Erie is one of the few waterfront cities of its size that doesn't have a boat for its fire department to use when responding to rescue calls and other emergencies on the water, according to city Fire Chief Guy Santone.
That's about to change.
The Erie Bureau of Fire on Wednesday took possession of a 27-foot Pro-Line water rescue boat that it is receiving free of charge from the Glade Volunteer Fire Department in Warren County. The 2005 vessel is valued at about $30,000 and comes with a trailer. It was purchased for Glade Township through the Northwestern Pennsylvania Emergency Response Group with federal Homeland Security funds, Santone said.
Glade Township recently offered the boat to any fire agency in the region interested in it because the volunteer department was not using it enough to justify keeping it, Santone said. He said he jumped at the chance to have it after consulting with the city administration.
"The boat's free. We just have to maintain it and fuel it," he said.
Mayor Joe Schember said Wednesday that city officials are very pleased to receive the rescue boat.
"We love our bay and lake but occasionally there are emergency situations that require rapid response," Schember said. "This boat, which came to the city at no cost, is in very good condition and it comes well outfitted with lights, siren and radios."
The boat will primarily serve the city fire bureau's dive team, which is made up of about 20 firefighters. Santone said U.S. Coast Guard Station Erie handles emergency calls on the water and the fire bureau's divers respond to incidents below the water. When the divers are called to incidents far from shore they must wait for the Coast Guard to take them to the scene. But sometimes the Coast Guard isn't available when they are responding to other calls or are out on training, he said.
"It can't hurt and it's going to help. Even if it saves one life, it's worth it," Santone said.
He said he also wants to put a pump on the boat for city firefighters to use when fighting a fire on Presque Isle Bay, adding another firefighting resource to the local waterways.
The Lake Shore Fire Department in Millcreek Township has a 32-foot water rescue and fire boat that is equipped with a fixed pump, Lake Shore Fire Chief Brian Salvatore said. A few other area volunteer fire departments with water rescue capabilities, including the Lake City Fire Company, have portable pumps that they put on their vessels if needed for an on-the-water fire call, said Marvin Waxham Jr. of the Lake City department.
Santone said he is looking for donated slip space to dock the new boat. For now, the vessel will stay at the city fire bureau's Marsh Street facility while Santone and his deputies develop a training plan for firefighters who will use the boat.
"We have talked about getting a boat, I think, my whole career," said Santone, who has been a member of the city fire bureau for 32 years. "The more resources the better."
Tim Hahn can be reached at 870-1731 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNhahn.
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