By Erik German & Stacey Altherr
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2007 Newsday, Inc.
Firefighters expressed concern yesterday that the sweeping corruption charges prosecutors leveled against several Suffolk fire district officials could undermine recruiting, fundraising and morale among Long Island’s volunteers.
“What was done here should not be a black eye on the fire department members or on the department’s ability to fight fires,” said Salvatore Isabella, a three-decade volunteer in Selden, where five current and former fire commissioners were charged Tuesday with stealing more than $50,000 in taxpayer funds.
The two current commissioners facing grand larceny charges are expected to step down soon, said Selden Fire District attorney Raymond Perini.
But some firefighters are worried that the consequences could reverberate for Island volunteers long after the current scandal has passed.
“This really makes us look bad and doesn’t help our cause,” said Chris Allen, 46, a 27-year Brentwood volunteer. “We are a bunch of very proud people who want to keep serving.”
Much of the worry hinges on a distinction volunteers say outsiders fail to make: Fire departments, staffed by volunteers, drag hoses, douse flames and dash inside fiery houses. Fire districts, staffed by elected commissioners, levy taxes, write budgets and set policy.
“A lot of people don’t understand. ... The department puts out fires, goes to ambulance calls and gets up at 2 or 3 in the morning,” said John Devito, a 21-year volunteer with the Ridge Fire Department. “The district at 3 o’clock in the morning is sleeping.”
Devito last year became the department’s chief, an unpaid post. He said he’s worried that recruiting could drop off after a spate of recent news stories featuring Suffolk fire district officials accused of stealing, in one case as much as $500,000 in district funds.
“It could really hurt us,” Devito said. “A lot of people don’t want to be part of something that’s in Newsday every week. They may think every department’s not doing the right thing.”
Other volunteers worried that an angry public might quit donating to annual volunteer fundraisers.
“People don’t realize that the money from fund drives isn’t going to the commissioners,” said Chris Solimine, who has volunteered at the Miller Place fire department for 31 years. “It could really hurt us.”
The donations are wholly separate from district-levied fire taxes and Solimine said they’re spent on small, gratifying extras that help keep volunteers coming back. Pizza after drills. Shirts for the department softball team.
“It’s nothing extravagant,” Solimine said. “At a morning fire, the chief might decide to go out and purchase egg sandwiches or get coffee to the scene.”
Some say scandal will check volunteers’ enthusiasm. “Bad press, I think it affects the morale of all firefighters,” said Jack Blaum, 45, who like his father and grandfather has spent decades serving the North Patchogue Fire Department.
Still, scandal and its consequences leave others undaunted.
“I tell my friends and neighbors: It doesn’t matter to me. I get up in the middle of the night because people need help,” said Frank Scibilia, a 15-year veteran with Mastic’s fire department. “I don’t care if I get another T-shirt, I don’t care if I get pizza after drill - just as long as water comes out of the hose.”