It’s a wet down for Atlantic Steamer F.D.

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Firefighters from across Long Island made their way up to Oyster Bay on Sunday for a “wet down” ceremony for the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company’s newest vehicle, a second fireboat. Acquired from the Wantagh Fire Department last year, Atlantic Steamer firefighters, their families and representatives from nearby Fire Departments gathered to welcome the new boat, known as Marine M5, to the family.

“Usually when a Fire Department gets a new piece of equipment — usually a fire truck, but in this case a boat — they have what’s called a ‘wet down,’” Frank Ozol, Atlantic Steamer ex-chief, explained at the event. “It’s a christening of the new piece of equipment, and we get the surrounding departments in the battalion to come out and to spray water on the new fire truck.”

Traditionally during a wet down, the new firetruck would be sprayed down at close range, but since the new boat is “a little more delicate” and could have its windows shattered by the force of the hoses, firefighters from several departments hosed it down from over 50 feet away. Although the boat was acquired last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic Atlantic Steamer’s leadership decided it would be best to wait to hold the wet down ceremony.

Marine M5 will provide a critical service to the crew at Atlantic Steamer, which protects and serves roughly 12,000 people in an eight and a half square-mile region, in addition to assisting other neighboring fire companies. Although the fire company already has a boat, Chief Darren Quintana said that the new vessel will enable them to have a larger impact in the harbor.

“We’re able to put a lot more bodies on board and a lot more equipment, so it’s definitely a much better boat than what we had,” Quintana added. “It’s also been a really good camaraderie builder; all these guys came down and partook in putting this thing together and getting it ready. It really has helped our Fire Department significantly.”

In addition to boat fires, Marine M5 and fire boats like it are also used for search and rescue operations, diving missions, and to help put out fires on land that are close to the water. According to Quintana, the boat has already seen service, but it was important to the company that the boat received a proper wet down ceremony.

Also in attendance were members of the Wantagh Fire Department, from whom Atlantic Steamer had acquired the boat originally. William Van Leer, Wantagh’s third assistant chief, congratulated Atlantic Steamer Fire Company on their fixing up of Marine M5 and wished them the best.

Rich LaMarca, the Town of Oyster Bay’s clerk, extended congratulations on behalf of the Town Board and supervisor as well and thanked Atlantic Steamer and all participating fire companies for their dedication and service to their communities.

Then crowd gathered to watch the vessel get doused by three firing jets of water across the harbor. Although some contrary winds initially kept Marine M5 dry, with perseverance the various firefighters succeeded in dousing the ship to raucous applause.

Afterwards, the attendees returned to the fire company’s marine station to enjoy the good weather, a barbecue and camaraderie. The fire company is always looking for new recruits, and anyone interested in serving on their boat rescue team, scuba team or just in the firehouse can contact Atlantic Steamer at (516) 922-5414, or stop by and visit them at the firehouse in the hamlet at 20 E Main St.