58. Albert M. Merk (1994-1995)
Served 2 Years
Albert Merk was born in Queens and moved to Hicksville where he graduated from Hicksville High School in 1972. He was born August 24, 1954, and is the son of Albert and Evelyn Merk. He married Andrea Mauriello in May of 1998. Albert was employed as a firefighter by the New York City Fire Department, assigned to Engine Co. 308, in Ozone Park, Queens. He has since retired, and he and Andrea live on Cliff Drive in Hicksville.
Albert Merk joined Chemical Co. 3 on February 18, 1975, known today as Citizen Engine Co. #3. He was given badge 854. He served as 2nd Lieutenant in 1981 and 1982, 1st Lieutenant in 1984 and 1985 before subsequently being elected to serve as Captain of Company 3 in 1986 and 1987.
Albert was elected as 3rd Assistant Chief in 1988 and 1989, 2nd Assistant Chief in 1990 and 1991 and 1st Assistant Chief in 1992 and 1993. He was elected as the 58th Chief of the Hicksville Fire Department in 1994 and again in 1995. His Assistant Chiefs were Karl Schweitzer, 1st Assistant, Philip LaNasa, 2nd Assistant and Spike Thunell, 3rd Assistant.
On November 28, 1988, at 0918 hours, the department responded to a report of a woman down at 25 Glenbrook Rd. First members at the scene report the patient was in full cardiac arrest. Chief Al Merk and Lieutenant William McKee entered the home and went to work on the victim. Vitals were checked and C.P.R. was started by Lieutenant McKee while Chief Merk administered oxygen to the victim’s stoma (the patient had a history involving open heart surgery and tracheotomy operation). These two members sustained the victim until the arrival of the department ambulance and additional specialized equipment. Standard lifesaving operations were started, and the victim was transported to the hospital. Following the incident the patient was back at home resting. In the finest tradition of the Fire Service, the quick actions of Chief Merk and Lieutenant McKee sustained the life of the elderly resident.
In October of 1995, the Hicksville Fire Department was deeply saddened by the Line of Duty Death of Ex-Captain Steve ''The Baker'' Sulzinski of Hook and Ladder Company Six. Ex-Captain Sulzinski died at the age of 66 during his attendance at the New York State Firematic Legislature Conference in Albany of a massive heart attack.
Chief Merk set in motion an initiative to recruit new members by re-inventing the Junior Firefighting group, Explorer Post 930. The post was reactivated, and seven charter members were sworn into the group. This organization, until its hiatus, goes back to the 1970's and lasted until 1988 and produced two members that later in their volunteer career became Chiefs of the Hicksville Department (Tony Wigdzinski 1990-1991 and Pat Scanlon 1992-1993).
Chief Merk was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) from 1976 to 1988 and a member of the Rescue Squad. Albert is a charter member of the Fire Police Squad. He participated on the Hicksville "Hicks" Motorized Drill Team from 1975 through 1983. He went on to participate on the “Hazzbeens” Old Fashioned Drill Team from 1986 through 1990, where he served as a Co-Captain. Albert was a member of the Departments Hazardous Materials Team and Chairman of the new recruits Physical Agility Committee.
Chief Merk was Chairman of the 9th Battalion Chiefs Council from 2003 through 2005 and a member of the 9th Battalion Delegates from 2004 and 2005. He went on to serve as a President of the Exempts Benevolent Association 2015-2017.
In 2019, Al was elected to serve as Fire Commissioner of the Hicksville Fire District for a 5-Year term, serving as its Chair in 2022.
