Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department Gets Updated Communications & Response System

BRONX, NY - State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), joined by Chief James Jones, Jr. and Lieutenant Joseph Raneri of the Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department, announced Monday that the Edgewater Park Volunteer Hose Co. No. 1 will receive a $50,000 state grant to update its emergency communications system. The announcement was made at the annual Edgewater Park Labor Day Olympics Medal Ceremony on Labor Day afternoon.

“Our communities must be prepared not only for day-to-day emergencies, but for larger storms and natural disasters that call for quick action from our first responders. This money will help fortify the great work of the Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department and give them the state-of-the-art tools and communications system they need to respond swiftly and accurately in the event of an emergency,” said State Senator Jeff Klein.

“With the help of Senator Klein we will bring our emergency response system into the 21st century. The upgrades will provide much better coverage, which means a much faster response to any emergency in our community,” said Lieutenant Joseph Raneri, Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department.

During Superstorm Sandy it became clear to the Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department that improvements to its equipment and communications system would be needed to better serve the residents of Edgewater and Throgs Neck in the event of a future natural disaster. The portable radios being used became wet and damaged and given their age could no longer be fixed or replaced. In addition the firehouse was relying on a communications system that was over 40 years old.

The current communications and emergency call receiving system at the firehouse no longer meets FCC and OSHA operational standards. The funding will be used to develop a new communications and response system for the Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department which will include s new Base Station, mobile and portable radios that meet current FCC standards, and a new call receiving system that will significantly reduce response time.

The Edgewater Park Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1922 and has been proudly serving the waterfront community and surrounding neighborhoods for more than 90 years.

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