On April 7 in the upper lounge of the Village Hall Chief George T. Hawes presided over the 85th annual meeting and installation of new officers of Plandome's beloved fire department.

In attendance were firefighters and their families, village trustees and select guests.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by ex-chief and senior firefighter of 58 years Jack Licthen. Chaplain and front line firefighter Fr. Kevin Smith gave the invocation and remembrance of departed members ex-chief and former Mayor Jim Wilkie and Ex-Chief John Fitzgerald.

After receiving reports from Secretary Thornton Smith and Treasurer Mike Temares, Chief Hawes reported on the state of the department's firefighting readiness. The ISO, the recognized authority on evaluating fire departments, has rated Plandome's capability to protect the village a Category 3, the highest in its 85-year history and higher than most other departments in the state including those of much larger size.

The introduction of Plandome's new thermal imaging camera was successfully put to the test in a recent house fire. The device allows firefighters to locate victims in the most dense and darkest smoke and to locate the source of fires hidden within walls. In this particular incident the occult fire was found very quickly, eliminating the need to open walls extensively. Damage to the home and contents was virtually nil. The fire was extinguished within five minutes. Plandome was the first department in western Nassau County with this device and has been designated to provide mutual aid to neighboring departments upon request.

Plandome responded to 34 alarms the previous year with no victims or injuries to firefighters recorded. The department has 71 fully active members in a village containing 433 homes. Intensive training remains one of the key requirements of Chief Hawes' administration and the high attendance at drills and live fire exercises reflects this.

Before the election of officers Chief Hawes singled out specific members for their major contributions to the department and the fire service. Presentations of hand-forged bronze fire axes were made to firefighter/engineer and former Mayor Bill Miller, Fire Police Captain John Foley and Ex-Chief Ed Sheerin. Commissary Officer, Lieutenant Dan Blascovich, father of Ex-Chief John Blascovich, was cited for his selection as Firefighter of the Year by the Manhasset Post of the American Legion.

Officers elected unanimously for the coming year are: Chief - George T. Haws, 1st Deputy Chief - John F. King, 2nd Deputy Chief - Gary Becker, Senior Captain - Allen H. Wofford, Junior Captain - Frank Capone, 1st Lieutenant - Herb Finn, 1st Lieutenant - Roger V. Coleman, 2nd Lieutenant - Ned Peyser, 2nd Lieutenant - Rick Buhr, Secretary - Thornton Smith, and Treasurer - Mike Temares.

Voting delegates to the 8th Fire Battalion: Chief Hawes, 1st Deputy Chief King, Ex-Chief and Battalion Officer Matt Walsh.

Chief Hawes appointed the following officers: Chaplain - Fr. Kevin Smith, Public Affairs Officer - Ex Chief Matt Walsh, Fire Police Captain - John Foley, Engineering Officer - Ex Chief Scott Wilson, Tactical Response Officers - Ex Chief John Blascovich and Lieutenant Joseph Donovan, Record Training Officer - Ex Chief Ed Sheerin, Safety Officer - Ex-Chief Karl Heuglin, and Commissary Officer - Lieutenant Dan Blascovich.

Chief Hawes was sworn in by Mayor Brian J. Vincent in the presence of his wife and son and daughter, Ian and Cristi. His other son, firefighter Brendan Hawes, was away at school. Chief Hawes is a 21-year member of the department. He graduated from Notre Dame and is the owner of a real estate company. He moved to Plandome in 1976. As well as chief he's an active member of the newly formed 8th Battalion SCUBA Dive Rescue Team. He also served the village as its treasurer, president of the Plandome Association and president of the Plandome Sunfish Club. Other officers were sworn in by Ex-Chief Lou Trapp. The Fire Police were sworn in by Village Justice Larry Florio.