Organized in 1928, the Cutchogue Fire Department has 110 volunteers to serve the hamlets of Cutchogue and New Suffolk and assist neighboring fire departments. In 1928, firefighters had one truck and responded to six calls; now, the brigade owns 10 fire and rescue vehicles, two rescue boats and several support vehicles and responds to about 450 calls a year. The department also has a band, a drill team, a ladies auxilary, and a junior fire department. Its annual chicken barbecue, which began in the summer of 1956, has become known as "Long Island's Largest Chicken Barbecue" and even draws celebrity foodies such as Martha Stewart to the North Fork.