LIRR Provides Pumper Tanks to Local Fire Departments

MTA LIRR loan pumper tanks to Suffolk County fire departments.

Courtesy of the MTA

SPEONK, N.Y. - The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) provided pumper tanks to Suffolk County fire departments in order to battle brush fires.

According to the MTA, LIRR President Rob Free joined Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine to “inspect a pumper tank that is helping to control brush fires in the county.”

The pumper tanks from LIRR hold around 10,000 gallons of water and are in Ronkonkoma and Speonk during brush fire season. Normally, LIRR uses the tankers to spray down right of ways. This keeps the brush moist and therefore less of a fire hazard. The MTA says the tankers were shut down and stored for the season when it received a request from the Town of Southampton for the tanks. New York and the surrounding area has been experiencing a severe drought. The pumper tanks are available to local fire departments, and they can fill the trucks when fighting fires near the LIRR right of way.

LIRR President Rob Free said, “The LIRR is part of every community on Long Island, and we are happy to do our part during this challenging time to keep firefighters, our customers and local residents safe. . . With severe drought conditions persisting in our region, the operation of our water pumper tank car helps prevent brush fires from starting along our right of way.”

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine thanked the MTA and the LIRR “for their support and commitment to protecting the residents of Suffolk County. As we have faced the threat of wildfires, knowing this equipment is available is a great comfort to our first responders.”