Previously we discussed the history of the Brentwood Legion Ambulance. Not that long ago the Ambulance Corps was devastated when a fire destroyed two of it’s ambulances. If it wasn’t for surrounding communities support the service that the Corps provided would have had a devastating effect on the community.

On April 18, 1974 there was a fire which was deliberately set and burned two ambulances of the Brentwood Legion. The fire was set around 12:45 AM and was set-off by two fires one set in the front and the other in the back of the garage located on 2nd Avenue.  Due to the fire the Ambulance Corps was devastate and found it difficult at times to carry out its job. Many of the surrounding volunteer ambulance corps volunteered their services while funds were be located to replace the damaged ambulances at a cost of $100,000. The corps provided emergency service for over 75,000 people who lived in the Brentwood Hamlet which covered approximately 21 square miles.

The Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps loaned one of their ambulances during their time of need. Frank McLaughlin, President of the Brentwood Ambulance called Commack and asked if they would help cover their area and Commack responded by loaning them one of their vehicles.

Grumman Health Systems loaned them an ambulance for awhile while other Corps volunteered their services. East Brentwood Fire Department, Central Islip Community Ambulance, Commack and Bay Shore-Brightwaters Ambulances helped out by volunteering their services. Within a month’s time the Legion was able to purchase two modular ambulances from the insurance money that they had received.

Suffolk County Police continued to investigate the fire to determine who set it and what was their motive.

—M. Koferl, Local History Room Newsletter, November 2010