LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Ocean
Beach Volunteer Fire Department on October 12, 2013

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 75th Anniver-
sary of the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department and to honor its past
and present firefighting members for 75 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Ocean Beach and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department
celebrated this milestone on Saturday, October 12, 2013, at its Annual
Installation of Officers Dinner Dance held at Maguire's on the Bay, in
Ocean Beach, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department was officially
founded in 1938; since then, it has grown to 70 members at present
including 25 Emergency Medical Technicians and six Advanced Care Provid-
ers; and
WHEREAS, The Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Medical
Service was started in 1994, and shortly after, its Emergency Medical
Service coverage was expanded to include Point O'Woods and Ocean Bay
Park; and
WHEREAS, In 1938, when the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department was
first formed, its district encompassed 10 blocks by two blocks; today,
it is made up of almost two miles of beachfront, including the communi-
ties of Seaview, Corneille Estates, Fire Island Summer Club, Robbins
Rest, Atlantique and the Islip Town Atlantique Marina, as well as some
National Seashore property; and
WHEREAS, Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department's current firehouse was
built in 1978 by the members of the Department on property donated to
the Village by the members of the Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, To date, 2012-2013 was one of the most trying times in the
Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department's history; Super Storm Sandy
destroyed the fire hall, which was functioning as the Emergency Oper-
ations Center, and three feet of water filled the firehouse; and
WHEREAS, Over 50 members of the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department
dropped everything and put their lives on hold to spend two weeks on
Fire Island to help put the firehouse, the Village, and the protection
districts back to the point at which residents could safely return and
start working on their homes; and
WHEREAS, With a grant from New York State, the Ocean Beach Volunteer
Fire Department built and manages a Fire Island-wide radio system which
allows all emergency agencies operating on Fire Island to communicate
with each other; for some time during and after Sandy, this was the only
means of communication on Fire Island; and
WHEREAS, This past year, including the Super Storm Sandy operations,
the members of the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department responded to
over 300 alarms; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 75 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire
Department have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and
have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department in public service and fire
protection is one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year,
for 75 years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left
their homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Ocean Beach Volunteer 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, the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department
reflects the history and development of firefighting over the past 75
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 as firefighters; 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 volunteer fire departments 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 75th Anniversary of the Ocean Beach Volunteer
Fire Department; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Department.