EAST ROCKAWAY, NY — April 9th — The current fire season came to an end on Thursday night with the East Rockaway Fire Department's annual meeting and department elections. Annual reports were provided during Chief Craig Gelb's last meeting as Chief of Department. Four employees were also honored by the department for completing 50 years of service: Phillip Smith, Edward Goldstein, Douglas Dake, and Francis Cerasoli, former chief and honorary commissioner, are honorary chiefs.

The 2026–2027 Chief's Office was chosen by the members, with Matthew Pignataro serving as the department head, Robert Bristol as the first assistant chief, Andrew Pignataro as the second assistant chief, and Vanessa Torborg as the third assistant chief. Pignataro becomes the third brother in his family to hold the position of Chief, while Torborg becomes the first female Assistant Chief in the department.