Airport Disaster Scenario: West Sayville Engine and Rescue Crews Test Readiness at MacArthur

West Sayville, NY - Firefighters and emergency apparatus from the West Sayville Fire Department deployed to Long Island MacArthur Airport on Sunday to participate in a large-scale, multi-agency disaster drill simulating a major commercial passenger aircraft emergency.

On September 20, emergency response agencies converged on the airfield to execute coordinated disaster procedures during the triennial full-scale simulation, designed to validate operational readiness, air-ground command synchronization, and tactical victim extrication protocols.

West Sayville units took on frontline operational responsibilities across multiple fireground sectors during the simulated crash. Engine 2, operating under the command of Captain Brian Doucet, was tasked with active suppression operations, knocking down fire evolutions around the fuselage area. Simultaneously, Rescue 3, led by Firefighter Reilly Diwby, deployed hydraulic Hurst cutters and spreaders to perform complex, heavy extrications and free simulated passengers trapped within the compromised aircraft structure.

At the command and perimeter level, Chief of Department Patrick D’Onofrio oversaw airfield staging and emergency vehicle access control, coordinating the safe, rapid ingress and perimeter security of incoming mutual aid apparatus and regional emergency vehicles entering secure airport grounds.