Federal Grant supplies Swift Water Rescue Team with new equipment | NBC-WKTV News Channel 2 - Utica News, Weather, Sports - | Local News
ORISKANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Oriskany Technical Rescue Team was granted $26,500 in federal homeland security money to purchase new equipment. The Team applied for the money through the New York State Department of Homeland Security. Assistant Chief Jeff Burkhart says several area fire departments helped the team get the grant by writing letters on the team's behalf.
The Swift Water Rescue Team started using the grant money in December. With it they purchased a trailer and stocked it with equipment the team uses on rescue operations. Some of the items they purchased include life jackets for every member, flashlights, new rope, helmets, lighting and other hardware. The way it works is the team makes a purchase, submits a receipt and is reimbursed for the money. The new trailer used about half of the grant money, the rest was used on the equipment to fill it up.
Burkhart says before receiving the grant, the team was using money provided through memberships and the Village of Oriskany. "This funding, along with funding that the fire dept members themselves and the Village of Oriskany have put in has already helped to save one victim from further injury, but more importantly it has eliminated the need for firefighters to enter the water who are not equipped or properly trained to do so. This is specifically the reason for this grant, to give those responders a viable option instead of placing themselves in very dangerous situations," said Burkhart. He adds it is vital that water rescue teams have proper equipment because one out of every three rescuers end up needing help themselves in the middle of a rescue operation.
The Swift Water Rescue Team is on call statewide in case of an emergency. Thanks to the grant, the team now has enough equipment so they would be able to stay on the scene of a water emergency for up to two days.
The team is looking to recruit more members. The Oriskany Fire Department is planning to hold a regional training day at the end of next month for local emergency personnel interested in water rescue. Government officials are also encouraged to attend so they can see what the water rescue team is capable of.
The Oriskany Fire Department, Sylvan Beach, and Taberg Fire Department's are the only Swift Water Rescue Team's in Oneida County.
ORISKANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Oriskany Technical Rescue Team was granted $26,500 in federal homeland security money to purchase new equipment. The Team applied for the money through the New York State Department of Homeland Security. Assistant Chief Jeff Burkhart says several area fire departments helped the team get the grant by writing letters on the team's behalf.
The Swift Water Rescue Team started using the grant money in December. With it they purchased a trailer and stocked it with equipment the team uses on rescue operations. Some of the items they purchased include life jackets for every member, flashlights, new rope, helmets, lighting and other hardware. The way it works is the team makes a purchase, submits a receipt and is reimbursed for the money. The new trailer used about half of the grant money, the rest was used on the equipment to fill it up.
Burkhart says before receiving the grant, the team was using money provided through memberships and the Village of Oriskany. "This funding, along with funding that the fire dept members themselves and the Village of Oriskany have put in has already helped to save one victim from further injury, but more importantly it has eliminated the need for firefighters to enter the water who are not equipped or properly trained to do so. This is specifically the reason for this grant, to give those responders a viable option instead of placing themselves in very dangerous situations," said Burkhart. He adds it is vital that water rescue teams have proper equipment because one out of every three rescuers end up needing help themselves in the middle of a rescue operation.
The Swift Water Rescue Team is on call statewide in case of an emergency. Thanks to the grant, the team now has enough equipment so they would be able to stay on the scene of a water emergency for up to two days.
The team is looking to recruit more members. The Oriskany Fire Department is planning to hold a regional training day at the end of next month for local emergency personnel interested in water rescue. Government officials are also encouraged to attend so they can see what the water rescue team is capable of.
The Oriskany Fire Department, Sylvan Beach, and Taberg Fire Department's are the only Swift Water Rescue Team's in Oneida County.
