The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department made history last Thursday at its firehouse election.
Carly Farrone, a six-year M-LFD firefighter, was elected as 2nd lieutenant of the department’s Company #5, making her the first female in the department’s history to hold a line officer position.
“It’s very gratifying,” Farrone said. “All the hard work that I’ve put into my company and the department has been recognized in such a way that they were willing to nominate me and then elect me as a line officer that’s leading not only my company but could be leading others in the future.”
Farrone, a seventh-grade social studies teacher and Queens resident, said she hopes her election will open the doors for other women to join local fire departments.
“Any female can do this and there are no limitations to what you can do,” she said. “Just because this is a heavily male profession doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to do it.”
Farrone comes from a family with a long history of service to the M-LFD.
Her father, Mike Farrone, is a 30-year veteran of the department, who currently serves as vice president of Company 5 and formerly served as chief of the department.
While he never pushed his daughter to join the fire department, Mike said, his years serving the department may have sparked her interest in joining the fire department.
“She grew up in the fire house since I’ve been there for more than a whole life, but I never forced it on her,” he said. “I never asked her why she wanted to do it but I was very proud that she did.”
Mike added that it was “unbelievable” that she was elected as Company 5’s 2nd Lieutenant by members of the company.
Carly said seeing her father’s dedication to the fire department made her want to serve the community.
“Being able to be with him for five years, I was able to do and learn so much,” she said. “The dedication he has to this organization is definitely a reason why I pursued being a line officer.”
She added that she was like her father’s “right-hand” when they would respond to calls together.
“When we would go on calls, yeah, he had other people, but I was there too,” Carly said.
She said her duties include handling company membership, making sure fire trucks are loaded with the necessary supplies and equipment and making decisions for her company both within the firehouse and on calls.
Mike said he would like to see an increase in female firefighters in the department.
“I hope that she’s a role model for other women because we can use all the volunteers we can get with men or women,” he said. “Hopefully it opens up the doors for other young women.”
“It’s a job that men and women can do,” Mike added. “It’s not just a man’s job anymore.”
Carly said her election as line officer shows the growth of women in Nassau County who are getting involved with local fire departments.
“I see, generally in Nassau County, more females in the fire service and I think it’s great,” she said. “I’m so excited that we can serve our community just as well or better than a man can.”
