Introduction
The History of the Brookhaven Fire Department has been taken from many sources.
Like all histories, ours was collected and compiled from official minutes, notes,
memos and other data.

During the morning of December 15, 1945, all Company records from 1927-1938 were lost
in a fire that destroyed the company's fire house.

Although many of the records are gone, some of the men who actually made the history of the Fire Company are still around. We call them "Oldtimers". Every Department has them; however, due to the passing of time, as they tell their stories. the names and dates become a bit hazy and hearsay becomes confused with fact, but the color and information is there, rich and full. To these individuals the historical committee is gratefully indebted.

History

The idea of a fire department in Brookhaven first occurred to a small group of people centered around Bartman's Garage (corner of Beaver Brook Drive) and Chick's Inn
(Mastic Hotel) in the latter part of 1922, and early 1923.


May 10th, 1923
The actual inception of the Brookhaven Fire Company took place. A meeting of citizens
was held at John Morton's house on Bay Road. John Morton was selected temporary chairman and C.F. MacNeill, temporary secretary. Once the organization was perfected
the following men were elected the first officers of the company. George Waldron, Chief; William Horn, Foreman; C.F. MacNeill, Assistant Foreman; J.H. Morton, Secretary-Treasurer. It was then decided that the name of the newly formed fire department would
be "Brookhaven Hose Company Number One."

May 17th, 1923
The fire company went right to work, and met with a representative of the American LaFrance Company to discuss the purchase of firematic equipment.

June 7th, 1923
John Morton, as a committee of one, was named to investigate the possibility of incorporating the fire department.

June 14th, 1923
A special meeting was called to distribute the necessary petitions to the taxpayers for the purpose of creating the Brookhaven Fire District.

February, 1924
The company procured its first fire fighting equipment. Thanks to a donation by Mr. Post, six five gallon trucks were purchased in the custody of only five members who owned both an automobile and a telephone.

September, 1924
The company increased its fire fighting capabilities by purchasing several chemical tanks from the Bellport Fire Department.

January 8th, 1925
The first fire truck, 1 1918 Buick, was purchased for the sum of $100! An alarm bell,
loaned to the company by the Bellport Fire Commissioners, along with the recently purchased chemical tanks were mounted on the truck, and the Brookhaven Fire
Company became motorized. For a lack of a fire house, the first truck was housed at
the Waldron's Garage.

February, 1925
A three man committee was appointed to secure plans and estimates for a fire house.

March, 1925
John Morton reported that the Oakwood Realty Company would donate a lot, and he was instructed to procure the deed.

April, 1925
The Commissioners submitted a $5,700 building proposition to the taxpayers, this the
first district budget election was held. Due to a printing error in the ballots the proposition was defeated. It was not until May 1926 that the building proposition was approved and funds for the building of the fire house were made available. Also at this time $2,000 was
approved for the purpose of a chemical truck.

April 18th, 1925
The Oakwood Realty Company donated a plot of land on the corner of Seeley Street and Bridge Place (Railroad Avenue) to the fire company.

May 9th, 1926
A sudden rush of brush fires began with a meadow fire near Bay Road at 4:30pm. This fire was finally put out at Newey's (Tooker's) Boat Yard at 10:00pm that night. Just as they
were wrapping up this fire another alarm was sounded to the company. A huge blaze was rushing down from the north. This fire was eventually brought under control and
extinguished at 2:00am. That same morning around 9:30am another large brush fire
was reported burning in the Southhaven area. Quick action by the Brookhaven Volunteers saved the Southhaven School from being consumed by flames. The final embers from this fire were not extinguished until late afternoon.

July 26th, 1926
Contract was signed with the Brown Brothers for $2,216.92 for construction of the
first fire house.

September 26, 1926
A Chevrolet truck with soda and acid tanks is accepted by the Commissioners.

October 5th, 1926
Ground broken for the Fire House. Mike Gillespie did the excavating with a horse drawn scoop shovel. There is no record of when the first fire house was dedicated.

May 28th, 1927
A tag day was held to raise money to buy a car to replace the Buick. $104.50
was collected.

