New Website Close to Launch

We are happy to report that the new Smithtown Fire Department website should be up and running over the next few weeks. As you may have noticed our content has not been updated as frequently as in the past. This is due to the need to start the process of migrating existing content to the new site.

 

When the rebuilt site is online the Department will once again provide daily updates with a new dynamic front page news management system and an outstanding photo album program. There will also be password protected content, calendars and announcements for members of the Smithtown Fire Department to access.

Town Hall Meeting

The Smithtown Fire Department hosted a Town Hall meeting for Congressman Tim Bishop on Wednesday, December 17^TH. Bishop spoke to, and took questions from Smithtown residents on a wide range of topics from the automotive industry bailout to the war in Iraq.

After the meeting Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy toured the Smithtown dispatch center with Chief of Department Duckham and First Assistant Chief Duffy. Smithtown dispatch fields calls for the Smithtown, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Kings Park and St. James Fire Departments.

Christmas Parade 2008

The 29^th Annual Smithtown Fire Department Christmas Parade visited the streets and neighborhoods of the community on Saturday evening, December 13^th.  Hundreds of residents lined the streets waiting for the Parade to pass. Santa also took the time out of his busy schedule to attend the festivities.

(More Pictures to follow soon.)

In the Holiday Spirit

The Smithtown Fire Department is getting into the holiday spirit. The countdown has begun for the town wide 29^th Annual Christmas Parade taking place on Saturday evening, December 13^{th at} 5:00pm.  (Parade route is listed in a post below.)

On Sunday, December 7th, two traditional pre holiday events took place:

 

 In the morning Firefighters gathered at the Main House on Elm Avenue to decorate the building for the holidays.

 

 

And in the evening the Department helped Santa usher in the holiday season by bringing St. Nick to the Brush Barn to host the post tree lighting ceremony sponsored by the Rotary Club of Smithtown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Parade Route

SMITHTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHRISTMAS PARADE ROUTE

December 13, 2008

Parade starts at 5:00PM

 

For the best viewing of the Parade join us at approximately 5:15 pm on Redwood Lane behind Town Hall. The parade stops here so members of the community can take pictures of the decorated apparatus.

If this is the first time you are viewing the Parade, please ask a neighbor approximately what time the Fire Department will be passing by in your area.

Go to “more” below for the complete route,

More Turkey Bowl Photos

 

Photos by Fred Friedman

 

 

 More Photo’s in the Photo Bucket under

 Turkey Bowl

       

 http://photobucket.com/SmithtownFD

 

 

Turkey Bowl 2008

 

One of the great annual Fire Service rivalries was decided on the football field at Hauppauge High School on Thanksgiving morning. The Turkey Bowl saw Smithtown go down in defeat to Hauppauge 34 to 18.

 

Photos by Greg Gottlieb

 

 

 

SMITHTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT CHRISTMAS PARADE SET FOR DECEMBER 13TH

One of Long Island’s most spectacular holiday parade returns for the twenty ninth year on Saturday, December 13^th. The night skies will be lit with a sea of holiday lights when the Smithtown Fire Department escorts Santa around town for their annual Christmas gift to the community.

 

The Smithtown Fire Department Christmas Parade, taking place this year on Saturday, December 13^th, is the largest holiday light parade on Long Island. Each piece of fire apparatus in the department is decked out with lights, garland and tinsel to celebrate the season.

 

Chief of Department Thomas Duckham reports that “all eight Fire Department Companies use their own financial resources and creative talents to build the moving light show. It takes a number of weeks for each Company to prepare for the parade.”

 

As in past years the parade will wind its way through all of Smithtown’s neighborhoods.

 

Jeff Bressler, Public Information Officer said that “the parade has truly become a community celebration with many residents holding block parties and holiday gatherings in their homes on the night of the event.”

 

The festivities, hosted by Santa himself, get underway at 5:00pm. The complete parade route will be released the week of December 8^th.

 

 

100TH Anniversay Parade and Celebration

Over a thousand Smithtown residents braved the elements on Saturday, October 26^th to join in the 100^th Anniversary celebration of the Smithtown Fire Department. A pesky late day rain did not dissuade the spirits of participants who enjoyed a Main Street parade which featured marchers and bands from more than 25 Suffolk County Fire Departments. The festivities continued at the New York Avenue School with complimentary food, beverage, entertainment rides and a spectacular fireworks show.

On hand to enjoy the day were Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY), NYS Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-C-I Smithtown), Smithtown Town Supervisor Pat Vecchio and councilpersons Patricia Biancaniello, Edward R. Wehrheim and Robert J. Creighton.

The day was made possible through the sponsorships of the Bank of Smithtown, Schaefer Insurance, Figari’s Liquor, Five’s Smithtown Funeral Home and Hawkins and Davis as well as donations from area businesses and residents.

     

Many More Photo’s in the Photo Bucket

http://photobucket.com/SmithtownFD

 

Smithtown Fire District Control Room

 

The Smithtown Fire Department main house at 100 Elm Avenue houses the control room that dispatches alarms for the entire Smithtown Fire District.

 

The District provides fire, ambulance and emergency medical services to the residents of Smithtown and the surrounding communities in a 17 square mile area.

 

The Smithtown Fire Department answers over 3,100 calls per year. In addition, as a secondary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) the District, out of the main house, also provides fire and ambulance dispatching for four other fire departments, averaging over 8,000 calls a year.

 

 

 

Fire Chiefs meet in Smithtown

 

The Fire Chiefs Council of Suffolk County started in 1945 and has been serving the interests of the Fire Service of Suffolk County since its inception

The Council represents the Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Ex-Chiefs of the 109 Volunteer Fire Departments and Companies from the 10 Townships in Suffolk County.

The Smithtown Fire Department was honored to host the monthly meeting of the Town of Smithtown Chiefs on Wednesday, April 9th. Departments in the Town are Smithtown, St James, Kings Park, Nissequogue, Hauppauge and Nesconset.

Smithtown First Assistant Chief Charles Duffy presided over the meeting attended by close to 50 Chiefs.

 

 

24/7

While Smithtown sleeps the Fire Department is active, offering service to the community.

Overnight last evening the Department responded to three calls –

At 12:16 the SFD responded to a motor vehicle accident at 48 Juniper Avenue.

At 2:47 an automatic alarm signal 13 was toned out for response to 490 West Main Street.

At 3:24 the Department responded to an electrical fire in a panel of an automatic dishwasher at Avalon Garden, 7 Route 25A.

The Smithtown Fire Department responds promptly to ambulance calls overnight. A set squad of a driver, crew member and EMT are on call each night.Fire services are also covered via an overnight squad system. 

The Passing of Department Historian Don Scott

The Smithtown Fire Department expresses its deepest regrets on the passing of Historian Don Scott. He passed away at his home on the afternoon of March 17th.

Scott had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Department and its rich 100 years of service. His good nature and deep love of the Department were exhibited in his frequent talks about milestones in Smithtown FD history.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Apparatus Cleanup

Each March the Smithtown Fire Department holds an apparatus inspection. Each piece of fire apparatus is carefully inspected by the Board of Fire Commissioners. All hands were on deck on Sunday, March 16, 2008 as Companies cleaned, repaired and painted equipment in anticipation of the Monday evening, March 17^th inspection.