunteer firefighter, cannot be explained, it has to be experienced. We need to find a way to pass on one of this country's oldest professions, dating back to 1736 when Ben Franklin became the first volunteer firefighter.

- MIKE TURANO

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

October, 2015

ON THE BOOK SHELF Jr

by John Malecky

On Call By Allen B. Locklier,

Available from: FSP Books & Videos 188 Central Street, #4 Hudson, MA 01749-1330 1-800522-8528 E-mail:support@fire-policeems.c-om www.fire-policeems.com Price: $19.99

Car sheared in half by bridge support

CHRISTOPHER GEORGE

Lucky to be alive, devastating crash on SSP On August 27, 2015 at 11:16 a.m., a silver Ford Mustang was driving East on the Southern State Parkway between Exits 33 and 34 when the vehicle side swiped a black Ford Explorer.

The silver Mustang bounced off the Explorer and hit the left guard rail sending it airborne for a distance of approximately 30 feet.

The vehicle then struck the top corner of the underpass with such

JUMP TO FILE #082715139 force that the vehicle was sheared in half.

The driver was ejected, but surprisingly suffered no apparent life threatening injuries. The victim was conscious and alert immediately following the crash.

Crews from the East Farming-

dale Fire Department secured the vehicle and transported the patient to Good Samaritan Hospital.

State troopers and Suffolk Police shut down the road for nearly two hours. Silver paint could be seen at the top half of the bridge, showing how high the vehicle hit.

- CHRISTOPHER GEORGE

This is a soft cover book measuring six inches by nine inches and has 229 pages.

It is a compilation of memoirs of a paramedic firefighter, who served a career in the Clark County, Nevada Fire Department whose headquarters is in Las Vegas.

During his career, he served as a firefighter, paramedic and arson

On Call

PAGE 9

investigator, so the 57 chapters in the book reflect on memories of all three duties and as you can imagine the stories are short!

Not all of the stories are “in the field”, shall we say, as some of them take place in the station and other places.

I believe it is helpful to explain a little about Clark County and the fire department. The county itself is the largest in the state of Nevada and is the size of the state of New Jersey which is 7790 square miles.

One of it’s jurisdictions is protection of the Las Vegas strip, so alarms on that strip receive a dual response from the county and the city.

They also cover the largest part of Las Vegas Valley, which is 293 square miles and to three resort townships.

They maintain 29 career and 13 volunteer stations the latter being in rural areas.

In any event this book is a good read!

Additional columns by John Malecky can be found at www.1rbn.com

PAGE 10

October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

October, 2015

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

Vehicle News

East Marion Maxim , Unit 8-2-4

Manorville Fire Police Unit 5-16-11

BOB VACCARO

BOB VACCARO

Helping first responders in crisis On Wednesday August 26th, the Theta Chi Fraternity at Long Island University at the C.W. Post campus (Brookville, NY) held a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness fundraiser Car Show at Ransom Beach in Bayville NY. This was the fraternities second Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness event.

The proceeds JUMP TO FILE# from this event are 082815100 going to help first responders in crisis.

This event helped shed light on the growing epidemic of first responder and veteran suicide from PTSD. This event helped bring attention to a new treatment program/facility for first responders and run by first responders. The name of the facility is "The Station House Retreat" located in Boyton, Florida.

They treat first responders with everything from PTSD to substance abuse issues. The Station House also offers a emergency 24 hour hotline for first responders in immediate danger. They'll stay on the phone with the person until they get someone to their side.

The money that was raised at this event is going to the Sweeney Foundation, which is a not for profit foundation that covers transportation and treatment costs for those who cannot afford to pay for

PROVIDED BY FRATERNITY

The Brothers of Theta Chi pose for a group photo before the show kicked off.

their treatment received at the Station House.

The event was Sponsored by BMW of Oyster Bay; whom supplied a raffle gift basket and brought a 2016 M3 and a 2016 X4 to display at the show.

There were about fifty cars in attendance and the show brought more public attention to the growing epidemic of first responder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

For more information on the Station House Retreat go to www.stationhouseretreat.com for more information on the Sweeney foundation go to www.sweeneyalliance.net for information on Theta Chi at LIU Post find them on facebook at ThetaChi LIUPost and on Instagram at ThetaChi_LIU - STEVEN GERLANG

Unspoken Words (sometimes silence is not golden) Chaplain's Corner Didymus McHugh

There are many times that we do not keep quiet when we should, but there are times that are worse.

It is the time that we should open our mouths, but do not.

