KISMET FIRE DEPARTMENT HONES SKILLS

IN 2 SIMULTANEOUS SURPRISE DRILLS

 

By Jeannie

 

Few of us have seen our KFD in action. There have thankfully been no major fires since the Black Duck fire on Seabay in the late ‘90’s and the Club Med/Pool House/Avalon fire on 11/3/2003. Since then, aside from ominous, mysterious siren calls to action in the middle of the night, most of Kismet only sees our fire department at fundraisers for the department: on parade July 4 th, at the Pancake Breakfast, Duck races and so on, selling tickets, raffles, hot dogs and of course T-shirts. They will be proud to remind you they were the ones who policed the community after Sandy when we were barred from return: emptying refrigerators, shutting off electricity, preventing looting.

So it was an eye opener when a few of us witnessed them in action.

On Saturday August 6, 2016, when members of the KFD showed up for their monthly meeting were surprised with a spontaneous drill simulating a boat fire at the end of West Light House and a brush fire at the old fire house. Members responded and were directed by Chief Bertucci and 1nd assistant chief Cody Baker and 2nd assistant chief Buddy Schumacher. The attack truck was directed to the boat fire with about 15 members who used a 1 ½ inch house to knock down the simulated boat fire and the other team used the water cannon for additional support. Members were in their full turnout gear.

At mid morning it was already sticky hot yet the men and women were hauling heavy hoses, some even heavier when filled with water. Ashley, one of the one of the key figures at the shore, wore his full gear throughout till the end when he stated he had to take a break and took it all off. It was clearly an effort to do the work under these conditions.

A family affair in many instances: Gary & daughter Loren hauled heavy hoses together, Karen and husband worked at the same time with individually different jobs (members also related - Sam Wood and Sam Jr, Larry, Ashley and Mugsy and more).

It was interesting to see many white haired members alongside the younger ones.

Chief Dom periodically checked the condition of his team and made sure all were hydrated before they packed up and left

Although there was visible camaraderie during the entire drill, it was clearly all business as they focused on their individual responsibility despite calls from friendly onlookers.

A brief history of the Department*
The Fire district was formed in 1975 with between 6 and 12 members. One of the original commissioners included Dick Abrams, who was a Robt Moses Park Supervisor, and was able to acquire a lease in the area behind the park ranger station known as “check point Charlie” on which they parked their 2 donated trucks. The guys had to drive or bike through the sand to that point to answer calls (on holiday weekends they were allowed to bring trucks into town)

1981 they were able to acquire 1 acre a short distance away for the old firehouse, built mostly by themselves as many were local contractors for "peanuts”. Some of the original members included Larry Cole, Warren Lem, Carl Dahl (who retired just last year – "I go to firehouse reunions and there are these old guys in wheelchairs, on crutches and I’m still climbing ropes”), and, later, Buddy Schumacher.

15 years later Warren Lem donated property behind Out and Dick Helm donated some behind the Inn to build this current building designated as a community center.

*These facts are vague relying primarily on the memory of sources

Our KFD in action:

Thank you!!!