THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605150123
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department has dreamed of having its own fire-rescue boat for a long time.
This summer, the dream becomes a reality when the volunteers take possession of a fast-response, inland waterway fire boat.
In January, a contract was signed with Response Marine of Newburyport, Mass., to design and build a boat for Chesapeake.
The $150,000 boat is 30 feet long with an enclosed cabin and pilot house. A built-in dive door will provide support for a dive team or other water rescue operations. It will be manned by a trained team of three to five volunteers.
The crew must be trained in water rescue, boat operations and water firefighting and must pass the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Skills and Seamanship course to qualify.
The boat will patrol the Intracoastal Waterway and the Elizabeth River and its branches. It also will be available for use in regional emergencies.
Michael A. D'Angiolillo, acting president of the Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department, said the craft would be called on to help with boating accidents, water rescues and fire protection. The boat also can support a dive team operation or be called on to patrol at events, such as Harborfest or regatta races.
``The boat will not be used for law enforcement,'' D'Angiolillo said. ``Although the crew will report violations to the proper authority.''
Besides buying the boat, the fire volunteers also will have to outfit it with items like flotation devices, safety harnesses, emergency signal kits, binoculars, flashlights, cold water diving suits, communication equipment and firefighting hose adapters.
D'Angiolillo said for safety reasons, volunteers no longer race from their house to assist when there is an alarm. Now after taking the required training, each volunteer works a minimum of 16 hours a month at an assigned station.
There are about 35 Chesapeake fire volunteers who not only give their time to provide extra help to the Chesapeake Fire Department, but they also have worked to make the boat possible.
The volunteers raised money by organizing a carnival at Western Branch High School, a bluegrass festival at Deep Creek High School and a letter-writing campaign to businesses, and by selling raffle tickets. Funds also have been collected through individual, civic club and business donations.
Now family portraits are a primary source of fund-raising. The Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department has a contract with Classic Camera for the sale of pictures. Citizens purchase a $20 coupon good for a family portrait, which is taken at a scheduled fire station. A percentage of the sale of the pictures goes toward the cost of the boat. MEMO: For more information about purchasing a family portrait or to make a
donation toward the purchase of the Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department
boat, call 436-8284.
by CNB