In 1889, before Nassau County had assimilated, and thirty years before there was an Incorporated Village of East Williston, a group of the citizens formed the local Fire Department. Some of their names may sound familiar such as ‘Titus’, ‘Bengeyfield,’ or ‘Devlin.’ If those men could see the East Williston Fire Department today, they would likely be both proud and in awe.
The East Williston Fire Department provides 24 hour-a-day, seven days-a-week fire and EMS service to the 2,500 residents and 890 homes of a one-square mile fire district. Answering approximately 160 emergency alarms per year, the roughly 60 members of the agency come from all walks of life. They include high school students, business leaders, local business owners, and career professional responders from numerous local and city emergency agencies.
Volunteers receive weekly training at the fire house and other local fire departments. The bulk of actual fire training is conducted at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, where under the supervision of professional instructors, students practice in training rooms where temperatures exceed 800 degrees.
We actively participate in a number of mutual aid agreements with our neighboring fire department, these requests for service are held in very high regard by our membership. By requesting our response, adjoining agencies are voicing their faith and confidence in our equipment and abilities. Our members maintain our equipment and apparatuses in excellent condition, which when coupled with low fire losses and above average response times, keeps our fire insurance rates low.