Suburban Fire Marshal

2031 hours. The Smithtown Fire Department was dispatched to a traffic collision on Route 347 near Mt. Pleasant Road. Units arrived to find a crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle. The vehicle driver and the motorcyclist were both transported to the hospital via ambulance.

Had some major issues that delayed the updates to the site. As such, you will see a story headers with no other information. Those will be updated within the next few days as I rebuild everything.

2322 hrs. Veterans Highway & Express Drive South (1600 Veterans Highway) Vehicle fire as a result of a traffic collision. No one was injured but as you can see one of the vehicles a 2003 Ford Escape erupted into flames. Engines 4 & 3 operated at this incident under the command of 2nd Assistant Chief Martinez. 

While this car fire was being dealt with under the command of Chief of Department Ray Germaine Engine 1 and Heavy Rescue 3-8-9 operated at another motor vehicle collision with two vehicles with numerous minor injuries.

Smithtown Fire Department responds to Maple Avenue and Route 111 in regard to a traffic collision with reports of people trapped. FD units arrive to find a crash involving two vehicles. No one was trapped but five people were transported by ambulance, all with minor injuries. 

0859 hours. Hauppauge Fire Department responds to a vehicle fire in the parking lot of 49 Wireless Boulevard. Units arrive to find an active fire in a 2001 Hyundai. Engine 3-8-14, 3-8-10 operated at this fire under the Command of Assistant Chief Brett Martinez. The vehicle had been parked since 0530 hrs. There were no injuries.

1607 Hrs. The Hauppauge Fire Department responds to Veterans Highway and Blydenburgh Road with CI-Hauppauge Ambulance for a traffic collision with injuries. Units arrive to find a crash involving two vehicles, with one resting on its side. Crews from units 3-8-9, 3-8-11, 3-8-14, 3-8-13, 3-8-10 under the command of Assistant Chief Brett Martinez worked with units from the Central Islip Fire Department (this call is on the border of the two districts) and Central Islip  Suffolk Police Emergency Service to extricate the operator of the overturned vehicle. All parties were transported via ambulance to the hospital.  

0342 hours. Smithtown Fire Department responds to a Motor Vehicle crash on Main Street at Elm Ave. Arriving units find that a vehicle struck the infamous utility pole on the corner of Main and Elm, coming to a stop one block east at Lawrence Ave. The lone occupant of the vehicle had self extricated and refused rescue.  The crew from Rescue 4-2-9 secured the vehicle and applied speedy dry to the roadway from Elm to Lawrence. FD personnel secured from the scene at 0407 hours.

Hauppauge Fire Department Photo

Hauppauge Fire Department Ex-Chief and past Commissioner Peter Christoffersen passed away on September 5th at the age of 89. He passed away at the Gordon House in Gordonsville, VA. Peter was born on November 9, 1929. Peter graduated from Farmingdale College and served in U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Post military, he worked as a Construction Supervisor, where he oversaw many large construction projects on Long Island. He joined the Hauppauge Fire Department in July 1963 and was a Member of Engine Company # 2. He worked his way up the ranks, serving as Chief of Department from 1974 to 1978. Following his stint as Chief of Department he was a Fire District Commissioner from 1978 to 1994.

Peter was the Incident commander at a number of serious operations including the crash involving a gasoline tanker and a passenger vehicle at Wheeler Road and Veterans Highway, the gasoline tank truck fire at Wheeler Road and Kings Highway, the Village Green strip mall fire, multiple large brush fires on the ITT/Mackay Radio property in what is now the Hauppauge industrial park and numerous other significant structure and brush fires.

Smithtown Fire Department Photo 

Rev. Daniel J. Bitsko, 82, of New Britain, PA, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in ManorCare Health Services in Montgomeryville PA. Born in Coaldale PA, he was a son of the late Frank and Helen (Zelinka) Bitsko. He was a graduate of the former Coaldale High School and Duquesne University. He then joined the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, where he fulfilled his vocation of becoming a Byzantine Catholic priest.

Father Dan was very active in Smithtown, joining and becoming the chaplain of the Smithtown Fire Department in 1969. Father Dan was assigned to the Hook and Ladder Company. He is a four time recipient of his company’s Firefighter of the Year Award and a 2005 recipient of the Department Firefighter of the Year award. Father Dan would respond to calls in his vehicle as "4-2-29". He was always available for firefighters and their families regardless of their faith. Father Dan was honored this past May for his 50 years of service to the department. He was also the Chaplain for the Smithtown Fire Chiefs Council, the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council, the Suffolk County Volunteer Fireman's Association, as well as the Southern New York Fireman's Association. Father Dan was a member of the NYS Association of Fire Chaplains, serving as their Chief from 2002-2004. Father Dan was also a member of the Smithtown Rotary Club and the Smithtown Historical Society. 

Father Dan served as the pastor at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in New York City, N.Y., St. Andrew's Byzantine Catholic Church, Westbury, N.Y., and last served at the Byzantine Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Smithtown, N.Y. He was a member of the New York State Chaplains Association and also served as the chaplain for the New York Islanders hockey team, as well as at NASCAR races at the Pocono Raceway.

