Photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography (soniboy@aol.com)
Welcome everyone to this month’s edition of the Montauk Fire Department Corner. I’m sure you feel as I do, that we have had enough snow and cold weather and that you’re ready for the start of Spring. I hope you got through the winter safely without any hardship.
Firstly, this month I would like to congratulate one of our own, Ex-Chief Tom Grenci Jr., on being selected as this year’s Grand Marshal of the Montauk Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Tommy is a thirty-plus year Member of the Montauk Fire Department, an Ex-Chief, and a retired Lieutenant of the East Hampton Town Police Department. He is a man who, through his generous volunteerism, has consistently contributed to make Montauk the special place it is. I commend the Montauk Friends of Erin for their selection of Tom Grenci as Grand Marshal. I know I speak for the Officers, men and women, of the Montauk Fire Department in congratulating Tom and look forward to marching with him in this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade.
On Friday, January 19th, the Montauk Fire Department completed its annual mandatory training. This training is one of the prerequisites for all Members to successfully complete in order to remain an active Member in the Department. This training includes instruction in blood borne and airborne pathogens, general safety, hazardous materials and sexual harassment. 
I would like to thank our instructors, Alan Burke, Mike Mirras, and Ed Schnell, who all did a nice job in presenting this important information.
On Tuesday, January 22nd the Montauk Fire Department had the opportunity to conduct a live drill on a house that was located on the Sands Motel property on Main Street in Montauk. This was an “all hands on deck” drill using the assets of all of our six Companies. As you can imagine, being able to use a building for this type of drill provides us with a unique opportunity to improve our skills in fighting fires and emergency services. Thank you to all the Members who participated. (See photo above)
On Monday, January 26th the Montauk Fire Department received a call of a motor vehicle accident on the Old Montauk Highway. Upon arrival it was determined that a construction van with two occupants had rolled the van over, most likely due to the inclement weather. The Department’s Heavy Rescue personnel responded and extracted the driver and passenger. Members of the Department’s EMS unit evaluated both subjects. Fortunately, neither one needed transport to the hospital.
That’s it for this month’s edition of Montauk Fire Department Corner. I look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 29th. Stay safe.
~ Peter Joyce Jr., Chief, Montauk Fire Department
https://www.montaukfiredistrict.org/