Sitting with me in The Firehouse is Olena Nicks. Olena joined the fire department right out of high school, beginning her journey in EMS before joining Rescue and rising through the ranks to become a Captain. Her passion for service began organically after seeing a sign for volunteer firefighters — a simple moment that inspired a lifelong commitment to helping others and strengthening her community. In addition to her fire service, Olena proudly serves as a Nassau County Legislator, continuing her dedication to leadership and public service.

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Bob Corwin. Bob Corwin’s journey in the fire service began early, following in the footsteps of his family. Though he officially joined as a Junior Firefighter in 1985, he had been around the firehouse long before that with his father and grandfather. His grandfather, an Ex-Chief of the department and Chief Driver of every motorized apparatus the Company owned, left a lasting legacy that Bob proudly carried forward.

In 1989, at just 17 years old, Bob became a full member of the department. That same year, he introduced his wife—now a firefighter/paramedic—to the fire service. Over the years, Bob has taken on leadership roles, first serving as Captain in 2001 and again in two more terms, most recently from 2019 through 2025.

Dedicated to both fire and EMS, Bob became an EMT in 1993 to support the department’s ambulance operations. Today, firefighting remains a true family tradition for the Corwins, with Bob, his father, his wife, and his son all serving as active members of the department.

Samuel Sanchez joined the Uniondale Fire Department in March 2023 at just 18 years old, while still in high school. Growing up, he was influenced by his father and grandfather who both served in the fire service. In high school, Samuel was active in Junior Army ROTC and took his first EMT class. Currently, he's a full-time trade student at Nassau BOCES studying automotive technology, and also works part-time at Micro Center. Samuel is in chauffeur training for 755 and he hopes to build a long-term career in the fire service.