By Cindy J. Roth
The department felt utter despair when it lost several of its members, both young and old, owing to Sept. 11, a fatal car accident and illness. Firefighters saw their own headquarters, which they considered their home, on Pettit Avenue go up in flames at the hand of a fellow volunteer.
But with the bad also came the good.
The past year's events renewed a sense of community support and outreach for the department. More than ever before, people looked to join the fire department and become part of Bellmore's ranks, making the past 12 months one of the most successful member-recruiting periods of all time.
The Herald recently sat down with several Bellmore Fire Department members to reflect on how the department has changed from last April to now and how they are coping with the aftermath of a string of horrific tragedies.
SH: Getting over grief
"It hits you harder when it's sudden," said Second Assistant Chief Tim Gibney of the members that the fire department lost this past year.
Last April, two long-time fire department members, William and Mary Carhuff, were involved in a fatal collision with a truck on Sunrise Highway. William was a former commissioner and Mary a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary.
The department lost members Adam Rand and Kevin Prior, both also New York City firefighters, to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.
"We as a fire department are a family," said Peter Schmalenberger, department chief. "Not a day goes by when I don't think of them [Rand and Prior]. We just have to keep striving."
Bellmore firefighters also suffered the loss of what some called the fire district's icon when C. Fred O'Brien died in July at the age of 96. O'Brien had served in the Bellmore Fire Department for 77 years and set a tradition of firematic excellence. He was bestowed with the highest honor when the department named the new Bellmore Fire District Building on Newbridge Road in his name in June 1999.
"The firehouse is based on tradition," said Gibney. "It's our job to keep and continue those traditions that older guys set."
Then there was the destruction of the Bellmore Firehouse. Last May, Bellmore firefighters were forced to battle a blaze on their own turf. A fire broke out in the second story of the Pettit Avenue headquarters, destroying most of the kitchen, meeting hall, office supplies, plaques, pictures and history that once existed there.
"I remember hearing the call and didn't think it was real," said Captain Ray McCarthy.
More than 100 firefighters from six departments were needed to bring the fire under control. The most shocking element of the brutal blaze, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage, was that one of the department's own, Bellmore firefighter Clifford Seaman, was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the blaze. The former three-year volunteer pleaded guilty to the charges in February.
"It was a shock," said Schmalenberger. "You didn't want to believe it. You kind of feel like it was our home. My wedding was upstairs in that hall. It hit hard."
Even after losing the second story of the department headquarters, the Bellmore Fire Department's service to the community went unaltered. Response times to the about 750 calls a year they receive remained unaffected.
SH: A community base
Location, location, location. That's what they say in the real-estate business determines the best house on the market. The Bellmore Fire Department Headquarters on Pettit Avenue in Bellmore Village makes it a prime candidate for the community to embrace and look toward for support.
"We're one of the main focal points of the community," said McCarthy. "We lend support at the Memorial Day Parade, the Easter Parade, the street fair. When they needed a place to hold the egg hunt when it rained, they did it inside the fire department. If they need someone to bring Santa around, we do it. People reach out to us."
While the Bellmore Fire Department has enjoyed a long tradition of community support, since Sept. 11 that involvement has increased exponentially.
"Since Sept. 11, the community has supported us very strongly," said Gibney. "Eating locally, people would give us free stuff or someone would come into the firehouse and thank us and give a donation. Everyone came together, to the juniors, the ladies, even former members. Everyone came together and just got things done."
As the community pooled together to support the firefighters with candlelight vigils and money to benefit the "Adam and Kevin Memorial Fund," in recognition of World Trade Center victims Rand and Prior, the volunteer firefighters themselves became better connected with one another, the job and surrounding fire districts.
"After Sept. 11, you saw how much guys got together," said Gibney. "There is more a feeling of family. We're definitely a lot closer.
"We got a lot closer with local units," Gibney continued. "One day, we had services [for one of our fallen firefighters], and other departments came by and were on standby. And when we got back, they were cooking a barbecue for us. You never saw that before. The camaraderie is widespread. We look out for each other."
SH: It's in the numbers
The Bellmore Fire Department has seen an almost twofold increase in volunteers from last April when they had 65 to 120 members. Recently, 10 new members were sworn in, and another 10 are in the probationary stage of training.
There is no mold for what makes someone want to become a volunteer firefighter, but Bellmore department members said they are fortunate in that they are recruiting members with backgrounds in life-saving careers.
"We have a lot of firemen that are cops and cops that are firemen," said McCarthy. "There might be even more joining."
As a fire and ambulance department that answers 700 to 800 calls a year, which are mostly medical-, not fire-related, Gibney said there simply are never enough volunteers.
Training is rigorous for new recruits. Potential volunteers must pass a variety of background checks and a physical before they can even be selected for training. If accepted, new members take part in a 10-week training course in addition to night and weekend drills and state-required training.
For adolescents interested in becoming firefighters, the Bellmore Fire Department offers a Junior Squad. Juniors range in age from 14 to 18 and participate in training and learn the fundamentals of firefighting and rescue skills under the guidance of experienced firefighters. The Junior Squad helps young people build self-esteem, friendships and teamwork skills.
Gibney, McCarthy and Schmalenberger all said that being a firefighter is a great experience and the biggest reward is doing a good job and protecting the community. But you do not have to take their word for it. Just ask many of the volunteer firefighters who started with the department when they were juniors and who continue to live in Bellmore just because they do not want to leave the department.
Want to become a firefighter?
The Bellmore Fire Department is seeking new volunteer firefighters and Junior Squad members. For more information and an application, visit the Bellmore Fire Headquarters on Pettit Avenue any Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to noon.
