Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department

10/22/2026

Throwback Thursday 🚒

Gerritsen Beach, circa 1925.

“Gerritsen Beach Secures New Chemical Fire Engine”

The engine cost $4,150. According to the article, $1,000 had already been paid, with the balance to be raised through subscriptions and entertainment.

Alexander Mackie, the department’s president at the time, is pictured in the inset.

Have any old GBFD photos or family stories? Share them in the comments.

10/20/2026

Our association is saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of former NYC Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Johnny Jay Medina. At different points, Johnny was a member of 🚨Richmond Engine, S.I.N.Y.🔥 , Gerrittsen Beach Fire Dept and West Hamilton Beach Fire Department as he moved across the city throughout his young life before finally becoming a paid EMT. He also served in the US Air Force Reserves. Arrangements will be posted as soon as they are made available. RIP young Brother. We have it from here.

A Go Fund Me has been started by his family to off set funeral costs.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-janice-honor-her-brother?attribution_id=sl:1a190f5b-eeca-4298-841e-2d92b190f1a7&lang=en_US&ts=1792684322&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp30-treatment-3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=IwVERDUAVHF_5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUQwEqrgtSwCy7bGbmkJFCitH4jQ_bXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4x9VZxk2u4_FWI7-CFZhzR41Su5LJ6dUUMoQ7648hoHDMlgUubWWvCsxBwzQ_aem_7BI072L9TqJ7rHfek3EJLw

10/19/2026

Gerritsen Beach,

There has been a lot of discussion about natural gas detectors and NYC Local Law 102. Here’s who needs to install a natural gas detector under NYC’s current requirement.

YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED IF:

You own a one or two-family house, and the entire house is occupied only by you and your family, with no tenants.

YOU ARE REQUIRED IF:

Your house has natural gas piping, and you rent it to tenants.

Your two-family house has natural gas piping, and you rent out one apartment, even if you live in the other. The rented apartment needs a detector.

COMMERCIAL STORES AND BUSINESSES:

A store or business with no apartments: This residential gas-detector requirement does not apply to the commercial space.

A store with rental apartments above it: The apartments still have to meet the residential requirements. A rented apartment directly above gas piping or a gas appliance needs a detector, even if that apartment has an electric stove.

https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/property-owner-bulletins/october-2026.page

https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/property-or-business-owner/natural-gas-detector-faqs.page
The installation deadline for homes and apartments covered by this requirement is January 1, 2027.

10/17/2026

We had a great night at the Cort Club for our 104th Annual Installation Dinner and Dance. Thank you to our families, friends and neighbors for coming out to support the department and celebrate with us.

Thank you to Assemblymember Jaime Williams, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse and FDNY Assistant Chief Joe Duggan, Brooklyn Borough Commander, for joining us, along with our guests from neighboring departments and community organizations.

Congratulations to Alex Gomez, our Top Responder and Member of the Year! His mom, Marisa, accepted the awards for him.

Dan Ene marked 20 years with the department and became a Life Member. We also recognized Shawn Byrne for 15 years and Andrew Leiper for 5 years. Our attendance awards went to Patrick Quinn for Firefighter, Andrew McKenna for EMT and Anthony Baisden for Dispatcher.

It was especially nice to have Buddy Quinn swear in his son Patrick as both Fire Lieutenant and Sergeant at Arms. A good night for the Quinn family.

This year also marks 10 years as Chief of Department for Daniel Cavanagh.

Congratulations to our officers for the coming year:

Chief of Department — Daniel Cavanagh
Fire Captain — Justin Donovan
Fire Lieutenant — Patrick Quinn
Ambulance Captain — Andrew McKenna
Ambulance Lieutenant — Vitaliy Yablonskyy

President — Shawn Byrne
Vice President — Anthony Baisden
Treasurer — Dan Ene
Sergeant at Arms — Patrick Quinn

Fire Council — Anthony Baisden, Dan Ene and Shawn Byrne
Ex-Officio Fire Council — David Ostrowski and Denise Williams

Thank you to Donielle, our Auxiliary, the Cort Club and everyone who helped put the dinner together. There’s a lot of work that goes into a night like this, and we appreciate it.

To our members and their families, thank you for another year of answering calls, changing plans and making it all work. And to our community, thank you for continuing to support your volunteer fire department.

On to our 105th year serving Gerrittsen Beach!

10/16/2026

🗳️ A heads-up for everyone receiving their voting location reminders in the mail!

If you usually vote at Vollies Memorial Hall, we have a small change this year. Due to construction, the Hall cannot host voting for the November election. This is only a temporary move!

