New City Ambulance's brand-new command car went into service for the very first time, responding to the major rescue operation at Rockland Lake State Park.

The vehicle, which is similar to other command cars used across emergency services, is designed to respond to scenes independently of an ambulance. Rather than transporting patients, it is brought to the scene to support the ambulance crew and the fire department, giving responders on the ground added backup during an emergency.

The call at Rockland Lake was the unit's first call since going into service. The command car was acquired about a month and a half to two months ago, but, as explained at the scene, it takes time to prepare a vehicle and get it officially in service.

The command car arrived alongside a large group of responders, including the Congers and Piermont Fire Departments, the Rockland Technical Rescue Team, Valley Cottage Ambulance and other units, as crews worked to rescue a patient after an ATV was left hanging from the mountainside, just about to fall into the Hudson River.

New City Ambulance's new addition is expected to strengthen the support given to its members and to the fire departments it works alongside.