Vincent Ciccolella, Sr., joined the Bethpage Fire Department on May 5, 1992, and was assigned to Engine Company 4. Vinny, or ‘Chick’ as he was known around the firehouse, was a very active member and was off probation in May 1993. Vinny attended many training courses and seminars in-house and at the Nassau County Fire Academy. Vinny quickly took the Department MPO course and became an Engine Chauffeur. Vinny’s job of driving a sanitation truck made him comfortable behind the wheel.
Vinny was elected to the position of 2nd Lieutenant in Company 4. In June of 2000, Vinny was transferred to Engine Company 7, and quickly became a fixture there. He was always one of the top responders and still continued taking many training courses. In 2004, Vinny was elected to the position of Lieutenant. Vinny was then elected Captain of Engine 7 in 2005. He also served as Captain from 2006 to 2012, and, after taking a couple years rest from the captaincy, became Captain again in 2015, then again served the company in the position of Lieutenant in 2018 and 2019. He also served as Department Trustee in 2017 and 2018 and once again in 2020.
At the Department meeting on March 2, 2020 Chief Isernia and the chiefs office, with unanimous approval of the department, posthumously promoted Vincent Ciccolella, Sr., to the rank of Honorary Deputy Chief.
– Fire News photos by ImmsterFirePhotos.com; story by ex-Captain Ernie Fikar
