New York to Deploy 19 Foam Trailers to Combat Crude Oil Spills

 

New York State will deploy 19 trailers equipped with a firefighting foam substance to local fire departments and county hazardous materials teams throughout the state for use when combating fires and spills involving crude oil or other ignitable liquids.

“This new equipment will help ensure first responders in these communities are prepared in the event of an emergency involving crude oil, or other highly flammable substances,” Governor Cuomo said. “Today's action is the latest in a multi-pronged effort to prepare state and local authorities in the event of a crude oil disaster."

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will strategically place the 19 foam trailers near population centers located along major rail lines and waterways throughout the state. It has assigned the first six trailers to jurisdictions with the most limited resources - Essex County and the Amsterdam, Buffalo, Kingston, Newburgh and Utica fire departments. The remaining trailers will be deployed to other areas which have some existing resources, including the Albany, Binghamton, Elmira, Mayville, Olean, Oneonta, Plattsburgh, Rochester, Saratoga, Syracuse, and Watertown fire departments, as well as Rockland County and the New York State Stockpile in Guilderland. It is anticipated that all units will be deployed and operational by early 2016. To view a map of deployment locations, click here.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner John Melville said, “Today’s announcement supports the state’s ongoing efforts to increase its capacity to respond to any crude oil incident. Foam trailer firefighting equipment gives first responders the best technology to fight crude oil fires and prevent the flames from spreading to a larger area. I applaud the Governor’s commitment to helping local fire departments and hazardous materials teams acquire the needed equipment to help keep our communities safe.”

Each trailer includes a supply of foam concentrate along with the equipment necessary to produce and apply foam to an ignitable liquid fire or spill, requiring only an ample water supply for foam production. These trailers will support and supplement existing local level foam capacity and provide the Class B foam capability necessary to address incidents involving crude oil and other ignitable liquids. When mixed with water, Class B Foam forms a blanket over ignitable liquids, suppressing blazes and preventing them from spreading or reigniting.

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services procured the trailers in support of the New York State Foam Task Force. Formed at Governor Cuomo’s direction, the New York State Foam Task Force helps bring leading-edge firefighting equipment to firefighters to address the challenges posed by the transportation of crude oil by rail and water across New York. The Foam Task Force is one component of a larger effort by state agencies in conjunction with local, county and federal partners to improve planning, preparedness and response capabilities to incidents involving crude oil.

In addition to providing and maintaining the trailers, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will train fire department and hazardous materials teams on how to deploy and operate this equipment, conduct in-service training programs, coordinate regularly scheduled exercises and maintain additional response capabilities designed to augment the local responders.

Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo