By Howard Goldstein
Bellmore's newest fire company, the West End Engine Company No. 3, was dedicated at a kick-off ceremony and official signing at Bellmore Fire Station 3 at 2455 Newbridge Road.
The Bellmore Fire Department was established in 1897. Company 3 will be the first new company in Bellmore since 1925.
Station No. 3 was built in 1968 as a substation of the Bellmore Fire Department.
West End was always somewhat of a hybrid of three other stations, but as the years progressed, it was manned by a regular coalition of firefighters who started to function together as a unit.
As in nature, a superior hybrid may become an independent species, and fortunately for Bellmore, Company 3 has been officially sanctioned as a separate unit of the Bellmore Fire Department.
The firefighters themselves, technically disparate groups from three stations who had long worked together as an efficient unit out of Station 3, wanted to be recognized as a formal company.
"The station always acted on its own," said Steve Marsar, company secretary.
"We've been trying to do this for at least 10 years. We work together, drill together, cook together, and when there's an emergency, we all respond out of this station," he said.
According to the fire department, the only major change is internal reorganizing and official recognition. Company 3 will function as it always had even before it was recognized, and can now focus all its energy on their own station.
Many firemen and families turned up for the kick-off event. Legis. Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) and Assemblyman David McDonough (R-North Merrick) were on hand.
The president for the new company is Matthew Bonner, also first assistant chief of the Bellmore Fire Department.
John Johnstone will serve as vice president; Joseph Occhipinti as treasurer; and Victor Elefante as sergeant at arms.
"This is a great achievement," said Elefante, "and I am quite proud to be a charter member of Company 3."
The three trustees are August Saccoccio, Martin Johnstone and Scott Hughes.
