PLEASANT VALLEY- Pleasant Valley Fire District (PVFD) will soon be purchasing a new utility terrain vehicle (UTV) thanks to a Senate grant secured by New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. Firefighters plan to use the UTV to fight fires and conduct rescues in wooded areas, on farmlands, and on trails inaccessible to firetrucks.
“The brave members of the Pleasant Valley Fire District navigate challenging terrain to rescue people in our remote rural areas, sometimes forced to cover long distances on foot – and at great personal risk to themselves – due to the lack of essential equipment, such as a UTV,” said Hinchey. I was incredibly proud to deliver a $50,000 state grant to ensure the Pleasant Valley Fire District could add a UTV to its arsenal of emergency response equipment, which will directly lead to shorter response times, making us all safer. It’s a privilege to support the people who put their lives on the line each day to protect ours, and I’m glad to deliver this funding for the Pleasant Valley Fire District.”
James Albrecht, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Pleasant Valley Fire District, said, “Funds for substantial rescue equipment are limited, underscoring the vital importance of grants like the one sponsored by New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. The Pleasant Valley Fire District (PVFD) has, in the past, faced challenges, resorting to walking for rescues in remote terrains due to the limitations of 4×4 vehicles, resulting in response time delays. With a growing number of emergency calls involving injured hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders in remote areas, the need for a UTV to expedite access in these situations and enhance our wildland firefighting capabilities became urgent.”
Firefighters in Pleasant Valley say the UTV will be particularly useful in their department, which includes the 917-acre Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area, one of the largest state forests in Dutchess County.
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