Article Pages

56. Anthony Wigdzinski (1990-1991)

Served 2 Years

Anthony Wigdzinski was born July 28, 1959, and is the son of John and Lucille and is a graduate of Hicksville High School. He married Susan Curley in June 1982. Tony is employed by Rallye Motors of Roslyn working as a Services, Parts and Facilities Director. He and Sue live on Cortland Avenue, in Hicksville.

Tony first joined the Hicksville Fire Department as a Junior Fireman in 1973. He then became a member of Floodlight Heavy Rescue Company Eight in January 1978. Tony served as Secretary, 2nd Lieutenant in 1982 and 1983, 1st Lieutenant in 1984-1985 and was subsequently elected as their Captain in 1986-1987. Additionally, Tony has served as their Treasurer of Floodlight Heavy Rescue Company Eight from 1996 through 2013.

Tony was elected First Assistant Chief in 1988 and subsequently to the highest office of our department, the 56th Chief, in 1990 and 1991. His Assistant Chiefs were Patrick Scanlon (1st), Albert Merk (2nd) and Karl Schweitzer (3rd).

During his term as Chief, Tony had an active term.

A recently fired employee was arrested and charged with arson after he broke into the Municipal Testing Laboratory at 102 New South Road, Hicksville. The incident occurred on August 7th and on arrival, fire was coming out of the windows and the roof. The disgruntled employee poured a flammable liquid in the building after he removed many expensive testing devices, and he and another person ignited the liquid. They then attempted to leave the scene but were blocked in by the first arriving fire units. Damage was estimated at $300,000. Five firefighters, including Assistant Chief Schweitzer, Commissioner Dwyer, and Firefighter Kevin Brevogel were treated for injuries at local hospitals.

Fire broke out during the early morning hours at the Fork Lane Elementary School damaging two classrooms, before racking up over $100,000 in damage.

A law firm located on Newbridge Road was damaged in a late-night fire with $75,000 in damages. Someone firebombed the United States Army Recruitment Center on North Broadway—no one was hurt but the damage was extensive.

An early morning blaze at Tony's Bumpers at 82A Woodbury Road caused an estimated $1.6 million in damage to structures and inventories in the building and two neighboring businesses. Upon arrival, firefighters found flames already through the roof in the rear portion of Tony's Bumpers which is situated behind but connected to the Concord Auto Supply Store at 82 Woodbury Road. The fire burned for six hours before it was brought under control by more than 200 firefighters. The origin of the fire was believed to be in the office area of the bumper company and evidently burned unnoticed until smoke billowed up.

On January 25, 1990, as Chief Wigdzinski was holding his first Officers meeting of the year at Station 3, word came through about a plane crash in Oyster Bay. As information trickled in, it was apparent that a Boeing 707, Flight 52 Avianca, en route to JFK Airport ran out of fuel after a failed attempt to land and crashed onto a hillside in the small village of Cove Neck, on the north shore of Long Island. Eight of the nine crew members and 65 of the 149 passengers on board were killed. Firefighters were stunned by the sight they saw in the woods where the Colombian Jet crashed. Hicksville firefighters were requested at 10:05 PM for their chemical foam supply truck, an ambulance, and a heavy rescue truck. Many responding units could get no closer than three miles and had to walk uphill to the site on Tennis Court Road. Firefighters from dozens of departments in the area massed together with police and EMS workers and began the task of removing victims from the twisted wreckage. Hicksville firemen were assigned to the forward cabin area and were able to free several adults, a child and the flight engineer. They also removed several dead bodies. Operations continued until 3:30 AM. Fifty Hicksville firefighters and seven units responded, under Chief Wigdzinski. There was no fire or explosion because most of the fuel was gone when the plane went down. The thick wooded area hampered rescue efforts, as well as the fact that there was only one road in and out of the area. Officials said that if the plane stayed airborne three or four minutes longer it would have gone down in the heavily populated areas of Williston Park or Franklin Square.

At 2:19 PM on January 29, the fire alarm at Fork Lane Elementary School sounded, and it was no drill. A fire had broken out in a coat closet in the rear of the fourth-grade class. The teacher was in the front of her classroom when a student said he smelled smoke. Upon further investigation, flames were observed coming from the rear of the classroom. The fire alarm was pulled, and the school emptied. The fire destroyed the classroom, but damage to other parts of the building was limited.

On November 11, 1990, a fire had been labeled suspicious, and heavily damaged a group of stores, Steve's Place Luncheonette, West John Street Delicatessen, a hair salon and the West End Pub on West John Street. The fire was reported by a passing Nassau County Police Officer who transmitted the alarm at 12:47 AM. Arriving firefighters found the front of the stores completely engulfed in flames.

A fire that swept through the Levittown Parkway pool filtration and storage building at about 6:00 AM on September 6 caused an estimated $45,000 in damage. In addition, the fire threatened to ignite the chlorine filtration units and storage tanks. Had that happened, many homes and businesses in the area would have had to be evacuated. Firefighters were able to hose down those tanks so they would not ignite. Because the fire was trapped in small pockets in the roof, firefighters had to peel back the roof like a "sardine can" to extinguish the flames. This took about an hour and the Westbury Fire Department was called in for aid as many Hicksville firemen were "exhausted" from ripping off the roof.

