Babylon Gets $3M To Turn Old Motel Into Firefighter Museum: Hochul

BABYLON, NY — The Town of Babylon will convert a run-down motel in Deer Park into a volunteer firefighter museum thanks to $3 million from New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

Babylon town officials will work with the Babylon Fire Chiefs Association to repurpose the abandoned motel to "preserve and share the stories of firefighters past, present and future."

In a press conference, Hochul said the museum will "tell the stories that otherwise would have been obliterated by a fire, pick up the pieces and talk about what the firefighters see when they arrive at a scene, and preserve local history."

"And — most of all, again, to me, I've said it before — we have to inspire the next generation to follow in your footsteps. That is everything to me. And, that's why a firefighter museum is so important," she said.

Hochul added that it will educate the community and serve as a gathering place for local residents.

The governor also announced $300,000 in funding for capital improvements at the Suffolk County Fire Academy to upgrade training equipment and ensure that firefighters have access to state-of-the-art facilities to serve their communities.

"This funding will make a real difference for our firefighters and the communities they serve," said Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer. "We're proud to stand with Governor Hochul in supporting our local heroes."

According to the governor's office, New York State is home to more than 1,600 volunteer fire departments, with nearly 91,000 volunteer firefighters serving their communities. On Long Island, volunteers run nearly all of the 179 departments, saving local taxpayers billions of dollars each year.