The Floral Park Fire Department Rescue Squad was organized in 1929 under
the guidance of Arthur J. Ennis, who was an acting Warden at the time. The original
squad consisted of 18 men whose highest training was the Advanced Red Cross First Aid
course. As the squad grew, so did its influence and the manpower reached 32.
From this the squad has grown the well outfitted Rescue Company of the Department today
which was organized in 1930.
Fireman's Day was always a busy one for the Rescue Company. Although its usual assignment was the first aid tent, during some years it also had duties with the parade and refreshment stands. Ex-Captain Paul Funk remembers those years well since he provided the trucks to transport the bleachers from Sewanhaka high School. Paul was also the key figure in transporting Doodlebugs tournament team trucks to such for away places as Niagra Falls. During Fireman's Day competitions, it was not unusual to handle 30 injuries, and during and after the parade another dozen or so would arise.
Ex-Captain Ralph Gode recalls his term as Captain in 1952. It was wartime, and in addition to fire and rescue drills, the Company participated in Civil Defense drills as well. Ralph was also appointed to the Emergency Rescue and First Aid Committee of the Fireman's Association for the State of New York to which he served as chairman for two years. He and Ex-Chief Arthur Ennis are the only two members of the Floral Park Fire Department to hold membership on state committees.
Ex-Chief Robert Meehan was appointed to the Rescue Company in 1937 and he recalls the first rescue truck, built by Mack and covered over in canvas. Beside personal gear such as boots, coats, and helmets, the truck carried all purpose masks, oxygen, inhalators, first aid supplies, and a special kit to be used by doctors, and various tools and supplies. Among the doctors who frequently assisted the Rescue Company was Dr. Irving Kossack who continues to assist the Company whenever possible and bears the distinction of being the only civilian to receive honorary member status. After receiving permission from the Village Board to replace the original truck, a committee was appointed to draw up specifications for the company's first designed rescue truck which was delivered around 1947. Some of its main features were a built-in 110 volt AC power supply, two 1000 watt floodlights that rose up from the body of the truck and a built-in oxygen supply. Incidentally, our 100th Anniversary also marks the completion of Ex-Chief Meehan's 56th year of dedicated service to the Rescue Company and the Department, and he still maintains one of the highest averages in the company.
The nature of calls changed as the technology changed. When coal was used for heating there were calls for coal gas (CO) poisoning and the Schaeffer prone pressure of resuscitation was used. When gas was used for refrigeration the Company was often called to don their masks and carry out the leaking refrigerator. When cesspools were still in use the provided a hazard when they collapsed. On one occasion a woman got out of her car and fell into a cesspool in the dark. Another time a workman was trapped when the crown collapsed on him while he was inside making repairs. Both were rescued successfully.
Ex-Captain Jack Butcher recalls a dog falling into a cesspool on Calla Avenue. When he went to rescue it, the animal was so scared it bit him. There were also some very gratifying experiences though. During the blizzard of 1965, a Queens woman who was in labor was transported to Long Island Jewish Hospital in the White rescue truck. A Belmont Avenue woman gave birth to a child at home with Dr. Boyle present to assist. Jack carried the newborn infant out to a waiting Nassau County ambulance for transport to Nassau (now called Winthrop University) Hospital. There was a call for a child choking at 234 Tulip Avenue, where Joe Riedman administered the Heimlich Maneuver and saved the child's life.
Associate member Joseph Riedman who was appointed to the Rescue Company in 1942 recalls that the members of the Company at that time represented all trades: carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, ceiling installers, telephone technicians, and a male nurse. Joe answered calls mostly between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm. Daytime Rescue membership was scarce. Joe being employed at Joseph Riedman Co., was usually available. He teamed up with Edward Espach, a member who operated a hardware store on Tulip Avenue and was available the same hours, and for many years they were the only crew in the canvas covered Mack rescue truck to respond (with the exception of weekends and holidays).
Ex-Chief George Link, realizing the need for manpower, joined the Rescue Company in September, 1951. After serving all offices of the Rescue Company, Department Secretary, Department Warden, on to Assistant Chief and finally Chief of Department for the year 1966-1967, George continues to assist whenever possible in whatever way he can.
The Rescue Company has grown remarkably sine 1930. In the late seventies we put an advanced life support ambulance into service. In the mid eighties we accepted our first female members. In the forties our slogan was "We do the difficult immediately, the impossible takes a little longer". In the eighties our slogan became "Forever vigilant, always prepared". Either way, the Floral Park Fire Department Rescue Company always has been and always will be one of the finest heavy rescue companies on Long Island.
Rescue Co. #1 Members Web Page
Congratulations to our Rescue Company for winning the REMAC 2003 Agency of the Year Award!!!
