STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island's first squad company will begin operating by the end of the year, the FDNY announced Friday.

The $3.1 million unit will operate out of Engine Co. 154 in Travis, and will enable crews to handle various incidents, such as fires, high-angle rescues, building collapses, confined space rescues, transportation accidents and hazardous material emergencies, officials said.

The unit could also assist in construction accidents as well as injuries on projects at the borough's bridges, said Chief of Department James E. Leonard.

"It gives us so much more capabilities to protect the citizens," Leonard said. "They give us much more highly trained firefighters."

"There's so much building going on Staten Island and the location of this company will give us greater access to the area and all over Staten Island," he added.

Prior to the borough squad, Staten Island relied on Rescue Co. 5 and squad companies in Brooklyn, officials said. The new squad will be the FDNY's eighth squad in the city.

Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) and Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-North Shore) were instrumental in bringing the squad to Staten Island.

"This is a great development," said Borelli, who has been working on getting the unit since 2004. "We're going to need this advanced capability."

Titone pointed to the commercial development on the South and West shores, like the Amazon warehouse, as well as the Empire Outlets on the North Shore, as a need for the specialized unit.

"This squad will be serving the entire Island, as more time progresses, the more needs will arise for the use of a squad."