May, 1927
A Locomobile, a pleasure car, was purchased and converted into a fire truck. It carried 10 gallon milk cans filled with water.

January, 1928
Records from January 1928 to 1938 were destroyed in the fire house fire. However, we will try to give some of the highlights of those years. George Waldron was re-elected Chief
every year until 1935, a total of 13 years. In 1936 Robert Lyons Sr. succeeded him and
then Adam Leskowicz was elected in 1937. In 1930 a Buick car was purchased to replace the Locomobile, and a hose cart body was built and mounted on the chassis by George Reaves and Lou Decker. It was this truck that broke the speed record in Center Moriches; which still stands today.

November 5th, 1932
A new Buffalo fire truck was delivered with a 400 gallon water tank and 500 gallon a
minute pump. During the next 10 years we had a very active tournament team. They took first place trophies at Center Moriches, Bellport, East Moriches, North Patchogue and Sayville, including the Brookhaven Town Association Leg Cup by taking first place three years in a row.

March 1938
The first record of a fire police corp with Robert Lyons Sr., Captain; Jim Kinsella Sr.,
Walter Zukowski, Joe Leskowicz, Charles Waldron and George Last as members.

September 1938
Hurricane hits Long Island. Throughout the day and night the Brookhaven Volunteers kept
a vigil on the fierce storm and aided those in need of rescue help, utilizing both trucks and boats in their efforts. During this year 9 fire wells were purchased from Bellport, four were installed at various places in the Village, two were purchased and installed on private property and the remaining three were sold to the Yaphank Fire District.

June 4th, 1940
A special meeting was called for the purpose of starting an ambulance company. The company purchased its first ambulance, a 1927 Kissel for $81 and the Brookhaven Ambulance Company was incorporated as a separate company and corporation from the fire company. Dr. Hornstein and Dr. Bancroft were made honorary members in recognition
of their services in giving first aid lessons to the Fire Company.

December 7th, 1941
Pearl Harbor Day

February 1942
New smoke masks were placed in action at a smoky fire at the Park-Lewis house.

April 23rd, 1942
Classes in chemical warfare were started and continued throughout the war.

May 10th, 1943
20th Anniversary Dinner was held at the fire house.

January 1944
John Morton was ordered to place all old minute books in the fire house for safe keeping.

February 1945
Because of the war the age limit for firemen was reduced to 16 years of age.

December 10th, 1945
The first fire training school was started in Bellport.

December 15th, 1945
Fire house burns down with complete loss of both the houses and all equipment. All records were also lost except for the minutes of the four years of the company which John Morton had neglected to place in the fire house.

December 18th, 1945
A special meeting was called at the school and it was announced that an army surplus truck was purchased. In the meantime, arrangements had been made to have the Bellport Fire Company cover our district.

January 2nd, 1946
A four wheel drive Chevrolet Army surplus fire truck was delivered. The Brookhaven Fire Company was back in service.

February 1946
A committee met with the Commissioners to plan a new fire house. Architect LaFon was retained to draw plans for a $45,000 building.

May 1946
A 500 gallon G.P.M. Ford pumper with a 375 gallon water tank was purchased.

May 1946
A deed for the property for the new fire house was donated to the District by Charles Robinson and Robert Lyons Sr.

July 1946
Another fire truck chassis, a Broadway with a 1000 gallon pump and a 1500 gallon water tank was procured by the Commissioners, thanks to the efforts of Mr. William Hicken, who cut Washington red tape.

October 1946
The Brookhaven Fire District was expanded to take in the Shirley area.

Fall, 1946
Ground broken for new fire house and construction started.

May, 1947
Because of a shortage of funds, volunteers start work on concrete aprons and walks at no expense to the taxpayers beyond the cost of materials.

May 15, 1947
The first meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners was held in the new fire house.

August 24, 1947
The new fire house and a bronze memorial plaque were dedicated.

1947
This year a letter from the Town Board was received stating that no member under 18years of age would be permitted to fight fires.

April 1948
The traffic light in front of the fire house was installed and a new system was inaugurated by which Bellport Telephone Operators sounded our alarms.

