Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of the United States' most active inland water ports, has been serviced by multiple fireboats.
On December 16, 2016, the city placed an order for a modern fireboat, when recent waterfront fires, in 2015 and 2016, couldn't be fought properly without a fireboat.
From 1956 through 1973 the city operated the C.D. Scully. In 1973 Fire Chief Thomas Kennelly argued that the city didn't need a fireboat, that land-based crew and equipment could handle all fires. However, in November 2015 a luxury pleasurecraft caught fire, in the middle of a river, and even with its ladder trucks cranes at full extension, water from their hoses could not reach the boat. In May 2016 a large riverfront property went up in flames. Land-based crews could not get enough water pressure to fight the flames, where the powerful pumps of a fireboat could have provided the needed extra water pressure. So, on December 16, 2016, the city announced a contract to purchase a new, modern fireboat.
The new vessel will be christened the Sophie Masloff, in honor of Pittsburgh's first female mayor. It will enter operational service in September 2017, after enough firefighters have been trained.
References
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Bob Allen (2015-11-07). "Boat Catches Fire On Ohio River, Prompts Discussion About Fire Boat Necessity". CBS News. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
Meanwhile, firefighters tried to run hoses and spray water from a ladder truck, but the burning craft was too far out in the water.
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Bob Bauder (2016-05-13). "City of Pittsburgh eyes fireboat costing $400K". Tribune Live. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
Pittsburgh retired its last fireboat — christened the C.D. Scully in honor of former Mayor Cornelius D. Scully — and sold it in 1973 to Tampa for $50,000.
- ^ "$50,000 offer for city fireboat". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 6. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
- ^ "Powerful little squirt". Pittsburgh Press. 1957-06-02. p. 126. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
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"With the Editor: Fire, the real danger" (PDF). Fire Engineering. March 1951. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
What proponents of this and like civil defense measures to dump money into civil defense schemes of doubtful and uncertain value apparently fail to appreciate is that (1) the gravest threat in any modern enemy attack on this nation is fire (from atom bomb, high explosive bomb and incendiary bomb) ; and (2) Fire is the most serious threat to our fire defense preparations—our defense production and stockpiling!
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Bob Allen (2015-11-07). "Boat Catches Fire On Ohio River, Prompts Discussion About Fire Boat Necessity". CBS News. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
The last time the city had a fire boat was in 1973, but at the time, the administration though the C.D. Scully wasn't needed and it was sold. Ralph Sicuro, president of the Pittsburgh Firefighters Union, wonders if the city is prepared to fight a fire on the river on a larger scale.
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Brian O'Neill (2016-06-01). "That $400,000 city fireboat serves a fluid population". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
Emergency response is the city's, not the county's responsibility. That's true for any municipality, but this boat will be able to cover more than 24 river miles without encountering any locks and dams. From the Point, it can go 6.7 miles up the Allegheny to Aspinwall, 11.3 miles up the Mon to Braddock and 6.2 miles down the Ohio to Emsworth.
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Lexi Belculfine (2016-05-12). "City wants to buy fireboat for riverfront safety". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
The city gave up an inactive fireboat in 1973, budget director and voting member Bill Urbanic noted during the meeting.
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"Pittsburgh considering purchase of fire boat". WPXI. 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
Target 11 has learned that the city's equipment leasing authority has allocated $400,000 to buy a fire boat.
- Jonathan D. Silver (2016-12-16). "Pittsburgh accepts $542,750 bid from Wisconsin firm to build fireboat". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
- "Pittsburgh's brand new fire boat". WTAE. 2016-12-18. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
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"Fire boat will soon be cruising Pittsburgh's rivers". Pittsburgh: WPXI. 2016-12-16. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
The boat, which will be built by Wisconsin-based Lake Assault Boats, will have the capacity to pump 3,000 of water per minute and supply water from the rivers to on-shore fire-fighting operations. It will also be equipped with sonar and forward looking infrared cameras, according to the release.
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Bob Bauder (2017-08-03). "Pittsburgh's new fire boat is powerful enough to spray a bridge fire". Tribune Live. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
A fire on the Liberty Bridge in September cinched the city's decision to purchase the $540,000 fireboat from Wisconsin-based Lake Assault Boats. The fire sparked by a contractor's welding torch damaged the steel structure and nearly caused a collapse while firefighters were on the span.