Fireboats of the BCFD Marine Fire Rescue Units

By Camille Tillman

Edited by Miya Reed

Both Baltimore City Fireboats Pumping Water at a 4-Alarm Blaze Adjacent to Seagirt Terminal. (Courtesy of Baltimore City Fireboat Station Facebook)

Location

The fire station, home to the fireboats that operate in Baltimore, is located near Fort McHenry on the eastern tip of Locust Point, which provides speedy access to the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor.

Functions

Fireboats, powered by marine diesel engines, are equipped with several tools used in fighting fires along the port's shorelines and afloat. These tools include water pumps, water cannons, and foam systems. The fireboat can be used not only for firefighting but also for search-and-rescue and recovery operations. They can rescue crew and passengers from a vessel in danger and transport emergency medical support to those in need. Their services are not limited to the City of Baltimore; they also serve other jurisdictions covered by mutual assistance agreements. In the past, they have also provided assistance in other emergency situations, including the containment of hazardous waste spills.

Fire Boat No. 1, the JOHN R FRAZIER is an 87 ft steel and aluminum vessel. It can pump more than 13,000 gallons of water per minute (gpm). (Courtesy of Baltimore Fire Fighters)

Description of Fireboats

There is currently a fleet of three fireboats operating in the Port of Baltimore: Fireboat 1 JOHN R FRAZIER, Fire Rescue Boat 1, and Fire Rescue Boat 2. The FRAZIER takes on the most responsibility as the biggest fireboat in the fleet, with additional help from the fire rescue boats.

Fireboat 1 JOHN R FRAZIER:

• Manufacturer – Hike Metal Products Ltd. Hull – Steel with Aluminum Superstructure

• Fire Pump – Two centrifugal pumps, each rated at 6,500 gallons per minute (13,000 gpm total)

• Length – 87 feet

• Depth of Hull – 12 feet 4 inches Full Load Draft – 7 feet 3 inches

• Fuel Capacity – (2) tanks with total capacity of 2,589 gallons

• Crew: 4 or 5

Fire Rescue Boat 1 is a 30 foot Sea Ark aluminum hull vessel with a 1,500 gpm pump. (Courtesy of Baltimore Fire Fighters)

Fire Rescue Boats 1 & 2:

• Manufacturer - SeaArk Boats Hull - Aluminum

• Fire Pump – Marine Power/Hale Pump – 1,500 gpm

• Length – 30 feet

• Crew - 2

History

Fireboats emerged in the 1700s and became widely used in American cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early fireboats were often modified tugboats equipped with steam-powered pumps. Baltimore’s first diesel-powered fireboat, the Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr.—known as the “Tommy”—entered service in 1956. It was retired in 2007 and replaced by the JOHN R. FRAZIER. Since the arrival of the first fireboat, marine firefighting vessels have remained an essential component of the Port of Baltimore’s emergency response capability.

Crew & Training/Qualifications

Aboard the FRAZIER, the crew typically consists of four or five members: one officer, one marine pilot, one marine engineer, and either a second marine engineer or a firefighter. Each Fire Rescue Boat operates with a two-person crew consisting of an emergency boat operator and either a second operator or a firefighter.

Marine unit personnel receive specialized training in maritime firefighting, vessel navigation, search and rescue, hazardous materials response, and the operation of high-capacity pumping systems. Training may occur at the Baltimore County Fire-Rescue Academy or through on-vessel and interagency exercises to ensure readiness for both waterfront and shipboard emergencies.

Significance

Marine firefighting capability is a critical element of port safety. Without City-sponsored marine fire and rescue protection, the Port of Baltimore would lack an immediate response platform for shipboard fires, waterfront industrial incidents, and waterborne rescues. The absence of these vessels would significantly reduce emergency response capability within the port and its approaches.