Carle Place Fire Department -Willie Geddish on "The Firehouse" - WRHU 88.7 FM S3 EP5

09/19/24 • 39 min

"The Firehouse"- WRHU 88.7 FM hosted by Chris Moses

Sitting with me in the firehouse is Willie Geddish. From chasing fire trucks on his bike as a child to becoming a respected partner at a national law firm, Willie has always had a deep connection to the fire service. Growing up across the street from the fire department, he would spend his youth hanging out with the firefighters and attending drills. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion, leading him to join the department at just 18 years old.

Over the next 12 years, he climbed the ranks from lieutenant to assistant chief, bringing his unique legal expertise to the department. As the head of the investigation committee, he oversees the recruitment and retention of new members, ensuring the continued strength of the team, leads fire prevention efforts and serves as a key liaison between the department and the community.

While his day job may be in the corporate world, his true calling is on the fireground. He thrives on the camaraderie and immediacy of the fire service. With a deep appreciation for the honest, team-oriented culture, Willie finds the work a refreshing contrast to the desk-bound life of a lawyer.

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Broad Channel Fire Department -Edwin Wilmarth, III on "The Firehouse" - WRHU 88.7 FM S3 EP4

Sitting with me in the firehouse is Edwin Wilmarth, III. Edwin Wilmarth, III joined the Broad Channel Fire Department as a Junior August 11th, 1993 and was voted in to the main department April 9th, 1998. FF Engines 201 and 203 1998-2001. Lieutenant Engine 203 2002-2006. Captain Engine 203 2007-2011. Assistant Chief 2012 & 2013. Chief of Dept. 2014. He has also held Corporation Officer positions over the years, Sgt. at Arms and Vice President.

He is currently an appointed Deputy Chief assigned to Fire Operations just to help guide the current chiefs, review and revise SOPs and help train the current FFs and Bosses. Most of the time he is in the Chauffeurs seat of the engine but will also act as IC in the absence of the other Chiefs, ride the front seat in the absence of a boss or ride the back step as one of the boys. He is always willing to fill whatever empty seat as needed.

Edwin was awarded the Firefighter of the Year award 2x. Throughout his career he was also fortunate enough to be on some great crews on some bad calls that resulted in being awarded 6 unit citations over the years as well as an honorable life save and a medal for bravery.

From 9/11 to the Crash of United Airlines Flight 587 to Hurricane Sandy, he has been lucky enough (depending on how you look at it) to be on the front lines with others at many of the departments “Big Ones” over the years.

He’s done a few sit down interviews over the years with various outlets like CBS as well as the Gettin Salty podcast. Edwin also runs his own FB group dedicated to the history of all the current and former NYC Volunteer Fire and EMS Companies; Facebook.com: A Pictorial History of Volunteer Fire & EMS Companies in New York City.

Additionally, he is his departments historian as well the historian for the Volunteer Firemen’s Association of the City of New York which represents the 9 current NYC Vollie Fire companies and an admin for their FB page and website. www.vfanyc.org

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East Meadow Fire Department -Chris Stafford on "The Firehouse" - WRHU 88.7 FM S3 EP6

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Chris Stafford. Inspired by his firefighter father, Chris Stafford has dedicated over 15 years to serving his community as a volunteer firefighter. As a former Captain of the Truck Company at the East Meadow Fire Department, Chris responded to countless emergency calls, including a memorable mutual aid fire where his expertise proved invaluable. Now a Fire Prevention Officer and Safety Officer for the Uniondale Fire Department, Chris is passionate about educating the public about the true nature of firefighting. With a focus on innovative equipment and strong team camaraderie, Chris’s wealth of hands-on experience makes him a trusted leader in the field.