Wet Down

The Rombout Fire Company Saturday dedicated three new vehicles – a pumper, aerial platform and chief’s truck. The vehicles cost over $1.2 million. The two new trucks replaced retired vehicles that were in service since 1986 and 1990.

The company has a total of nine pieces of apparatus and some 50 active volunteers, said Chief John Lucariello.

“Enough is never enough. We could have 100 members but if they’re not around during the day, or around certain times of the day, it’s really no purpose,” he said. “We get by with what we can. If we need help, we call the Village of Fishkill, which is right down the road.”

Kenneth Scofield is a former fire chief and Rombout member for 35 years – he’s been a volunteer fireman for 53 years in total – and he said the times have changed. During his time, volunteer firefighting was a family affair.

“My father belonged back in the 30s and 40s, I have an older brother that joined, a younger brother, my son, and three nephews,” he said. “Back then, it used to be the fathers and sons; now it’s the husbands and wives, but it’s not the way it used to be.”