A Rockland man believed to be the longest serving firefighter in New York State celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday.

Things were a lot different 80 years ago when Amiel D'Auria first volunteered for the Chelsea Hook and Ladder Company in Nyack.

"We had to be right up in front of everything," said D'Auria. "In those days, when you went up the ladder you couldn't talk to the driver or anything. If you had any trouble you used to have to swing back and forth."

Remarkably, the great-grandfather is still very active in the fire department.

"I love to get on and help the guys all the time. When I was 90 years old I would still go to a fire."

Company members say D'Auria is now the longest serving volunteer firefighter in New York State and on Sunday, they celebrated their honorary battalion chief for his 100th birthday.

D'Auria also served in World War II as an aviation machinist for the Navy.

He married his high school sweetheart, Mary, and was married for 65 years when she passed away in 2008.

D'Auria still lives in the home he built for his wife and their two kids in Nyack and says out of all his accomplishments, their family is his most cherished.

He served as a former driver, lieutenant and president for the Chelsea Hook and Ladder Company and was named "Honorary Battalion Chief" for his decades of dedicated service last spring.