Wantagh Fire Department
Encyclopedia
The Wantagh Fire Department (WFD) is a volunteer fire department
headquartered in Wantagh, New York
. As one of the largest fire districts in Nassau County
(13 square miles), it is responsible for parts of neighboring Bellmore, Levittown
and Seaford
hamlets as well as Jones Beach Island
. The Wantagh Fire Department has approximately 250 members using 20 pieces of apparatus and a fire/rescue boat located throughout 7 Stations.
The Chief of the Wantagh Fire Department is Jeff P. Lindgren.
. A Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State on January 2, 1900, thus incorporating "Wantagh Hook and Ladder Company #1. At a meeting held on July 5, 1900, a proposal was made "that a paper be drawn to solicit subscriptions for the purchase of a “truck". A committee to raise funds was appointed, and after a very successful dinner and dance the department had more than enough for a truck.
At the end of 1900 after one year of operation the membership totaled approximately 40 members.The possibility of forming a Fire District was finally realized in 1922 with the formation of the Wantagh Fire District.
In 1953, the Wantagh Fire Department consisted of three firehouses. Headquartered (presently Wantagh Auto Body) on Railroad Avenue facing the Long Island Railroad Tracks, which were not yet elevated. Station 2 was a two car garage on Wantagh Avenue near General Douglas MacArthur High School and Station 3 was a two car garage on Neptune Avenue in Seaford Harbor.As the suburban area developed some New York City firefighters moved to the suburbs and many joined the Wantagh Fire Department.
During the month of August in 1954 a United States Air Force
fighter while traveling from Delaware
to Massachusetts
crashed into the middle of the street on Denver Road in Wantagh. The crash and ensuing fire damaged some 30 homes on Denver Road, Dover Road and Roxbury Avenue.
In 1964, the Jones Beach Boardwalk Restaurant was destroyed by fire. As a result of the restaurant fire, New York State contracted with the Wantagh Fire Department to protect Jones Beach State Park
, while the Town of Oyster Bay contracted with the Department to protect Tobay Beach.
On September 18, 1999 the Wantagh Fire Department held its 100th Anniversary Invitational Parade.
FDNY and WFD Firefighter Lee S. Fehling, 28, of Wantagh died in the September 11, 2001 attacks
.
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
headquartered in Wantagh, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As one of the largest fire districts in Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
(13 square miles), it is responsible for parts of neighboring Bellmore, Levittown
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
and Seaford
Seaford, New York
Seaford is a census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 15,294 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Seaford is located at ....
hamlets as well as Jones Beach Island
Jones Beach Island
Jones Beach Island is one of the outer barrier islands off the southern coast of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It is named for the father of Thomas Jones. It is sometimes referred to as Oak Beach Island, and the former home of the infamous Oak Beach Inn. It is separated from Long...
. The Wantagh Fire Department has approximately 250 members using 20 pieces of apparatus and a fire/rescue boat located throughout 7 Stations.
The Chief of the Wantagh Fire Department is Jeff P. Lindgren.
History
In December 1899 group of 21 residents of the then small community of Wantagh met for the purpose of forming a Fire DepartmentFire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
. A Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State on January 2, 1900, thus incorporating "Wantagh Hook and Ladder Company #1. At a meeting held on July 5, 1900, a proposal was made "that a paper be drawn to solicit subscriptions for the purchase of a “truck". A committee to raise funds was appointed, and after a very successful dinner and dance the department had more than enough for a truck.
In 1953, the Wantagh Fire Department consisted of three firehouses. Headquartered (presently Wantagh Auto Body) on Railroad Avenue facing the Long Island Railroad Tracks, which were not yet elevated. Station 2 was a two car garage on Wantagh Avenue near General Douglas MacArthur High School and Station 3 was a two car garage on Neptune Avenue in Seaford Harbor.As the suburban area developed some New York City firefighters moved to the suburbs and many joined the Wantagh Fire Department.
During the month of August in 1954 a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
fighter while traveling from Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
crashed into the middle of the street on Denver Road in Wantagh. The crash and ensuing fire damaged some 30 homes on Denver Road, Dover Road and Roxbury Avenue.
In 1964, the Jones Beach Boardwalk Restaurant was destroyed by fire. As a result of the restaurant fire, New York State contracted with the Wantagh Fire Department to protect Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of New York. It is located in southern Nassau County, in the hamlet of Wantagh, on Jones Beach Island, a barrier island linked to Long Island by the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Wantagh State Parkway and Ocean Parkway .The park is renowned for...
, while the Town of Oyster Bay contracted with the Department to protect Tobay Beach.
On September 18, 1999 the Wantagh Fire Department held its 100th Anniversary Invitational Parade.
FDNY and WFD Firefighter Lee S. Fehling, 28, of Wantagh died in the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Board of Fire Commissioners
The Board of Fire Commissioners consists of five unpaid elected officials, who serve a five year term. The board meets on a monthly basis to conduct business, approve expences and oversee the Fire District.- Chairman- John J. Gillen
- Vice Chairman- Jay R. Cohen
- Commissioner- Craig Craft
- Commissioner- William K. Field IV
- Commissioner- Don E. Snyder
Office of the Chief
The Chiefs of the Wantagh Fire Department are elected by the membership to oversee the Operations of the Department both at the time of an alarm and in an administrative capacity. The Chief sets policy, implements general orders, imposes discipline and oversees Department finances.- Chief of Department- Jeff P. Lindgren
- 1st Assistant Chief- William Allen
- 2nd Assistant Chief- Jason T. Jackowitz
- 3rd Assistant Chief- James P. Bloomfield
Stations
- Headquarters - located on 3470 Park Avenue, Wantagh.
- Station 2 - located on 844 Wantagh Avenue, Levittown.
- Station 3 - located on 2529 Neptune Avenue, Seaford.
- Station 4 - located on 1191 Alken Avenue, Seaford.
- Station 5 - located on 2589 Merrick RoadMerrick RoadMerrick Road, named Merrick Boulevard inside New York City, is a road running from Jamaica, Queens, New York east through Merrick, New York to the line between Nassau and Suffolk Counties, where it becomes Montauk Highway. A bit of it at the east end is signed and maintained by the New York State...
, Bellmore. - Station 6 - located on 2995 Jerusalem Avenue, Wantagh.
- Station 7 - located on 2045 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh.