North Massapequa FD assessing firehouse damage: “We're here to stay”

The North Massapequa Fire Department is vowing to come back stronger than ever after its firehouse was damaged by fire. 
On Christmas morning, flames tore through the firehouse on North Broadway, destroying several emergency vehicles. 
Salvage crews had pumpers inside the burned firehouse this morning and pulled the charred trucks out of the truck room. 
Firefighters say watching the engines caught in the blaze being pulled out of the charred remains was bittersweet. 
“It was nice to see it drive out of here today, but it is definitely hard to see it in the condition that it’s in,” said Joe Canova. 
Fire Commission Chairman Ralph Raymond says he hopes to get the trucks back in service soon. 
The department's ladder truck, however, is a complete loss.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the fire. For now, officials say it seems the fire began in the truck room, on or near the ladder truck.
           
It could take months to repair the building, but fire officials say the community will be safe.

“Right now we are protected, we have mutual aid units in place and there were be simultaneous responses from other fire departments as well as us. We are totally covered,” said Chairman Raymond.

To make that happen, other Long Island departments have pledged equipment and manpower needed to get North Massapequa back on its feet. The East Meadow Fire Department has already donated a pumper truck. 
A loaner ambulance arrived Friday, and the Terry Ferrell Firefighters Foundation is buying new gear for the department along with facilitating loaner equipment from around the US.
“It’s a good feeling you get that support when you need it, because you'd never think something like this could happen to you,” said firefighter Jimmy Pirrello.
The North Massapequa Fire Department says it hopes to have all of its loaner equipment up and running and in a new temporary space by this weekend.