LAKE SUCCESS, NY: (November 29, 2011) - Founded in 2005, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) is a group of cancer survivors, caregivers and volunteers that was formed with one goal in mind: to provide timely support to fire and EMS employees and family members diagnosed with any form of cancer.

During a moving ceremony that involved several firefighters and cancer survivors, the FCSN presented the North Shore-LIJ Health System's Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success with a bell donated by the Smithtown Fire Department. In a symbolic gesture of “ringing in the good news,” cancer patients will ring the 60-pound bell when they complete their courses of treatment. The ringing of the bell symbolizes leaving cancer in the past and looking towards the future.

The featured speaker during a pre-Thanksgiving news conference packed with firefighters from squads throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties was Lee Ielpi, a 26-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) , who became a volunteer with his local Great Neck Vigilant Fire Department in 1963, rising to the rank of chief. On Sept. 11, 2001, Mr. Ielpi arrived at the World Trade Center (WTC) within a half hour of the second collapse to organize operations until midnight of the first night. In keeping with FDNY tradition, Mr. Ielpi worked daily for nine months to bring home all who were lost, including his son Jonathan Ielpi, FDNY Squad 288.

A survivor of a rare form of leukemia known as Waldenstrom Syndrome who was treated at the Monter Cancer Center by Jonathon Kolitz, MD, Mr. Ielpi now works with the 9/11 Families organization. Before a scheduled appearance at the United Nations where he was asked to speak about terrorism, Mr. Ielpi praised the work of the FCSN and encouraged his fellow firefighters to get annual physical examinations, which is especially important considering the high prevalence of cancer among firefighters. “You never think it will happen to you, but it may,” he said. “There’s no reason for us to ignore our annual check-ups and many of us do that. We have to think about our families and take care of ourselves so we can keep doing this work that we all love so much.”

Among other featured speakers at the ceremony were Antonio J. Cruz of Smithtown, director of the NYS Fire Cancer Support Network and a cancer survivor), his assistant director, Ron Barz of Hauppauge, also a cancer survivor, and James Romagnoli, vice president of protective services at the North Shore-LIJ Health System, a New Hyde Park firefighter and a kidney cancer survivor. Mr. Romagnoli's and Mr. Barz's cancers were treated successfully by Louis Kavoussi, MD, North Shore-LIJ's chair of urology, who expressed his gratitude to the assembled volunteers. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the firefighters," he said. " We thank you so much for the great care you show us as you do your life-saving work, and we are honored to see so many of you with us here today.”

As firefighters from Nassau and Suffolk counties, health system representatives and cancaer survivors gathered around the bell, Mr. Ielpi inaugurated the bell by saying, "This is for all those who survived and all who we remember."

 

