At an awards ceremony at Station #4 on Levittown Parkway last week the Hicksville Fire Department honored many of its own for their bravery and heroism in the line of duty. Included were the firefighters who journeyed upstate early last year following one of the worst ice storms to ever hit the state.

The ceremony, an extension of the Installation Dinner that took place several weeks earlier where Years of Service Awards were presented, offers the department the opportunity to recognize the heroic service of its firefighters.

"When the families see these firefighters get a call and leave the house, they don't actually know what they have done, and now is a chance for them to learn what they've [firefighters] done and to see them appreciated for it," said Chief Philip LaNasa at the ceremony.

A 1998 Unit Citation was presented to the seven firefighters who traveled to Redwood, New York, 25 miles from the Canadian border, to provide assistance and to the National Guard and local firefighters after a state of emergency had been issued by Governor George Pataki in the wake of a devastating ice storm that left many areas without power for several days.

Second Assistant Chief Patrick McGeough, Captain William Dammes, 2nd Lieutenant Jeffrey Mullally, 2nd Lieutenant David Voight, Firefighter David Blair, Firefighter Steven Smith, and Firefighter John Telesky gave assistance to the US Army National Guard and local firefighters in providing medical treatment, verifying that gas was shut off in homes and pumping water out of basements.

The firefighters who responded to the overturned gasoline truck on the Long Island Expressway in August of last year were also presented with a Unit Citation. The LIE was shut down for ten hours and area residents were evacuated as the Hicksville Hazardous Materials Unit assisted the Jericho Fire Department in securing the area and diffusing the volatile situation. They had been specifically trained for this situation and were charged with the task of removing what remained of the 10,000 gallons of gasoline from the overturned tanker.

First Assistant Chief William Thunell and 2nd Assistant Chief Steven Doucette were among the 20 firefighters honored for their work during this incident. The others were ex-Chief Owen Magee, Ex-Chief Gerard O'Brien, Captain Edward Korona, Captain William Dammes, Lieutenant Donald Hudson, ex-Captain William Kelly, Lieutenant Thomas Ofenloch, Lieutenant Kevin Brevogel, ex-Captain Scott Drayer, Lieutenant Peter Silver, ex-Commissioner Mike Palmer, and Firefighters Tim Chase, Harry Loomis, Carlos Cerro, Glen Cisek, Paul Caglione, Benjamin Butt and Steven Smith.

An EMS Medical Award was given to 3rd Assistant Steven Doucette, ex-Captains Scott Drayer and Raymond Seely, and firefighers Benjamin Butt and Tim Chase. They responded to a possible suicide where the vicitm had cut his wrists. They stabilized and transported the man, who had a low pulse, to the hospital. He survived.

Another EMS Medical Award was presented to Lieutenant Donald Hudson and Scott Drayer, and a Certificate of Merit was presented to firefighters, Brian Anderson and Scott Galdo for their rescue of a stroke victim. While en route to the hospital the victim fell into cardiac arrest. The men re-established a pulse, adequate blood pressure and spontaneous respirations. The patient survived the cardiac arrest.

Captain William Dammes and ex-Captain Joseph DiFonzo were each recognized for their reaction and response to a house fire on June 5. The men noticed flames coming from a house on Bay Avenue and notified the dispatcher. They then proceeded to assist two females and a dog get safely out of the house which by this time was fully involved.

Service Awards were also presented to Ex-Captain Dominick D'Antuono and Ex-Captain Charles DiStefano. D'Antuono has served as the department recording secretary for 15 years, as well as various other positions. DiStefano has been the chariman of the Department Dinner Committee and the House to House Committee.

Cathy Greenfield contributed to this story.