Senate Resolution No. 1336

BY: Senator MURRAY

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Brookhaven Fire Department to be celebrated on
Saturday, September 23, 2023

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the Brookhaven Fire Department and to honor its past and
present members for 100 years of fire protection and emergency response
to the Hamlet of Brookhaven, parts of Yaphank, Bellport, North Bellport,
and Shirley, New York; and

WHEREAS, Fire companies are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 100 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Brookhaven Fire Department
have valiantly responded to all types of emergencies and have won the
praise and respect of the community which they serve; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters serve without pay, devote hundreds
of hours of time away from family, and in many cases spend their own
money on firefighting gear and bear the responsibility for recruitment
and retention to maintain organizational stability; and

WHEREAS, The Brookhaven Fire Department was formed as the Brookhaven
Hose Company Number One following a meeting of citizens on May 10, 1923;
and

WHEREAS, On May 10, 1923, John Morton was selected as temporary
chairman for the nascent fire company along with a temporary secretary,
C.F. MacNeill; followed by the election of the first Fire Chief, George
Waldron, and the election of William Horn as Foreman; C.F. MacNeill as
Assistant Foreman; and J.H. Morton as Secretary Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, The newly formed fire department went right to work
pursuing the process of incorporating the fire department in June of
1923, and procuring its first firefighting equipment with purchases made
possible through donations from supportive citizens; and

WHEREAS, In January of 1925, the Brookhaven Fire Department
purchased its first fire truck; and

WHEREAS, In May 1926, the first building proposition was approved by
voters to fund the building of the first fire house, that would be built
on the corner of Seeley Street and Bridge Place, now Railroad Avenue,
following the donation of the land by a local company; and

WHEREAS, In October of 1926, ground was broken for the new fire
house and by 1938, the fire police corp had become active; and

WHEREAS, In 1940 the beginning of the Brookhaven Ambulance Company
was formed as a result of the efforts of and support from the Brookhaven
Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, Tragically, on December 15, 1945, the Brookhaven Fire
Department fire house suffered its own devastation when the fire house

burned down, with all equipment and buildings being completely
destroyed; and

WHEREAS, In 1946 the Brookhaven Fire Department was able to move
ahead with planning a new fire house with the generous donation of
property; ground was broken and construction on this property for the
new fire house began in September of 1946; and

WHEREAS, On May 15, 1947, the first meeting of the Board of Fire
Commissioners was held in the new fire house; and

WHEREAS, In 1995, the Brookhaven Fire Department purchased a new
office at 8 Seeley Street, then in 1998, permits were secured to begin
the development of the Brookhaven Fire Department Fireman's Park; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, a 100 foot Aerial Tower Ladder was put into
service and in 2014, many major updates were made to the fire district
headquarters including handicap accessibility with installation of a new
elevator and other interior alterations; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, the brave firefighters of the Brookhaven
Fire Department responded to and lent aid without hesitation to
neighbors and strangers alike during man-made and natural disasters and
in their aftermaths, including the disaster of the destructive hurricane
of 1938 that hit Long Island; the Bellport High School Fire of 1963;
numerous devastating brush fires that plagued the area throughout the
years; the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New
York City on September 11, 2001; Hurricane Irene in 2011; Superstorm
Sandy in 2012; and more recently, during the Coronavirus Pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Under the current leadership of Chief of Department Anthony
Verni, First Assistant Chief Giuseppe Loiacono, Second Assistant Chief
Hudson Darrow, Captain John Hodge, Jr., Headquarters Lieutenant Brian
LaMonica, Jr., Station One Lieutenant Chris Martin, and Fire Police
Captain Ron Dutcher, the Brookhaven Fire Department has held up the high
standards of ensuring public safety which has been a staple of this
company since its inception; and

WHEREAS, Always at the ready, the Brookhaven Fire Department
responds when called upon in a professional and timely manner; and

WHEREAS, The record of the Brookhaven Fire Department in public
service and fire protection is one to be applauded; for 24 hours a day,
365 days a year, for 100 years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble
firefighters left their homes and went to the aid of their neighbors;
and

WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Brookhaven Fire Department
are prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the lives of
others and to protect homes and property from the destruction caused by
fire; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated
by individual firefighters and emergency personnel, the Brookhaven Fire
Department reflects on their rich history and development of
firefighting over the past 100 years; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude
to those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving, especially in a volunteer capacity; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should
give special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the
betterment of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic
good works performed by the fire companies of this great Empire State,
their officers, and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Brookhaven Fire
Department to be celebrated on Saturday, September 23, 2023; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to ranking members of the Brookhaven Fire Department.