The Mineola Fire Department participated in a drill with the Westbury Fire Department at an abandoned Mansion in Old Westbury on May 31. The Mineola firefighters were assigned to act as a FAS Team (Fire fighter Assist Search Team). The FAS Team or Rapid Intervention Team is used at a working structure fire to assist with finding fire fighters who may have gotten lost or have been injured inside a building or house. Mineola firefighters regularly provide this specialized service to surrounding fire departments.
During the drill. Mineola’s team removed a “downed “firefighter in a mayday evolution. While the drill was wrapping up, the Westbury Fire Department received a call for an overturned auto with possible entrapment on the Northern State Parkway.
At the request of Westbury FD, Mineola Heavy Rescue 1610 responded to the scene. Westbury Dispatch advised that “police on scene confirming an overturned car with one person heavily trapped in the vehicle.” Under the direction of Westbury Chief John Bartunik, Mineola’s Truck team arrived on scene along with East Meadow Engine and Jericho Tower Ladder.
Captain Carl T. Nunziata and Lt. Bryan Strauss led the team and went to work operating their extrication tools and stabilizing the vehicle. Firefighters Scott Brennan, John Englis, Joseph Nunziata and Spencer Wolf worked to remove the person who was still inside the vehicle upside down. The firefighters had to remove the driver’s front and rear doors, the passenger front door as well as cut the back of the driver seat off to extricate the victim.
Working hand in hand with Nassau County Police Ambulance Medical Technicians, East Meadow and Jericho fire departments, the person was removed from the vehicle and transported to the hospital.
Anyone interested in joining the Mineola Fire Department is invited to stop down at fire headquarters on Jericho Turnpike on a Monday night, or you can call us at 516-747-5860. For more information, visit www.mineolafd.com.
