North Kingstown, Rhode Island began operating a new 37 feet (11 m) fireboat named Marine 5 in 2013.[1][2] The vessel was partially paid for by a FEMA Port Security Grant.[3][4] The North Kingstown Fire Department is part of the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force.[5]

Design

The vessel is a catamaran, manufactured by Moose Boats, of Petaluna, California.[4] She is propelled by waterjets and can project 1250 gallons per minute. She is equipped with advanced sensors, including forward looking infrared and sidescan sonar.

Operational history

The vessel received 42 calls for service in 2013, 87 calls in 2014 and about 100 in 2015.[4][6] In 2016 the vessel responded to a call to search for a lobster fisherman who went overboard offshore North Kingstown. In July 2016 she provided emergency medical care to a recreational boater who suffered a heart attack.

On May 26, 2015, regional firefighters prepared for the potential of a crash-landing when an Air National Guard C-130 had to make an emergency landing at Quonset Airport.[7] The mobilization included mobilizing Marine 5.

On August 6, 2016, the Coast Guard and the Task Force were called out for a fire on a pleasure craft, off Hog Island.[8] Marine 5 extinguished the fire.

References

  1. ↑ "Marine Operations". North Kingstown. Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21. The Moose boat Model M2 is a 860hp. jet boat that is designed for search and rescue. The boat is equipped with radar, side scan sonar, and Flir (thermal imaging). On the firefighting side it has foam capability (30gal.) and capable of 1250 gpm though two deck monitors.
  2. ↑ Peter D. Connerton Sr. (2016-08-09). "PSGP – NFD Fire/Rescue Boat Maintenance Costs & other Questions" (PDF). Newport, Rhode Island. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-14. In Newport's primary area (Marine District M) the responding municipalities are as follows; Newport, Jamestown, North Kingstown, Middletown, Portsmouth and if needed Warwick. Of the five initial agencies committed North Kingstown is the only boat with significant Firefighting capabilities.
  3. ↑ Samantha Turner (2013-01-30). "Council Uneasy About Purchase of New Fire Boat: The purchase of a new fire boat with grant money left some councilors uneasy". Patch (Rhode Island). Archived from the original on 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-14. The biggest ticket item is a new fire boat, costing $681,000. The new unit would replace the current boat, which is 22 years old.
  4. 1 2 3 Sean Flynn (2016-08-20). "North Kingstown fire captain describes fireboat's capabilities". Newport Daily News. Archived from the original on 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-14. The town purchased the 37-foot Moose catamaran, manufactured in Petaluma, Calif., in 2013 with substantial help from a federal port security grant. The Newport Fire Department would like to purchase the same type of boat with some modifications -- with the same type of grant -- a proposal that will be before the City Council on Wednesday.
  5. ↑ James Bessette (2017-02-24). "Bill seeks funding for fire boat maintenance". Newport Daily News. Archived from the original on 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2018-05-14. Rep. Julie Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) introduced House Bill 5288 Jan. 27. It would provide fire departments in 16 coastal communities that are part of the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force, including North Kingstown and Narragansett, with various monetary amounts for 'the maintenance of boats that provide services to Narragansett Bay.'
  6. ↑ "North Kingstown responds to record number of boat fires - North Kingstown, RI". Safe-T-Alarm Marine. 2016-08-17. Archived from the original on 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-14. The North Kingstown Fire department has responded to 7 boat fires and 72 distress alarms, making 2016 the worst year they have on record for accidents. And summer isn't over. Three years ago their fire boat responded to only 42 calls.
  7. ↑ Mark Schieldrop (2015-05-26). "C-130 Lands Safely in Quonset after Landing Gear Failure". Patch. Archived from the original on 2016-02-10. Along with an armada of fire apparatus and rescue vehicles, North Kingstown launched its Marine 5 unit to prepare for the possibility of a crash landing.
  8. ↑ "Coast Guard responds to boat fire in Narragansett Bay". The Newport Buzz. 2016-08-06. Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force responded to the scene with teams aboard three fire boats, including a North Kingstown fire boat crew who extinguished the blaze.
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