Fire Chief Honored for Education Efforts

South Farmingdale Chief Richard Tarello will receive the Fire Safety Educator of the Year Award tonight.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) will name South Farmingdale Fire Chief Richard Tarello as their Fire Safety Educator of the Year tonight.

The honor is a state-wide award given to one firefighter who has a commitment to fire safety education in the community. The ceremony will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the fire house located on 819 Main St.

Chief Tarello has been involved in fire safety education for 28 years, teaching all age groups from preschoolers to senior citizens, as well as other local associations. He told FASNY his main goal is to keep the audience involved and engaged through active participation.

The chief entered the South Farmingdale volunteer fire service in 1973. He left the department four years later to become a career firefighter in Maryland, but returned to South Farmingdale in 1982, rejoined the department and became a member of the New York City Fire Department.

Currently, Chief Tarello is a Battalion Chief with FDNY and a Deputy Chief Instructor for the Nassau County Fire Service Academy. He also continues to be an active firefighter with South Farmingdale and leads their fire safety education program.

Known as “Firefighter Rick,” fire safety education is a year round passion for him. Although his activities take place in many classes during the National Fire Prevention Week time frame, his program continues throughout the year and even extends into the summer for local youth programs.

His demonstrations are on proper techniques of “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” introduce basic fundamentals in fire prevention and are supplemented by videos and hands-on materials. One of his hands-on lessons uses a mock-up bedroom, complete with a bed and windowsill. Another part of his program involves gearing up for the children so they can see and become more comfortable with what a firefighter looks like and giving them a tour of the truck.

He has educated thousands of youngsters in the Farmingdale area and has been responsible for coordinating dozens of fire prevention and fire safety programs serving the four elementary schools every fall.