Ex-Rescue Captain Robert Smith has served the Sayville community as a volunteer firefighter for 30 out of the 41 years he has called this town his home. He is a second generation firefighter, as his dad was also a volunteer firefighter and Ex-Captain of Hose #1 in the Roosevelt Fire Department for many years.

Smith began his career as a probationary firefighter in 1979 and quickly developed an interest in rescue. He became a Rescue Lieutenant a few years later and moved up the ranks and into the position of Rescue Captain, the position he held for ten years.

During Bob's service to the community, he played an integral role in implementing a scuba team, which was put into action on numerous occasions, including a plane crash into the Great South Bay. He has also helped build equipment used in ice rescue and has earned certification as an Ice Rescue Technician. Smith worked on putting various state-of-the art rescue equipment into service, such as hydraulic tools and air bags, which are key pieces of equipment for rescues involving various types of entrapment. Bob also held EMT certification for six years during his service to the community.

Because of his rescue background and continuing interest in rescue techniques, he is always on hand to share his knowledge and assist with training firefighters in extrication, water and ice rescue techniques. Smith's enthusiasm and knowledge of rescue is responsible for inspiring Sayville's current Rescue Captain, Dan Karl, to become a Rescue Officer.

Second to Bob's passion for Rescue is fire prevention. He has been dedicated to teaching fire prevention to the community for over 25 years. Smith believes that it is important for every department to reach out to the community and get fire safety messages out to residents. He even participated in a fire prevention segment on a local cable channel. Bob helped build Sayville's first fire prevention trailer in 1982. "Fireman Bob" teaches hundreds of children fire safety each year. He not only teaches the children, but he encourages them to teach their family members. It's always nice to see how the kids that come back the following year treat him like a rock star and remember what they learned from him the year before.

Bob still continues to be an active firefighter after giving 30 years of volunteer service to the Sayville community. He is a key member of Sayville's Auto Extrication Team, which is a highly-skilled competition team. Smith also gives more of his time doing field maintenance and repair on the Department's SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), a critical piece of life-saving equipment for which he has received State certification to repair.

Bob Smith is a core member of the Sayville Fire Department and one of Sayville's quiet heroes. His dedication and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty exemplifies the true spirit of volunteerism. For all that Smith does, he asks for no credit or recognition. However, his dedication has not gone without notice. He has received numerous awards, such as a Medal of Valor, Chief's Awards, Fireman of The Year Awards, a Unit Citation and Town of Islip Fireman of The Year.