Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari, Deputy Borough President James Molinaro and Department of Design and Construction Commissioner (DDC) Kenneth Holden to break ground on a new 20,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Firehouse/EMS facility located on Rossville Avenue and Veteran's Road East in the Rossville section of Staten Island. The new facility - which is the first of its kind to be opened in the city - will help provide both improved fire suppression services and emergency medical ambulance service to the communities of Rossville, Huguenot, Pleasant Plains and Tottenville.

"This new state-of-the art facility will provide important emergency services to these growing Staten Island communities," Mayor Giuliani said. "The Fire Department is sensitive to meeting the emergency needs of growing neighborhoods and the construction of this new firehouse and EMS station will mean better emergency services and response to this area. The new facility will have a direct impact on the people it serves by protecting and saving lives."

"Due to the growing population coupled with enormous economic development in this area of Staten Island over the last few years, the Fire Department has seen an increased need for additional fire suppression support as well as the reallocation of emergency medical resources and EMS Support within this neighborhood," Fire Commissioner Von Essen said. "This new firehouse and EMS station will allow us to continue to effectively and efficiently serve the people of this community by helping to provide better Fire and EMS service and improved response times. By supporting this project, Mayor Giuliani continues to demonstrate his commitment to the Fire Department, its mission, its future, and the citizens that it serves."

DDC Commissioner Kenneth Holden said, "This is an important project because the work of the professionals who will use this facility has a direct benefit to this growing community. We are proud to continue our work with the Fire Department as they meet their mission of providing rapid response to people in time of need. DDC's mission is to build and rebuild New York and this project is a prime example of Mayor Giuliani's commitment to the public."

Currently, fire companies servicing this area respond from E164/L84 on Drumgoole Road or E151/L76 on Amboy Road, while ambulances servicing this area are turned out from a station at Seaview Hospital. The new station will provide enhanced fire and ambulance coverage and help to reduce response times throughout the borough. Construction of the new $9 million facility is expected to be complete by spring of 2003, and will eventually be home to the first new Engine Company on Staten Island in 30 years. The facility will house 5 Fire Department EMS units and approximately 90 firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and supervisory personnel.

In 1996 when the Fire Department and EMS merged, there were 16 EMS stations throughout the City and since then 10 stations have been added. At present, there are 13 more stations in development of which, three are currently in construction.

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