July 3, 1948
Twenty-fifth Anniversary Celebration with an open house was held at the fire house. At this time the following men were made life members of the fire company: Arthur Waldron, Robert Lyoms, Sr., Robert Fawcett, John Morton, George Ed Waldron, Walter Zukowski, Albert Rodde and Adam Kress.

1950
All areas of the fire district south of Neighborhood Road in Shirley transferred to the Mastic Beach Fire Department.

August 1950
Commissioners approve and set up a radio system for the company. This was the first station in Brookhaven Town and the second in Suffolk County. The Fire Company at this time went on record in favor of the proposed Suffolk County Fire College (Training Center).

May 2, 1950
A rash of fires than ran from 3:20pm until 3:20 on May 8th and included 9 fires in six days, which burned from North of the Hard Estate to the Railroad Tracks and from Yaphank Avenue and Farm to Market Road to River Road in Southaven.

April 1954
Commissioners accept delivery of a G.M.C. 500 GPM mid ship pumper with a 500 gallon water tank and a special tank for foam. This is our present Unit #5.

1957
During this year the Commissioners purchased unit #6, a hose and light truck. This unit today carries 4000 feet of 3 inch hose, its own electric power pack and a complete rescue unit. During this year the first siren was placed in the Shirley area and the Company's first memorial service was held for its departed members.

July 11, 1957
One of our worst brush fires was fought north of Farm to Market Road west of Yaphank Avenue. The fire was fought for 20 hours with mutual aid from our surrounding fire departments and backed up with a bulldozer.

1958
Saw the start for a much needed addition to the fire house. This 23x77 foot wing contains
a large size space for Unit #121, recreation room, committee room and a wash room
with a shower.

1959
A Dodge power wagon was purchased by the Fire Commissioners as a Utility truck. This is our present Unit #4

December 1960
The commissioners purchased a heavy duty snow plow for the new Unit #4. Some six weeks later the snow fall of the decade and the new plow paid off. The fire wells were kept operational and many snow bound people rescued by our boys while they were serving 52 hours of stand by duty.

June 4, 1961
With the installation of the dial system and the local phone operators could no longer activate our alarms. This necessitated engaging an answering service to handle all fire calls.

October, 1961
The "Case of the Stolen Fire Truck." Some time during the night someone broke into the building and borrowed Unit #4. It was later found unharmed.

October, 1962
We gained our first hydrant near the Kastar Plant on Station Road in North Bellport,
thanks to Supervisor Dominy and the Town Board.

November, 1962
Commissioners purchase new land around the fire house for increased parking facilities
for the firemen.

March 8, 1963
Bellport High School Fire. There was no help for the building but the fact that no lives were lost was a wonderful credit to the Mutual Aid Plans of our Town's Fire Departments, Ambulances and Rescue Units.

April 1963
at 12:50pm we rolled to one of our worst brush fires. It was 3:10 the next morning before the last flame was out and we had not lost a building thanks to the assistance of 14 other departments, some coming from as for East as Jamesport and Bridgehampton.

August 9, 1963
Our present Unit #7, a 1000 G.P.M. pumper with 1000 gallon water tank, placed in service.

February 1964
The Fire District's first Sub-station in the Shirley area was dedicated and placed in service.

March 13, 1964
Chief Willis Strickland passes away suddenly while still in office as Chief of the Department.

September 1, 1966
Commissioners pay off all bonds on the fire house with a mortgage burning ceremony.

January 1968
The Commissioners accept our present Unit #3, a 1000 G.P.M. pumper with 1000 gallon water tank and quick release breathing tanks for fast rescues, as our main attack truck. This unit replaced the Ford truck purchased when the fire house burned.

March 1969
A new Ford Chief's car placed into service.

December 1969
The Brookhaven Fire Company Benevolent Association started, with the Reverend Richard Gray as Chairman.

November 1970
Unit #1, a 55 foot articulated boom tower, the first of it's type in Suffolk County, with a
1000 G.P.M. pump and a 1500 gallon water tank placed in service.

January 1972
Ladies Auxiliary of the Brookhaven Fire Department organized with Mrs. Flo Fink as
its first president.

