Photo portrait courtesy of National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Photo of street sign by Mary Bakija, 2025
Firefighter William “Billy” Tolley (1974-2017) was a 14-year veteran of the FDNY who was assigned to Ladder 135. Before he was able to join the FDNY, Billy was a volunteer firefighter with the Hicksville Fire Department, Rescue 8, attaining the rank of lieutenant. In 2011, he joined the Bethpage Fire Department and was assigned to Ladder Company 3. He was killed in the line of duty while helping contain an apartment fire in Queens, falling to his death from the roof of a five-story building. In addition to being a firefighter, he was also a talented drummer whose passion for percussion led him to become a influential drummer in the heavy metal scene. With his band, Internal Bleeding, he helped write and release five very successful albums that made strong impressions on drummers across the world. He is survived by his wife, Marie, and daughter, Isabella. This street renaming near Billy’s firehouse, Ladder 135, occurred on September 26, 2018.
Gil Tauber, "NYC Honorary Street Names," accessed December 15, 2023, http://www.nycstreets.info/honorStreetc5e5.html?b=Q&letter=F
Robert Pasbani, "This is Just a Tribute, "Metal Injection, April 20, 2017, https://metalinjection.net/this-is-just-a-tribute/internal-bleeding-drummer-firefighter-william-tolley-tragically-dies-battling-blaze
"Thousands attend funeral for Glendale-based Firefighter William Tolley on Long Island," QNS.com, April 27, 2017, https://qns.com/2017/04/thousands-attend-funeral-glendale-based-firefighter-william-tolley-long-island/
"William N. Tolley," National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, accessed January 12, 2024, https://www.firehero.org/fallen-firefighter/william-n-tolley/