STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island and Brooklyn firehouses are set to receive significant upgrades after Rep. Nicole Malliotakis secured $9 million in federal funding for the FDNY. The investment targets facility modernization, the creation of a new training center, and infrastructure improvements to enhance emergency response capabilities.
Here are 5 takeaways from the original article.
1. New EMS Training Center to end long commutes
The largest portion of the funding, $5 million, is allocated for a new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training center on Staten Island. Currently, personnel must travel to Randall’s Island or Queens for training, a process that takes them out of service and away from the community. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore noted that the city’s call volume continues to rise, making local training essential.
According to Rep. Malliotakis, a Republican who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, the new facility will enable “shorter commutes to training, which means more first responders are available in our communities.” The facility will also accommodate larger class sizes as the Queens facilities have reached maximum capacity.
Squad Company 8 on Victory Boulevard will receive $2 million as part of a broader investment in local fire companies announced Friday. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore joined local elected officials such as Congress member Nicole Malliotakis, Assembly member Sam Pirozzolo and Council member David Carr at Squad 8 to announce the allocations.(Nicolette Cavallaro| Staten Island Advance/SILive.com)2. Squad Company 8 to get critical upgrades
Staten Island’s only squad fire company, Squad 8 in Travis, will receive $2 million for modernization. This unit is one of the FDNY’s most versatile companies and is considered critical to the borough’s safety.
Although the company moved into a former firehouse in 2018, it requires additional space to accommodate its larger crew and specialized equipment. The funding will support necessary upgrades, including improving kitchen facilities to better support firefighters who work 24-hour shifts and need a place to recover after responding to emergencies.
Squad Company 8 on Victory Boulevard will receive $2 million as part of a broader investment in local fire companies announced Friday. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore joined local elected officials such as Congress member Nicole Malliotakis, Assembly member Sam Pirozzolo and Council member David Carr at Squad 8 to announce the allocations.(Nicolette Cavallaro| Staten Island Advance/SILive.com)3. Focus on infrastructure resilience with new generators
A significant portion of the funding is dedicated to ensuring firehouses can operate continuously during power outages and major weather events. Engine Company 155/Ladder Company 78 in New Brighton will receive $1 million for generator improvements, a crucial upgrade for a firehouse located near the water.
Additionally, Engine Company 284/Ladder Company 149 in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, will receive over a million dollars for similar firehouse and generator improvements. Officials noted that installing generators in aging firehouses is a complex and costly process that often requires structural modifications.
4. Bipartisan support highlights importance of first responders
The announcement brought together elected officials and FDNY leadership who emphasized the importance of investing in first responders. Malliotakis, who secured the funding, was joined by FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, Assembly member Sam Pirozzolo, a Republican representing Staten Island’s South and West Shores, and Council member David Carr, a Democrat representing the mid-Island and parts of Southwest Brooklyn.
Pirozzolo highlighted the trust firefighters have in their training and each other. “That’s what this money is going to do,’’ he said. ”It’s going to enhance their training facilities so that they can take care of each other as they do.”
The united front underscored a shared commitment to providing responders with modern facilities and equipment.
Squad Company 8 on Victory Boulevard will receive $2 million as part of a broader investment in local fire companies announced Friday. FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore joined local elected officials such as Congress member Nicole Malliotakis, Assembly member Sam Pirozzolo and Council member David Carr at Squad 8 to announce the allocations.(Nicolette Cavallaro| Staten Island Advance/SILive.com)5. Funding package also supports 9/11 responders
Beyond the physical infrastructure projects, the funding package also contributes to The Zadroga Act’s World Trade Center Health Program. This program provides no-cost medical monitoring and treatment for first responders and survivors with 9/11-related health conditions. The program has been fully funded until 2040.
In her remarks, Bonsignore praised the heroism of those who served on 9/11 and thanked officials for their work in “caring for all of us for years to come,” linking the new funding to the ongoing commitment to care for the department’s heroes.