The $950,000 tiller truck, custom-built by Spartan / Smeal, carries an aerial ladder over 100-feet long, capable of reaching tall buildings in Kingston such as the Ulster County Office Building, and the soon -to-be built HealthAlliance Hospital tower.

It was paid for with a municipal bond.

There are also tiller trucks in fire departments in Suffern, Haverstrawm Hastings-on-Huson and two in Nyack.

Tiller trucks are so long, that a second driver is needed to steer from a cab on the back of the vehicle, in tandem with the primary operator driving from the front.

There weren’t any flashing lights, sirens, bells or whistles deployed as the new vehicle rounded the corner of Schwenk Drive for the first time, and silently pulled into the station.

The $950,000 tiller truck carries an aerial ladder over 100-feet long, capable of reaching tall buildings in Kingston such as the Ulster County Office Building, and the soon -to-be built HealthAlliance Hospital tower.

It was paid for with a municipal bond.

There are also tiller trucks in fire departments in Suffern, Haverstrawm Hastings-on-Huson and two in Nyack.

There weren’t any flashing lights, sirens, bells or whistles deployed as the new vehicle rounded the corner of Schwenk Drive for the first time, and silently pulled into the station.

Troopers said the ambulance went off the side of the road, overcorrected, and then traveled into the path of an oncoming car, hitting it head-on.  

The ambulance was on its way to a call when the crash happened and there were no patients onboard. The two paramedics inside were OK, according to officials.

 

 

 Newton Fire/EMS has received a grant from FM Global to purchase a live-fire extinguisher training system for fire prevention education.

The $8,345 grant will fund a BullEx Intelligent Training System, which uses a controlled propane fire and a water/air fire extinguisher to train people how to putting out fires. It uses sensor technology to detect how well a trainee uses the extinguisher.

“We are very excited about it,” Beebee said.

Newton Fire/EMS will be able to use the system for trainings at local businesses and industries, health care facilities, senior living facilities and other sites in the community as part of its fire prevention program.

The Spring Grove Fire Department recently received new cutters, spreaders, a ram and a stabilization kit thanks to funds from The Corner Store. “It’s been a long time since we got new jaws – probably about 20 years,” Fire Chief Trent Turner said. “It’s a very nice update and addition to the fleet of tools that we have now.” The tools are Genesis brand, carefully chosen by the department after looking at four different tool companies. The cutter can cut through high-strength steel that is common on newer models of vehicles. The tools are battery operated. Along with those tools, the fire department also received a new brush truck, which is currently being outfitted with tires and decals.