During 1990 the department witnessed a lot of progress. Tony oversaw the start of the Length of Service Awards Program. This program was set up to benefit the members for their time spent in the department.

In May of 1990, Chief Wigdzinski opened a new firehouse expanding fire protection to the community with Station 4 on Levittown Parkway. The opening of this house has helped improve the department response. Company 1, 4 and 7 moved to the new house.

The Hicksville Fire Department Rescue Squad celebrated its 35th anniversary in the fall of 1990. The rescue squad was formed through the efforts of Chief Lawrence Huttle and Assistant Chief Medard Ofenloch in 1955. The rescue squad consisted of more than 30 members. These members were trained in various procedures of emergency medical care. Most are either Emergency Medical Technicians, or Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians. Members undergo more than 150 hours of schooling to become certified by the New York State. In 1989, the Hicksville Fire Department responded to 545 ambulance calls and the number is expected to be larger for 1990.

Chief Wigdzinski kicked off the first leg to the Triple Crown when he led over 100 members of his department and Ladies' Auxiliary to an overall best appearing Fire Department victory in the Annual 9th Battalion Parade. Hicksville's second phase of their journey to the crown was when the "Hicks" Drill Team won a close victory over the Carle Place "Frogs" for the Ninth Battalion Drill. Hicksville for the third year in a row has sent Carle Place home with only a second-place trophy as Hicksville has dominated the Drill Circuit, winning 7 of the last 10 years running. The Hicksville Fire Department had become the 1990 Triple Crown Winners, continuing to make them the Pride of the Ninth Battalion.

The Hicks drill team continued to make progress and became a contender. Aside from winning trophies in almost every tournament, they placed fourth in the county drill and second in the 9th battalion drill. The highlight of 1990 was the setting of a new efficiency state record at the battalion drill.

Operation Desert Storm takes the headlines in January 1991, while Hicksville sends many servicemen overseas, and Department firefighter Jackie Huttle, Jr. (Company 4) re-enlisted and was sent to the West Coast for assignment. Chief Wigdzinski assisted Mrs. Paul Jurgenson in April to prepare for a homecoming celebration for our troops overseas. The Community turnout was overwhelming, and Hicksville hadn't seen this much patriotism since World War II.

In 1991 Chief Wigdzinski felt challenged to improve upon the EMS service in the department. Signal 32’s and a shortage of EMT’s was evident. The proposal put forward by his committee was to transition to an EMS Company. The current Rescue Squad Officers were asked to stay on as advisors and Officers until the Chiefs Office could determine that the Squad could operate efficiently on their own. The transition period in which the old and the new could be merged and brought together as one would be by year end of 1993. The present squad would weed out all the necessary members not making requirements and assign their personnel. At the completion of the transition the current firefighters would be given the option to become an EMS member or stay on as firefighter, there will be no dual role as before. All alarms (rescue and fire) will be sounded as general alarms, there would no longer be group one and group two calls as of January 1, 1991. EMS personnel would be held responsible for EMS alarms for their annual percentage and firefighters will be responsible for all other alarms. The Committee put together rules and procedures. For budget reasons, the EMS Company would receive funding by increasing the amount each year, until they reach a full complement of department funding in three years. Ultimately, Chief Wigdzinski’s progressive idea was too much, too fast and the department wanted other ideas. Even today in 2023, the problems still exist, and other Chiefs have tried again to push similar ideas with no success.

Highlighting 1991, the Fire Department received notice that Chris Cole, a child from the local elementary school that entered our Annual Poster Contest, won Second Place in the National Contest (NFPA).

Chief Wigdzinski was recognized by both the Hicksville Fire Department and Nassau County Fire Commission for actions that he took to save other people’s lives. In 1991, he received the County's highest award, the Gold Medal of Valor, along with Ex-Chief Scanlon and Lieutenant Doucette. They rescued a husband and wife that were trapped on the second floor of a house fire. It was April 2, 1991, when the department responded to a fully engulfed house fire at 54 Fox Place. Chief Wigdzinski and Scanlon were the first to arrive at the scene. With confirmed reports that the occupants of the house were trapped on the 2nd floor, both Chief Wigdzinski and Scanlon approached the stairs to the 2nd floor, where they were able to see the fire burning to the left on the 1st floor. As they proceeded up the stairs, they encountered heavy smoke and a high heat condition. Chief Wigdzinski and Scanlon continued their search down the hall. Chief Wigdzinski located the woman as he was moving through the hallway. Chief Scanlon continued his search, while Chief Wigdzinski moved the female occupant back towards the stairs. Lieutenant’s Doucette and O’Brien had entered the house and were moving past the heat and smoke towards the stairs, where they were met by Chief Wigdzinski. The woman was passed off to Doucette and O’Brien to bring the woman to safety outside the home. Chief Wigdzinski rejoined Assistant Chief Scanlon and there was limited visibility, and the heat conditions were now keeping them to the floor, Assistant Chief Scanlon located the male occupant and was assisted by Wigdzinski to move the male victim down 2 flights of stairs and then outside for medical aid. Both occupants were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation, where the male occupant was admitted in serious condition and did recover from the effects of the fire. If not for Chief Wigdzinski’s disregard for his own personal safety, determination and teamwork, the outcome of this fire incident would have had a fatal end to it.