Hauppauge, NY: (Oct. 4, 2011): Robert Munro was born in rural Hauppauge May 7th 1936. His Father John (Jock) Munro came to this country in 1920 from his Native Scotland and when settling in Hauppauge in 1931 became one of the original members of the newly formed Hauppauge Fire Company. His Mother, Martha Dorr originally from Woodhaven Queens was one of the original teachers in the fledgling Hauppauge Schools teaching at a small school house located on Blydenburgh Road. Jock & Martha married in 1932. As a result of becoming a married couple, Martha was forced to resign her position as school teacher as it was common practice of the era that married women could not teach school. She then aided her husband Jock who since 1931 was manager and gamekeeper of the Whiporwil Game Farm. Whiporwil Game Farm was located where the Hamlet Golf Course and Condominiums currently is located. It was a hunt club funded by a consortium of wealthy people who at their leisure wished to hunt ducks and pheasants which were bred at the farm.
Jock and Martha lived at the farm in a house on Estelle Avenue off of Blydenburgh Road. There they raised five children, John, Born in 1934, Robert & Neil (twins) born in 1936, Nancy 1938 & Harriel 1946. All of the Children grew up on the farm and aided their parents.
Robert and his other siblings attended the old two story Hauppauge School located where the Building currently containing the Hauppauge Library is located at 601 Veterans Memorial Highway. Robert went to this school through the 8th grade. For 9th through 12th Grade Hauppauge had no Middle or High School, Robert attended the Smithtown High School graduating in 1955. Robert and his Brother Neil both joined the Hauppauge Fire Department in 1952 which their brother John was already a member. Both Robert and Neil besides serving stints in the army reserve continued to run the Whiporwil Game Farm until 1960 when it was closed. Robert Then went to work as a Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) lineman. He married Linda Weyant in 1960 and continued to live in the Hauppauge Area until 1961 when he bought a home in the Lake Hills, Ronkonkoma, where he and Linda raised three children, Janet, Susan, and James.
Robert Having a strong attachment to the Hauppauge Community continued serve as member the Hauppauge Fire Department staying extremely active in this organization holding numerous office and ranks and being recognized as Firefighter of the Year in 1982 and once again in 1993. Robert also served a long stint as President of the Hauppauge Volunteer Firefighters Benevolent Association. Robert retired as a Lineman from the Long Island Lighting Company in 1996 but has remained in the area and continues to serve the residents of Hauppauge in the Capacity of a Fire Policeman in the Fire Police Squad of the Hauppauge Fire Department. His son James, a Hauppauge resident is also an active member of the Hauppauge Fire Department as well as Roberts Nephews , Scott Munro, Edward Minder and great nephew Scott Munro Jr.
The Board of Fire Commissioners , The Chiefs and members of the Hauppauge Fire Department Salute Robert Munro for his Sixty years of service and his families legacy of devotion to the Hauppauge Fire Department and the Hauppauge Community.

 

Hauppauge, NY: (April 24, 2011): It is Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department’s honor to recognize an individual who has reached his 50th anniversary not only as a member of the Hauppauge Fire Department, but as an active member who still responds to the call of fire or emergency, who sits on numerous committees and line organizations, and who faithfully carries out the oath to which he swore some fifty years ago.
G. Warren Holtje, better known to his friends and fellow firefighters as Warren, started his service to the Hauppauge Fire Department at the age of 16 on September 5, 1961, when he was sworn in as a probationary firefighter and assigned to Company 2. During his tenure, Warren has served in numerous positions within the Department, starting with his election as Department Librarian in the early 1960s. Warren continued to rise in the ranks of the Department by being elected many official positions. During Warren’s service with the Hauppauge Fire Department, he has received numerous citations, including: Firefighter of the Year – 1962. Department Unit Citation for his actions in the tissue factory fire Smithtown Chiefs Council Unit Citation for his actions taken to save an unconscious choking victim while at a restaurant.
Warren has always kept his Department near and dear to his heart, helping to better the Department in any way he could. In 1969, Warren fabricated and constructed the first crosslays ever used by the Hauppauge Fire Department on 3-8-8 and 387, and a T964 Hahn’s in 1964. This helped to enhance the capabilities of the members as they were fighting a fire.
Over the years, Warren has seen and done many things. He recalls alarms such as a Haz-Mat call at the High School where over thirty victims fell ill at once, and the Tazzi fire where two children tragically lost their lives. His most memorable call occurred at the Devonshire Apartments in 1981. On his arrival at the scene as Chief, he was confronted with a fully involved mattress fire that had started in the bedroom of an apartment, with children still in the apartment. Warren was able to safely evacuate the occupants and contain the fire until the arrival of the first due apparatus, saving the children’s lives. In addition to his service to his community, while on vacation in 1991 on the Colorado River, Warren was credited for saving the life of a rafter who had fallen into the river and nearly drowned.
After over forty-six years of service as a Class A firefighter, you would think it was time to sit back and relax. He wished to continue the service to which he swore to in 1961 and elected to join the newly reorganized Fire Police Squad. Using his skills and knowledge, Warren now helps to ensure scene safety for our firefighters while they mitigate the emergency to which they were called. This is a fitting position for a man who has always put his community and his fellow firefighters before himself.

