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Hempstead honors veterans and residents who helped douse house fire
Summary
The Town Board opened its Jan. 13 meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and recognition of Tommie D. Hill, Sr., and residents Kevin and Jacqueline Cahill for their roles in preventing a house fire from spreading on Jan. 4, 2026.
Supervisor John Ferretti opened the Town Board meeting by recognizing two hometown heroes and calling on Tommie D. Hill, Sr. to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Tommie D. Hill, Sr., a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and combat veteran, led the Pledge. Ferretti summarized the Jan. 4 incident in Lido Beach in which Kevin and Jacqueline Cahill noticed smoke from a neighboring house, notified the occupants and took immediate action to stop the fire from spreading. According to the board's statement, Kevin Cahill—identified as a retired FDNY firefighter with 28 years of service—removed an exhaust vent with a shovel, while Jacqueline Cahill, who previously directed volunteer services at NY Presbyterian Hospital, used two fire extinguishers to douse the flames. The occupants and a pet cat evacuated safely.
The board praised the Cahills for their actions. At the conclusion of the recognition, Ferretti invited the room to applaud the couple for what he described as residents who "go above and beyond in service of others."