Tony was part of a Unit Citation on Monday, August 10, 1987. The Hicksville Fire Department received a report of an auto accident with aided at Broadway and Old Country Road. The first unit to arrive notified the dispatcher that there was a three-car accident. When 938 arrived at the scene the crew was told that there were people trapped in one of the cars. This car was on the center divider and into a light pole. The light pole was hit so hard that it was just hanging over the car. While the AEMT started to stabilize the two victims, the rest of the crew went to work in stabilizing the car and getting the extrication tool ready to work. While removing the first passenger from the side of the car, the extrication spreader was used to remove the driver's door to get to the second aided, whose vital signs at this time were deteriorating. The crew was now pressed for time. Not only because of the passenger’s condition but also because the light pole might fall on the car and them. After the door was removed, the aided was still trapped in the car by the steering wheel. At this time the extrication chains and spreader were used to pull the steering wheel from the aided and then the driver's seat had to be pushed back with the extrication rams to free the aided. The aided was then removed from the auto and transported to the hospital. The quick reaction of 938's crew and their expertise in the use of the extrication tool resulted in a quick and smooth operation without further injury to the aided.

On Wednesday, June 20, 2001, the department received a special call for mutual aid assistance for Engine 932, from the Huntington Manor Fire Department. Ex-Chief Wigdzinski responded as part of the crew. Upon arrival at the scene, it was observed that there was a large lumberyard fire, inclusive of three structures fully engulfed with fire. Orders were given to secure a water supply and report to the front of the fire building. The crew was able to locate a water supply (hydrant) while two mutual-aid Engine Companies were able to perform change-over operations and assisted in supplying an adequate water supply through 1,400 feet of 5" hose. An additional water supply approximately 1,000 feet from Engine 932, which was also used to feed Engine 932, enabling the engine to utilize a deck-gun operation. While 932 was in operation, the crew was utilized in the rear of the building working with a 2 1/2" hose line to protect exposures, search for additional fire and protect property. Some 10 hours later, the crew was relieved and released late in the afternoon on Sunday. For their actions, Tony and the crew went above and beyond what is expected under normal conditions, used their skills and strength to assist this mutual aid department in their time of need and were awarded a Unit Citation for their work.

After his tenure as Chief, Tony was elected as Department Corresponding Secretary in 1992 through 1996. He has participated in numerous Department and Company Committees and teams. He was as Chairman of the Labor Day Parade and Drill in 1986, Department Training Committee, Hazardous Material Response Team, Hockey Team, and the Hicks and Hazzbeens Drill teams, to name a few.

Ex-Chief Wigdzinski had the honor of being selected as one of the Co-Chairs along with Ex-Chief Schuckmann and Assistant Chief Schweitzer to plan and organize the Department’s 100th Anniversary. In February the department kicked off the year-long celebration by having the oldest Ex-Chiefs open the meeting. The meeting was moved to coincide with the actual charter date of 1893. Following the meeting the members made their way across the street to the old firehouse, now Peppercorns, for refreshments in the upstairs meeting hall. In June, after three years of planning, a grand parade kicked off at 6:15 PM in a spectacular display of color, honor, precision and sound, as the department marked its 100th Anniversary that surpassed any parade in Hicksville history. Sixty-three fire departments, two from as far away as Ohio and New Hampshire, marched in brilliant form through the streets of Hicksville. The parade was only one of many events that were held in honor of the fire department's centennial. A nightly carnival and a firemen's drill were among the other festivities. Thousands of people lined the two-mile parade route. The parade was preceded by a carnival held on East Marie Street for five days. Adjacent to the carnival was a food court staffed by local Hicksville organizations given an opportunity to raise funds for their groups. There was a fireworks extravaganza in the parking lot next to Station 1 and the famous Country Music group “Six-Gun” played for an evening under the stars.

The Department also played host to the 98th annual Southern New York State Volunteer Firefighters' Association Convention. The last time this was held in Hicksville was in 1902 and 1908. The convention included the racing tournament with entries from across Long Island and Westchester. The entire year was also highlighted with a 100th anniversary department picnic and installation dinner.

Chief Wigdzinski has served as Chairman of the Annual Fire Prevention Poster Contest and Annual Installation Dinner Committee since he left office over 30 years ago. He also finds time to participate and share his time with the Special Olympics Committee each year.

In 1997, Tony was elected to serve as Fire Commissioner of the Hicksville Fire District through 2006, serving as its chair in 2000 and 2005. After a brief hiatus he would serve as Fire Commissioner once again for a 5-Year term from 2014 through 2018, serving as Chairman in 2017.

Site Security Provided by: Click here to verify this site's security