Eastport Teen Named Junior Firefighter Of The Year

Not many newborns can say they got to respond to a fire immediately after being released from the hospital.

Virginia Massey’s father, Kurt, was chief of the Eastport Fire Department in 1998, the year she was born. When he arrived at Southampton Hospital to pick up his wife, Anita, and Virginia, their second daughter, to take them home, Mr. Massey overheard an alarm over the radio, reporting a house fire.

After learning that his assistance was needed, he did what any responsible chief/father would do: He packed up everyone—including Virginia, who was less than a week old—and drove to the scene.

“I like the thought of helping people,” said Virginia, now 15, during a recent interview after her mother recalled the story about responding to her first alarm. It seemed a fitting topic: In recognition of her effort and dedication, she was recently named the Eastport Fire Department’s Junior Firefighter of the Year.

In spite of that early experience, Virginia said it was her grandfather Chester “Moose” Massey, a 57-year veteran of the Eastport Fire Department, who inspired her to join the volunteer outfit’s Junior Fire Company when she was 12. Mr. Massey, who is now 82 and owns the Chester Massey & Sons Duck Farm in Eastport, still answers the call, according to his granddaughter.

Over the past three years, Virginia has experienced all that the junior department has had to offer, and most recently served as captain of the group that now boasts 13 junior volunteers.

Only those who possess strong leadership skills and are active, positive role models for the younger juniors are considered for the Junior Firefighter of the Year honor, according to fire officials. “She’s been a dedicated junior firefighter to our department, and I think she has a bright future,” Eastport Fire Department Chief Ryan King said.

Virginia comes from a long line of firefighters. In addition to her father and grandfather, Virginia’s uncle Paul Massey and two cousins, William and Ross, also answer the call. Ross, who lives in Virginia, is a paid firefighter.

As for Virginia, she served as the junior squad’s captain before deciding to step down in December in order to give others the chance to gain some leadership experience. She continues to serve as first lieutenant.

And despite its name, there is nothing “small” about the department’s junior firefighter program, according to Paul Massey, one of the commissioners of the Eastport Fire Department. In fact, the department’s 2nd assistant chief, Mark Yakaboski, started out as a junior firefighter.

The program teaches preteens and teenagers the skills needed to combat fires once they turn 18 and can become full-fledged firefighters. Virginia has participated in a variety of drills, ranging from proper hose-handling to practicing how to operate a firefighter’s Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, or SCBA unit. Junior firefighters also learn how to be scuba-divers, a recent addition to the training program, so they can respond to water rescues, such as boat fires.

Virginia has also been active in helping teach elementary school children about fire safety with the help of the department’s “Smoke House,” a portable building that is used for fire escape simulations. She often helps out at the Smoke House, guiding children to the building’s escape window.

She said it is very important for children to know what to do in case of a fire “because you never really know when a fire could happen. It could be in the kitchen, a bedroom, the bathroom ...”

Additionally, Virginia has volunteered at the department’s Sunday morning pancake breakfast fundraisers held at the Union Avenue firehouse and has spent time in the dunk tank during the department’s annual barbecue held each August.

When she turns 18, Virginia will become a “probie,” or a fire department recruit. At that time she will be allowed to attend the fire training academy in Yaphank and, upon completion, be allowed to volunteer with her hometown fire department.

Virginia is considering becoming a professional firefighter like her cousin, though she also has other interests, like cosmetology, according to her older sister, Indiana, 17.

“She’s an effective leader,” said Virginia’s mother, Anita, who is part of the Eastport Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary. “She worked hard for this honor.”

Mr. King presented Virginia with her plaque during a department meeting on March 11, and her name will be added to the wall at the firehouse that recognizes those who won the award before her.

The Eastport Fire Department Junior Fire Company is open to all residents of Eastport, Speonk and Remsenburg between the ages of 12 and 17. Members meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at the Union Avenue firehouse to work on their training exercises. For more information, visit www.eastportfd.org or call 631-325-0464.