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VIGILANT FIRE CO. MEMBERS
ONLY AREA
WORKING STRUCTURE FIRE - 1 MIRRIELEES CIRCLE
SUNDAY, OCT. 19TH, 2008
On October 19th, 2008 at 8:45am the emergency phone rang at Vigilant Fire Company headquarters on Cuttermill Road reporting a house fire at 1 Mirrielees Circle in the village of Great Neck Estates.
Within two minutes, Officer Jakowski of the Great Neck Estates Police Department arrived on scene and reported a house fire which was confirmed by 1st Assistant Chief, Mark Meade upon his arrival at 8:49am.
First due engine 835 under the command of Captain Forst assisted by Lieutenant Tucker arrived minutes later, established a water source and the members stretched an 1 3/4" line to the back bedroom where the fire was located.
As this was occurring, Chief Scott MacDonald arrived, took over command, and Chief Meade entered the house to supervise interior firefighting operations.
The fire was knocked down quickly and the Vigilant's assisted by members of the Alert Fire Company and the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department performed overhaul to make sure that the fire was out. While the Vigilant's were operating at the fire, the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department ambulance responded to an ambulance call at the Grace Plaza Nursing Home.
All Vigilant Fire Company units were back in service at 10:28am.
Description by Captain Josh Forst. Photos Taken By Medic Mark Winiarski.
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GREAT NECK VIGILANT TEACHES FIRE PREVENTION ON CW 11 MORNING NEWS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 2008
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On Monday, October 6th, 2008, news channel CW11 spent the morning at the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, learning Fire Prevention. Chief Scott R. MacDonald led CW11 and his crew of firefighters into the "Vigilant Tower", a structure used to demonstrate a real working structure fire. Larry from CW11 wanted to experience how dangerous a situation of this sort can be. On the second floor of the tower, it was setup to be an apartment building, including old furniture, a wooden book case and other bedroom accessories. When Chief MacDonald brought Larry to the bottom of the staircase of the 1st floor, everyone began to feel the heat, and knew that the second floor was going to be much hotter. Upon arrival to the second floor, the fire had already been ignited for only a moment or two. When the door was opened, the fire had radiated off of everything in the room, causing extreme heat, and a lot of fire. Chief MacDonald and the entire Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company had hosted this demonstration to show the public how important fire safety is, and that it could be the difference between life and death. Make sure you check and change the batteries on all of your smoke detectors, and ensure that everything is working properly and is up to date.
Description by FF Joe Oginski.
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MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH AIDED
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2008
At 15:03, the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company was dispatched to the location of 83 Old Mill Road for an Auto Accident with 2 vehicles involved. Upon arrival, it was determined that the driver of one vehicle had fallen asleep at the wheel, colliding into a parked vehicle, driving the second vehicle over 10 feet onto the lawn of the residence. Under the command of Chief of Department MacDonald, the scene was immediately enclosed to ensure all personnel and civilians were safe. Ambulance 832 immediately responded to transport one patient to North Shore Hospital in Manhasset. All units were back in service within the hour.
Description by FF Joe Oginski. Photos Taken By Chief Scott MacDonald.
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VIGILANT FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO NUMEROUS CALLS FOR HELP
DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS
On Monday, August 11th, 2008 the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company responded to 20+ Emergency Calls. The Vigilant Fire Company was dispatched to 14 Fire/Rescue Calls, and 6 Ambulance calls. Directed by Chief of Department MacDonald, Vigilant units operated from the morning through the night responding to numerous calls for everything ranging from downed power lines to water leaks due to the severe weather condition. The first call the Vigilant’s were dispatched to was an auto accident at the intersection of Middle Neck Road & Embassy Court, which involved a two car motor vehicle accident, driving one vehicle into the structural housing of the buildings across the street. In addition, all fluids were contained and speedy dry absorbent was applied by firefighters to prevent any injury. Only a few moments later, Vigilant dispatchers received another call, for a downed power line in the vicinity of Allenwood Road & Governors Court. Due to weather conditions, there was severe flooding throughout Great Neck only causing more obstacles for the fire department to overcome. The power line then fell into a large amount of water, at which point firefighters created a safe perimeter around the area to ensure no civilians would be injured. Chief MacDonald then requested for National Grid and Keyspan to respond to the location. After being shut down, firefighters then extinguished the fire due to the downed line. At this point in time Vigilant dispatch notified all units on the road to respond to numerous additional automatic alarms caused by the weather, as well as then proceed to a residence on Hillcrest drive for a severe water leak. After firefighters entered, they shut down gas to the house to prevent any dangerous situation. Units then redirected to a residence on Greenacre Court, and after walking through the residence with a gas meter determined that there was a gas leak, at which point they immediately shut down gas to the home. Keyspan was notified for evaluation. After being directed to more automatic alarms, Vigilant units responded to a commercial store located on Middle Neck Road, for a reported basement fire. Firefighters determined that due to flooding, an electrical motor began to smolder. Power to the building was shut down, the basement was ventilated, and units were back in service within the hour. This was an extremely day for the Vigilant Fire Company, responding to emergency calls day and night, good weather or poor. We are here to serve our community.
Description by FF Joe Oginski. Photos taken by EMT's Steven Shapiro & Sara Neuhaus.
