North Tonawanda – New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad today, Friday, May 23, 2025, announced that he secured $125,000 in state funding for capital upgrades to North Tonawanda Fire Engine 4 and an additional $80,000 to cover the purchase of a new Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tool.

Engine 4, a 73-year-old fire stationhouse on Vandervoort Street, is one of five facilities serving the North Tonawanda Fire Department and the city’s six volunteer fire companies. The NTFD employs 39 professional firefighters and 15 volunteer firefighters, and it answers 3,800 calls a year.

The $125,000 grant from Conrad was used to renovate and reinforce the station’s floor, which was warped and crumbling. The old floor was removed, a new steel pan reinforcement was installed, and the concrete was repoured and painted.

A separate, $80,000 grant is being used to replace the department’s outdated Jaws of Life. This is a tool for extricating people who are trapped in vehicles following accidents, meaning injured patients can receive vital medical treatment faster. Estimates indicate that since its invention in 1961, this tool has saved more than 24,000 lives across the world.

Assemblyman Bill Conrad said, “As chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Volunteer Emergency Services, I have the privilege of interacting with fire and rescue personnel, both volunteer and professional, from all across New York State. Clearly, there are few callings as sacred as that of a first responder. I remain in awe of our firefighters and the uncommon courage it takes to do what they do, despite the grave dangers they face, and to live stoically with what they see and experience. This support for the North Tonawanda Fire Department and its personnel not only represents a most worthy investment in the well-being and safety of our neighbors and properties, it is, I hope, a public show of gratitude for the service they so selflessly and humbly provide, day after day.”

North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said, “We are incredibly grateful to Assemblyman Bill Conrad for securing this vital funding for our North Tonawanda Fire Department. Reinforcing the floor at Engine 4 will ensure the long-term stability of one of our essential fire stations, and the new Jaws of Life will provide our first responders with the tools they need to save lives in the most critical moments. This investment in our city’s emergency services not only strengthens our infrastructure but also enhances the safety of our residents and firefighters alike. Thank you to Assemblyman Conrad and New York State for their continued support of North Tonawanda.”

North Tonawanda Council President Joe Lavey Jr. said, “I want to thank Assemblyman Conrad for his help in getting the City of North Tonawanda the funding for the floor repair at Engine 4's station, as well as the funds for the much-needed updated vehicle extrication tools. These state-of-the-art tools will be a tremendous asset to the fire department. Having tools that are cordless, have stronger cutting power and require less manpower to operate them, will make for faster extrication and treatment for the patients.”

North Tonawanda Fire Chief Doug Orlowski said, “On behalf of the North Tonawanda Fire Department, I would like to thank Assemblyman Conrad for his tremendous dedication to the fire service and the residents of North Tonawanda. His ability to provide funding for these two projects has enabled us to make repairs and replace outdated equipment that would not have been possible without him. Engine 4’s quarters is the only station that is in the downtown NT district and provides a vital service to the area. The station is also the busiest fire station in the department and responds to approximately 1,500 incidents per year, which amounts to 39% of the department’s calls for service. The extrication tools are a needed upgrade and will now be battery operated. This makes the tools easier and faster to use along with decreasing our carbon footprint by not needing to run a gas-powered unit to provide power to the tools. Thank you, Assemblyman Conrad, for all that you do for your constituents!”