Revisiting an Old Flame

On Aug. 24, 1995, a tanker from the New York National Guard’s Air Rescue Group stationed at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach provided assistance to the Westhampton Beach (N.Y.) Fire Department as they battled the epic Sunrise Fire, a monstrous blaze that made international news as it tore through several wildland/urban interface areas of Long Island. Every volunteer fire department on Long Island as well as paid departments and additional crews from New Jersey, FDNY and Connecticut joined forces to control the wall of flames that leapt over the four-lane Sunrise Highway—and the trucks trying to stop it—and charged toward a housing development.

Experts predicted possibly all of Westhampton Beach would be lost; the flames threatened hundreds of homes and thousands of people, and ultimately burned more than 5,000 acres on both sides of Sunrise Highway. Firefighters brought the fire under control after a week-long battle, but not a single structure was completely destroyed, and there were no fatalities or serious injuries. It became the largest wildfire on Long Island in recent history.

FireRescue Magazine Photo of the Week - October 28, 2004

This is a reproduction of an article and photo that was featured in FireRescue Magazine on October 28, 2004. The photo was featured as there Photo of the Week.

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Chiefs

  • Chief Rick Schultz
  • 1st Asst. Steve Smith
  • 2nd Asst. Al Tudisco
  • 3rd Asst. John 'Chip' Bancroft

Officers

  • Pres. James Hadley
  • VP Jim Czachur

Commissioners

  • Dean Culver
  • Arma Andon
  • Don Metcalf
  • Fred Overton
  • Vic Levy

engine company 1

  • Capt. Ross Donneson
  • Lt. Allan Schunk

engine company 2

  • Capt. Tom Glover
  • Lt. Bart Birk

hook + ladder company

  • Capt. Darryl Schunk
  • Lt. Halsey Stevens

Fire Police

  • Capt. Nancy Lynch
  • Lt. Thomas Betjemann
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