Today we would like to highlight Brian Gabriel. Brian is somebody that everybody everywhere seems to know. He is a 3rd generation fire fighter. Both of his grandfathers were fire fighters, one with the Seaside Heights Vol. Fire Department, and one with the Island Heights Vol. Fire Department, and his father Al “Gabe” Gabriel was a Life Member and Past Chief with our fire company having served for 64 years. Because of these men, Brian grew up around the firehouse and continued on the family tradition of fire fighting, joining our fire company in 1981, giving him a current total of 40 years of service and counting. Brian is a Life Member with the department, and has served in numerous positions such as Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, and Chief where he served from 1992-1994. He has also been President of the fire company two separate times. In January of 1997 he became a Deputy Fire Coordinator for Ocean County (Car 11 as we know him), and in 2003 became the Chief Fire Coordinator, which is a position that he still holds today. He is still very active in this role, managing resources for large emergencies all over Ocean County. Aside from fire fighting he has also served as an Island Heights Councilman numerous times, currently serving his 5th term. Brian works as a Senior Building Consultant for J.S. Held LLC, out of Philadelphia. He is also engaged to his Fiancé Taryn Ritacco, and he has two nephews Dustin and Rich, who are both active members of the fire department as well, keeping the Gabriel family tradition of fire fighting going. When he isn’t at the firehouse you can find Brian spending his time with family, fishing, boating, racing sailboats, or golfing. Let’s all say thanks to Brian for his service to the Island Heights Vol. Fire Company!