WEST POINT – The 44-member West Point Fire Department has requested over $1.7 million for new equipment, but Army headquarters only funded the unit to the tune of $96,000. On Wednesday, US Senator Charles Schumer was at the military academy calling for Washington to approve the rest of the money so that new, modern equipment can be purchased.
Connor Miller, president of Local F-7 of the International Association of Firefighters said it is difficult to operate with their current budget.
“The men and women of this department stand ready 24/7, 365 to serve the cadets, the service members, their families, the surrounding communities, but we cannot do that with broken gear, outdated equipment, borrowed fire trucks; we need a budget,” he said. “We need a reasonable amount of money to keep the lights on, to invest in new technology, and continue as we go forward protecting the preeminent military academy of the world.”
With one of its fire trucks out of service, the West Point department has borrowed a truck from the Veterans Administration.
The West Point department is often called out under mutual aid to assist neighboring communities and sometimes asked to drive over Storm King Mountain to assist the City of Newburgh Fire Department.
