Fire is one of the greatest risks facing Fire Island Pines. With its remote location, closely spaced wooden homes and boardwalks, and dense stands of bamboo and other flammable vegetation, once ignited, a fire can spread with alarming speed. Since 1959, the volunteers of the Fire Island Pines Fire Department have stood as the community’s first and most critical line of defense.

They respond at the worst moments, often under dangerous and unpredictable conditions, performing work for which they are not paid but for which they carry immense responsibility. Operating within a system of mutual aid alongside neighboring communities, they have repeatedly contained fires that might otherwise have devastated large portions of the Pines.

It is no exaggeration to say that their vigilance, professionalism, and courage have helped ensure the survival of the community itself. Without them, the Fire Island Pines as we know it today might not exist.