Ohio Fire District Upgrades Water-Based Emergency Services

The East Side Fire District, located on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene in Harrison, Idaho, took delivery of a custom-built Lake Assault Boats fireboat. Stationed at a new dock and enclosed moorage facility, the new craft offers performance improvements in water pumping capability, response time, and water-based rescue operations. The boat was purchased using cash reserves.

The 32-foot craft is powered via twin Yamaha 300-hp outboard engines that are controlled through a joystick piloting system, and the modified V-hull design features a 72-inch hydraulically operated bow door. Its firefighting system includes a 1,500-gpm single-stage pump powered by a dedicated 6L V-8 engine, a rooftop-mounted TFT monitor, multiple discharges, and firefighting foam capabilities.

The fully enclosed nine-foot-long pilothouse includes 78 inches of headroom, an integrated helm station (with dual 12-inch touchscreens), bench seating, and a wide assortment of storage compartments. The craft is equipped with an array of advanced electronics, including a thermal imaging camera, sonar, radar, and GPS navigation systems.

“The investment in our new fireboat and moorage facility significantly upgrades our emergency response capabilities — both on the lake and in supplying water for land-based fire suppression operations,” said East Side Fire District Fireboat Captain Norb Twillmann.