Firefighters Make 5-Story Climb

Firefighters climbed to the rooftop of the five-story Inn at Great Neck Wednesday night, putting on a traffic-stopping display. But there was no emergency.  

It was just a drill.  

The Vigilant Fire Co.’s ladder truck set up on the east side of Cutter Mill Road at approximately 7:30 p.m. and extended its aerial ladder – which has a maximum reach of 110 feet – to the hotel’s rooftop.  

Several firefighters were seen making the climb up to the roof.  

Vigilant Fire Co. Second Assistant Chief Joshua Charry said the training was invaluable. He pointed to a recent blaze nearby as a prime reason to stay, um, vigilant.  

The Great Neck fire company put its tower ladder to use when a violent fire erupted in the heart of Port Washington in March.  

“We have a rotating drill schedule for the year,” said Charry, who stressed that various disciplines are covered 2-3 times per year. “But that was one of those spur-of-the-moment things.”  

Vigilant crews fought the Port Washington fire with its tower ladder for about eight hours.  

But there were no fires to extinguish Wednesday. It was a study in readiness.