 

Hauppauge, NY: (October 5, 2009): On Monday, October 5, 2009 at 1:28am, the Hauppauge Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house fire at 27 Village Lane with an occupant trapped. Arriving fire department units on the scene at 1:31am found a heavy fire condition on the 2nd floor of this residence and a confirmed occupant trapped.
Hauppauge Fire Department 1st Assistant Chief Raymond Germaine and Firefighter Thomas Kriklava, Jr. rescued an unconscious male adult from a 2nd floor bedroom.
The rescued occupant and another resident of the home as well as passerby Steve Webber who assisted with the rescue were transported to local hospitals by the Central Islip-Hauppauge and Commack Volunteer Ambulance. There were no firefighter’s injuries at this fire.
The fire was declared under control at 1:58am. The residence sustained considerable damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Arson Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department.
The Hauppauge Fire Department responded with six apparatus and thirty five firefighters under the command of Chief of the Department Thomas J Kriklava and was aided by units from the Nesconset, Smithtown, St James and East Brentwood Fire Departments.

(Picture #1)27 Village Ln.
(Picture #2) (left to right) Hauppauge Volunteer Firefighter Thomas Kriklava, Jr. and heroic passerby Steve Webber: Not pictured Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department 1st Assistant Chief Raymond Germaine

Hauppauge, NY: (August, 2009): Hometown Hero’s from the Smithtown Township whose heroic efforts that were above and beyond the call to duty for to their local communities were recently acknowledged by the Smithtown Chiefs Council.
From the Hauppauge Fire Department Lt. John Lombardo, Lt. David Petrie, Greg Trimanchi, Carl Andersen, Frank Poma, Vincent Guiliano, Edward Cullen, Paul Novacek, John Smith, Thomas C. Kriklava, Nicholas Mendola, Timothy Jilliano and, Edward Goutink.
Members of the St. James Fire Department who received recognitions were Dave Fischler, Ed Springer, Jr., Kate Young, and Robert Todaro.
Nesconset Fire Department Honorees were Firefighter/EMT Stephen Normendeau, Suffolk County Police Officer Rosemarie McCormick, Ex-Chief Albert Anderson Jr., Firefighter/EMT Shawn Cooper, EMT CC Brian Beatty, EMT Robert Gosse, Firefighter Brian Heinlein, Firefighters Greg Anderson, Michael Zanfardino, Bill Pfeiffer and Michael Broccolo. Chief Michael Wichtendahl, Assistant Chief Hutchinson Assistant Chief Downs, Captain JP McCloskey, Firefighters Stephen Neumann and Edward Cooper Ex-Captain Billy Brown, Paramedic Michael Lambert and EMT/CC Cheryl Cooper, Smithtown Dispatchers John Martins and Stephen Smith and Smithtown Township Fire Coordinator Michael Felice.
The Smithtown Chiefs Council applauds and congratulates the recipients on there accomplishments.

Hauppauge, NY: (June 7, 2009): The Harvard Nicolle’s Firefighter of the year award is routinely presented to a member of this Department who has demonstrated an act of bravery or uncommon valor during the time of an alarm. As an Ex Captain Robert L. Wind has been a member of our training committee for several years; He has served on numerous committees on both the Department and company level. He devotes numerous hours with our new members after they have been voted into the Department, Mentoring them, teaching and explaining the bylaws and general guidelines, while also instilling the old traditions of our Department in each new member. The recipient was and active interior firefighter for numerous years until receiving an injury at work requiring him to become a class C firefighter. With the years this recipient had at the time, He could have just sat back and relaxed, but instead he volunteered to take a leadership role with the newly formed fire Police Squad, while continuing with all the other committees he serves on. He has been a positive driving force with the Fire Police, Motivating, assisting and training the squads general membership. He has trained and encouraged members of Fire Police to perform their duties and tasks to help ensure the safety and well being of their brother and sister firefighters while they are engaged in a fire or emergency operation.