 Father Dan was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Father Henry Baker Council No. 2711.

Surviving are a sister, Helen, wife of John Kochaba of Camden, DE; a brother Nicholas, and his wife, Ruth, of New Britain; and many nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Cortese; and five brothers, Michael, Frank, Andrew, John and Stephen. 

On Monday, September 9th 2019, approximately 50 Members of the Smithtown Fire Department and Smithtown Chief’s Council traveled to St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Lansford for the funeral. Firefighters assembled outside the ornate church as early as 8am, posted the colors out front and stood honor guard at the entrance while many loved ones came to say their final farewell.

Following the funeral liturgy, members stood in formation behind Father Dan’s fire gear and saluted as he was led out of the church by his fellow priests, and carried by fellow firefighters. A testament to the fraternal brotherhood he had with each. Following a short ride to the Summit Hill Cemetery, a peacful graveside service was held where a final salute was offered by each member in attendance, and his Chaplain’s helmet was presented to Father Dan’s brother, Nick, by Chief Kevin Fitzpatrick. As all those from the many facets of Father Dan’s life connected and exchanged wonderful stories about the man, one common theme kept arising; Peace. We know Father Dan is at peace and smiling down on us all.

Parts of this story were written by the Smithtown Fire Department.

1747 hours. The Smithtown Fire Department responds to a traffic collision involving three vehicles at 111 and 347. Thankfully there was only one injury and no entrapment. The patient was transported by Smithtown FD ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries. FD personnel secured all of the vehicles and applied speedy dry to the fluids on the roadway.

The Hauppauge Fire Department responds with Central Islip Hauppauge Ambulance Corp to a traffic collision involving a motorcycle at Veterans Highway  and MacArthur Blvd. Units arrived to find two patients with injuries. A Suffolk Police Helicopter was requested to transport one subject. The helicopter landed at the Hauppauge High School. The patient was transported to the landing zone by ambulance, transferred to the chopper and transported to Stony Brook Hospital. The other injured were transported by ambulance.

1850. Nesconset Fire Department responds to and extinguishes a vehicle fire in the parking lot of Carvel at the corner of Lake Avenue and Middle Country Road. There were no injuries.

At 130pm Commack Ambulance got activated for an overturn on the Sunken Meadow Parkway. Under the command of Chief of Department Bob Cavalieri and First Assistant Chief Mike Hoddinott. 2-16-62, 2-16,15, 2-16-21, 2-16-18, 2-16-20 and 2-16-medic responded. Two females were found self extricated outside of the vehicle upon EMS arrival. One patient was brought to Southside Hospital with minor injuries. The scene was turned over to NYS Troopers for further investigation.

1103 hours. The Lakeland and Ronkonkoma Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a house on fire at 64 Kirk Avenue off Woodlawn. Ronkonkoma Fire Department was first to arrive with multiple units, encountering heavy fire throughout a small unoccupied bungalow type structure. Additional mutual aid on the working fire was requested from the Nesconset and Bohemia FIre Departments. The fire was extinguished within 40 minutes and crews remained on scene for approximately 2 hours. Suffolk PD Arson and Fire Marshals from Islip Town are investigating. 

1129 hours. Nesconset Fire Department responds to a report of a vehicle into a building at 415 Lake Avenue, just north of Smithtown Blvd. Units arrive and find that a vehicle struck the front of Best Cleaners, damaging the store front. The store was evacuated, the vehicle was removed and FD checked and confirmed that there were no injuries. A Fire Marshal and a building inspector were called to the scene to follow up.

1749 hours. The Centereach and Selden Fire Departments were dispatched to a house fire at 8 Catalina Court off Lake Grove Street in Centereach. Units arrived to find heavy fire throughout an occupied two story private dwelling. Multiple lines were stretched and operated. Additional mutual aid was provided by surrounding departments. One firefighter was transported to the hospital with a back injury. Fire Marshals from the Town of Brookhaven are handling the investigation. 

1057 hours.

The East Meadow Fire Department, covering for the Smithtown Fire Department responds to an activated fire alarm at the Forest Brook Elementary School on Liliac Lane. Units arrive to find that part of the roof had been set ablaze by a roofing contractor working with a torch. Most of the fire had been extinguished upon the arrival of the FD. Units opened up to check for extension on and below the roof. There were no injuries and the Smithtown Fire Marshals Office is handling the investigation.

0532 hours. The Commack Fire Department was notified of a truck fire at the corner of Beechwood Rd and Jericho Tpke. Chief oof Department Bobby Wilkins was first in and advised of an active fire in a garbage truck. Lines were stretched off Engines 3 & 4 and the fire was extinguished within a few minutes. Smithtown FIre Marshals were called to the scene along with the NYS DEC to deal with leaking hydraulic fluid. FD personnel applied absorbent material in front of the storm drains in the area to limit contamination. Beechwood Rd was closed until approximately 8:45 am for clean up and removal of the burnt truck. There were no injuries.

1047 hours. Smithtown Fire Department responds to a report of a carbon monoxide emergency with victims on Bow Drive. Units arrive, investigate and determine that there is no problem.