Sitting with me in the FireHouse is Phil Falco. Phil is a 34-year volunteer firefighter with the Central Islip Fire Department, and a 20-year career Firefighter/EMT with Long Island MacArthur Airport Crash Fire Rescue. He also serves as the Central Islip Fire Districts Safety Officer and is a member of the Islip Town Haz Mat team. The fire service isn’t just what he does—it’s who he is. Over the years, he's been tested in ways that leave a lasting mark. He's faced tragedy, made tough calls, and grown through every high and low that comes with this job. These events have definitely shaped Phil and has helped him to deal with life’s endeavors.

When his son became a cancer survivor, it shifted something in him. That experience fueled his mission to protect not just lives on the fire-ground, but the long-term health of every firefighter he serves alongside. That’s what led him to launch Makin The Push—an Instagram platform dedicated to firefighter safety, wellness, and cancer prevention.

One of his greatest honors has been watching his sons follow in his footsteps—both joining the Central Islip Fire Department, with one continuing on to serve with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department.

Outside the firehouse, his hobby is BBQ and smoked foods. He has even created his own bourbon BBQ sauce. He is also a lifelong fan of drill team racing—one of the fire service’s best traditions. Phil believes in doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching. That mindset has carried him through every shift, every challenge, and every chapter of this journey.