 

(Hauppauge, NY) June 1, 2009: Hauppauge Fire Department in it’s ongoing commitment to best serve their community continues to add to their equipment the most advanced products, equipment and supplies in fighting fires. One of the newest is FIT-5. The FIT-5 is a dry powder aerosol device that can knock down a fully developed fire in seconds. Deployed simply by pulling a pin and tossing the canister into a burning room, the FIT-5 rapidly extinguishes flames and reduces the temperature. The FIT-5 powder remains suspended in the air for up to 15 minutes - giving firefighters critical time to fully extinguish the fire in a low flame, low temperature environment.

Since FIT-5 systems are safe and non-toxic for humans and animals, the FIT-5 can be deployed in an occupied room or compartment. Unlike other systems, the FIT-5 does not lower the oxygen level or change the air pressure in a room. Protect property. On average, water can cause up to 70 per cent of the damage to property during a fire. Deploying the FIT-5 greatly reduces the need to use water. Less water damage means a safer mop up. Easier fire-cause investigation helps prevent future fires.

The longer a fire burns, the more damage it does to our environment with the creation of toxic smoke and runoff. Every fire prevented or extinguished quickly - with little or no water - prevents damage to the air we breathe and chemical runoff entering our groundwater and oceans. The proprietary, aerosol compound used in the FIT-5 does not affect the atmosphere or water supply. Cleaning up the micronized powder after a FIT-5 deployment requires little more than a damp cloth.

 

Hauppauge, NY: (October 12, 2008 ) Hauppauge Fire Department’s 2008 Community Information Day was held on Sunday October 12th at the main fire house located at 855 Wheeler Road in Hauppauge. Demonstrations included but not limited to smoke house trailer for the children, HFD Fire Police, Company 4 with their apparatus, Truck Company exhibited drills of car extraction and “Jaws of Life, technical rescue team demonstrated rope exercises and “pick-offs”, Company 3 demonstrated live fire demonstrations and in home sprinkler systems. Safety professionals included the Hauppauge Public Library, MADD:Mothers against Drunk Driving, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Hauppauge Rotary, N.Y. Blood Drive Center, S.C. Fire Marshals K-9 Unit and the Central Islip Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance. The Hauppauge Fire Department would like to thank State Senator Caesar Trunzo, Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy and N.Y. State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick for attending and support this community event.

(Picture #1) (Picture left to right) Hauppauge Fire Department 1st Assistant Chief Ray Germaine, Hauppauge Fire Department Chief Tom Kriklava, State Senator Caesar Trunzo, Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy and N.Y. State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick and Hauppauge Fire Department 2nd Assistant Chief Ken Furuno
(Picture #2) Hauppauge Fire Department’s Truck Company ‘s exhibition of extradition and “Jjaws of Life”

 

Hauppauge, NY: (May 3, 2008) Chief Thomas Kriklava presided over the Hauppauge Fire Department’s 77th Annual Installation of Officers. Congratulations were extended to 1st Assistant Chief Ray Germaine, 2nd Assistant Chief Kenny Furuno, and the Department and Company officers on their installation to their respective positions. “Our Department is comprised of extremely dedicated members who have unselfishly given of themselves day and night over the past year all while conducting themselves as true professionals even in the most trying of situations. With this said I am confident our Department has and will continue to overcome the challenges placed upon us while continuing to provide the best possible service to our community. I would like to thank the membership for their continued support, commitment and service. I would also like to take a moment to thank the families and loved ones of our members, without your sacrifices and understanding our members would not be able to make this Department the great organization it is”, expressed Chief Kriklava to all volunteer firefighters from the Hauppauge Fire Department. Chief of Department Thomas Kriklava was installed for his 2nd year as Chief of Department.

