Recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of Suffolk County’s volunteer fire service, legislators opened their August meeting in Riverhead with a ceremony honoring 18 men and women—one from each district—who exemplify community service and public safety leadership.
From the 7th Legislative District, Legislator Dominick Thorne proudly recognized Dan Brooks of the Patchogue Fire Department as his 2025 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.
“Dan Brooks is a tireless advocate for the fire service and a shining example of what it means to give back,” Thorne said. “He has dedicated decades to protecting others, training fellow firefighters, and making his community stronger.”
Brooks began his volunteer firefighting journey in 1987 as part of the Cortlandville Fire Department’s Explorer program in his hometown of Cortland, NY, becoming a full member in 1989. By 1992, he was serving as Vice President of the department and working as an EMT with the Rescue Squad.
After relocating to Ocala, Florida, Brooks became Assistant Chief of Marion County Fire-Rescue’s all-volunteer Station 23. Returning to New York, he joined the McLean Fire Department, where he served as a firefighter/EMT and responded with neighboring ambulance agencies in Dryden and Groton.
In 2020, Brooks joined the Patchogue Fire Department, where he now serves as Incident Safety Officer, Chief Driver of the Rescue Truck, and chair of the department’s annual golf outing and Main Street car show. The following year, he also became a member of the Patchogue Ambulance Company, serving as Chief Driver, EMT, and Chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee.
“Dan’s leadership goes beyond responding to emergencies,” Thorne noted. “He’s strengthening our fire service through recruitment, training, and public outreach—ensuring the next generation is ready to serve.”
Brooks is currently the 2nd Vice President of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, Secretary of the Brookhaven Town Volunteer Firefighters Museum, and a Legislative Committee member for the Firefighters Association of the State of New York.
“Volunteer firefighters are the heartbeat of our emergency response system,” Thorne concluded. “Dan Brooks represents the best of that tradition, and we are lucky to have him in our community.”