New Fire Boat Enhances Safety on the Susquehanna River, Chesapeake Bay

Havre de Grace, MD — The latest piece of equipment to join the fire company in Havre de Grace will enable the Susquehanna Hose Company to make water rescues year-round.

In years past, the fire company put the boat in the water April to November, according to Susquehanna Hose Company Chief Scott Hurst.

The new boat, which went into service this month, will be kept at the Havre de Grace City Yacht Basin 365 days a year, marking a "huge safety enhancement for the watermen" in the region, Hurst said. "We can do [rescues] now 365 days a year."

While people are out on the water during the spring and summer, he noted there was a need for the fire boat in the cooler months. "We've had some of our worst calls out here in the wintertime," Hurst said.

The hose company's fire boat responds to approximately 300 calls a year, according to a grant application filed with the state. Its response territory includes Harford, Cecil, Kent and Baltimore counties, while calls also come in from Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Hurst said these special features that differentiate the new vessel—dubbed "Marine 552"—from the old boat, which went into service more than 20 years ago:

• Two self-contained breathing apparatus
• Dive-scan sonar
• Ability to treat up to four patients (old boat had capacity to treat two)
• Enclosed cab that will help keep hypothermic patients warm

The previous boat, which hit the water in 1993, came online before the Susquehanna Hose Company dive team was even formed, according to Hurst.

Those who worked to secure funding for the new boat spoke at a July 9 dedication ceremony about its value for the community.

"This is the lifeline to public safety," said Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti (D-Harford), who advocated for a bond bill that secured $100,000 for the project.

The state of Maryland, Harford County and the city of Havre de Grace teamed up to fund the boat, which cost more than $400,000.

In addition, Harford Bank fronted the money so the boat could get in the water before the funds became available, Susquehanna Hose Company Charles Packard said.

Havre de Grace Mayor Bill Martin said the boat had special significance for him, as he had at one time needed such a vessel to come to his aid, while working his way through college as a longliner in 1997.

He said a tropical storm had caught up to the 85-foot fishing vessel he was on, and the boat was tilting. "It was about 18 hours of my life I'll never forget," Martin said. "I'll never forget in the morning seeing lights" when the Coast Guard arrived. "It almost looked angelic."

He said he knew that someone else would feel the same way about Marine 552. Said Martin: "I'm just really proud of that boat."

Since being placed in service in the past month, the boat has responded to multiple incidents. At the end of the dedication ceremony, it was dispatched to another one.

See Also:

• Fire Boat Picks Up 2 Patients on Battery Island
• Harford Woman Rescued After Falling Off Boat: Report

Photo Credit: John Van Gilder.