by Kate Kimmel
After 30 years of fighting fires and keeping Nassau County residents safe, Fire Lt. Gary Scott Hemmingway has announced his retirement.
His decades of service were recognized Wednesday during a County Commission meeting, where he received a proclamation in front of family, friends and colleagues.
“I’d like to thank my wife for supporting me,” Hemmingway said after accepting the proclamation from Commissioner Klynt Farmer.
“There were some days I’d be working a 24-hour shift and she’d come home after working an 11-hour shift and have to be mom and dad for the kids.”
Hemmingway was appointed lieutenant in August 2020, a title he earned after many years of service to Nassau County. His career began in April 1995, when he started as a part-time firefighter and EMT for the county. Six months later, he moved into a full-time role and was promoted to engineer and EMT in March 1997.
In September 1999, he was promoted to engineer and paramedic. He first held the position of lieutenant in March 2001, followed by a promotion to fire chief in September 2011. In September 2017, Hemmingway became fire inspector and investigator, a role he held until 2020, when he again took on the rank of lieutenant.
Reflecting on his career, Hemmingway said he was grateful that he and many of his crew members were never seriously harmed in the line of duty.
Fire Chief Brady Rigdon thanked Hemmingway for his dedication.
“Thirty years is no small feat,” Rigdon said.
kkimmel@nassaunewsline.net