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, please go ALL THE WAY across the street to the firehouse! 🚒

📍 Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department
52 Seba Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11229

Please check your assigned Election Day or early voting location using the NYC Board of Elections lookup:
findmypollsite.vote.nyc

Please share and help spread the word to your neighbors!

10/06/2026

It is with sadness that the Gerrittsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department announces the passing of Mary “Yiayia” Elefterakis, a longtime supporter of our department and mother of the late Dr. John Elefterakis, our former Medical Director.

We are grateful for Mary’s many many years of support and remember the special connection the Elefterakis family has and continues to have with our department and the Gerritsen Beach community.

On behalf of the officers and members of GBFD, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Elefterakis family and all who knew and loved her. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

09/14/2026

Who's ready? ...
Radio Bingo is back!
Reserve your seats today!

09/12/2026

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of September 11. Today is worth remembering too.

Twenty-five years ago today, our members went to FDNY’s 10/10 House to help with search, rescue, and recovery at Ground Zero. They stayed until Friday morning. Our department continued sending ambulance crews to help with the recovery operation in the months that followed.

The day before, Chief Artie DeMello called our department into action. Chief DeMello, Captain Joe Benecke, and our Engine 1 crew covered FDNY Engine 321’s quarters, while other members kept an additional ambulance ready here for the neighborhood. Assistant Chief John Czap and Captain Doreen Garson responded to Battery Park to help with triage.

From the members heading into Manhattan to those staffing our apparatus and answering the phones, everyone had a job to do. Our city needed help, and our Vollies stepped up alongside so many others.

We remember everyone we lost, their families, and those still living with the effects of that day. We also owe a thank you to the people who answered the call then and those who continue to answer it today.

Well done to the Matthews Council of the Knights of Columbus for keeping this remembrance going year after year. Thank you for making sure our neighborhood continues to come together and remember.

Never Forget. On September 11, September 12, and every day after.

09/08/2026

🎒 GETTING READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AT PS 277 🎒

With the first day of school coming up this Thursday, the Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department wishes all PS 277 students, families, teachers, and staff a safe and successful start!

Gerritsen Avenue will be busy Thursday morning, so please slow down, stay alert, and give yourself extra time.

🛑 SCHOOL BUSES
Never pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing and its stop sign is extended. It is dangerous and illegal.

🚸 CROSSWALKS
Drivers must STOP for pedestrians in marked crosswalks—even where there is no traffic signal. Please use extra caution at the enhanced crossings at Devon, Everett, Gotham, Bartlett, Cyrus, and Lois. Pedestrians should look both ways, make eye contact when possible, and cross only after vehicles have stopped. Failure to stop can result in a summons, points on your license, and significant fines.

🚫 IN FRONT OF PS 277
The area is a NO STANDING ZONE from 7 AM to 4 PM on school days. Keep it clear so children, buses, and school traffic can move safely.

🌞 If you can, enjoy the good weather by walking to school, or park a short distance away and walk the rest. This helps reduce congestion around the school.

⚽ With more children and families heading to the fields, please stay alert and avoid double parking—it creates dangerous blind spots for drivers and pedestrians.

Let’s work together to make Thursday’s first day—and the entire school year—safe and successful for everyone. Welcome back, PS 277! Have a wonderful school year!

Photo: “P.S. 277 Sign” by SliceofNYC, via Flickr, licensed CC BY 2.0:
20158323@N04/1971185148/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/20158323@N04/1971185148/

07/10/2026

NEIGHBORS WANTED

More than 2,000 hours a year can be spent behind a screen.

At the same time, fewer people are volunteering, joining civic organizations, and becoming involved in their communities.

What could even a small portion of those 2,000 hours do for your neighborhood?

Join the Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department.

Learn practical, hands-on skills. Receive training in firefighting, emergency medical services, communications, and emergency response. Build confidence, serve your neighbors, and become more involved in the community you call home.

No experience is necessary. We provide the training. You provide the willingness to learn, participate, and show up.

Eligible members may also qualify for New York State training stipends and the volunteer firefighter tax credit.

We have always been here for Gerritsen Beach. Now, be here with us.

Get out from behind the screen.
Learn a skill. Serve your community. Do better.

Visit www.gbfd.net to learn more.

Welcome to the Gerrittsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department. Founded in 1922, we're the only volunteer fire department in Brooklyn, New York. Join our dedicated volunteers! Please support the safety and well-being of our community through your donations. Serving Gerrittsen Beach for over 100 years.