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VIGILANT FIRE COMPANY RESPONDS TO AUTO ACCIDENT WITH AIDED
JUNE 27TH, 2008
On Friday, June 27th, 2008, at 15:43, the Vigilant Fire Company responded to the intersection of Bayview Avenue & Old Mill Road for a report of a 3 car accident, with multiple patients. Vigilant ambulances 831, 832, and 8311 responded to the scene to provide immediate medical attention. Under the command of Chief of Department Scott MacDonald. Vigilant ambulances transported two patients to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. All patients were safely removed from the vehicles involved in the accident, and secured for transport to the hospital. The Alert Fire Company was also on scene to provide Heavy-Rescue, responding with Rescue 828, and assisted the Vigilant Fire Company in removing all patients. All Vigilant units were back in service within the hour. Description by Joe Oginski. Photos Taken By Chief Scott MacDonald.
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Great Neck Vigilant Recognizes Volunteer for
Long-Term Dedication to Community
Vivian Gloria Meyer-McGrath, a native of Great Neck, has helped so many people in one way or another for some 50 years. She has worn many hats throughout her life - from nurse to CPR instructor to EMT - assisting others makes her feel good. On June 2nd, the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company honored Vivian for her hard work and long-standing commitment to the firehouse by dedicating an ambulance to the 70-year-old EMT.
“We truly appreciate all of Vivian’s efforts through the years. Not only has she been a mentor to many of our fire and medic personnel within Great Neck Vigilant, but she has played an integral role in helping many citizens in our neighborhood,” said Chief Scott R. MacDonald. “The generosity of Vivian’s time and her selfless acts must be commended. It is with great honor that we dedicate an ambulance in her name.”
From 1970 to 1984, Vivian was a CPR instructor at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center; prior to that period, she was a nurse. Throughout the 1970’s, she had a desire to join her local fire company, but at the time, Long Island fire companies and departments did not accept female volunteers. In 1984, she found out through a local newspaper article that the local fire company was starting to accept women; she immediately applied. Vivian was one of a large group of women to join that inaugural year. “It was hard because we all worked and had families; you had to do the drills. But it was nice at the same time; we had a whole bunch of great women,” recalled Vivian. All of the women had regular daytime jobs at the time. Vivian worked as a manager of the Bank of New York at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
From 1996 to 1999, Vivian served as Board President of Great Neck Vigilant and then in 1999, she became Treasurer-Trustee, a position she would hold for two years.
In 2000, the Nassau Regional EMS Council named Vivian “Basic Life Support Provider of the Year”; in 1997, she was honored by the Kings Point Civic Association; and in 1995, Vivian was recognized by the Superintendent Faculty and Regiment of Mid-shipmen of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
During 2008, Vivian was added to the May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of Honor, in which she was recognized by North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Town Clerk Leslie Gross for her contributions to the Township. Also this year, Vivian received the Nassau County Legislature's "Women Trailblazers" award; annually, the Nassau Legislature recognizes the extraordinary work of women throughout the County.
Vivian believes that people should help other people and get involved. She said, “You must do one thing at a time, and do it well.” Those are words that she says she lives by every day.
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MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 26TH, 2008
On Monday May 26th the officers and members of the Vigilant Engine and Hook & Ladder Company celebrated Memorial Day by participating in the Great Neck Memorial Day Parade. Shortly before 9:00 AM on Monday, the entire company assembled in front of their headquarters on Cutter Mill Road to remember those who have paid the ultimate price in the name of our community, state and country.
Led by Chief of Department Scott MacDonald, the 63 members, 2 antique fire engines, 3 front line fire engines, 1 aerial ladder, 1 tower ladder, 1 heavy rescue, 1 mini-pumper and 3 ALS ambulances paraded down Middle Neck Road from Schenck Avenue to the Village Green in the Old Village. Following a ceremony on the Village Green and a 21 Gun Salute by members of the Kings Point Drill Team, the firefighters continued to All Saints Church for the playing of ‘Taps’ and a final salute to the somber day.
Later the same day members also participated in the Little Neck – Douglaston Memorial Day Parade as has been the tradition for the company. This parade has the largest attendance of any Memorial Day Parade in the country.
While parading the community was still protected by the qualified firefighters and EMTs of Great Neck. During the Great Neck Parade the fire company responded to an automatic alarm at an occupied multiple dwelling on Cutter Mill Road. Although 5 firefighters and 1 engine had to leave the parade to respond, there was only a minor disruption to the parade for the false alarm.
Description By Ex-Captain Laurence Jacobs. Photos Taken By Kings Point Police LT. Banville.
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MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT - CAR VS. POLE
MAY 21ST, 2008
On Wednesday May 21, just before midnight the Vigilant Fire Company was notified of a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Mirrielees Road. Upon arrival members found a late model BMW had missed the turn at Cutter Mill Road and stuck a telephone pole. The pole was severely damaged, and power was out in the area. Officers from the Great Neck Estates Police Department were instrumental in helping the accident victim to safety.
Commanded by 1st Assistant Chief Mark D. Meade the members from Ambulance 8311 were able to secure and transport the injured passenger from the vehicle. Firefighters lead by 1st Lieutenant Joe Kelly roped off the effected area and notified LIPA.
All Vigilant Units were back in service just around 12:30 on May 22. LIPA however continued to work through the night to restore power to their effected customers. The intersection remained closed until 2 PM Thursday Afternoon as LIPA worked in the area.
Photos & Description By Ex-Captain Laurence Jacobs.
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