Councilwoman Ariola’s Chief of Staff Phyllis Inserillo Awarded By Volunteer Firefighter Association

L-to-R: VFA President Daniel Cavanaugh, CM Ariola, Chief of Staff Phyllis Inserillo, FA Historian Ed Wilmarth, and VFA Vice-President Fire Departments James-Morton

The Volunteer Firefighters Association honored Phyllis Inserillo at the Breezy Point Catholic Club last month. Photos courtesy of CM Ariola’s Office

NYC Councilwoman Joann Ariola’s Chief of Staff, Phyllis Inserillo, was awarded during the April 18 Volunteer Firefighters Association Dinner at Breezy Point’s Catholic Club in recognition of her efforts to bring much-needed teleprinters to volunteer fire departments in District 32.

Teleprinters allow departments to receive real-time updates from the 911 system, enabling them to respond to emergencies happening in their areas immediately. Traditionally, volunteer agencies were not made aware of an emergency unless someone called the volunteers directly, but the delivery of the teleprinters would allow the volunteers to plug directly into the 911 system and get on scene within minutes, rather than showing up only after the FDNY response arrives.

“In areas like Breezy Point, Broad Channel, and Roxbury, where response times are dangerously high, local volunteers need up-to-the-minute notification of emergencies in their area,” Inserillo said. “These teleprinters are not a luxury; they are a necessity for public safety in District 32 and across the city, and I am proud to play a role in bringing them to our departments.”

“A fire can double in intensity every thirty to sixty seconds, and in areas that don’t have an immediately located FDNY station like Breezy Point or Hamilton Beach, it can be several minutes before the fire department can arrive on-scene to an emergency and start battling a blaze,” added Ariola. “Teleprinters can reduce the response times dramatically by enabling local volunteers who are positioned within these communities to respond immediately and get water on the fire as quickly as possible. Phyllis has been a tireless fighter for these teleprinters, and it is great to see her recognized for her fight to bring them into our neighborhoods.”

“Phyllis Inserillo is someone who gets things done,” said Daniel Cavanaugh, the president of the Volunteer Firefighters Association. “She’s earned the bulldog reputation for a reason; she fights for what she believes in and has been a strong advocate for our departments and the communities we serve.”