It may be because we are ashamed, or do not know who to talk to, or think that we should be able to handle the situation. Well, there are times to be vocal and this is the time to start the discussion.

We would do a disservice if we never continue the conversation.

Firefighters hurt in so many ways, but all too often, we’ve become used to being hurt and do not want to admit that we have a problem. This subject will be brought up more often. The topic for the month is SUICIDE, in particular firefighter and EMS suicide.

I have been going to classes about suicide and there is so much information, that people ignore.

The public may talk about police suicides. This sticks out because the officers have the method of suicide strapped to them, almost all day and night.

I reminded the instructor that they forgot about the entire population of firefighters and EMS.

They told me that they did not hear about a firefighter going home with an axe and dieing via suicide.

We know so many ways and are exposed to many more ways and methods.

So far, about 675 cases of suicide have been tracked. Out of that number, five deaths were by immoliation, that is setting yourself on fire. The major method was via firearms.

There is something wrong going on here. We need to be sensitive to our brothers. We need to know each others’ base line behavior, so that we can tell when they are off their game.

Remember that you are allowed to have tailboard chats to express your concerns about a brother one on one with nobody around.

One of my friends had a good friend who died via suicide and it was painful.

“Why did I not see it coming?”

We start asking a lot of questions after it happens, but how about a lot of questions to possibly help the person? Do you even know what to look for?

According to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, these are the Suicide Warning Signs “People who kill themselves exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do. The more warning

signs, the greater the risk. Talk if a person talks about: • Killing themselves • Having no reason to live • Being a burden to others • Feeling trapped • Unbearable pain • Behavior A person’s suicide risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased, especially if it’s related to a painful event, loss, or change.

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs • Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online for materials or means • Acting recklessly • Withdrawing from activities • Isolating from family and friends • Sleeping too much or too little • Visiting or calling people to say goodbye • Giving away prized possessions • Aggression Mood People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods.

• Depression • Loss of interest • Rage • Irritability • Humiliation • Anxiety My thoughts are that so many times a death by suicide is swept under the rug and reported a dif-

ferent way. This may be done so that the family receives all the life insurance and death benefits. But people, look at the reasons.

How many people know that the divorce rate for firefighters is 85% versus 77% for police?

We walk around with so much stress and just keep burying it inside. We still hold onto the “macho” personality that we can handle anything.

Do we reach out for our help or the help of a brother? Why not?

If we use a CISM team for incidents, and might discuss the incident, why do we hold back? If we keep bottling up our stress, it will come out. This is not too be debated. It can be our health.

I have talked with some people, who have attempted death via suicide and found that hope seemed to be missing in their lives. There are many places to find hope.

It is interesting that the number one way of death by suicide for law enforcement is also the number one way of death by suicide for fire and EMS. The most reported deaths by suicide is of active firefighters versus retired, fired, resigned or disabled. The high number of deaths by suicide by age are close from 18 to 50.

So far this year, there have been 68 completed suicides. Last year was the largest amount since

the tracking began and that was 104 deaths. What happened last year?

I personally ask that if you are thinking of hurting yourself or if you know of someone thinking about hurting themselves, please call either Serve and Protect at 615-373-8000 or the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).

Even though times may seem extremely dark, there is hope that can be found and people that are will to assist you.

Psalm 23 states “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

I want you to think about the word “through”. We go through the hard times. We do not continue to live there.

Granted it may take some time and may be painful, but please remember that God is there with you.

You may feel alone, but it is alright to call out to Him for help.

I ask that you do not give up, there is hope.

(If you learn of a fire or EMS death by suicide, please report it to ffbha.org, so that we have accurate information to help our brothers and sisters) Thank you and stay safe.

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October, 2015

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - LI

Flying Dutchmen 2015 New York State Co-Champions This year’s New York State Championship Motorized Tournament, hosted by the Selden Fire Department at Firemen’s Park in Ridge on August 15, was touted as the “Quest for the Cup”.

The cup, in this instance, is the coveted three-tiered trophy adorned with a foot-tall cup atop JUMP TO FILE# which is awarded, 082415110 annually to the volunteer fire department drill team that outpaces all of its competitors in an eight event, state-wide competition.

The tournament lived up to the hype and then some. Nine teams were still in contention with just the last contest, Buckets, to go.

At best, the West Hempstead Westerners or Copiague Yellowbirds could tie for first place tournament honors at that point and the remaining seven: the East Islip Guzzlers, West Sayville Flying

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Dutchmen, Islip Wolves, Port Washington Road Runners, Bay Shore Redskins, North Lindenhurst Piston Knockers or the Central Islip Hoboes, all could actually win.

