Fireboat One-Five

Fireboat One-Five Fireboat One-Five Her beam is 10' 9" with a draft of only 25".

The "New" Fire Boat 15 [FS32 - Built by Metalcraft Marine] is a 36' All Aluminum Jet Boat capable of a cruising speed of 42 knots in all types of weather. She's capable of pumping 1750 GPM of water and has a host of high tech marine electronics and detection equipment. She is a Fast Response, Medivac, Emergency Response, Rescue and Fire vessel in service 365 days a year.

09/13/2024

Across Oceans, Through the Airwaves: Dover Dispatchers' Quick Action Saves Sinking Vessel in a Different Dover

On August 27, 2024, at approximately 3:36 PM, the Dover Police Department received a call from an individual in Albania, reporting that their brother’s boat was sinking in the English Channel off the coast of Dover, England. The caller had conducted an internet search for the “Dover Police Department” and the first search result on the screen proved to be the Dover, Delaware Police Department. The family member thought they were calling Dover, England but was connected with the agency here in the United States.

Recognizing the risks associated with trying to refer the frantic emergency caller, Communications Operator MacKenzie Atkinson kept them on the line and began collecting critical information. The caller provided the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of this vessel and C/O Atkinson used the skills obtained from her training through Priority Dispatch and her newly acquired certification from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch and followed the protocols for a vessel in distress. While C/O Atkinson kept working with the caller on the phone, C/O Connor Logan began making international notifications in an effort to rescue this sinking vessel. Within just four minutes, he established contact with the following domestic and international agencies:

-The Kent County 911/Division of Emergency Communications
-Delaware River and Bay Authority Section of the U.S. Coast Guard
-U.S. Coast Guard District 5
-The French Coast Guard
-His Majesty’s Coast Guard of England
-Dover, England Police Stations
Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Coordination Center

Just 15 minutes and 48 seconds after the initial call, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed they were on their way to rescue the vessel. While all of this was going on, the remaining two dispatchers, C/O Patricia Mazzola and C/O Briana Dozier ensured that all local calls were handled and the citizens of Dover still received emergency services without any delays. On September 5th, 2024, while conducting a follow-up on the incident, we received confirmation that the vessel and all persons on board were safely returned to the Port of Dover, England as part of this rescue effort. As a result, Emergency Communications Manager Matthew Carey has nominated the group for a Dover PD Distinguished Unit Commendation.

07/21/2024
07/21/2024
Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore harbor was struck by a cargo ship this morning at 0130 and collapsed. This is curr...
03/26/2024

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore harbor was struck by a cargo ship this morning at 0130 and collapsed. This is currently a search and rescue as there were several cars and trucks crossing the bridge as it collapsed.

Thank you Delaware City Main St for allowing us to bring Santa to town!
11/25/2023

Thank you Delaware City Main St for allowing us to bring Santa to town!

Oh my! FREE! Photos with Santa! Today at Battery Park, Delaware City! 33 Clinton Street! Come visit authentic small town America!!

10/30/2023

On October 30, 2023 at just before 8:40am, on duty firefighters at Good Will Fire Company overheard a distress call to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay on VHF Channel 16 for an overturned vessel with a subject in the water in the Delaware River in the area of Reedy Island. They notified New Castle County 911 and responded to launch their boat. Delaware City Fire Company personnel also began responding to their boat while the incident was dispatched by New Castle County 911. Any marine response in New Castle County includes the automatic dispatch of three rescue boats: this incident was in Port Penn Volunteer Fire Company's jurisdiction and rescue boats from Port Penn, Delaware City, and Good Will fire companies all responded. Conditions on the river were poor with dense fog necessitating navigation by electronics with no visibility. A Good Samaritan vessel (tug Miss Judy) which had called the MAYDAY was able to rescue the victim from the overturned boat and began making way for Delaware City. An ambulance from Delaware City Fire Company as well as a paramedic unit from New Castle County Paramedics were dispatched to the State Dock in Delaware City to receive the patient. The commercial vessel Katy Lynn intercepted the tug, as they were a faster vessel, and took the patient on board. Shortly after, Fireboat 15 intercepted the Katy Lynn and the patient was transferred on board the fireboat where two Firefighter/EMT's and a crew member from the Katy Lynn began providing patient care to the unresponsive victim. The patient was transported back to the State Dock in Delaware City where awaiting EMS crews took over patient care. The patient was transported to Christiana Hospital in serious but stable condition. Initial reports indicated that the victim was piloting a 25' vessel which was struck by an unknown vessel causing it to capsize and sending the victim into the water. Marine 18 (Good Will) redirected to the State Dock to assist Fireboard 15 and Marine 29 (Port Penn) responded to the area of the vessel's wreckage for a search. The United States Coast Guard responded and is investigating the collision and Deputy Chief Newman had Port Penn Command. We offer our sincere thanks to the Good Samaritan vessels that were able to rescue this patient and who, without question, helped to avert a tragedy.

Responding Agencies:
Port Penn Volunteer Fire Company
Delaware City Fire Company
Good Will Fire Company
New Castle County Paramedics
DNREC
USCG

Great work by the New Castle County Dive Team and all agencies on this search and recovery.
07/16/2023

Great work by the New Castle County Dive Team and all agencies on this search and recovery.

04/01/2023

Fireboat 15 Attacked During Routine Training Mission

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, Fireboat 15 was conducting routine training in the Delaware River. While operating off of Pea Patch Island, crew members felt what they described as a "bump" and immediately stopped the vessel to check for any damage. As Fireboat Operator Quint and Deckhand Brody began to inspect the jet drives, a large, gray object emerged from the water and began to repeatedly ram the dive platform. The crew reacted quickly and were able to flee the scene to the relative safety of the Branch Canal. Fortunately, the Fireboat only sustained minor damage during the onslaught. During a phone conversation, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife marine biologist Matthew Hooper stopped short of suggesting that the crew may have had a few too many at Crabby's... But he did offer that the odds of such an occurrence this far up the Delaware River, and especially on April 1st, were "miniscule".

Address

115 Canal Street
Delaware City, DE
19706

Telephone

3028349336

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Our Story

In the years prior to WW II, many of the local citizens were watermen and made their living from the river. If a boat crew was in distress and needed assistance, other boat owners from town would navigate their craft to make the needed rescue. The town fire company did not have a need for a river rescue unit. However, this all changed around 1956. The story behind Delaware City’s River Rescue Division is relayed by several older members, stating that a neighboring fire company to the north had their river rescue squad come into town and launch their boat at the end of Clinton Street, answering a call for help they had received for an overdue boat that was stranded on Pea Patch Island. The neighboring department did not call us for help nor tell us they were coming into our district.

From that incident, several members of the Delaware City Fire Company requested permission for the fire company to start their own river rescue division. This was approved and the purchase of a 1956 Dodge ½ ton pickup truck, a 14’ aluminum boat, a 6 HP motor and necessary marine equipment was completed. After a couple of years, it was decided to replace the boat and motor with a 16 foot aluminum boat and 18 HP outboard motor, and pulled behind the Dodge truck on a trailer instead of being carried on a rack on top of the truck. Over the years the fire company has continued to upgrade and improve the Marine Rescue Department with the following equipment:

40’ Navy Work Boat

19’ Aluminum Boat and 85 HP motor