Catskill Firefighters christen “Tower of Power” truck
New ladder truck is largest in Greene
The Daily Mail
July 20, 2009

CATSKILL—Firefighters from area departments formally welcomed the Catskill Fire Department’s “Tower of Power” tower 3-15 truck Sunday afternoon with a champagne christening and a traditional wet-down at the department station on Central Avenue.

The 2008 Sutphen SP95 Aerial Platform ladder truck is equipped to respond to any emergencies at Catskill’s three nursing homes, two school campuses, shopping centers and Greene County Office Building on Main Street and will be able to service any future businesses or facilities, Catskill Fire Chief Jack Ormerod said during his remarks to a crowd gathered for the celebration at the station.

“This truck is going to be top-notch for this community,” he said.

The truck, named the “Tower of Power” by a third-grade class at Catskill Elementary School, is the first truck of its kind, and the largest truck, to be purchased by a fire department in Greene County, Ormerod said.

Ormerod thanked a number of individuals including his officers, Catskill Village Trustee Patrick McCullouch, who served on the truck committee, and John Rideout, an engineer with Sutphen who has been helping the department with truck maintenance.

He also thanked the City of Hudson Fire Department for covering Catskill calls during the roughly three months while Catskill firefighters readied the tower truck for service and completed truck a training course.

Tower 3-15 was purchased last winter to replace a 1986 ladder truck. That truck was sold to the Athens Fire Department, and joined trucks from West Athens-Limestreet, the City of Hudson and Greenport departments for the wet-down.

After Ormerod spoke, some of Catskill elected officials thanked Catskill’s 58 active duty volunteer firefighters for their work and dedication.

McCulloch recounted the process of finding the truck among eight others and securing more than $600,000 to purchase the truck late last year.

“As the Village continues to grow, so must the Fire Department.” he said. “We need to give them the tools to serve the community.”

County Legislator Karen Deyo (R-Catskill) said that all Catskill residents should appreciate the time the firefighters give to protect the community. She wished the department luck with the new truck.

“Your volunteer work does not go unrecognized,” she said.

Fire Company President Paul Overbaugh said he was proud of how the department has come together since Catskill’s three former companies were consolidated in 2003.

After the speeches concluded, Second Assistant Chief Paul Ormerod Jr. christened the truck, breaking a bottle of champagne on its front bumper.

He said the new truck has already responded to recent fires in Catskill including one at the Catskill Elks Lodge, in May, and a more recent blaze in an apartment building on Thompson Street.

Firefighters on those calls were able to get above the flames by using the bucket on the truck’s 95-foot arm, he said.

Refreshments, including two cakes topped with pictures of the new tower truck “printed” in icing, were served after the wet-down.