NLFD Elects New Fire Chiefs

Following this year's elections for the North Lindenhurst Fire District this past Sunday, the department received one new deputy chief. And two more deputy chiefs moved up, with one taking over as chief of the department.

Brian Gassen, who was the first assistant fire chief for the , is now the chief of the department. His term will run for two years.

Gassen takes over as Tom Moran becomes the ex-chief. Moran served as the chief for the last two years.

Andrew Baranowski, who was the second assistant chief, is now the first assistant chief. And Michael Newman was elected to take over the second assistant position from Baranowski.

Both will also serve for the next two years.

"We have three chiefs because we are a smaller department," Baranowski noted.

There are three companies at the - Engine and Heavy Rescue Two, Engine Two, and Hook and Ladder Three - as well as Fire Police and Rescue Company.

According to Baranowski, each firefighter who was elected in this year's elections has gone through the ranks, working toward a path to reach the chief's position.

"After becoming a member for a certain amount of years and going through classes and eventually becoming a captain after being second then first lieutenant of one of the companies, you're eligible to run for chief - first assistant, second and then chief," he said.

The number of years and how long it takes to rise through the ranks is different for each member, said Baranowski, who's been with the department 12 years.

Moran has been with the department since 1999. Gassen has 15 years at the . And Newman's been with the NLFD since 1988.

In addition, each position within the department Baranowski mentioned has a two-year term.

This year, he said, no one from the NLFD executive board was up for election. Current board members include President Kevin Connel, First Vice President John Mays and Second Vice President Glenn Schafer.