Sitting with me in the FireHouse is Phil Falco. Phil is a 34-year volunteer firefighter with the Central Islip Fire Department, and a 20-year career Firefighter/EMT with Long Island MacArthur Airport Crash Fire Rescue. He also serves as the Central Islip Fire Districts Safety Officer and is a member of the Islip Town Haz Mat team. The fire service isn’t just what he does—it’s who he is. Over the years, he's been tested in ways that leave a lasting mark. He's faced tragedy, made tough calls, and grown through every high and low that comes with this job. These events have definitely shaped Phil and has helped him to deal with life’s endeavors.

When his son became a cancer survivor, it shifted something in him. That experience fueled his mission to protect not just lives on the fire-ground, but the long-term health of every firefighter he serves alongside. That’s what led him to launch Makin The Push—an Instagram platform dedicated to firefighter safety, wellness, and cancer prevention.

One of his greatest honors has been watching his sons follow in his footsteps—both joining the Central Islip Fire Department, with one continuing on to serve with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department.

Outside the firehouse, his hobby is BBQ and smoked foods. He has even created his own bourbon BBQ sauce. He is also a lifelong fan of drill team racing—one of the fire service’s best traditions. Phil believes in doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching. That mindset has carried him through every shift, every challenge, and every chapter of this journey.

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Kristen Keller. Kristen Keller joined the Lakeland Fire Department in 2007 and currently serves as EMS Chief, a role she also held in 2020, 2021, and again in 2024. Over the years, she has held several leadership positions within the department on the EMS side, and is the Department’s Corporation Secretary. Kristen is a CPR instructor for the department. Fire service runs in the family—her mother, Sue, a former EMS Chief, and her brother, Mike, are also members. Kristen met her husband, Dan, at Lakeland; they married in 2020 and have a daughter, Mackenzie.

Outside of the fire department, Kristen is a Paramedic Supervisor at Northwell Health Center for EMS, where she began as an EMT in 2013 and advanced through roles including Paramedic and Critical Care Paramedic. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music with a focus on voice. She sings at local churches, performs in theatre, and regularly performs the national anthem at various events, including 9/11 ceremonies, Installation Dinners, and sporting events.

Lakeland EMS Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lakelandfdems?igsh=MXdiY3F6am8yMmhkag==
Website: Home - Lakeland Fire Rescue

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Evan Schatzberg. Born into a family of firefighters, Evan Schatzberg has fire service in his blood. As the Deputy Chief of the Plainview Fire Department, Schatzberg has dedicated 27 years of his life to protecting his community. Following in the footsteps of his father, who has been with the department for an impressive 56 years, Schatzberg joined at just 18 years old and has held every rank, from second lieutenant to first lieutenant to captain. With his uncle recently celebrating 50 years of service, it's clear that Schatzberg was destined for a career in the fire department. Drawing on the invaluable experience of responding to calls alongside his father, Schatzberg has developed an unparalleled expertise that makes him an indispensable asset to the Plainview Fire Department.