Gowanda receives grant for new rescue truck

On Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Catharine Young (R,C,I-57th District) donated a capital grant of $200,000 to the village of Gowanda to put towards a brand new fire rescue truck.

The truck, which is specifically designed to handle rescues in Zoar Valley, will carry specialized repelling and white water rescue equipment used by specially trained members of the Gowanda Fire Department on an average of 130 rescue calls a year.

The total cost for the custom built unit is $430,000 and will replace a 29-year-old truck that is no longer reliable.

"This new rescue truck will be used on every non-EMS rescue call the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department responds to," Sen. Young said. "Securing grant funding like this is the best way to ensure our volunteer first responders have the equipment they need without imposing an added burden on local property taxpayers."

While the fire department has rescued many lost hikers, stranded kayakers and rafters at Zoar Valley, there have been at least seventh deaths in the last 15 years.

"The Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department has been responding to calls over the years in an old, much needed replaced, rescue truck. Our rescue truck responds to all calls including, auto accidents, fire calls and emergencies in Zoar Valley," Fire Chief Nick Crassi stated.

Gowanda's fire department doesn't just service the village either, it also helps the towns of Persia and Collins on many occasions.

"The Gowanda Fire Department Special Rescue Team is the only team of its type in the immediate vicinity of the gorge," Sen. Young said. "The men and women who volunteer as firefighters and first responders are true heroes. They love their communities so much, they sacrifice time away from family and friends and risk their own health and safety to protect others. They need and deserve to have the proper equipment."