33. Daniel Francis Munch (1949-1950)
Served 1 Year
Daniel Munch was born September 15, 1903, the son of Louis and Louise (Shaefer) Munch at their home on East Marie Street. He married Lillian Henne in July of 1926, and they lived at 199 and 207 1st Street. He was employed with the Long Island State Park Commission, working as a foreman at Jones Beach.
He joined Volunteer Hose Company 4 and served as their Captain in 1930 and 1931. In December of 1933, Daniel was appointed Teller to oversee the election under compliance with the Kirkman Act. The election board consisted of William Stolz, John Fitting, Andrew Heberer, Jr. and John Puvogel. There were seven candidates for the offices of fire commissioners and two for secretary-treasurer. There were 726 votes cast of which only four were declared void. The positions given in the following order as per number of votes received: Sebastian Wuchter, 5-year term, 584 votes; Charles Van Wickler, 3-year term, 505 votes; John N. Kerbs, 4-year term, 571 votes; William Braun, 2-year term, 455 votes.
In 1949 Daniel was elected as the 33rd Fire Chief and his Assistant Chiefs were Sam Weiss (1st) and Edward Schluter Jr. (2nd Assistant). It was during Daniel’s term that the Department would start the discussions to canvass businesses to help support the annual Labor Day Parade and Drill. More than 15,000 people witnessed the 21st Annual Parade and Tournament, coordinated by Chairman Edward Dwyer. It was dubbed the biggest competition for volunteer firemen held in the State with 54 companies and departments participating. The parade route was Broadway from Herzog Place south to the racing course on New South Road (near the Glass Floss Plant).
Chief Munch would direct training on the use of the Chemox Mask. He placed 3 on the new Seagrave. The Chemox mask was a chemical O2, closed-circuit apparatus with a disposable canister. It was developed and marketed by MSA in 1946 as a one hour breathing apparatus.
As the community continued to grow, a new modern circuit switch board was installed to support the Gamewell Alarm System throughout Hicksville. This fire alarm telegraph system was a series of fire alarm boxes located on street corners and telephone poles. Each box was assigned a specific number and when a box is pulled or activated, a “code wheel” containing “teeth” would spin, causing the normally closed circuit to open for a momentary pulse. These pulses corresponded to the box number, alerting the fire department to the activated box alarm. The box number was transmitted four times, known as rounds, to assure it is received properly at the fire station. These pulses would cause the blasting of the signal via the horn at the main firehouse.
In March, the biting cold and winds hampered firemen with two fires within a half hour of each other, around midnight. Both fires were off Duffy Avenue, the first was grass fire behind Nassau Seed, and the second, a half hour later, was a shed behind the town highway barn. Prompt action by the firemen quickly brought the blaze under control, although the spray from the hose line ice-crusted the firemen. Damage was small in each case.
The Board of Fire Commissioners provided all companies with the recommendations of Civilian Defense authorities of the county and state and directed that the company increase their membership. A new limit was set at 40 men, compared with the previous limit of 35. At the same time, companies will be permitted to enroll as members not more than five men who are 35 to 45 years of age, the previous limitation on age was 35 years for all applicants.
When William Braun stepped down as Fire Commissioner in December of 1950, Chief Munch ran for Fire Commissioner and was beaten by former commissioner Jack Leckie who had 751 votes against his 202 votes.
Chief Munch was a Charter member of the Volunteer and Exempts Firemen’s Benevolent Association of Hicksville and past Treasurer. He had a son Maynard Glenn Munch who was a member of Volunteer Hose Company 4 and Fire Commissioner.
Chief Munch passed away at the age of 53 on June 9, 1956, and he is interred at the Plain Lawn Cemetery in Hicksville.
