Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Oceanside Fire Department is strengthening its water rescue capabilities after Nassau County Legislator Debra Mule secured over $17,000 in Community Revitalization Project (CRP) grant funding for new personal protective equipment for firefighters.
The grant, unanimously approved by the Nassau County Legislature, will be used to purchase sets of water personal protective equipment (PPE), including rescue suits and related gear, to help firefighters respond more effectively to water emergencies.
“Oceanside is a coastal waterfront community with seven miles of shoreline,” Oceanside Fire Department Chief of Department Sean B. Lynch said. “Due to this, the Oceanside Fire Department on occasion responds to water emergencies both offshore and also inland from urban flooding caused by storm surge.”
For Oceanside Fire Chief Kevin Klein, the timing of the funding comes as the department prepares to take delivery of a new marine rescue boat that will significantly improve its ability to respond to emergencies on the water.
The 26-foot boat, expected to arrive this year, will be the largest vessel the department has ever operated and will remain in the water at the town marina, allowing firefighters to respond more quickly to incidents.
“We are really dramatically improving our capabilities for water rescue this year,” Klein said. “Between the Board of Fire Commissioners helping us get this new boat and the legislator’s grant, it all came together perfectly.”
Oceanside’s geography makes water response a critical part of the department’s operations. The community is surrounded by water on three sides and has experienced firsthand the dangers of severe storms and flooding.
“We learned a very tough lesson post-Sandy that we’re not immune to that type of damage and loss,” Klein said. “Before Sandy, we had localized flooding plenty of times, but nothing ever to that extent. Even the guys who were in the department 40 or 50 years at that time said they had never seen anything like it.”
Following Hurricane Sandy, the department evaluated its response capabilities and identified areas where it could improve. While Oceanside currently has two smaller flat-bottom boats, Klein said they were designed primarily for flood response and were not ideal for rougher tidal waters.
The department’s new boat will allow firefighters to better respond to emergencies involving vessels, swimmers and other water-related incidents throughout the surrounding waterways, including areas near Island Park, Baldwin and East Rockaway.
The new PPE purchased through Mule’s grant will outfit the department’s marine unit with updated rescue suits, gloves, boots and personal flotation devices.
Mule said her own experience with Hurricane Sandy reinforced the importance of ensuring first responders have the necessary tools.
“As someone who experienced the wrath of Superstorm Sandy firsthand, I know how important it is to equip our first responders with the tools they need to respond effectively to floods and other water emergencies,” Mule said in a statement.
Klein said grant funding has become increasingly important as the cost of equipment continues to rise.
“Anytime we can get grants from our elected officials, it’s a win-win for everybody,” he said. “It allows us to continue improving our ability to protect our members and our community.”
