Peekskill, NY - New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that the City of Peekskill Fire Department is receiving State Senate funding to purchase an array of new battery-operated emergency equipment to replace old and obsolete gasoline-powered equipment as part of the department’s mission to modernize its firefighting operations and lessen harmful emissions while realizing cost savings on fuel use.

The new equipment includes hydraulic rescue tools, thermal cameras, portable scene lighting, high-speed ventilation fans and rechargeable lithium battery units, all of which will be purchased with a $50,000 grant Harckham secured through the Senate’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program.  

The total cost of the equipment is $52,788.

“Firefighters and first responders require up-to-date equipment that help ensure their rapid response and deployment during emergencies,” Harckham said. “The fact that the Peekskill Fire Department has chosen to replace its old and non-compliant equipment that relied on fossil fuel-powered generators and compressors with battery-operated equipment shows that its leadership is focused on protecting residents and the environment while also providing a safer and healthier workplace for firefighters.”

Harckham added that substantial dollar savings will be realized as well by transitioning away from gas- and diesel-powered equipment and their more expensive fuel costs.

Up until recently, most of the firefighting equipment that fire departments have utilized for emergency responses has been powered by gasoline- and diesel-fueled combustion engines. But thanks to new battery technology, more equipment is now being manufactured that relies on clean energy sources.

“The money secured through the CREST grant is intended to purchase modernized battery-operated equipment which will be utilized during on-scene emergency operations,” said City of Peekskill Fire Department Chief James E. Seymour IV. “Not only will this equipment provide our firefighters with some of the most advanced technology in the industry, it also reduces emissions by replacing older more obsolete gas-powered equipment. Most importantly, it improves the on-scene safety of our members and the public.”

Chief Seymour noted that the “jaws of life” vehicle extrication equipment includes high-powered shears (also called a “cutter”) to cut through metal and a hydraulic spreader with two arms to create or widen an opening into a vehicle. Also, the thermal imaging cameras, an essential tool in today’s fire service, he said, give firefighters the ability to visually penetrate smoke and superheated gases as they search for the seat of the fire and unaccounted people trapped by fire.

The Peekskill Fire Department, which will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its first organized engine company in 2026, is comprised of 33 full-time career staff and 33 volunteer firefighters. In addition to being New York State Certified Firefighters, the department’s career staff are all trained New York State Emergency Medical Technicians. The department routinely responds to assist the Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps and also supports the corps with patient transport.

Since taking office in 2019, Harckham has delivered over $30 million in State Senate grant funding to grant funding to municipalities, first responders and nonprofits in the 40th Senate District.