Southampton Village officials and community members gathered to thank the brave men and women that ran toward the smoke and flames from last weekend’s East End brush fire.

The village honored more than 35 men and women from the village’s volunteer fire department and ambulance company during a ceremony Thursday evening. 

"We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for what they did,” said Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger. "The fact that they, when they get the call, can activate that quickly, get the trucks, get to the site, and battle a fire is tremendous."

Southampton Fire Department Chief Polis Walker says the fires were something none of them could have imagined would happen, but says they were ready nonetheless.

"We talk about it all the time and it never happens,” he said. “When it does happen, and you see how hard the work that we put in and we come together that way, it's all so worth it."

First responders say the biggest obstacle they faced by far was the wind.

Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance Chief Chris Epley says he could see the impact from the fire while he and other volunteers set up firefighter recovery areas.

"The wind and everything over on the scene, just watching the flames come off the treetops," he said.

Southampton Fire Department Capt. Patrick Terry says fighting the brush fires was definitely not something they expected they would face.

"You kind of got to keep your head on a swivel because the fire can literally go right around you without you even knowing it,” he said. 

The mayor presented the fire department and EMS with proclamations for the service 

"We're not saying we wish it would happen again, but we're ready for it if it does,” said Walker.

More than two dozen community members came to send a simple message, thank you.

"It's not the reason we do this,” said Terry. “We do it to help the community." 

Southampton was one of nearly 80 departments from across Long Island that responded to the fire.