Bayport Fire Department

The Bayport Fire Department is a volunteer fire department, located in Bayport, NY on Long Island in Suffolk County. The BFD is part of the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services system with call numbers 3-14-0.

History

The Bayport Fire Department was organized 1891-08-15 with 18 members Under the name Bayport Hose Company. Charles R. Post was made Chief. [cite book|title=Bayport Heritage|author=Bayport Heritage Association|pages=120|date=1997|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=0752408100] A plot of land on the north side of Middle Road, next to Shands (Little Albert's) was purchased from I. S. Snedecor for $500 and a Fire House built for $3000. There was a belfry but this was removed in 1941. This building was sold to Arthur Shand and a new Fire House was built on Snedecor Avenue and Railroad Street in 1956 where is currently stands today. In 1896 they bought a hook and ladder truck so heavy that there were not enough members to pull it to the fire. This also created the Hook and Ladder Company thus changing the name to the Bayport Fire Department.

Prior to World War II, a third company was created, Engine Company No.1, however, during WWII, the interdepartmental companies temporarily disbanded and were reestablished at the close of the war.In 1955 the Bayport Fire District purchased its first new fire truck. A 1955 Mack 750 GPM. In 1991 this vehicle was retired from active service and sold to the Bayport Fire Department for One Dollar (us). In 2006, the truck in its original condition went through a minor overhaul having its gold leaf replaced and an intense cleaning. Today, the BFD has roughly 170 members, 120 active and has an average response time between one to four minutes. Currently there are four companies (Hose Company, Hook and Ladder Company, Engine Company and Fire Police Company) with two Squads (Rescue and Water Rescue).

Companies

The BFD responds as a department, meaning; members assigned to specific companies are trained in all areas of firefighting and rescues. During times of an alarm, members do not distinguish the different company equipment rather get on the next truck inline and will perform the tasks necessary of that vehicle regardless of company assignments. Each company has its own set of by-laws yet are superseded by the department by laws. They are commanded by an annually elected Captain, Lieutenant, Secretary and Treasurer. Captains and Lieutenants of companies are considered line officers (except the fire police company). The companies are funded through their own methods of fund raising and from department fund raising.

quads

The department has two squads. They are commanded by annually elected Captain, Lieutenant, Secretary. They are governed by the department by-laws and overseen by the Chief of the Department. The officers of the squads do not have the same command authority of line officers except at incidents involving that squads purpose or in the absence of a line officer.

The Rescue Squad

Water Rescue Squad

Formed in 1991 by members of the department and companies, was created as the BFD Dive or SCUBA team specializing in mostly subsurface rescues and based on recreation diving adapted to rescues. Early on, the team was one of the largest in suffolk county based on certified divers. In 2000, the fire district purchased a 19' zodiac hurricane 580 rescue boat. This was to be used in conjunction with the smaller 10' avon rescue boat which was no sufficient for off shore rescues in the Great South Bay. Soon the department found their water rescue alarms went from about 1 or 2 per year to between 30-40. Quickly the squad reorganized itself and started advanced training in Public Safety Diving, Surface Rescues and Ice Rescues with nationally recognized certifications. In 2005 two major steps were taken with the squad, first a new truck committee was established and a bid contract was award to Marion Body works of Wisconsin to build a specialized custom water rescue truck (which was delivered in May 2006, and second, the Zodiac was outfitted with a custom top, larger windshield, custom grab rails, radar, new GPS, new fire radios and new lighting. With mutual aide plans, the response area of the water rescue team has grown to Patchogue Bay to the east to Heckscher State Park to the west and south to fire island.

Uniforms

In the 1800s fire departments typically had similar uniforms. Black or navy blue pants, red wool shirt with black breast and white insignia and patented leather belts. Today, the Bayport Fire Department members continue to wear the original uniform and as far as they know are the only fire department in New York state that continues to do so. (with the exception of the Brentwood Fire Department band).

Equipment

Pierce Class A Engine 3-14-1 Pierce Class A Engine 3-14-2
*1993 Pierce 100' Tower Ladder 3-14-13
*1987 Pierce Class A Engine 3-14-4
*1955 Mack Class B 3-14-5 (retired)
*1990 Ford Econoline Fire Police Van 3-14-6
*1966 Army GI 6x6 2 1/2 ton brush truck "stump jumper" 3-14-7
*1985 GMC Saulsbury Heavy Rescue truck 3-14-8
*2000 Ford F 250 Pick up 3-14-9
*2004 Ford Expedition Chief Car 3-14-10as
*2006 Ford Expedition Chief Car 3-14-11
*2006 Ford Expedition Chief Car 3-14-12
*1997 Ford Tarus Station Wagon 3-14-3
*B-Truck...Red devils racing team 3-14-15
*C-Truck...Red devils racing team 3-14-20
*199x Ford econoline coach bus 3-14-21
*19xx Mack Tractor (& Trailer) 3-14-22
*1971 Ford Fseries Box truck (water rescue) 3-14-23 (to be retired)
*2006 Ford F550, Marion, box truck (water rescue) 3-14-23
*1985 10' Avon inflatable 3-14-26A
*2000 19' Zodiac Hurricane 580 3-14-26

References

* [http://www.bayportfd.org]