09/04/2023
Last night at approximately 1040 hrs, Bay Shore FD received a direct call for a boat collision in the Great South Bay approx. 1 mile off the Bay Shore Marina. Upon activation all BSFD Chiefs lead by Chief of Department Roy Ekelund, Jr., responded and the water rescue mutual aid pre-plan was put into effect. While BSFD members responded, our neighbors from , , & also started out. Within 5 minutes of the first phone call, Bay Shore, Islip, & East Islip all had vessels underway. Chief Ekelund established a command post at the Bay Shore Marina and began coordinating rescue efforts with Ocean Bay Park Fire Department on Fire Island who also was alerted for the alarm. Once on scene, Bay Shore FD 2nd Asst. Chief Danza who was aboard Bay Shore FD Marine 26 confirmed there was a boat collision and one vessel had capsized and at least 1 soul was reported missing. Chief Danza was assigned Operations by command and alongside Islip FD Marine 3-4-26 FD, Divers began search & rescue effects. While Bay Shore and Islip started operations East Islip FD Marine 35 began a surface search if the area. West Islip FD Marine Unit B1 responded to the Bay Shore Marina and picked up a Bay Shore FD Diver and deployed to the scene to assist. Additional dive teams from and were requested for additional manpower. Shortly after dive operations began a victim was found and removed by members of Islip Marine Division and a secondary was conducted by Bay Shore Dive Squad which was a negative result. After a few rounds of searches Suffolk County PD took over the scene and all fire department assets returned to Bay Shore Marina. In all fire department operations involved 6 fire-rescue vessels, 14 rescue divers, and numerous rescue swimmers and FD EMT & Paramedics. EMS Units from BSBRA, Exchange Ambulance, and North Babylon Rescue were on scene. All units were up in just over 3 hours. All units where under Bay Shore FD Command/ Chief of Department Roy Ekelund, Jr. and cause of incident remains under investigation.
