If a fire breaks out, having 27 fire departments and ambulance companies just down the road certainly helps. The Mastic Fire Department was celebrating its 100th Anniversary with a parade when a fire broke out in a shipping container at a local business along Montauk Highway.
Thanks to the parade, which brought firefighters, EMTs, and support crews to the area, emergency responders were unusually close by and able to react immediately. With the street already closed for the celebration, engines and ambulances had unimpeded access to the scene, allowing the blaze to be quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported, though a malfunctioning fire hydrant sent water rushing down Montauk Highway until it could be shut off. Fortunately, the flooding did not affect the centennial festivities, and parade-goers continued celebrating safely.
Officials praised both the quick response and the fortuitous timing. “We had departments on standby for this very reason, and the fire was put out pretty fast,” one fire official said. “Having so many first responders right here, just a block away, made all the difference. The parade brought our crews together in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.”
Participants and spectators also expressed relief at the rapid response. Many noted that the presence of so many fire and emergency vehicles, already stationed for the centennial celebration, turned a potentially dangerous situation into a minor incident.
The Mastic Fire Department’s 100th Anniversary parade will be remembered not only for its celebration of a century of service but also for the unusual circumstances that highlighted the readiness, skill, and teamwork of local first responders. In this case, the community’s safety was ensured in large part because of the very event meant to honor the heroes who protect it.