Crime & Safety

Sunken Fireboat Recovered From Chesapeake Bay Near Gibson Island: Officials

The fireboat that sank last week was recovered from the Chesapeake Bay. The fire department is still investigating why the vessel sank.

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The Anne Arundel County Fire Department said it on Saturday refloated Fireboat 41, which sank on March 28 in the Chesapeake Bay near Gibson Island. The boat is pictured above as crews worked to recover it.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department said it on Saturday refloated Fireboat 41, which sank on March 28 in the Chesapeake Bay near Gibson Island. The boat is pictured above as crews worked to recover it. (Courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department)

GIBSON ISLAND, MD — The Anne Arundel County Fire Department announced that it recovered its sunken fireboat from the Chesapeake Bay over the weekend. Officials are still investigating what caused the boat to sink last week near Gibson Island.

Five firefighters were on hand to help refloat the boat throughout Saturday. TowBoatUS led the recovery, which started at 10:13 a.m.

Sunken Fireboat

The vessel, known as Fireboat 41, started taking on water around 3 p.m. on March 28.

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Four firefighters from Station 19 in Cape St. Claire were using the boat for training. The team was borrowing the vessel from Station 41 in Avalon Shores because Cape St. Claire's Fireboat 19 was out of service for maintenance.

The crew radioed for help when the boat started sinking. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police was the first on the scene.

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By that time, the firefighters had been in the water for about 10 minutes. They all wore cold-water survival suits and life jackets during that span.

Police pulled the crew out of the water. Anne Arundel County Fire Department medics evaluated the crewmembers onshore and released them safely.

These fire departments also responded:

  • Annapolis Fire Department
  • Baltimore City Fire Department
  • Baltimore County Fire Department

The Maryland State Police and the United States Coast Guard lent additional assistance.

Officials pulled a sunken fireboat, pictured above, from the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday. (Courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department)

Rough Waters

Waters were rough the day the boat sank.

The National Weather Service issued a gale warning that morning for most of central Maryland. Warnings are the most serious weather announcement. Watches are less pressing, and advisories are the least urgent.

This warning forecasted frequent gusts between 30 mph and 45 mph. Isolated gusts could've reached 50 mph.

"Operators train in all sea conditions to remain proficient in emergency responses," the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said in a press release.

Fireboat 41 is a 36-foot Moose watercraft that answers a variety of calls.

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