Who you gonna call?

The Long Beach Fire Department protects the areas of Long Beach and Atlantic Beach. We respond to everything concerning fire, rescue and medical emergencies. The LBFD is made up of career and volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The career members are also all trained as advanced EMTs and paramedics. The LBFD has its own communications center that staffs 24-hour dispatchers; Lido and Point Lookout are protected by PL-LFD and NCPD Ambulance Division.

I’d like to offer some insight about your local Fire Department — and what to do when calling in an emergency.

  With the Long Beach Medical Center closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, many residents have expressed concerns about their medical safety, especially since we don’t have an emergency room on the barrier island. In my opinion — as well as that of the City Council and many residents — we need a functioning hospital with an E.R., especially due to the size of our population and geographic location. But until a resolution is reached, the community should know that we are here to appropriately stabilize, treat and transport sick and injured adults and children to the right facilities for definitive care.

  The LBFD is historically one of the busiest fire departments on Long Island — in 2012, we had a total of 5,278 alarms. With a land area of 2.14 square miles, and a winter population of more than 35,000 residents — a number that balloons to more than 55,000 in the summer season — Long Beach is the 14th most densely populated city in the U.S. with minimum population of 10,000 or more people. With such a dense population, and with the largest amount of high-rise apartments in Nassau County, I would consider it a necessity rather than a luxury to maintain, if not increase, our current fire protection services.

So whom should you call if you have a fire or medical emergency? Dialing 911 has been recognized as the universal emergency number. It’s quick and easy to remember, but in Long Beach, it isn’t always the fastest way to get a fire truck or ambulance. For a police response you should always dial 911. The Fire Department has another option — in an emergency, our direct number is (516) 889-7800. I will describe the steps that occur when you call each number from either a landline or cell phone.

Dialing 911 from your cell phone:


It may first go to a Nassau County Police Department 911-receiving center. It will then be forwarded to either Nassau County fire communications or Long Beach police, and then forwarded to a Long Beach Fire Department dispatcher that would send out our units.

Dialing 911 from a landline within Long Beach:

It would first go to Long Beach police and then forwarded to a Long Beach Fire Department
dispatcher to send out units.

Dialing 889-7800 from a cell phone or landline:

It would go directly to a Long Beach Fire Department dispatcher to send out units.

  Just like 911, 889-7800 is for true emergencies only. For non-emergency Fire Department issues, please call (516) 431-2434. By calling the Fire Department directly, you can save valuable time and expedite a response. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, a fire doubles in size every 30 seconds. The sooner you get the appropriate resources on scene, the better.

Speaking to a dispatcher can be very stressful, especially in an emergency. It’s important to try to stay calm and not panic, as it may greatly affect how information will be expressed. The dispatcher will ask a few questions, primarily your name, location, and reason you are calling. In the event of a fire, get out first if possible, and then call from a safe area. Make sure to give your exact location, or if unsure your best description of it, quick details of your emergency, and your name and contact number in case they need to get back in touch with you. Don’t hang up until they tell you to. If it is a building or area that the responders may have trouble getting direct access to, send a person down to meet them if possible.

Dealing with an emergency can be a scary event, especially if it involves a loved one or your personal property. Try your best to stay calm and not to panic. Remember who to call and why you are calling, and be assured that we will be on our way as soon as possible to help. We have 889-7800 stickers to put on or near your phone. Please contact me if you have any questions or have future topics you would like to be discussed.

Lt. Sam Pinto is a career firefighter, nationally certified fire instructor and paramedic for the LBFD. This is the first part of a series of monthly safety-related articles. He can be reached at SPinto@iaff287.org.