Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Dominic Guida. Dominic is in his 11th year as an EMS provider - 9 as an EMT and now over a year and a half out of Medic class. Before EMS he worked as an advocate for a disability law firm and as a social worker in various Group and Mental Health settings. Dominic then switched from Social Work to Full Time EMS when Northwell Health called him in 2018. He currently works out in Suffolk County doing the "Suffolk Shuffle" and serves the Sayville Community Ambulance Company as First Assistant Chief. In the near future, Dominic plans on re-certifying his card, going for one of the board certifications (either FPC or CCP) as well as pursuing a Masters in either Business or Education. Outside of work, he goes to the gym, cooks, keeps up with his father, teaches EMS, and a huge advocate for all things mental health.

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.

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Kristen Keller. Kristen Keller joined the Lakeland Fire Department in 2007 and currently serves as EMS Chief, a role she also held in 2020, 2021, and again in 2024. Over the years, she has held several leadership positions within the department on the EMS side, and is the Department’s Corporation Secretary. Kristen is a CPR instructor for the department. Fire service runs in the family—her mother, Sue, a former EMS Chief, and her brother, Mike, are also members. Kristen met her husband, Dan, at Lakeland; they married in 2020 and have a daughter, Mackenzie.

Outside of the fire department, Kristen is a Paramedic Supervisor at Northwell Health Center for EMS, where she began as an EMT in 2013 and advanced through roles including Paramedic and Critical Care Paramedic. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music with a focus on voice. She sings at local churches, performs in theatre, and regularly performs the national anthem at various events, including 9/11 ceremonies, Installation Dinners, and sporting events.

Lakeland EMS Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lakelandfdems?igsh=MXdiY3F6am8yMmhkag==
Website: Home - Lakeland Fire Rescue