Center Moriches NY- Fire Departments and their events have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Despite those effects the Center Moriches FD recently was able to modify its annual parade of lights to where it was still safe to hold it by bringing the parade to the people as a convoy around the fire department. On Saturday December 12th the department under the direction of Chief Ian Foley was joined by their neighbors from Easport and Mastic Beach FD’s as well as East Moriches ambulance in escorting santa around the district.

While there were not scores of people lining main street like there normally would be some people did briefly stop their activities weather it be walking their dog, going to grab their take out from a restaurant on Main street so they could see the event. The Majority of the people were able to see the convoy and Santa from the comfort of their own driveway thanks to this new plan that was enacted to deal with the COVID restrictions currently in place in NY. To make the event safe the department did use their fire police as well as neighboring departments including Mastic FD’s fire police units and members to help stop traffic where needed for the convoy to travel safely. The Mastic Fire Department also assisted by answering alarms that came in during the approximately 2.5 hour Convoy through Center Moriches so that their members could focus on their goal of bringing Christmas cheer to the residents.