Visiting chiefs get bunkered-up surprise at Irvington FD's 125th Inspection Review

IRVINGTON, NY - The Irvington Fire Department concluded a year-long birthday celebration by staging its 125th Annual Inspection over the October 1 weekend. Chiefs from a number of Westchester County departments were invited, as were a number of local and regional guests.

The annual reviews are staged in the middle of Main Street, which is closed for an inspection of the department's fire and rescue service's four engines, ladder and rescue truck.
The 60 members of the department are in formation in front of the engines. The visiting chiefs are invited to join the Irvington chiefs and township officials in inspecting the firefighters and equipment.

Chief James Ruffler was just concluding his remarks after the inspection when the town fire horn signaled a fire alarm. The visiting chiefs quickly regrouped to watch as the first responders scrambled to grab their bunkers and climb into the cabins of their units and immediately the units, with flashing lights and blasting sirens, followed the first assistant chief's car to the location of the fire call.

The visiting chiefs commented at the annual dinner later that the real review was when "the fire horn sounded and "everybody passed muster."

The Rev. Raymond Byrnem pastor of the Irvington Immaculate Conception church, who describes himself as the official chaplain of the department, gave the invocation. Earlier, he told one group of visitors that he "knows" that he will "hear sirens within two or three minutes when the horn sounds."

Mayor Dennis Flood of Irvington congratulated the fire department on behalf of the township "in special tribute for outstanding service to the people of the township for the 'firefighters' culture' you worked for and accomplished."

Chief Ruffler, 1st Assistant Chief J. P. Natkin and 2nd Assistant Chief Ken Mastropietro, known as "the three chiefs," alternated in introducing the 19 ex-chiefs of the department who were present.

Firefighters Don Costello and Frank Gilligan were introduced and were awarded 40-year membership pins.

Lieutenant Anthony Tarricone, the former chief who was succeeded by Chief Ruffler and who has continued active service, was awarded the Chief's award.