After Securing Major Investment in Newburgh FD, Maloney Joins Local Firefighters to Unveil New Fire Rescue Boat

 

After Securing Major Investment in Newburgh FD,

Maloney Joins Local Firefighters to Unveil New Fire Rescue Boat

 

Newburgh, NY –  Building on his record of getting things done for our first responders, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) joined firefighters to deliver a new fire and rescue boat to the Newburgh Fire Department. Since 2013, Rep. Maloney has been working to secure funding for the Newburgh Fire Department and in July 2015 announced the successful attainment of a major Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Program investment of $248,700 for the fire and rescue boat.

“This fire boat will play a vital role in protecting our communities and commerce on the Hudson, and I’m thrilled to once again work with the Newburgh Fire Department to secure investments they need to keep us all safe,” said Maloney. “Our work with the Newburgh Fire Department and all of our first responders shows what is possible when you partner with folks to get things done for the Hudson Valley, instead of playing political games.”

“This new Fire/Rescue boat is an incredible addition to our fire suppression and rescue capabilities. Our crew is now safer, with an extremely stable work platform,” said Newburgh Fire Department Chief Terry Ahlers.  “We finally have the space to do the basic stuff, like CPR on the boat, instead of waiting until we can get a victim back to shore, which is very important when minutes, and even seconds count. We now have the ability to extinguish burning fuel with foam and pull booms, tasks not even possible with our last boat. Even with the award of the grant, we could not have secured the match without the assistance and support of Sean Patrick Maloney and his staff.”

image004

Rep. Maloney joins the Newburgh Fire Department to unveil the new fire and rescue boat.

 

The Newburgh Fire Department is tasked with protecting and responding to emergencies on the Hudson River between the Tappan Zee Bridge and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, a distance of 70 linear miles.  The Department’s jurisdiction includes five major bridges and multiple riverfront communities.  This portion of the Hudson River is also central to moving cargo and is utilized by major commercial shipping companies.  As a result, increasing Newburgh Fire Department’s presence on the Hudson River will allow the implementation of additional public safety aspects to the region’s waterborne commerce, protect several homeland security targets, and ensure safe recreational experiences on the waterway during the summer months. The new vessel has fire suppression capabilities including both water and foam, which will allow the Department to safeguard against all risks to public safety, including residential fires, oil fires, and rail incidents. The boat also has the capacity to rescue a large amount of victims (25+) per response, should there ever be a catastrophic incident with several injuries on the Hudson.

Rep. Maloney has a track record of getting results for Hudson Valley fire departments. Rep. Maloney worked closely with the Newburgh Fire Department to secure a SAFER grant, which provided $2.5 million to hire fifteen new firefighters. In December, 2015, Rep. Maloney worked to secure additional funding and prevent layoffs. Rep. Maloney also announced he secured a SAFER grant for the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department to hire seven new firefighters.

 

Author: Harlem Valley News