(Picture #1) Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department
(Picture #2) Chief Thomas Kriklava reviews members of the Hauppauge Fire Department during their 2008 Annual Inspection

Hauppauge, NY: (May 2, 2008) The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Hauppauge Fire District along with the Officers of the Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department were proud to acknowledge Firefighter James Murphy, Sr. for 40 years of dedicated service. Jim joined in 1969 and served through the ranks and is a two term ex Captain of the HFD Truck Company. Having served on numerous committees through his 40 years he is credited with starting the Department’s Babysitting First Aid Course, served on the Fire Prevention Committee where he visited the schools in the District and assisted with the acquisition of the Department’s Smokehouse. Firefighter Murphy is still an active and vital part of the Hauppauge FD. A professional volunteer firefighter who volunteers for pride and not a paycheck. For this we thank him and others who give of themselves to protect the lives and property of the residents of the Hauppauge Fire District.

(Picture left to right) Hauppauge Fire District Chairman Michael Mooney, Hauppauge Fire Department 2nd Assistant Chief Ken Furuno, Firefighter James Murphy, Sr., 1st Assistant Chief Ray Germaine and Chief of Department Thomas Kriklava

Hauppauge, NY: (May 2, 2008) The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Hauppauge Fire District along with the Officers of the Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department were proud to acknowledge FirefighterJay Antovel for 30 years of dedicated service. Jay joined the Hauppauge Fire Department in 1979. In 1984 while responding to a confirmed fire he was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident and was severely injured. After needing several months of rehabilitation he still had the desire and ambition to return as an active firefighter. He continues to be a dedicated and vital member who has served on several committees and is a Trustee in the Hauppauge Fire Department’s Benevolent Association. Firefighter Antovel is a professional volunteer firefighter who volunteers for pride and not a paycheck. For this we thank him and others who give of themselves to protect the lives and property of the residents of the Hauppauge Fire District.

(Picture left to right) Hauppauge Fire District Chairman Michael Mooney, Hauppauge Fire Department 2nd Assistant Chief Ken Furuno, Firefighter Jay Antovel, Chief of Department Thomas Kriklava and 1st Assistant Chief Ray Germaine

Hauppauge, NY: (May 3, 2008,) The Harvard Nichols Firefighter of the year award is routinely presented to a member of this Department for actions which occurred during an emergency situation. This year this recipient has demonstrated the true readiness of a firefighter. Firefighter Shawn Mooney was attending a school trip and after returning to his room through the pool area with his fellow classmates, they noticed an unknown teenage male on the bottom of the pool in the deep end. Firefighter Mooney and one other individual entered the pool and removed the victim to the pool side were both parties evaluated the victim and found him to be unconscious and not breathing. CPR was initiated by these individuals while rescue crews were notified by fellow classmates. Prior to the arrival of local EMS a pulse and breathing was restored. The victim of this drowning did make a full recovery.

(Picture left to right) Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department’s 2nd Assistant Chief Ken Furuno, 1st Assistant Chief Ray Germaine, Firefighter Shawn Mooney and Chief of Department Thomas Kriklava

Hauppauge, NY: (October 16, 2007,) The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Hauppauge Fire District held a public hearing on their budget on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at the main fire house on Wheeler Road. Among the many topics discussed was the expansion of their two substations on Ledgewood and Terry Roads. The expansion project is mainly focused on the safety of the firefighters from the time they arrive at the station until they leave. The new apparatus is larger than previous trucks that did not allow enough room for the firefighter to safely dress out of the path of the trucks. In addition, a separate gear room will allow the firefighters to gear up without being in the line of traffic while the trucks are pulling in and out of the station. The gear rooms will also have more updated equipment for de-contamination including a wash sink and shower. - www.hauppaugefiredistrict.com

(Picture left to right) Hauppauge Fire District Manager Gilbert Soto, Commissioners Edward Crean, Christopher Hirsch, Chairman Scott Munro, Michael Mooney, Carl Thomas and District Secretary/Treasurer Michael Buturla

