The
Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department covers ten square
miles and has a residential population of over 44,000,
and more than three times that amount during the workweek.
Within the district there are two major hospitals, an
industrial park, three high schools, seven middle and
elementary schools, numerous shopping centers, houses
of worship, office buildings and stores, major access
highways and our Town Hall. We also cover over two miles
of shorefront.
In 2004, the M-LFD responded to over 2,000 incidents,
including 1,200 house or structure calls, 604 ambulance
calls, and various other emergencies including brush fires,
electrical wires and car or truck fires. This also included
130 car accidents, which at times required the use of
the fire department's heavy rescue units.
In 2005 the incidents kept with the hectic pace of last
year, with over 1500 incidents in the first 3 quarters
of 2005 including over 1,000 structure calls, 550 ambulance
calls. The MLFD has responded to 135 car accidents so
far this year.
To properly protect the diverse district life and property,
the district supplies its 255 all-volunteer fire department
members with the latest in fire fighting and rescue equipment.
In addition to the new fire vehicles, the district over
the last few years has purchased or leased operational
equipment such as thermal imaging cameras for all the
companies; Hurst tools "Jaws of Life" for the
two heavy rescue and highway companies; radios; air packs;
and advance life support systems on the two ambulances
and budgeted for all chief's cars.
New equipment has also been purchased for behind the scenes
maintenance of district operational equipment. The new
hydraulic lift system installed at our district maintenance
facility allows our mechanics to perform routine tune-ups
and special repairs to equipment that would have otherwise
been sent out to more costly service centers. The cascade
system allows our maintenance department to refill the
air bottles used by fire fighters in heavy smoke filled
environments to be filled safely and quickly. This reduces
the turn around time that bottles can be put back into
service. They presently service 150 air packs and 150
spare bottles.
Training of the fire district staff, as well as the
volunteer firefighters, is provided through the Nassau
County Fire Service Academy, conferences and symposiums
and professional associations. It is funded through the
district education budget and education records on all
district and fire department staff is kept at the district
headquarters. |
