Dunkirk Fire parades new boat
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The Dunkirk Fire Department has its new watercraft.
Dubbed Marine One, the boat took pride of place in the fire department's march at the Memorial Day parade, as first vehicle in line.
It's 25 feet long with large twin outboard motors. It also features a nozzle that can shoot water at 550 gallons per minute.
Built by SAFE Boats International, Marine One has the latest search and rescue technology.
The Dunkirk Common Council approved $321,410 for the boat in February 2022. It was paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funding.
At the time, Fire Chief Michael Edwards said the new boat would replace a more than 15-year-old craft acquired as surplus from the Coast Guard.
"It will also give us capabilities beyond what we have now. We'll have fire suppression capability out on the water. We don't have that with our current boat," he said.
Edwards added the boat would be "much more user-friendly for our divers and surface water swimmers."
The chief hoped to get the boat last summer -- but it fell victim to the delays in raw materials that are bedeviling many construction projects these days.
Dunkirk's Marine One has a long way to go before it matches the service time of the Buffalo Fire Department's venerable fire boat, the Edward M. Cotter. A visitor to the Dunkirk Pier last June, she entered service as the William S. Grattan in 1900.