Remembering East Meadow firefighter James Landrigan on Park Avenue

Donna Landrigan said she remembers the sounds of the fire department radio coming through her house when she was growing up. Her father, James Landrigan, was a member of the East Meadow Fire Department Engine Company 2.

James died on September 28, 1977, in the line of duty from cardiac arrest at 49. He was out on a company training in East Meadow. At the time his two daughters Patricia and Donna, were 19 and 15, respectively.

On June 3, the Town of Hempstead dedicated Park Avenue in East Meadow — across the street from Engine Company 2 headquarters — in James’s honor. Members from the East Meadow Fire Department and the Smithtown Fire Department came to support the family.

“I feel honored, excited, all of the emotions are coming through,” Donna said. “It’s been a while since my father’s been gone, so this is just an honor.”

James, known to most as “Jimmy,” joined Engine Company 2 in October of 1961. In 1963, he was elected to the position of second lieutenant, a year later was made first lieutenant and an in 1965 he was made captain. He was made captain again in 1970.

After 15 years of dedication to the department, he was made a life member in 1976.

“Jimmy, as we all know and loved, love the fire service and was a quick learner,” Frank Ciaccio, of the East Meadow Fire Department, said. “Jimmy was an active firefighter who gave his all to his family, Engine Company 2, and the East Meadow Fire Department.”

Ciaccio talked about how much of a mentor James was to younger firefighters. He shared a story of when a fire broke out during the construction of the Nassau County Medical Center. The building was being fed by propane tanks, and someone desperately needed to go in and turn them off. James didn’t hesitate to go in and shut them off. Another time, he rushed into a house fire to locate a missing child.

“Ex-captain Landrigan risked his life, just as he did on numerous other occasions,” Ciaccio said. “(His) heroic acts today would receive high honors and awards from town, county, and state, but nail then that wasn’t the case — he just did his job.”

Along with spending time as captain, he also served as chairman of the truck committee for the newly designed Mack fire engine in 1970.

The year he died, James finished in fifth place for the most alarm answers in the department. “His commitment to his community, the East Meadow Fire Department, and most of all the awesome members of Engine Company 2, was second to none,” Ciaccio said. “His dedication and commitment set an example for the members of his company who still follow in his footsteps. He’s never been forgotten.”

After he died, his badge number — 248 — was retired so that no one would be able to use it again. A plaque in his honor was made and erected in the firehouse for everyone to see.

“We love our fire departments,” Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin said. “We embrace them, they’re our friends, our neighbors, our relatives, fathers, husbands, uncles, grandfathers, wherever it may be, and when we lose somebody that’s important we should take the time to remember them and to honor them.”