Kentucky Fire Boat Gets Significant Upgrade

April 25--The Owensboro Fire Department's 26-foot firefighting boat has helped improve the department's ability to fight fires and conduct water rescues. But the boat had a drawback -- it was dangerous to operate in times of limited visibility, because the crews didn't know if they were in danger of being struck by a boat or barge they couldn't see or hear.

"When you're out on the water, you can't hear," said Battalion Chief David McCrady. Because barges that are pushed by tug boats are largely silent as they move through the water, the possibility existed of being struck by a barge. McCrady said while the department would call and ask that barge traffic by stopped during water emergencies, there was no way to know if every barge got the message.

New equipment, which was purchased through a federal grant and installed this month, will allow the rescue boat to both operate and conduct rescue operations in low-visibility conditions and better spot people or objects in the water. The department has also purchased and is planning to install sonar, which will allow firefighters to get clear images of objects on the river's bottom.

The sonar, radar and "forward-looking infrared" devices were purchased with a $43,000 port security grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. About $14,000 in matching funds were required to receive the grant.

Although the department received the grant in 2010, it took time to acquire the equipment and find vendors who could properly service the devices, McCrady said.

The Owensboro Riverport Authority helped the fire department receive the grant.

"If you don't show cooperation with other agencies in your area, you don't get the funding," McCrady said. "We worked with the county, and we worked with the Riverport Authority."

McCrady said the boat -- which can pump up to 1,000 gallons of river water per minute onto a fire -- enhances the department's goal of responding to river emergencies. With riverfront development attracting more people to the river, city Fire Chief Steve Mitchell said the boat will be on station for events such as the annual dragon boat races or the "Monsters on the Ohio" fishing tournament. The boat can also be stationed on the river on days when there is a lot of activity in Smothers Park, Mitchell said.

"There are times the Riverport Authority asks us to have it out," to be ready in case of an emergency, Mitchell said.

The boat's infrared scanner can spot a person-sized heat source in the water from a distance of 1,500 feet. McCrady said the infrared can spot heat from a small boat 4,200 feet away.

"We'll be able to see things we wouldn't have been able to see," McCrady said. The equipment can also show firefighters areas in the water where they have already searched.

"In the middle of the night, we can continue our search and know where we've been," McCrady said.

The sonar will allow firefighters to see the floor of the river. Previously, the department could see that there was an object on the river floor but could not see what that object was, McCrady said.

With the new sonar, "if there's a tree down there, it will show a tree," McCrady said. "If there's a body down there, it will show a body."

The boat will be sent to assist other agencies that are doing water searches, when the fire department has personnel available, McCrady said.

Firefighters train on the boat regularly, and it can be moved from Station One at Ninth and Locust streets and be ready to launch from English Park in about 8 minutes, McCrady said. A goal is to have a permanent station for the boat at the riverfront, McCrady said.

The boat furthers the department's goal of being able to respond to a wide variety of emergencies, McCrady said.

"Most of the guys realize the fire service is always evolving," McCrady said. "The fire department is looked upon to take on those jobs that don't fall onto another entity. We're always looking for, 'what are some ways we can better protect the community?' "

James Mayse, 691-7303, [email protected]

Copyright 2013 - Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.