January 19, 1977 - CFD Responds to Greenport Blaze
By Traveler-Watchman Newspaper: Walter Kaelin
January 19, 2010
Originally printed in the Traveler- Watchman Newspaper: Cutchogue Column - Circa. 1977
The Cutchogue Firemen were called out last Wednesday, January 19th, to assist at that big fire in Greenport. The original call was to stand-by at the Southold Firehouse, but before the big pump reached Peconic it was ordered by radio to go directly to Greenport and a second pumper was also sent from Cutchogue to Greenport to combat the fire. The Cutchogue crew had 59 members sign the roll call for this fire. The crew at Greenport returned with ice covered helmets and raingear. They spent over four hours at Greenport and then another two hours at the Cutchogue firehouse putting the hose back on the pumpers. The hose was frozen and had to be transported back from the fire on a flat bed farm truck sent by the Cutchogue Fire Department. The next day a number of firemen spent six hours flushing the hose out as well washing the pumpers and pumps thoroughly. The Cutchogue pumpers were assigned to pump from the bay and the salt water had to be completely flushed from the apparatus and hose to prevent corrosions of the pump and decay of the hose. For this, in freezing weather, the firemen receive nothing but the satisfaction that they have helped someone in need.
The Cutchogue Fire Department would like to thank to Virginia McCaffery for donating this Historical article to our website.
If any member of the community has any photographs, newspaper clippings or historical artifacts pertaining to the Cutchogue Fire Department, please contact the website team at cutfd@optonline.net or contact the firehouse at 734-6907.
Photos and clippings are able to be scanned and returned to the owners.
Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to this ongoing project.
