NEW YORK (PIX11) — A Dyker Heights firehouse known as the “Castle on the Hill” is receiving a large boost from new federal funding aimed at strengthening the FDNY’s emergency readiness across the city.
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis visited Engine 284 in Brooklyn on Friday morning to highlight more than $9 million in federal funds secured for the department. She toured the historic firehouse and met with firefighters to discuss how the investment will be used to upgrade facilities in both Brooklyn and Staten Island.
“We’re very happy to be here in Dyker Heights to celebrate some federal funding that we secured for the FDNY,” Malliotakis said.
Among the upgrades is over $1.2 million in improvements for Engine 284, including new industrial-grade generators designed to keep operations running during storms and power outages.
“As New York faces unprecedented weather events, it is important that our firehouses have reliable power to respond to emergencies,” Malliotakis said.
The congresswoman also announced $5 million to renovate the FDNY’s EMS Training Center on Staten Island and another $3 million for upgrades at several other firehouses, including Squad 8 and Engine 155.
“We are truly a district of one,” she added. “We consider Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn one community.”
Malliotakis also pointed to the extension of the World Trade Center Health Program for First Responders through 2040, ensuring continued care for those affected by the 9/11 recovery efforts.
“Every few years, we saw sick firefighters trekking to Washington to get what they deserve,” she said.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore thanked Malliotakis for her support, calling the investment crucial to the department’s mission.
“As we prepare to serve our communities for the next decades to come, this type of funding is crucial to do that,” Bonsignore said.
Firefighters at Engine 284 say the upgrades will help them stay mission-ready and better serve their neighbors during crises.
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