Thursday, October 1, 2026
Baldwin firefighters joined departments from across New York for a weekend celebrating the state’s long-running firematic tradition, taking part in a parade that capped the 2026 New York State Championship Drill in Hempstead.
The championship brought volunteer fire departments together Aug. 15 for a series of competitions on Weir Street testing speed, efficiency, firefighting skills and teamwork. Festivities continued Aug. 16, when Baldwin Fire Department members and apparatus joined fellow firefighters for a parade from the South Hempstead Fire Department to the Weir Street arch.
Baldwin’s contingent included department members marching in uniform and both modern and antique apparatus, giving spectators lining the parade route a look at the department and its firefighting equipment.
The weekend was hosted by the Hempstead, South Hempstead and West Hempstead fire departments, with West Hempstead’s Westerners Drill Team helping host the competition.
Central Islip’s Hoboes captured the state championship with 28 points, followed by the East Islip Guzzlers with 17 points and the Spencerport Red Onions with 15.5. The South Hempstead Rascals placed fourth with nine points, while the Miller Place Extinguishers finished fifth with seven.
Firematic competition has been part of New York’s volunteer fire service for more than a century. Early contests tested fundamental firefighting skills such as stretching hoses and raising ladders, with motorized equipment incorporated as firefighting technology developed.
Today, the competitions combine speed and athleticism with skills rooted in the volunteer fire service, giving firefighters an opportunity to practice basic proficiencies, build physical fitness and strengthen the teamwork used during emergency responses.
The Aug. 16 parade brought the championship weekend to a close, with Baldwin firefighters joining departments and fire service organizations from across the region as spectators gathered along the route to cheer them on.
