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Dix Hills 75th Installation
The Dix Hills Fire Department recently held their 75th Annual Installation of Officers Dinner at the Heritage Club at Bethpage. After the Invocation by Deacon Carmine DeStefano, the chiefs and commissioners were introduced. Chiefs: Chief Joseph Williamson, First Assistant Chief Brett Tepe, Second Assistant Chief Scott DiPino, Third Assistant Chief Terrence ‘TJ’Farrell. Commissioners: Chairman Mike Plumitallo, Larry Feld, Todd Cohen, Alan Berkowitz, Steve Weisbrot.
The following awards were presented:
Terry Farrell Firefighter of the Year - ex-Chief Ronald Gatto; Alan Cornfeld Rescue Person of the Year - Lori Stiegler; Fred Kuhne Inspirational Award - exChief Steven Kamvakis.
Top 5 Fire Responders - William Steed, Robert Depaolo, Robert Commisso, Lieut. Michael Steed and Christopher Steed. Top 5 Rescue Responders - Captain Maresa Spizzirri, Robert Depaolo, Douglas Wagner, Samantha Strasser and Lieutenant Louis Aquino.
Length of Service Awards: 20 Years - Tony de Cesare, Steve Weisbrot; 25 Years - Jamie Wustenhoff; 30 Years - Charles Feld, George Fleites; 35 Years Todd Cohen; 45 Years - Michael Gatto, ex-Chief Thomas Magno, Norbert Meehan and Jim Brangan; 55 years - ex-Chief Steven Kamvakis. - Fire News story by Steve Silverman, Dix Hills FD photos
Congratulations to Suffolk County Fire Marshall Brett Martinez on his 32 years of service as a bureau and alcohol tobacco and firearms (ATF) Accelerant Detection K-9 Handler. On November 8, 1991, he graduated with Suffolk County County’s first ever Accelerant Detection Canine. The ATF had only started the program in 1985 and there were only 14 in the country. That dog’s name was Ember.
In November 1999, Brett graduated with his second canine Cinder. Cinder assisted in over 300 arson investigations locally and was called out to Reno, Nevada, to assist the ATF with a hotel fire that resulted in multiple deaths.
In December 2007, Brett graduated with his third dog Jul. In addition to numerous arson cases in both Nassau, NYC and Suffolk, Brett and Jul traveled to Rhode Island to assist the ATF with a large fire in an old textile mill covering numerous blocks.
In December 2016, Brett graduated with his fourth canine partner Sasha. Brett and Sasha are still serving the residents of Suffolk and are in service to all local law enforcement agencies and the ATF.
November 8, 2021, was Brett’s 30th anniversary as a canine handler for the county of Suffolk with a canine partner trained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Brett is recognized as the longest consecutive Accelerant Detection Canine Handler in history. Suffolk County also maintains the longest relationship with the ATF canine program. Thank you, Brett, for your dedicated service. - Fire News photos by Ron Monteleone
