50. Richard Kershow Jr. (1980-1981)
Served 2 Years
Richard Kershow was born on April 18, 1940, in Hicksville and is the son of Richard and Estelle (Odwazny) Kershow. He attended St. Ignatius Grammar School and Hicksville High School. He married Gail Philipp in May of 1962. They lived at 43 Harding Avenue. He was employed by the Town of Oyster Bay as a Mechanic.
Rich joined the Department in October 1968 and was given badge 203. His father Richard Sr. and his brother James were also members of the fire department. He served as Captain in 1976-1977 and his activity within his Company and the Department had proven him a dedicated and respected leader. In 1978, just after completing his term as Captain, Richard decided to run against the incumbent candidate James Huttle from Company 2 and was elected 1st Assistant Chief in 1978 and 1979. Huttle had already served as 3rd Assistant Chief, and he just completed his term as 2nd Assistant Chief when he lost to Richard Kershow. In 1980, Richard was elected as the 50th Fire Chief of the Department and his Assistant Chiefs were William Donlon, Owen Magee, and William Schuckmann.
The Department observed an increased fire load, particularly around Old Country Road and Newbridge Road. It would later become affectionately known as “Kershow’s Corner”, named after Richard Kershow, who served as Chief during the activity.
On May 26 in 1981, the Sunday before Memorial Day, seven businesses were destroyed, and 23 firefighters were injured in a nine-hour fire. The blaze, which was fought by more than 100 firemen from 21 volunteer companies believed to have started in a basement storeroom of Color Mart Paint Store in the King Kullen shopping center at Newbridge and Old Country Road. All but six of the injured firefighters were treated for minor burns and smoke and toxic-fume inhalation. A passerby discovered the fire on Sunday and immediately pulled an alarm at a nearby fire box. The fire, fueled by flammable liquids, quickly spread to adjoining structures. The shopping center section involved consists of a group of attached, two-story buildings with retail outlets on the first floor and private offices on the second. Among the stores and offices destroyed, in addition to the paint store, were: G.L. Hoffman Dental Office, Ice Cream Plus, School for Self Defense and the Wolfson Law Office. Efforts of the 165 firefighters and 10 mutual aid departments prevented the flammable liquid fed fire from spreading to ten other attached stores and the Stock’s Funeral Home. The fire was believed to have started in the basement of the Colormart Paint Store, and it apparently burned undetected for a period before a passerby saw smoke and turned in the alarm. Numerous explosions in the basement and a blocked basement stairway, kept firefighters from entering. Holes were cut in the floor above and hi-expansion foam units dumped foam to douse the inferno in the basement, but fire spread through air spaces and utility shaft ways to the roof area. Paint thinners, and lacquers burned furiously. Much of southeast Hicksville was under a cloud of acrid smoke for about 4 hours. Smoke at the scene was so thick it blocked vision of the building, personnel, and apparatus. Twenty-three firefighters were injured. Firefighters had to cancel plans to take part in Memorial Day Services.
Over a two-week period, arson caused fires has accounted for most of Hicksville’s serious fires. A 50-foot-high structure behind the grandstand at the Hicksville High School was torched and the structure was almost destroyed. That was the same structure which was destroyed almost a year ago. Less than two weeks later on October 13th, unknown persons threw a firebomb at the old Hicksville School District Administration Building on Newbridge Road behind the Sr. High School. Quick action by firefighters to confine the blaze to the point of origin and thorough overhauling of the fire in the walls and basement ceiling was credited for holding down the damage.
Then on a December 6th the Hicksville School District's former Administration Building at 265 Newbridge Road was destroyed by fire caused by an apparent arsonist. The general fire alarm rang at Fire Headquarters and upon arrival the entire basement had fire pushing out windows. Repeated attempts to enter the inferno failed to aggressively combat the blaze. Firefighters then applied high expansion foam, but flames spread up through the open wall spaces and ignited the roof. High winds provided wind chill in the single digits. Nine men were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and chemicals from school labs, stored in the building, gave off toxic fumes and blue flame.
The year 1981 rounded out with a fire, burning out of control at the New York Diagnostic Center at 247 Old Country Road, destroying the facility. A passing LILCO employee reported the fire which was already blowing out the windows. The December 20th alarm had first arrived units immediately using the 5” large diameter hose system to battle the blaze. The brick and frame building measuring 200 ft. x 75 ft. served as a preventative medicine center.
In December of 1981 the new apparatus of Independent Engine & Hose Company 2 was on full display at its annual Open House. The apparatus was originally ordered by the Boston, Massachusetts Fire Department but a bond issue failed and Hicksville Fire Commissioners, informed of the availability, moved to purchase the apparatus with a few changes made by Co. #2 Truck Committee. The purchase represents a considerable saving for Hicksville taxpayers.
The department was saddened by the passing of Ex-Chief Henry Schnepf who was Chief between 1918 and 1921.
Rich served on the Hicksville FD Labor Day Parade & Tournament Committee and was Chairman in 1983. Even with his demanding schedule as Chief, Rich somehow found time to be a Cub Scout leader.
Richard Kershow was elected Fire Commissioner for a 5 Year term and served as Chairman. In 1985 he would retire from the Town of Oyster Bay. He would then marry Patricia, and move to Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He would go back to work after retirement working as a mechanic for the Rio Rancho Country Club.
Chief Kershow passed away on September 4, 2008, and is interred at Vista Verde Memorial Park, New Mexico.