February 1973
A new 6 wheel G.I. Brush Truck, designed by a committee of the Department to replace old Unit #2, was placed in service.

February 1975
Studebaker hose truck 5-3-6 placed in service by commissioner James P. Kinsella - chairman, Lloyd Robinson, Frank Champlin, George Zukowski, Joseph Leskowicz and James O. Still - Chief.

April 1978
Stumper Jumper 5-3-12A placed in service by Frank Craven - chairman, Murray Fink, Henry A. Lohmann, Robert Robinson, Harold J. Lyons, R. Norton McDowall - Secretary/Treasurer, R. Norton McDowall - Chief.

December 1980
Kenworth pumper 5-3-8 placed in service by commissioners Frank Craven - chairman, Murray Fink, Harold J. Lyons Sr., Henry A Lohmann, Robert Robinson, R. Norton McDowall - Secretary/Treasurer, John E. Strickland - Chief.

August 1983
Stump Jumper 5-3-12B placed in service by commissioners Frank Craven - chairman, Murray Fink, Robert H. Robinson, Henry A. Lohmann, James F. Verni, R. Norton McDowall - Treasurer/Secretary, Ronald Kinsella - Chief.

September 1983
Ford pumper 5-3-9 placed in service by commissioners Frank Craven - chairman, Murray Fink, Robert H. Robinson, Henry A. Lohmann, James F. Verni, R. Norton McDowall - Treasurer/Secretary, Ronald Kinsella - Chief. The truck committee consisted of Ronald Kinsella - Chair, Richard Bressler, Henry Lohmann, William Cirello, R. Norton McDowall, William Mirabelli.

March 1985
Ford pumper 5-3-2 placed in service by commissioners -Henry A. Lohmann - chairman, Murray Fink, Robert Robinson, Harold J. Lyons, R. Norton McDowall - Secretary/Treasurer, R. Norton McDowall - Chief. The truck committee consisted of R. Norton McDowall- Chair, Richard G. Bressler, Henry A. Lohmann, William Cirello, Harold J. Lyons Sr.,
Lawrence G. Fink, William Mirabelli, Ronald Kinsella, Eugene Petricevich, John H.
Klug, Edward F. Wnenta.

March 1988
Ford Rescue 5-3-3 placed in service by commissioners Murray Fink- chairman, Harold J. Lyons Sr., Henry A. Lohmann, Robert Robinson, James F. Verni, R. Norton McDowall - Treasurer, Lea Klug - Secreatry, John Klug - Chief. The truck committee consisted of William Mirabelli - Chair, Kevin Cosgrove, Lawrence Fink, John Klug, Henry Lohmann, Harold J. Lyons and Eugene Petricevich.

May 1990
Scott IIA SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) was discontinued and Scott 4.5
units adopted.

April 1991
The district purchased the first 1000 feet of five inch hose.

October 30, 1992
At approximately 1420 hours Life member, Ex-Chief, Ex-Commissioner Harold J. Lyons
Sr., passed away in the line of duty.

November 24, 1992
It was reported by various newspapers that the Brookhaven Fire Department responded
to the crash of an alien spaceship in Southaven Park at around 7:00 pm.

April 1993
The Suffolk County Infirmary built a new structure in the Brookhaven Fire District.

January 1995
The district purchased a new office at 8 Seeley Street.

March 25, 1995
The department responded to five different brush fires between 1320 and 1730 hours.
A busy day for Chief M. Verni.

April 1995
The memorial park at South Country Road and Fireplace Neck Road became
district property.

August 24 to September 5, 1995
The Brookhaven Fire Department responded to wildfires that ravaged the Rocky Point
and Eastport/Westhampton areas.

May 1996
The small stretch of road between South Country Road and Fireplace Neck Road
by the memorial park was renamed Gillespie Path in honor of Ex-Chief, Life member
Fred Gillespie.

March 1997
The dive team acquired a new 19 foot boat.

August 1998
Permits were secured to begin development of BHFD fireman's park.

September 1998
A addition to the North side of Station One was completed.