East Meadow FD Takes Delivery of New Heavy Rescue Truck

East Meadow Fire Department’s Ladder Company #1 recently took delivery of a new heavy rescue truck, Unit 616; it replaces one that served the community for more than 25 years. Unit 616 was manufactured by Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., a leading maker of firefighting and rescue apparatus, and contains the latest in technology for heavy rescue emergencies.

The new heavy rescue vehicle, based out of Station 1 on East Meadow Avenue, was custom-designed by Ladder Company #1 members to transport rescue tools and highly trained personnel to emergency scenes that require specialized rescue services. The truck’s design committee consisted of ex-Chief Keith J. Hoffman, ex-Captain Richard S. Malik and ex-Captain John L. Bohl, and was chaired by ex-Chief John O’Brien, Sr.

The types of emergencies that Unit 616 is designed to respond to include motor vehicle accidents in which extracting victims may be necessary; building collapses; hazardous-material incidents; gas and electric emergencies; and search-and-rescue operations. Other uses include transporting firefighters and breathing apparatus to structure fires.

State-of-the-art equipment on the new truck includes 300,000 lumens of portable and onboard lighting; generators; hand and power saws; cutting and pry tools; forcible-entry tools; hydraulic tools (Jaws of Life); and heavy-lift airbags capable of lifting 65 tons. Also included is a power winch, and a full complement of ladders and ropes. For hazardous-material emergencies, Unit 616 includes gas-detection and spill-containment devices, and encapsulating suits to protect rescue workers from potentially harmful materials.

Funds used to purchase the new heavy rescue truck were provided through the fire district’s capital-reserve fund, which contains money set aside in the budget each year. The money is used for the eventual replacement of essential fire and emergency services equipment. Purchasing high-cost equipment using capital reserves (as opposed to borrowing money for the purchase through the issuance of long-term bonds) saves taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the apparatus.

“Providing our dedicated volunteers with the most advanced fire and rescue equipment available is essential for their safety, and gives residents the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the EMFD is prepared for every emergency,” said Commissioner William J. Neill. “On behalf of the Board of Fire Commissioners, we’re pleased to be able to offer this level of superior protection to our volunteers and residents, while delivering maximum value to our taxpayers.”

More information about the East Meadow Fire Department, including volunteer opportunities, can be found at www.eastmeadowfd.com.