At that juncture, the Flying Dutchmen were in sixth place with nine points and the Hoboes were clinging on to first with thirteen points just a mere one-half point ahead of North Lindenhurst.

With so many teams in the mix, it almost looked like the National Hockey League playoffs.

The Westerners opened the bidding for first place in the drill with a 21.07 second run in Buckets which ultimately landed them a second place finish in the contest. The next two title contenders, North Lindenhurst and East Islip, both fell short of earning a placing time and had to settle with the points they garnered up until then.

The next team to make a stab at the tournament victory was Central Islip, leading at the time, which completed the event in 22.68 seconds, well off from the team’s normal performance but good enough to claim fifth place in Buckets and adding one more point to the thirteen they held.

Two teams later, North Lindenhurst, Central Islip’s closest challenger, failed to put up a quick enough time to place, dropping them out of contention for the tournament win.

Islip followed shortly thereafter with a 21.99 second effort which, for the short term gave them four additional points, but in the end, bolstered their ten total points by three as their run resulted in a third place finish in the contest.

As Buckets wound down, West Sayville, Bay Shore and Copiague still had a shot at topping the day’s leader board. The Flying Dutchmen, being the first of the three to compete, posted their season’s best effort in Buckets with a 20.89 second run giving them the fastest time of the night, a first place event finish and five additional points.

Bay Shore and Copiague, as well as the few remaining teams, couldn’t post a time speedy enough to earn them points in the event and, consequently, fell out of the battle for first.

When the last bucket of water was dumped and the contest declared complete, a tally of points picked up by each team throughout the near twelve-hour tournament was tabulated with the results showing the West Sayville Flying Dutchmen and Central Islip Hoboes both receiving fourteen points each and sharing the tournament victory.

It was the first time since the inception of the New York State Championship Drill in 1946 that two teams were crowned co-champions.

The Islip Wolves, with thirteen points overall, copped third place honors while the North Lindenhurst Piston Knockers finished up fourth place in the drill and the West Hempstead Westerners fifth with twelve and one-half and twelve points respectively.

Many veterans of the firematic competitions termed the tournament

WARREN HORST

Under the close observation of drill officials, West Sayville Fire Department Flying Dutchmen teammates Ryan Tenney, Michael Marra and William Hothan complete the Three Man Ladder contest at the 2015 New York State Motorized Championship Drill in 6.41 seconds putting them in a three-way tie for second place in the event with the Bay Shore Redskins and Lindenhurst Snails. The Flying Dutchmen went on to earn the team’s twelfth state championship title by tying the Central Islip Hoboes with a come from behind effort in the Buckets contest at the annual tournament hosted this year by the Selden Fire Department at Firemen’s Park in Ridge on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

bizarre in that no team seemed to want to win, at least as far as performance was concerned despite every team’s desire to win the “big one”.

It was further noted the day was highlighted by a multitude of missed opportunities.

When one contender failed to execute well in a contest, nearly all of others followed suit leaving the door open for a wider spreading of the points amongst the forty-one competitors.

The low overall point totals was reminiscent of tournaments of decades prior when teams won with fewer total points and, seldom in the sixty-nine years since the first state drill, has victory been claimed with so few points.

When all was said and done, the 2015 state drill was deemed a success, especially for the fans who got to witness one of the tightest finishes with the greatest number of potential winners in many years.

For the West Sayville Flying Dutchmen, it was their first tournament victory of the 2015 season having scored in most of the prior drills in the top five but not in the number one spot.

The state championship title, even though shared, is the team’s twelfth and came on the fortieth anniversary of the team’s initial state title in 1975 and ten years after winning their eighth.

West Sayville compiled its points by placing first in the Buckets contest (20.89 seconds); second in Motor Hose Class C (12.54 seconds); tied (three-way) for second in the Three Man Ladder event (6.41 seconds); and fourth place in the Motor Hook and Ladder Class C contest (9.01 seconds).

The Flying Dutchmen competed again in the upcoming weeks; first at the annual Islip Town Volunteer Firemen’s Association Drill in Central Islip on Friday, August 21 and on Saturday, September 5 at the

Hagerman Fire Department’s annual Labor Day Weekend Tournament.

The town drill started at 5:30 p.m. at the training facility of the Central Islip Fire Department off Wheeler Road while the Labor Day weekend drill was held at the host department’s training facility off Oakdale Avenue starting at 10:00 a.m.

