By Chris Munzing
Tuccillo brings 18 years of firefighting experience fighting fires in Long Beach to the department's top position, though Kemins joked that Tuccillo needs to work on his punctuality after - due to family considerations - he was one of the last people to arrive at a fire on Buffalo Street in East Atlantic Beach on April 14.
"He showed up a little late to the fire, so we busted his chops a little bit," Kemins said, laughing. "He's lucky, though. I was hoping to get one last fire in, and he gets one 14 hours into his term."
Tuccillo, whose day job is running an Italian bread route, said that he was excited to be inheriting a department he called "top-notch" from Kemins, and added that the new training facility the department recently purchased will only add to the professionalism of Long Island's busiest department. The training facility resembles two semi trailers, one stacked on top of the other, and can be used for controlled fires and rescues.
"We don't get as many fires as we used to, so the opportunities for the young guys to get any action are fewer," Tuccillo said. "The new guys need to be trained so they can do this every day."
Before he became the department's first assistant chief, Tuccillo was second assistant chief for two years. He explained that when chiefs are elected by the department's rank and file, they serve for six years, spending two years at each chief's position.
Marco Passaro will fill Tuccillo's old position, and John Gargan will step into the second assistant chief's chair.
Just as Kemins kidded Tuccillo, the new chief pointed out that Gargan started off his term just as shakily. His wife, Lisa, who is also a volunteer firefighter, got to the Buffalo Street fire before her husband. "We threw the chief's helmet on her and took a picture," Tuccillo said. "Now we can say Chief Gargan was at the fire."
Kemins will continue to serve the department as secretary and chief's aide. He said that Tuccillo is the right man for a job that carries great responsibility. "He's in charge of every fire scene," Kemins said. "It's a lot of responsibility. The decisions he makes can determine whether somebody lives or dies. He can handle it, though. He's a good man. Long Beach is in good hands with him."
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