MAYOR SPANO AND YONKERS FIRE DEPARTMENT DONATE FIRE TRUCK & SURPLUS FIRE GEAR TO PUERTO RICO

Yonkers, NY – April 23, 2019 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today gathered with the Yonkers Fire Department, Yonkers Department of Public Works and the Yonkers Office of Veterans Services to official send off the City’s donated fire truck and equipment to Puerto Rico.  The municipality of Carolina, Puerto will receive the donations as part of its recovery efforts from the historic damage of Hurricane Maria.

 

The newly donated materials today departed for South Florida and will arrive via cargo ship to the northeast coast of Puerto Rico. The donations include a 2002 American LaFrance Freightliner truck, 60 sets of firefighting bunker gear, 60 flashlights, safety harnesses, and generators, among other various gear and equipment.

 

“This is truly a win/win for both us and Carolina, Puerto Rico,” said Mayor Spano.  “This is a fire truck that had to be replaced anyway because of our strict requirements here in the ‘City of Hills’ — but can still serve Puerto Rico effectively as a backup engine in their current department.”

 

Yonkers City Council voted in December 2018 to donate the fire truck and equipment to Carolina, a municipality of about 177,000 people that borders the capital of San Juan in eastern Puerto Rico.

 

Added Mayor Spano: “I’d like to thank our Office of Veterans Services, our Department of Public Works, our Yonkers Fire Department staff, as well as YFD Union leadership and our Corporation Counsel at City Hall.  There was a lot of red tape, hard work and patience involved to achieve this endeavor – but it was worth the wait!  I’m proud that the City of Yonkers is helping our neighbors in Puerto Rico, and that our City will always be represented in the Carolina community as they continue to rebuild from Hurricane Maria.”

 

The fire truck and equipment is due to arrive in Carolina, Puerto Rico in approximately thirty days.