LifeNet Landing Pad Poured In Pittstown
by Doug La Rocque
Members of the Pittstown Fire Department and volunteers and supporters from several area businesses gathered in the chilly morning air on Monday, September 21, to pour a concrete landing pad for air ambulances to land next to the Pittstown Firehouse. This is the first such pad in Rensselaer County and will serve Pittstown and several adjoining towns. The Bennington Rescue Squad will often transport into New York to meet the LifeNet helicopter as well.
The landing pad was the brainchild of Pittstown Fire Commissioner Paul McNaughton and other members of the department, who worked hard to make it all happen, with the materials needed all donated by supporting businesses. Callanan Industries supplied the concrete, Wiley Brothers Hardware gave the wire mesh, JMD Concrete provided the labor and needed tools, and Campbell Service and Supply provided all the gravel that was needed.
Commissioner McNaughton says the fire department has several light stanchions with a flashing red light on them, to guide the helicopters in for any needed night landings. A landing site for the LifeNet helicopters is often needed throughout Rensselaer County, and finding a landing site can sometimes be tricky, because of trees, power wires, proximity to buildings, etc.
For the northeastern portion of the county, that will soon no longer be problem. According to Commissioner McNaughton, the site should be ready for use in about 20 days.