By Karenlyn Barone
On Monday morning, Assistant Chief, Lou Prendergast, and Lieutenant Mark Zitterkopf, of the Bay St. Louis Fire Department drove away in a refurbished, 1979, 100-foot long, American LaFrance aerial ladder truck -- compliments of the Village of East Rockaway.
"It's a wonderful thing for the Village of East Rockaway to be able to help the devastated Gulf Area," said Carrigan. "They lost 85 percent of their infrastructure and are in desperate need of any help they can get. When we told them we had a hook and ladder, they were thrilled."
The city of Bay St. Louis, population about 9,000, took a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina in August and its 24 member fire department lost most of its equipment. When the village heard of their dire circumstance, they offered them a truck, former Unit #403.
"We asked them if they wanted a fire truck, they said 'yes' and we said 'you got it, baby!" said East Rockaway Emergency Manager and Ex-Chief of Protector, Hook, Ladder and Hose Company, John Baroni. "Now the two companies are sister companies. They will not take the gold leaf or East Rockaway designation off the truck."
Prendergast and Zitterkopf were almost at a loss for words. The two arrived Friday night and spent the weekend with the members of the fire department, who trained them in operating their new truck.
"I am very proud of my entire company," said Captain Kevin Conklin. "Every member helped with the training and then loaded up the truck with every piece of spare equipment we had. I am so proud." And Conklin's boss, Dan Schmidt, owner of Davison's Boat Yard donated the fuel to get the truck to its new southern home.
As the two, grateful Mississippi firefighters prepared for the 1,200 mile journey home, a Nassau County police escort arrived to take them to the Queens border of the Long Island Expressway. There, they were to be met by a New York City police officer who would escort them to the George Washington Bridge.
"Everyone has been great and this fire truck looks a lot better than I even imagined," said Zitterkopf. "I'm kind of speechless. It's hard to ask for help -- its a pride thing. But everyone has made it real comfortable."
Prendergast said that 14 people from their city lost everything in the hurricane and on Sunday, the Freeport Fire Department held an auction, raising almost $12,000 for their new Mississippi friends.
"Our goal is $90,000 with $25,000 raised to date," said Freeport Emergency Manager Richard Holdener. He said their focus is to provide a Butler Building for the Gulf community - a pre-fabricated building which can be used as a recreation center, a place to worship, or however the city sees fit.
Prendergast said that if people want to help, the best donation is a Home Depot gift card, which can be sent directly to the Bay St. Louis Fire Department, 310 Old Spanish Trail, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 39520.
"We will build again - bigger and better," said Prendergast. "We are rebuilding
our history."
Thanks to the Village of East Rockaway, that history now includes a new fire truck.
Comments about this story? KBarone@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
