The History of the Glenwood H&L, E&H, Co., Inc

1987-1997

I can remember the adrenalin rush as we got dressed in the hose bed on the way to a house fire, or riding in the ladder section and on the sides of the old Seagrave, the roar of the twelve cylinder engine was all you hear. I was able to fulfill a boyhood dream of riding on the fire engines that I had watched go by my home so many times. This is no longer the case today, rarely do you see firefighters riding in the hose beds or on the back steps as the engines and trucks rush to an alarm. According to OSHA mandates, only fire apparatus in service prior to 1988 can have firefighters riding on the back steps and even then, special straps must be installed to prevent the firefighters from possibly faffing off the rigs. Apparatus manufactured or placed in service after 1988 must provide an enclosed means of protection for firefighters - such as the "jump" seat area or an enclosed cab. OSHA also mandated certain training and physical requirements for all firefighters and detailed records of the training must be maintained by the fire department. These requirements have never been a problem for the Glenwood Fire Company, since the Company regularly drills and attends the Nassau Fire Service Academy training facility in Bethpage on a regular basis. There were also mandates for certain types of turnout equipment, required to be worn at all times. This again, was not really a problem for the Company, since one of the main tenets of the Company was to always have the best equipment available and the best training. However, these requirements have put and continue to place financial considerations upon the Company's budget.

In 1989, firefighter Michael Moschenross died in the line of duty - the first such sad occurrence in the Company's history. Firefighter Moschenross returned to active duty in the Company upon his retirement from regular employment. He felt that since he was retired and relatively young, he could help in the daytime, when manpower is needed most. In full turnout gear, and while on the back step of Quick Attack engine 539 waiting for the rig to leave the ramp of fire headquarters, firefighter Moschenross suffered a fatal heart attack. A truly sad day in Glenwood's history.

In 1991 the Company purchased a Pierce 1,250 g.p.m. engine with a six-man enclosed cab as required by OSHA. With the arrival of the new engine and the OSHA mandates, riding on the back step of any Glenwood engine was prohibited.

Ex-Chief Edward "Whip" Lockwood was elected as Chief of the Company in 1992. This was the
second time that "Whip" had gone through the chairs of the Chiefs office, and now, once more was in command of the Company. The first time that "Whip" was the Chief was back in 1960. "Whip" has achieved the "Triple Crown" of the Company - having served as Chief. President, Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. There are very few members who have held all three positions in the Company. This year, the Company honors "Whip" for all his accomplishments and hard work on behalf of the Company as the Grand Marshal of the Fifth Battalion Parade in honor of our 90th Anniversary.
The company continued to upgrade its apparatus during the 1990's. Under the tutelage of Chief William Hartigan, the Company purchased a foam attack trailer from United Plastic Fabricating. The trailer, at the time of its acquisition, was the only one of its kind in service in New York State. The unit carries 750 gallons of foam and is capable of supplying four hand-lines of foam and one master stream. The trailer was purchased, due in part to the 14-million gallons of gasoline that traverses the roadways of the Glenwood fire district each day from the fuel depots on Shore Road.

During Chief Hartigan's term the Company also approved the purchase of a new ambulance to replace the rig purchased in 1989. A committee was also formed to formulate plans for a new ladder truck to replace the 1989 Peter Pirsch.

In August of 1995 the Company responded to what has become known as the "Sunrise Fire" and the longest mutual aid request in the Company's history.

That summer. Long Island experienced a drought and the Pine Barrens in Suffolk County was a tinderbox. On August 25, 1995. the inevitable occurred - a brush fire broke out in the Pine Barrens. The fire spread quickly, consuming hundreds of acres of brush. The fire departments in Suffolk County were quickly depleting their resources and the call went out to the departments in Nassau County. In the late afternoon of August 25, Glenwood was requested to respond to the staging area in Yaphank with one brush truck and one Class "A" engine. Chief Hartigan along with 539 - the Quick Attack brush truck and Engine 537 and some 20 members responded to the staging area. When they arrived at the Yaphank staging area, they were immediately dispatched to assignments on thesouth side of Sunrise Highway. For the next 12-hours the crews were dispatched to location after location to make a stand against the conflagration that such stand was in the racetrack area, where a wall of fire moved so fast and furious, lines had to be played on 537 to protect it from the wall of fire that attacked their position. On the afternoon of August 26, Chief Hartigan ordered relief crews be dispatched from Glenwood so that the bone weary crews who had battled fire after fire throughout the night and day could return for some needed rest. That evening, as the original crews began to prepare to return for another night of firefighting, the fire was brought under control and all our units returned to Glenwood.

The crews and the 537 returned to Suffolk County in September, when a parade was held in honor of all the firefighters and support personnel that took part in the "Sunrise Fire" battle.

In 1996 the Company approved the purchase of a 95-ft. Simon LTI tower ladder. In February of 1997 the new truck, the first of its kind produced, arrived in Glenwood. On March 17th the new truck -Tower Ladder 8 was placed in service. The former ladder truck was purchased by the South Hempstead Fire Department.

With the number of alarms steadily increasing each year - in 1996 the Company responded to more than 1,200 alarms, the majority of which are rescue calls, the Company in February of 1997 voted to purchase a second ambulance from Wheeled Coach which supplied the ambulance purchased only six months prior. By April the new ambulance arrived and was quickly placed into service. With the addition of the new ambulance, the Company now had two fully equipped rigs ready to serve the community.

As the Company prepares for the 90th Anniversary Parade and Drill on June 21, 1997, the Company under the leadership of Chief Mark Fields; President Jeff Barrington and Chairman of the Board Rick Pearsall, the Company still maintains a roster of 100 active men and women, operating 16 pieces of apparatus: three Chiefs' vehicles; four 1,250 g.p.m. Class "A" pampers; one 95-ft tower ladder; one heavy rescue; one Quick Attack pumper; two fully equipped ambulances; one utility vehicle; one suburban; one foam attack trailer and one rescue boat.

For the past 90 years the Company has taken great pride in its dedication and its mission - the protection of the lives and property of our community utilizing the most modern techniques and the best equipment available.

Our men and women are on call 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Regardless of the weather, the time of the day or our personal commitments, the Fire Company has never in 90 years of service, ever failed to respond to a fire or rescue call.

We, the current members of the Glenwood Hook & Ladder, Engine & Hose Company, give thanks to our forefathers and founders of the company, and to those members that have kept the company going since its inception in 1907.

The tradition of the volunteer fire service is and always will be the tireless dedication to the protection of the lives and property of our community - our neighbors, friends, relatives and strangers. This tradition has withstood the test of time here in Glenwood for the past 90 years, and will for another 90 years.

We, the current members of the Fire Company, dedicate ourselves to strive to the best of our abilities and training to continue this time honored tradition that is second to none.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this synopsis of the Glenwood Fire Company's history. Unfortunately, due to space limitations, there were individuals and events left out of this account of the company's history. However, a much more detailed history of the Company is being planned for the 100th Anniversary in 2007, when a history book will be published.

Written by LI. Thomas Buchta, Glenwood Hook & Ladder, Engine & Hose Company.