Mineola Volunteer Fire Department ex-Chief Joseph Pratt awarded in Hempstead

Jed Hendrixson
From left: Hempstead Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana, Joseph Pratt and Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen. (Photo courtesy of Mineola Volunteer Fire Department)

Joseph Pratt, former chief of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department, was named as the department’s 2018 recipient of the Town of Hempstead’s firefighting service award.

“I’m extremely honored and grateful to the department,” Pratt said. “I’ve put people up for the same award and to be recognized is amazing.”

Pratt was awarded by Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen at the town’s 2018 firefighter service awards.

“We honor those who have taken the history of our town, the history of its volunteerism, to their communities and taken it to the next level,” Gillen said. The town honored 27 volunteer members from departments throughout Nassau County.

“Those before us have demonstrated professionalism under the most trying of circumstances; they’ve charged into danger when others would have walked away,” Gillen said.

Pratt served as chief of the department for two years starting in 2011.

As chief, Pratt faced several natural disasters. In 2011, Pratt coordinated multiple response calls for the damage done by Hurricane Irene to the village. A trifecta came in the form of a hail storm, nor’easter and earthquake in 2012, further refining Pratt’s ability to use the department’s resources in times of crisis.

Pratt also coordinated the department’s response to Superstorm Sandy in late 2012. Pratt insured not only that the department was prepared but that residents were kept up to date on the status of the storm and shelter was provided for those in need.

Following the storm, Pratt organized standby crews to relieve volunteers working on the devastated South Shore of Long Island.

Pratt has been a member of the department for 38 years, not including his three years as a junior firefighter at the beginning of his career. As an active member of Engine Company One since 1980, Pratt served as company president from 1991 to 1993. He then served as a lieutenant before becoming a captain for four years. As an assistant chief in 2007, Pratt became more familiar and involved with the administrative duties of the department.

Professionally, Pratt has worked in towing, administrative services at Winthrop Hospital, as a dispatcher in the Floral Park Police Department and ultimately as a Nassau County deputy sheriff.

Looking ahead, he will continue to do everything he can to help the department, the village and those in need, Pratt said. Some of the current duties he has at the department include helping organize medical examinations, social media information and events.

 

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