LIRR Provides Pumper Tanks to Help Suffolk County Fire Departments Battle Brush Fires

Pumper Tanks Can Spray Brush, Refill Local F.D. Pumper Trucks

See Photos of LIRR Pumper Tank

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) President Rob Free was joined today by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine to inspect a pumper tank that is helping control brush fires in the county.

"I thank 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," said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.

"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," said LIRR President Rob Free. "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."

The LIRR's pumper tanks hold approximately 10,000 gallons of water and are staged in Ronkonkoma and Speonk during brush fire season. In normal conditions, the railroad uses the tankers to spray down right of ways, keeping brush moist and creating less of a fire hazard. They had already been shut down and stored for the season when a request from the Town of Southampton was received due to the threat of brush fires resulting from New York's severe drought. The LIRR deployed the pumper tank Tuesday night to spray water along the right of ways between Southampton and Speonk as a deterrent.

The pumper tanks are available to local fire departments and can fill their pumper trucks when fighting fires near LIRR tracks.