From left, Margate Fire Chief/Longport Assistant Chief Dan Adams, longtime firefighter William Fiore and Longport Fire Chief Levon Clayton.
LONGPORT – William “Bill” A. Fiore has seen the Longport Volunteer Fire Department come from “shambles” to one of the “finest” volunteer fire companies in the county.
The Longport Board of Commissioners honored Fiore Wednesday, Feb. 19 for his more than 60 years of service as a firefighter in Longport. Fire Chief Levon “Lefty” Clayton presented him with a beautiful crystal vase engraved with his name and years of service, 1960-2020.
The Longport resident has worked tirelessly for the safety of residents after joining the department in 1960. During his 60 years as a firefighter in Longport, Fiore rose to the rank of captain, advocating for equipment and apparatus upgrades along the way, including a Quint and rescue pumper. He currently serves as Atlantic County’s legislative representative to the NJ State Firemen’s Association. He was also elected commissioner in 1980 and served as director of Public Safety.
Margate Fire Chief and Longport volunteer firefighter Assistant Chief Dan Adams said if it weren’t for Fiore, the department would not be where it is today.
“If it wasn’t for Bill Fiore as a commissioner and the equipment that we have today, we would not be where we are today,” said Adams, whose father, former Fire Chief William Adams, volunteered with Fiore for many years.
“We would not be able to provide the services to the residents if it were not for Bill. He has his heart in it for Longport,” Adams said.
“I didn’t do this alone,” an emotional Fiore said.
Also recognized was the department’s current president, Anthony J. Vicchiarelli Jr., who has been a Longport volunteer firefighter for 50 years. He joined the department in 1970 and held every administrative position within the department, rising to the rank of captain.
Longport Firefighter Anthonoy J. Vicchiarelli Jr. is recognized for 50 years of service.
He also was instrumental in upgrading fire equipment and obtained a 25-foot Coast Guard boat for the borough in 2017. The city is currently working to erect a boat lift on the dock at the rear of Borough Hall. During the meeting, the board awarded a $4,400 professional services contract to Arthur W. Ponzio and Associates of Atlantic City to secure a Waterfront Development Permit from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for the boat lift.
Mayor Nicholas Russo said in addition to serving as a firefighter, Vicchiarelli has served in all aspects of public safety, including providing emergency medical services and retiring as an Atlantic City police officer.
“I don’t think anyone besides Anthony has done all three of those particular aspects of public safety,” Russo said.
Clayton, who started his firefighting a year after Vicchiarelli, called him a “wonderful friend.”
Clayton said Vicchiarelli started as a dispatcher after school when he was a senior at Holy Spirit High School.
“He is a real asset to the Borough of Longport as a whole and the Fire Department,” Clayton said.
Although he is retired as a full-time police officer, his full-time job now is as administrator of the department, Adams said.
“There’s not a day goes by that he’s not spending hours in the office upstairs doing something for the Fire Department,” Adams said. “He is here all the time with dedication and support.”
Vicchiarelli, thanking those presents, said it was the leadership of the department that brought him to where he is today.
