 During the 1980-81 Iran hostage crisis, the department's fire whistle was blown sixty-six times, once for each released hostage.A year later, one of the most notable fires in the village happened at about 10 pm on January 22, 1982, in the village central business district.The fire began in the basement of Briarcliff Stationers and destroyed the Briarcliff Country Store, Briar Rose, and the Shoe Bazaar.