Hauppauge, NY: (October 13, 2007 ) Hauppauge Fire Department’s 2007 Community Information Week concluded on Saturday the 13th with an information display at the Sears Appliance Store On Veterans Highway. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871. Have you ever wondered about the sadness and horror a family goes through as they stand on their front lawn watching fire begin to destroy everything they own? Imagine the feeling they have as they hear the sirens of the approaching fire trucks, knowing that their friends, neighbors and members of the community are coming to their aid. Now imagine that same family, only this time there are no wailing sirens, no trucks and all of their possessions are gone forever. We are forever grateful for the thousands of professional volunteer firefighters that serve our communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Emergencies do not care about time, temperature, birthdays or holidays. Knowing that you helped make a difference is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Want to volunteer? Contact your local fire department and tell them you are ready to volunteer. Residents of the Hauppauge Fire District are asked to call Assistant Chief Ray Germaine at (631) 265-2381, ext. 112 or visit their website - www.hauppaugefire.org

(Picture left to right) Sears Appliance Store’s Assistant Store Coach Matthew Brower, Hauppauge Firefighters Lt. Donald Lynch, C.K. Collins and Tim Harten

   

Hauppauge, NY: (October 11, 2007) Since the founding of the 14 man Hauppauge Fire Company over 75 years ago, the job of protecting the District from fire and other disaster has become infinitely more complex. Hauppauge's rural atmosphere is a thing of the past. They are home to major businesses, hotels and thousands of residents. Each day huge quantities of hazardous materials are transported through their Fire District and each day tens of thousands of people come to Hauppauge to earn their living. Times have changed and the Hauppauge Fire Department has had to change with them. Training is a top priority for the Fire District. It is intense and constantly ongoing. They train, not only for the routine fires, but for hazardous materials incidents, high rise fires, terrorist and bomb incidents, plane crashes, extricating crash victims and rescuing individuals trapped in building or underground collapses. Their officers receive specialized training in fire service management and incident command and their apparatus is modern and well equipped. The Hauppauge Fire Department with the financial support of a grant from NYS Sen. John Flanagan has purchased a Technical Rescue Trailer and the necessary specialized equipment for the trailer that will allow the fire department to better serve the residents of the Hauppauge Fire District as well as provide assistance to other fire departments. Technical Rescue Trailers are primarily designed for situations such as confined space, trench collapse, building collapse, or high angle rope rescues. When called upon in a “mutual aid” from another fire department the technical rescue squad can assist. This specially equipped trailer and trained first responders are not found in most fire departments.

(Picture #1 left to right) Hauppauge Fire Department Chief Thomas Kriklava and NYS Sen. John Flanagan
(Picture #2) Demonstration of Technical Rescue equipment by Hauppauge Fire Department Officials and NYS Sen. John Flanagan
(Picture #3 left to right) Hauppauge Fire Department Commissioners Carl Thomas, Christopher Hirsch, Chairman of the Board Scott Munroe, NYS Sen. John Flanagan, Hauppauge Fire Department Chief Thomas Kriklava and Hauppauge Fire Department 2nd Ass’t Chief Ken Furuno

For more information on the Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department visit their website at www.hauppaugefire.org.

   

Hauppauge, NY (October 7, 2007)  Hauppauge Volunteer Fire Department’s community information day (Fire Prevention Sunday) on Sunday October 7th  brought record breaking attendance from the community.  Every 90 seconds a home fire is reported in the United States. And according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), eight out of 10 fire fatalities occur where American’s feel safest – in their own homes. While smoke detectors alone increase survival rates by 50%, the Hauppauge Fire Department demonstrated that by adding home sprinkler systems increases that to 97%. Sprinklers respond to heat, not smoke. Sprinklers put out most fires in seconds before the fire department arrives and before there’s major damage.  “One of the Hauppauge Fire Department’s missions is to educate our residents by bringing to them any new information that will help to save their life and property. We are committed to the safety of all of the residents in our fire district. "We have state of the art equipment and highly trained professional volunteer fire fighters,” explains Chief Thomas J. Kriklava. For more information on residential home fire sprinklers contact Chris Crean of the Hauppauge Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Committee at (631) 930-9962. 

(Picture #1) Mock bedrooms prior to demonstration
(Picture #2) Demonstration of fire extinguished by firefighters in mock bedroom
(Picture #3) Demonstration of fire extinguished by home sprinkler system in mock bedroom