Funeral Held For Bethpage Fire Department Honorary Chief

BETHPAGE, NY — The Bethpage Fire Department has given its final goodbyes to honorary chief Vincent Ciccolella Sr. at his funeral Saturday. Ciccolella joined the Bethpage Fire Department in May 1992 and was assigned to Engine Company 4, former Capt. Ernie Fikar said.

"Vinny or 'Chick,' as he was known around the firehouse, was a very active member," Fikar said in a news release.

Ciccolella left probation a year after joining. He attended many training courses in-house, at the Nassau County Fire Academy and went to training seminars. He quickly took the Department MPO course and became an engine chauffeur. His job of driving a sanitation truck made him comfortable behind the wheel, and Ciccolella was elected to the position of second lieutenant in Company 4.

In June 2000, Vinny was transferred to Engine Company 7 where he quickly became comfortable.

"He was always one of the top responders and still continued taking many training courses," Fikar said.

Ciccolella was elected lieutenant in 2004 and captain of Engine 7 in 2005. He also served as captain from 2006 to 2012. He assumed the role of captain again in 2015 after taking a couple years to rest from the position. He again served as lieutenant in 2018 and 2019. He also served as Department Trustee in 2017 and 2018 and once again in 2020.

At the department's March 2 meeting, Chief Kevin Isernia and the chief's office posthumously promoted Ciccolella to honorary deputy chief with the unanimous approval of his peers.

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