Editing Bayport, New York (section)

===Fire safety===
Fire protection in Bayport is provided by the Bayport Fire Department, a volunteer department located at 251 Snedecor Avenue on the corner of Railroad Street, which is part of the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services system with call numbers 3-14-0. Besides fire protection, the Bayport Fire Department also responds to auto accidents, rescue calls, water-related emergencies, hazardous materials incidents and a first response for high priority EMS calls such as cardiac arrests, choking, etc.

The Bayport Fire Department was organized on August 15, 1891, with 18 members under the name Bayport Hose Company. Charles R. Post was made Chief.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bayport Heritage|author=Bayport Heritage Association|year=1997|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=0-7524-0810-0|page=120}}</ref> A plot of land on the north side of Middle Road, next to Shands (Little Albert's) was purchased from I. S. Snedecor for $500 and a Fire House built for $3000. There was a belfry but this was removed in 1941. This building was sold to Arthur Shand, and a new firehouse was built on Snedecor Avenue and Railroad Street in 1956 where it stands today. In 1896 they bought a hook and ladder truck so heavy that there were not enough members to pull it to the fire. This also created the Hook and Ladder Company thus changing the name to the Bayport Fire Department.

Prior to [[World War II]], a third company was created, Engine Company No.1; however, during WWII, the interdepartmental companies temporarily disbanded and were reestablished at the close of the war. In 1955 the Bayport Fire District purchased its first new fire truck, a 1955 Mack 750 GPM. In 1991 this vehicle was retired from active service and sold to the Bayport Fire Department for one dollar (US).  In 2006, the truck in its original condition went through a minor overhaul having its gold leaf replaced and intense cleaning. Today, the BFD has roughly 120 members, 70-85 active and has an average response time of four minutes.  Currently, there are four companies (Hose Company, Hook and Ladder Company, Engine Company and Fire Police Company) with two Squads (Rescue and Water Rescue).<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Bayport Fire Department|url=http://www.bayportfd.org/|publisher=The Bayport Fire Department}}</ref>

In the 1800s fire departments typically had similar uniforms.  Black or navy blue pants, red wool shirt with black breast and white insignia and [[patent leather]] belts. Today, the Bayport Fire Department members continue to wear the original uniform and as far as they know are the only fire department in New York state that continues to do so (with the exception of the [[Brentwood Fire Department]] band).

====Water Rescue Squad====
[[File:Bayport (New York) Fire Department Water Rescue Truck.jpg|thumb|200px|left|2006 water rescue truck]]
[[File:Bayport's New Fire Boat.jpg|thumb|200px|left|2021 Silvership Endeavor series Fire Rescue Boat]]
Formed in 1991 by members of the department and companies, was created as the BFD Dive or SCUBA team specializing in mostly subsurface rescues and based on recreation diving adapted to rescues.  Early on, the team was one of the largest in Suffolk County based on certified divers. In 2000, the fire district purchased a 19' zodiac hurricane 580 rescue boat.  This was to be used in conjunction with the smaller 10' avon rescue boat which was not sufficient for offshore rescues in the Great South Bay.  Soon the department found their water rescue alarms went from about 1 or 2 per year to between 30 and 40.  Quickly the squad reorganized itself and started advanced training in Public Safety Diving, Surface Rescues and Ice Rescues with nationally recognized certifications.  In 2005 two major steps were taken with the squad: first, a new truck committee was established and a bid contract was awarded to Marion Body works of Wisconsin to build a specialized custom water rescue truck (which was delivered in May 2006), and second, the Zodiac was outfitted with a custom top, larger windshield, custom grab rails, radar, new GPS, new fire radios and new lighting.  With mutual aid plans, the response area of the water rescue team has grown to Patchogue Bay to the east to Heckscher State Park to the west and south to Fire Island.  In 2021 the Department placed a new Fire-Rescue boat in service.  A 30&nbsp;ft Endeavor custom built by Silver Ships in Alabama.  Powered by twin 350&nbsp;hp Mercury Verado outboards the vessel is equipped with A/C & heat, a fire pump with bow monitor, Raymarine radar/chart/sonar system & FLIR system.