Rockville Centre firefighters took to the streets of South Hempstead last weekend, joining hundreds of firefighters from across New York State for the 2026 New York State Fire Department Parade. The Rockville Centre Fire Department was one of 42 departments participating in the annual event, which celebrated the traditions, history and brotherhood of the fire service.
The Rockville Centre Fire Department had a strong presence throughout the Aug. 16 parade, with members of the department marching alongside the village’s junior fire department.
The department had several pieces of its fire apparatus in the line of march, giving paradegoers an opportunity to see the department’s trucks as they traveled through South Hempstead. The display added another visual representation of Rockville Centre’s proud firefighting tradition to the day’s festivities.
The parade began at 1 p.m. at Stratford Road and Webber Avenue, where participating departments lined up before setting out through South Hempstead. The procession traveled north on Webber Avenue, continued west on Woodland Drive and then turned north onto Long Beach Road. It proceeded east on Weir Street before finishing at Firemen’s Field.
Hundreds of firefighters from departments throughout New York State participated in the parade, creating a display of fire apparatus, marching units and department traditions. For Rockville Centre, the event provided an opportunity for its firefighters and junior members to join fellow members of the fire service from around the state while representing their own department and community.
The annual parade served as a celebration of the bonds shared among fire departments and the traditions that have long defined the volunteer fire service. Rockville Centre’s large contingent of firefighters, junior members and apparatus was a prominent part of the procession as the department joined its fellow New York fire companies in honoring the service and brotherhood of firefighters.
