Officials: Elmont to change fire company logo

An Elmont Fire Department logo that includes a part of the Confederate flag will be changed, fire officials said Sunday, after a black volunteer said that it made him uncomfortable.

The department's leadership said they endured criticism over the weekend after the member anonymously leaked pictures of the logo to WNBC-TV.

The logo features a skull with flames coming out of its eye sockets and a Confederate flag wrapped around its neck. The image was created by a member of the department and was used to represent Engine Company No. 3, which is on Meacham Avenue.

The firefighters at the company used the Confederate flag because they "wanted to be seen as rebels," Elmont Fire Commissioner Joseph Balletta said.

"We want to make the situation right. We don't want this community to think we are racists because if and when they need us, we respond regardless of race, religion and gender," said Balletta, who said he has not spoken to the member who complained.

He said the department had been criticized online and a member had been heckled while shopping.

The fire department includes 176 volunteers, about one third of whom are a race other than white, Balletta said.

Elmont has a population of about 35,000. Less than 30 percent of its residents are white, according to the most recent census figures.

No one else in the department has complained about the logo, which has been used on the company's trucks since November but has now been removed, Balletta said.

The design replaced a 20-year-old logo that included a cartoon image of a firefighter using a fire hose while wearing Confederate flag boxer shorts.

The firefighter who leaked the information to the media wanted to remain anonymous.

Each of the seven fire companies and the emergency medical service squad that make up the department display their own logos on vehicles.

Elmont Fire Chief James Prince said he is worried the controversy will hurt the department's reputation and affect already weak recruitment and fundraising drives.

"But this issue does not and will not affect our response to calls at all," Prince said.