On October 22, 2009, the Town of Hempstead presented their annual fire awards to a member of each fire department within the Town of Hempstead.  Ex-Chief John Obanhein of Hose Company was Lynbrook's honoree.  He was honored by Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and the rest of the Town Council for his actions on October 16, 2008, when while driving in Valley Stream saw the outside of a house on fire.  He stopped and was able to extinguish the fire.  The homeowner was in the house at the time but was recuperating from knee surgery and unaware that the house was on fire. 

In a letter from the homeowner to the Lynbrook Fire Department he stated that Ex-Chief Obanhein while driving past his house "when he observed an area of siding by our front door that was on fire.  He immediately started extinguishing the fire and stopped a situation that could have turned very tragic.  I would like to once again express how much we appreciate his actions and thank him for his service to the community."

Chief Kevin Bien, his deputy chiefs, and members of Hose Company, attended the awards ceremony for Ex-Chief Obanhein.  Additionally, Obanhein was previously honored by the Lynbrook Village Board on December 1, 2008.