ACCESS AT ALL TIMES
State grant will create permanent emergency boat launch
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » Boaters and kayakers on the Mohawk River will be safer next summer thanks to a $50,000 state grant presented to the Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday by state Sen. Jim Tedisco.
The grant will be used by the fire department to build a 28-foot-long cement boat launch on the river with removable docking facilities. The new boat launch will make permanent the temporary one used for many years which consists of large crushed stones.
The launch area, which is restricted to only emergency services, is off a town-owned access road on the edge of the stateowned Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve.
Tedisco, R-Glenville, made the announcement Wednesday at the launch site on the banks of the river next to the department’s 24-foot-long Carolina skiff with its 90 horsepower engine. He was joined by a dozen members of the fire department, town Supervisor Philip Barrett, Highway Department Superintendent Dahn Bull, and town Open Space Coordinator Jen Viggiani.
The effort to improve the local emergency rescue operations and response time took on added meaning in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Manhattan. Tedisco mentioned the incident in his remarks.
Noting that there are many kinds of incidents that generate requests for first responders, fires, auto accidents, air incidents, or chemical spills, Tedisco said waterways need to be included also.
“This boat is important for those who recreate and utilize this waterway,” he said. “Whether they’re traveling for recreation or commercial purposes or whether they’re out there just recreating, swimming or fishing, accidents takes place. We have to have the first
responders get immediate access.”
The new, permanent launch, he said, would guarantee 24/7 river access for the fire department, a situation that is now hampered at times by silt from the river. When the fire department boat can’t be launched from the Clifton Park site they must race to a Halfmoon launch site where they may not get immediate access either.
“We have to guarantee they have access,” Tedisco said. “There is no sense having a boat without an opportunity to help those boaters who may be stalled or swimmers in need unless they have access. This grant will provide that access.”
The grant money comes from New York State’s, States and Municipal Facilities grant program. The funds are in the capital budget bill which is administered by the Dormitory Authority.
Kevin Bowman, the chairman of the fire department’s board of commissioners, said with more recreating taking place on the river the number of calls the department receives for water rescues continues to increase.
“Emergency situations don’t make appointments,” Bowman said. “When seconds count, this dock will pay its way in helping us in saving lives and property.”
Vischer Ferry Fire Department Chief Phil Brousseau added that the launch and dock would reduce response times to river calls by half.
“Cutting the response time means more people will be helped. If there is a fire on a boat we can get to the boat quicker,” he said. “As the use of the river increases more accidents will happen and as they happen people expect the fire department to be the first responders there. The money used here for this launch will benefit not only the people of Saratoga County and Clifton Park but all the people who use the river as a place of recreation or work.”
Town Supervisor Barrett added that the Vischer Ferry Fire Department has a very diverse set of responsibilities.
“They have the training, the expertise, and they have the equipment,” he said. “What they need is better access so they can more efficiently respond to calls within this immediate area. There are more and more people on a regular basis recreating here. Giving the department the fire department the ability to serve those folks quickly and efficiently is a commitment we need to make as elected officials.”
A timeline for the project is 60 to 90 days. Plans call for starting construction on the launch early next year. The Vischer Ferry Fire Department has had 12 calls in 2017 that required a river response.
Other area fire departments with boats and access to the Mohawk River are the West Crescent Fire Department in Halfmoon, and fire departments in the towns of Colonie, and Niskayuna.