Photos: 6th Annual Chuck Varese Extrication Tournament

Thirteen fire departments from across Long Island demonstrated their life-saving skills at the 6th Annual Chuck Varese Extrication Tournament Saturday in Northport.

The competition, held at the Northport Fire Department’s training grounds in Steers’ Pit, included 23 teams from the 13 departments. Each team was judged on the amount of time it took to perform the extrication, the handling of equipment and the safety procedures they followed.

Northport Hook and Ladder took first place, Huntington Manor took second, and East Northport took third.

The competition is designed to build camaraderie between fire departments and its members, as well as to share valuable lifesaving extrication techniques, which will ultimately help to save precious time when a victim's life is in jeopardy.

It is named after the son of former Northport Fire Chief Robert “Beefy” Varese; he and the department organized and hosted the tournament. Twenty-five-year-old Chuck Varese, who also was a firefighter, was struck and killed by an intoxicated motorist on Route 25A in Centerport in 2008.

Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone and council members Mark Cuthbertson and Susan Berland were present to congratulate the firefighters.

Proceeds from the tournament went to benefit the Suffolk County Burn Center. Gershow Recycling donated 30 cars used in the tournament.