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A Tradition Gets a New Chapter
In July 2026 the Fire Island Pines Fire Department celebrated the arrival of its new fire truck with a cherished fire service tradition: a ceremonial Wet Down. More than a symbolic washing of a new engine, the event honored the volunteer firefighters who have protected one of the country's most unique communities since 1959. The article explores the history of the Wet Down, the extraordinary challenges of firefighting on Fire Island, and why this $650,000 investment is so critical to the safety of the Pines.
Pines Profile - Nicole LaFountaine (b. 1969)
For almost a century, the LaFountaine’s have been at the beating heart of Fire Island Pines—building homes, fighting fires, raising glasses, raising roofs, and raising voices. Nicole LaFountaine stands as the third generation of that legacy: a woman who turned fire into renewal, theatre into community, and heritage into hope.