The 2015 New York State CoChampion Flying Dutchmen drill team is coached by Frank R. Miller, Sr., Robert Marra and G. Scott Schrader; led by Captain Michael Marra and Lieutenant Chad LeighManuell; and, comprised of David Banks, Kristy Banks, Patrick Garrett, William Hothan, Ryan Huguenin, Louis LaFountain, Casey John-son, Frank R. Miller, Jr., Allen Newhouse, Robert Noonan, Richard Quenzer, Joseph Quenzer, Douglas Quenzer, Gary A. Schaum, Daniel Tenney and Ryan Tenney.

- WARREN HORST

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October, 2015

PAGE 15

Ex-Chief Lawrence G. Sesso mourned

by Sayville Fire Department

Top male

CHRIS BARNES

Community Ambulance 4th Annual 5k Run Walk Sayville, NY. On Sunday, June 28, 2015, Community Ambulance Company of Sayville hosted their 4th annual 5k Run/Walk as a part of the Sayville Summer Series races.

The event benefited the ambulance company, which serves the five towns of Sayville, West Sayville, Bayport, Oakdale and Bohemia.

This year’s race was their largest ever with 324 total participants. The top male finisher was Dan Gargano from Jericho, NY at a time of 15 minutes and 10 seconds.

The fastest female was Nadine Moors from Sayville with a time of 19 minutes and 14 seconds.

Congratulations to all participants for an outstanding performance.

All runners completed the course safely and without issue.

The participants put their best foot forward so Community Am-

JUMP TO FILE #070615126 bulance could continue to do the same for their community.

The Community Ambulance Company of Sayville has been providing emergency medical services for the past 64 years.

Made up of primarily volunteers, Community Ambulance Company answered over 4,300 calls for assistance in 2014. If you are interested in joining our team and want to help your community, please contact us at 631- 567- 2586.

No medical experience is necessary, and all training is provided at no cost. You can also find more information and apply for membership by visiting our website at www.communityamb.org.

- CHRIS BARNES

It is with deep regret that the Chief’s Office of the Sayville Fire Department announces the Line of Duty Death of former Chief and active Firefighter Lawrence G. Sesso, 40 years of age.

On Saturday, JUMP TO FILE# August 22nd, at ap- 091015109 proximately 4:50 p.m., the Sayville Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Bristal Assisted Living complex located at 129 Lakeland Ave. in Sayville.

Chief Sesso operated at the scene assisting with operations at the command post along with other chief officers. A small contents fire was extinguished upon arrival. When the incident scene was secured, all units continued on to the annual Town of Islip Parade held in Central Islip, where Sesso joined fellow Sayville members in the line of march.

A short time thereafter while returning back to Sayville, Chief Sesso suffered a cardiac episode and was immediately transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Chief “Larry” Sesso was a lifelong resident of Sayville and a dedicated member of the Sayville Fire Department for the past 23 years. He was a proud member of the Hook and Ladder Company and served in all capacities of the company including lieutenant and captain. However, the crowning accomplishment of his fire service career was being elected to the Chiefs’ ranks and serving as the Chief of the Sayville Fire Department from 2009-2011, something he was so very proud of.

It was only a matter of time before Chief “LG” Sesso became a popular figure, especially at the Islip Town Chief’s level. He was instrumental in forming many of the current day relationships shared between departments from opposite corners of the township and the many chiefs, who called “Larry” their friend is testament to the type of person he was. He was also a proud member and huge supporter of the Blue Jays Drill team.

Over the years, it was not uncommon to see Chief Larry throw on his old racing jersey to join the team for the annual town drill, otherwise he could be found “in the stands” leading the chants for his team.

Larry was also a distinguished police officer for both the New York City Police Department and the New York-New Jersey Port Authority Police for the 8 years.

Beginning in 1998, he served in the busy 75th Precinct in Brooklyn, moved to the Port Authority police in 2002, and becoming a PBA delegate and advocate for all Port Authority

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police officers. He worked at Kennedy Airport.

A community servant and a “Fireman’s Fireman” with a contagious smile and unyielding dedication to others.

His sudden passing came as a shock to everyone, who knew him.

The passing of Chief Lawrence G. Sesso leaves a huge void in the Sayville Fire Department, the Port Authority Police and throughout his hometown of Sayville.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn Sesso and three children; Gregory 14, Deanna 6 and Lauren 4.

DON MARRA

Firematic services were held at Raynor and D’Andrea Funeral Home in West Sayville on Wednesday, August 26th with internment at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Sayville.

In lieu of flowers, the Sesso family requests that donations marked “In Memory of Lawrence G. Sesso” be sent to the Sayville Fire Department at 107 North Main St., Sayville, NY 11782.

A fund is being set up for his three children.

- DON MARRA

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