RVC FD Chief: Few Emergencies During Irene

The was on standby from 10 p.m. on Saturday to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, but the village was rather quiet in terms of emergency calls, fire officials said.

According to Fire Department Chief John Busching, the department responded to eight calls during the 11 hours they were on standby — a car fire, a tree falling on a Fonda Road home, three requests for ambulances and a few calls of electrical wires down. 

"Nothing really crazy at all," Bushing said of the eight alarms.

He added that there were no deaths or injuries during the storm.

Busching said that for the first time, two companies were relocated to other areas of the village due to the mandatory evacuation of those south of Merrick Road. Hose Company No. 1 on South Centre Avenue moved to Molloy College, and Engine Co. No. 4 on Driscoll Avenue relocated to Reliance on North Forest Avenue. 

He added that they decided to move one engine and ambulance from Hose Company No. 1 to Molloy College because of the problems caused by the March 2010 wind storm. Busching explained that several trees fell during that storm and blocked roads, which made it difficult to access streets north of Demott Avenue.

The chief noted that if the storm would have hit RVC harder, they had the equipment to respond quickly and efficiently. Over the last four years, he said, the department has added more chainsaws, water pumps, boats and water-resistant equipment.