New Hyde Park’s Joseph Barbagallo said becoming chief of the village’s volunteer fire department was another way to serve the community where he was born and grew up.

Barbagallo moved up from first deputy chief to chief of the department last month after being elected to the post in December, replacing former Chief Digin Patel. He was installed on Jan. 2 at the fire department’s headquarters on Jericho Turnpike alongside First Deputy Chief Thomas Farina, Second Deputy Chief John Waldron and Third Deputy Chief Joseph Kotarski.

“It was really a way to continue moving up in leadership positions and help lead the department for the future,” Barbagallo said in an earlier interview with Blank Slate Media. “I was born here in 1993 and this is the place where I grew up. I’ve always enjoyed giving back to the community and it’s a great way to continue helping as much as I could.”

Barbagallo first joined the department in 2010 as a member of Enterprise Engine Company No. 171 in 2010 and climbed the ranks throughout his time. From 2015 to 2018, Barbagallo became the chief driver of the company and was elected lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain.

It wasn’t until 2020 that Barbagallo became the fourth deputy chief in the department after seeing an opportunity to continue his leadership position.

Barbagallo said while deputy chief the department created the junior fire department in 2022, which he called a very big success. The junior fire department has grown from 20 to 75 members ages 13 to 16 and is a great way to get teenagers interested in the fire service and acquainted before potentially becoming full-time members, he said.

The junior program helps give people more exposure to the department, which Barbgallao said consists of between 150 to 200 members and responded to 1,100 calls last year between fire and EMS.

“It’s a huge benefit because it opens that specific person to how we help the community and how beneficial it is to become a member,” Barbagallo said. “It gives them that opportunity to help make that decision.”

Barbagallo said people interested in joining the department, which includes three engine companies, a ladder and a rescue, can go to www.nhpfd.com and fill out the application and someone will reach out to them.