Massapequa's rescuers have a difficult job under normal circumstances, but 2012 produced some extraordinary challenges. Firefighters were called on to battle blazes in the middle of a hurricane, while police officers had their hands full with accidents and other dangerous situations.
Here's a look back at their year:
Hurricane: The Massapequa Fire Department spent the night of Hurricane sandy fighting several blazes, one with members fighting chest deep in water.
North Massapequa: The North Massapequa Fire Department wasn't as busy, but they still responded to hundreds of calls in the storm's aftermath.
Unqua Accident: A hit and run crash took the life of an Unqua Elementary School mother in March.
Merrick Road Hit and Run: In June a pedestrian was struck and killed near the 7-Eleven at 5570 Merrick Road.
Motorcycle Crash: A Massapequa man was killed in a motorcycle crash that also killed a pedestrian in June.
Sunrise Crash: An elderly man was killed when his car rear-ended a truck on Sunrise Highway in November.
Bagel Pro Blaze: A July fire heavily damaged the bagel shop on North Broadway.
New Zealand: Not all accidents were local in 2012. A Massapequa resident was behind the wheel of a minivan that killed three students in a horrifying New Zealand Crash.
Sunset Boulevard Blaze: A Massapequa firefighter was injured in a blaze in early December.
Starbucks Crash: A peaceful Friday afternoon was shattered at the Merrick Road Starbucks in July when a car plowed through the front door.
