nassau county firefighters pipes and drums

Nassau County is located on Long Island, NY and is comprised of nine battalions made up of seventy-two fire departments. All of the departments consist of highly trained volunteers with a few departments having some paid membership.

In July of 1985 members of the Lynbrook, NY Fire Department decided that a county-wide Emerald Society was long overdue. They held a membership drive at the Nassau County Parade and Drill, held in Levittown, NY and the society was established.

Firefighter Paul Newman of the Levittown Fire Department, also a piper with the world renowned New York City Police Department Pipes and Drums, was charged with forming a pipe band. He would become the bands first Pipe Major. In October of 1985 the first meeting was held at Levittown Fire Department headquarters.

The band was originally known as Fir Na Tine which means men of fire in Gaelic. Fir Na Tine made it’s official debut in 1989 at the dedication of the Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY.