26642 Miller Bay Road NE
Kingston, Washington 98346 (360)297-3619
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NKF&R SELECTS BUILDER FOR FIRE-RESCUE BOAT January 15, 2002 (KINGSTON, Washington) -- North Kitsap Fire & Rescue (NKF&R) has announced the awarding of a contract to build the district’s new fire-rescue vessel, a project made possible through intergovernmental cooperation. At last night’s regular meeting of NKF&R’s Board of Fire Commissioners, staff members presented the results of a bidding process that was completed on January 4th. In addition to offering a proposal that included enhancements beyond the basic vessel, the successful bidder -- Lifetimer Boats of Duncan, B.C. -- was the only firm to meet the specifications. The Board of Fire Commissioners accepted Lifetimer’s $99,319 bid. Covering a 44.5 square mile area that includes over seventy miles of saltwater shoreline, NKF&R has long been seeking a means to provide water rescue and marine firefighting services. Currently, the district relies upon a neighboring fire department’s boat responding from Poulsbo - an average of twenty minutes away from most of NKF&R’s territory. Last year, staff from the Port of Kingston approached the fire district seeking advice on their marina’s fire suppression systems which were in need of upgrades. After weighing several options, it became apparent that improving NKF&R’s marine firefighting capabilities could also solve the Port’s problem. The two agencies entered into an agreement to purchase a fire-rescue boat with the Port supplying up to $50,000 toward the vessel’s construction. NKF&R, who will staff and operate the 26’ aluminum-hull craft, will cover the remaining costs. Although slated to be moored at the marina and outfitted with a compressed-air-foam-system especially appropriate for the job, this vessel is designed to do much more than fight boat fires. A jet-drive, 370-hp diesel engine will boat at a cruising speed of 30 knots, allowing the boat and its crew to quickly respond to water rescue situations. Officials also plan to use the boat at beach fires, waterfront brush fires and shoreline structure fires - especially in several of the district’s neighborhoods whose road access is tenuous. Construction will begin immediately with the boat scheduled for delivery this spring. |
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