03' News Archives

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=75 BGCOLOR="#330000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="198c8c83.jpg"> <div> Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department</div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#BBBBBB" TEXT="#080000" background="0befa043.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department">Home</A></div> <div> <A HREF="07_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="07 News Archives">07' News Archives</A></div> <div> <A HREF="06_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="06 News Archives">06' News Archives</A></div> <div> <A HREF="05_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="05 News Archives">05' News Archives</A></div> <div> <A HREF="04_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="04 News Archives">04' News Archives</A></div> <div> <B>03' News Archives</B></div> <div> <A HREF="02_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="02 News Archives">02' News Archives</A></div> <div> <A HREF="01_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="01 News Archives">01' News Archives</A></div> <div> <A HREF="pre_01_news_archives.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="pre01 News Archives">pre-01' News Archives</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=405 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>03' News Archives</I></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="rfd_website_featured_in_fasny_magazine_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B>RFD Website Featured in FASNY Magazine</B></div> <div> by Raymond Kwasna     07-15-2003</div> <bR> <div> The Volunteer Firefighter, "The Official Publication of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York" has recognized this web site and our department in its July edition.</div> <bR> <div> In a monthly column called "Fire on the 'Net" professional web consultant and self-proclaimed internet guru Dee Collins critiques fire department web sites from across the state. This month it's our very own RiverheadFD.com's turn to be scrutinized.</div> <bR> <div> In the two-page column she first knocks the bad then praises the good things about our web site. According to her article our front page was our worst offense, and I quote; <I>"If I hadn't seen the front page, this site would have gotten an "A". The interior of the site is so well designed and organized that it deserves nothing less. It's obvious someone took a lot of time and energy to put up something that represents the department very well."</I><I> </I>The front page has since been changed as suggested, but if anyone has a better photo or idea please let me know.</div> <bR> <div> I have seen many less-than-flattering appraisals of other departments web sites in past issues of <I>The Volunteer Firefighter</I> and I feel that our site did very well and I am proud of this review. I also need to mention that there was high-praise for our "Chief's Office" page and then I'll just leave it at that.</div> <bR> <div> The online version of <I>The Volunteer Firefighter</I> magazine can be found at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.fasny.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fasny.com">www.fasny.com</A></FONT>, but to see the full article on our web site you will need the printed version.</div> <bR> <div> Again, If anyone has anything at all to contribute to our department web site, all are welcome.</div> <bR> <div> Ex-Capt. Raymond Kwasna</div> <div> Website Manager</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="13_35_on_jt_boulevard_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B>13/35 on JT Boulevard</B></div> <div> by Robert Leuner     05-14-2003     <A HREF="http://www.suffolklife.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.suffolklife.com/">Suffolk Life</A></div> <bR> <div> The Riverhead Fire Department responded to a residential fire on JT Boulevard last Thursday. The ranch-style home belonging to Landress Henderson, Jr. caught fire when someone left the stove unattended while cooking.</div> <bR> <div> According to Riverhead Fire Marshal Bruce Johnson, once firefighters reached the scene, it took approximately 15 minutes to contain the blaze. No injuries were reported.</div> <bR> <div> The Flanders Fire Department was called on a signal 24 for their RIT* but wasn't needed.</div> <bR> <div> Johnson noted there wasn't a working smoke detector present in the home and wanted to remind all Riverhead residents of the free smoke detector program sponsored by the town. Residents can call 727-3200 ext. 555 and leave their name and return phone number.</div> <bR> <div> Johnson also warned that when cooking, be sure to turn all burners off when leaving a stove area, even for a short period of time.</div> <bR> <div> *FYI - A "RIT" or Rapid Intervention Team is a squad of firefighters that are called in from a neighboring department whenever there is a medium to large fire being fought. The "RIT" stands-by at the scene, ready at a moments notice, to go in and rescue the rescuers if disaster strikes. If the RIT should go active, another RIT is immediately called in from yet another department to replace and back them. Some examples of when a RIT would be activated would be; building collapse, cave-in, flashover, backdraft and a firefighter down and/or trapped situation.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="fire_kills_1_in_riverhead_home"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B>Fire Kills 1 in Riverhead Home</B></div> <div> by Samuel Bruchey     01-16-2003     <A HREF="http://www.newsday.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.newsday.com/">Newsday</A></div> <bR> <div> A fire broke out inside a trailer in Riverhead yesterday morning, and after the flames were extinguished, the body of a man was found, Riverhead Town police said.</div> <bR> <div> The blaze started at 9:57 a.m. on a small couch beside the front door of the trailer, located at 769 Harrison Ave., Lt. Richard Boden said.</div> <bR> <div> The victim's body, which was found on the couch, was badly burned and had not been positively identified as of yesterday afternoon, Boden said. It was taken to the Suffolk County medical examiner's office in Hauppauge for autopsy.</div> <bR> <div> Suffolk County Arson investigators determined that the fire was not suspicious. Boden said it could have been sparked by a lit cigarette.</div> <bR> <div> Neighbors in the trailer park, located across from Riverhead High School, said the only resident of the four-room trailer was an elderly man named Percy Tann.</div> <bR> <div> Tann had lived on a fixed income by himself for several years, neighbor Ed Alicea said.</div> <bR> <div> Some neighbors felt sorry for Tann, Alicea said, because he was often robbed of his social security income by drug users in the area as soon as the monthly checks arrived by mail.</div> <bR> <div> Now and then, Alicea said, Tann came knocking on his door, asking for a sandwich or leftover seafood soup, which Alicea sometimes made.</div> <bR> <div> Inside the trailer yesterday were signs of a poor and solitary life.</div> <bR> <div> Thick black cobwebs draped from the bedroom ceiling, above a floor littered with discarded newspapers and empty bottles of Alexi vodka. Kitchen cabinets were empty. Broken plates and rusted pans were piled high in a kitchen sink.</div> <bR> <div> The only decoration on a bedroom wall was a small quilt, embroidered with the words "God Still Loves the World."</div> <bR> <div> Monday was the last time Alicea saw Tann, he said. The old man was resting on his couch, watching a small television across the room, and drawing heat from a hot pot beside him.</div> <bR> <div> "I asked him if he needed to go to the doctor because he had been sick," Alicea said. "He just said, 'Don't worry about me, I'll be all right."</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>