New boat fights fires on Austin lakes
Posted: Thu, 6 May 2010 09:43 AM - 7,725 Readers
By: Jade Mingus
The Austin Fire Department now has a new way to fight fires on the
water.
The city paid $135,000 for a new boat equipped with a powerful pump
system to respond to fires on city lakes, including Lake Austin, Lady
Bird Lake and Decker Lake.
On Tuesday, firefighters put the new
boat on display at Lady Bird Lake near Austin City Hall. Four nozzles
shot water halfway across the lake and above the trees.
“It’s a beautiful water supply that’s
unlimited, and we should be able to hook into other units to supply
them on shore or spray directly from the water,” said Austin Battalion
Chief Travis Jordan.
High rise condos, houses near the
shore line and marinas will all benefit from the new boat.
The boat is 25 foot long and can
spray 800 gallons of water per minute.
“Having a boat that’s accessible to
get out there and help the public is an excellent addition for the
city,” said Austin Resident Kim Sorensen.
Firefighters say the boat can also be
used to respond to medical emergencies on the water.
