After years of being the only borough without its own specialized FDNY squad company, Staten Island is on its way to getting a $3.1 million boost to get a company of its own.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson agreed to set aside $3.1 million in the city's fiscal 2019 budget, at the urging of Councilmen Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), Minority Leader Steve Matteo (R-Mid Island), and Borough President James Oddo for the new company.
Squad company members are trained at expert levels to respond to hazardous material and special rescue operations.
The money will fund the technical training for a five-person specialized company and about 30 new squad members, a brand new pumper-rescue truck, and auxiliary equipment needed to upgrade an existing Staten Island engine company into a specialized squad company.