At the Town of Islip Board Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 9, Islip Town supervisor Angie Carpenter and the Islip Town Board honored five local firefighters from three different departments for their heroic actions in the line of duty. 

Firefighters Matthew Arthurs and Danny Blasucci, of the Islip Terrace Fire Department; Michael Hand, of the East Islip Fire Department; and first assistant chiefs Jared Gunst and Alden Schroeder, of the Islip Fire Department, were recognized for saving a young woman and her three dogs from a house fire earlier this summer. 

Firefighters quickly responded to the home after receiving a 9-11 call from a woman stuck in the basement of a house. Islip Terrace firefighters Matthew Arthurs and Danny Blasucci were able to break a basement window and pull the woman to safety. While doing so, Islip Fire chief and Suffolk County police officer Jared Gunst, Islip fire chief Alden Schroeder, and East Islip firefighter and Town of Islip employee Michael Hand searched and rescued three canines. 

Gunst, who serves as a member of the SCPD’s Medical Crisis Action Team, had recently undergone tactical medical training to assist medical emergencies involving police canines. Through this lifesaving training, he was able to deliver advanced medical support to the dogs before they were transported to the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island in West Islip. 

“On behalf of myself and the town board, a sincere thank you from all of us for your exemplary deeds, and for your continued bravery and dedication to safeguard the well-being of all in our community, including our beloved four-legged friends. You are truly heroes,” said Carpenter.

The woman and her three dogs have made a full recovery.