TIVOLI, NY – In July of 2019, the Tivoli Fire Department caught fire. They lost an ambulance, a fire engine, and thousands of dollars in equipment. On Sunday, September 26th, Chief Marc Hildenbrand and his department welcomed the community back to the restored firehouse.

The brief afternoon ceremony also served as a christening or “wetdown” of their new fire engine and ambulance. Several neighboring departments joined members of the Tivoli community and elected officials to celebrate the department’s rise from the ashes.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, once the mayor of Tivoli, has been associated with the fire department for 25 years. “Tivoli has always been a community that gets back up on its feet but what this department has done is truly remarkable. Not only did they rebuild their firehouse and are christening a new fire truck, but they are welcoming new members. They are one of the few volunteer companies that are growing with significant numbers, and is really an example of rebirth and investing in public safety.”

Hildenbrand remarked that the department has started a capital campaign to raise $3 million to build a new firehouse and emergency shelter that will meet the needs of the growing department while providing a safe haven for the community in times of need. Tivoli Mayor Joel Griffith stood with village trustees and Hildebrand on Sunday and pledged to support the plan. “We’re going to help this fire department raise all of the money they need to build the new firehouse.” The announcement was met with a round of enthusiastic applause.

Chief Hildenbrand thanked everyone that attended and took a moment to praise the Germantown Fire Department and Mobile Life Support Services. The Germantown firefighters lent Tivoli a fire engine and Mobile Life loaned an ambulance until the department could get their own equipment. “Today marks the end of one chapter and the start of another,” Chief Hildenbrand told Mid-Hudson News.