Gear donated to Fire Brigade by GearUp Foundation

-John accepts one of the dozen complete air packs from GearUp's Founder Vincent Forras  (L-R)  Alberto DelaRosa, John Cann, Vincent Forras, Alberto Jr

Doug Carey, National park Service

News Release Date: March 5, 2013

Contact: Public Affairs Office, 917-299-3843

The Statue of Liberty Fire Brigade has received a donation of equipment from the Gear Up Foundation, including boots , coats, pants, hoods, gloves, helmets, Scott packs and cylinders, flashlights, and face masks.The donation replaces some of the Brigade's fire and rescue equipment and supplies stored on Liberty and Ellis Islands that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

"We sincerely appreciate the extraordinary efforts of this group of volunteers to gather needed equipment for our Brigade", said Superintendent Dave Luchsinger. "This equipment will help in training our staff for full certification and to replace personal protective gear lost in the storm."

The GearUp Foundation was established to collect and donate gear to fire departments worldwide that could put the gear to good use.Vincent Forras, one the co-founders of the foundation, reached out to a member of the Brigade after seeing a Facebook post describing the equipment losses at the park and offered to try and help.

"The Foundation worked with other fire organizations to gather up fire fighter equipment and supplies that included everything from fire boots to air packs to help replenish the Brigade's cache," said John Cann, the Brigade's Fire Coordinator.

Thankful for the donation, the fire crew is now going through the equipment and putting together complete outfits for each member of the brigade so that soon they can return to training with their Sandy Hook counterparts at Gateway National Recreation Area.

The equipment was delivered to the Statue of Liberty Fire Brigade by Vincent Forras, GearUp's Director of International Relations; his wife Monica Carrera; GearUp volunteers James Doyle and William Andrew from Dunellen, NJ, and Alberto DelaRosa and his son Alberto Jr. from Long Island.