Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lynbrook Fire Department celebrated its 125th anniversary on June 27, hosting the Fourth Battalion Parade, welcoming fire departments from across the region while earning Best Appearing awards for its members, the Ladies Auxiliary and the Junior Fire Department. The Valley Stream Fire Department was named the overall parade winner, but for Lynbrook members, the day represented far more than trophies.
For Chief James DiGiambattista, 36, the anniversary had personal significance. DiGiambattista’s path to the LFD began long before he joined Rescue Hook, Ladder & Bucket Company No. 1. In April 2002, when he was 11, he was living in Lynbrook’s Doxsey Place senior housing complex when a devastating fire broke out there. DiGiambattista watched his father, the building’s assistant superintendent, rush upstairs through heavy smoke to help rescue residents.
“Seeing how he didn’t think twice about his own safety and risked his life to save the most vulnerable people is something I’ll never forget,” DiGiambattista said. “It made me want to do the same.”
Inspired by that experience, and by an uncle who also served in the LFD, DiGiambattista eventually joined. Now, as chief, he said the anniversary celebration reflected the same commitment that inspired him over two decades ago.
“It has been that way for 125 years now,” the chief said. “Every day we answer the call for help … We take just as much pride in showing off our department at a parade as we do protecting our village and its residents.”
After the parade, members gathered for an awards ceremony, at which Lynbrook’s chiefs accepted trophies on behalf of the department, while the Ladies Auxiliary and Junior Fire Department were also recognized for their winning entries.
For DiGiambattista, seeing the department recognized in three categories reflected the dedication members display every day. “Seeing the members take pride in cleaning the fire trucks, wearing their uniforms, marching together, presenting the colors and showing their professionalism means a lot to me,” he said. “Having others recognize it and award them for it is icing on the cake. They earn that award every day to me.”
While spectators see polished apparatus and pressed uniforms, DiGiambattista said they don’t always see the sacrifices behind them.
“They don’t see the time we take away from our families, friends and loved ones,” he said. “For 125 years we have had residents in our community who care so deeply about their neighbors that they’re willing to go into a burning building to save them without any type of compensation.”
That spirit has connected generations of Lynbrook firefighters, including former Chief Eddie Hynes, who joined the Junior Fire Department before becoming a member of Engine Company No. 1 and eventually leading the department. A lifelong Lynbrook resident and a retired sergeant in the New York City Police Department, Hynes said that the anniversary celebration gave him a chance to reflect on how much the fire service has changed since he first got involved.
“There’s a world of difference,” Hynes said. “The training requirements are tremendous, the equipment is completely different, and it takes a much greater time commitment than it did years ago.”
Today’s firefighters complete extensive department training before attending roughly six months of instruction at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Bethpage. Modern bunker gear, protective hoods and advanced equipment have replaced the long coats and pull-up boots firefighters once wore.
Despite those changes, Hynes said, one thing has remained constant. “It is a brotherhood where everybody looks out for each other,” he said. “If someone needs help personally, there are always people who will drop everything for you. Remembering the people who came before us and looking out for each other are traditions that have never changed.”
That sense of family, he added, has helped the department thrive for generations. “I didn’t come from a firefighting family,” Hynes said. “I remember hearing the sirens and watching my neighbor rush to the firehouse every time there was a call. Seeing people rushing to help made me want to join.”
Today, he hopes the Junior Fire Department will continue inspiring future volunteers. Open to children as young as 12, the program gives them the chance to train alongside other companies, learn about the fire service and build relationships before becoming eligible to join the department as adults.
“It’s a great introduction,” Hynes said. “The greatest thing is getting kids interested while they’re young and helping them keep that desire to join the department when they’re 18.”
DiGiambattista said he hoped today’s junior members will carry the department’s legacy forward for decades to come. “I hope they’ll say they love what they do, they enjoy helping others and they enjoy each other’s company,” he said. “And hopefully, the members celebrating the department’s 175th anniversary will be able to say the same thing.”
Steve Grogan, an honorary chief who has served with the Lynbrook Fire Department since 1968 as a member of Tally-Ho Engine Company No. 3 and the Floodlight Unit, said the anniversary served as a reminder of the department’s lasting role in the community.
“For 125 years the residents of our community have been protecting the lives and property of their neighbors,” Grogan said. “Congratulations to the men, women and our juniors for their dedication and commitment to help their fellow residents.”
