Robert McGrath, fire chief for the Stratford Fire Department, announces a contest for school age children in the Town of Stratford, to name the newest addition of firefighting equipment recently placed in-service by the Stratford Fire Department, Stratford Fire Boat 233.
Stratford Fire Boat 233 is a 33 foot state of the art marine firefighting and rescue vessel which was manufactured by the Bremerton, Washington based Safe Boat International Inc. This all aluminum water craft was manufactured based on a design utilized extensively by the United States Coast Guard and the Fire Department of the City of New York.
Funded by a grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security, Stratford Fire Boat 233 has the ability to pump in excess of 1,000 gallons a minute of water through a bow mounted remote controlled turret nozzle, or through individual hand operated hose lines which are used to extinguish shipboard fires, and to facilitate attack of a fire occurring in a marina or other waterfront fire exposures. Additionally, with its temperature controlled wheelhouse, victims injured as a result of marine based emergencies may be treated and transported to awaiting land based ambulances. The vessel carries a complement of basic life support equipment.
The new boat is moored at the Beacon Point Marina located on the Housatonic River and is staffed by specially trained marine qualified firefighters assigned to the fire headquarters station, and is ready to respond to water based emergencies 24 x 7.
Chief McGrath would like to invite students from Stratford Schools to assist us with the naming of the boat. It has been a long standing tradition of providing a sea vessel with a unique name whereas; this vessel would be identified by that name.
Therefore, a contest has been designed for all Stratford School Children, up through grade 8, to create and submit an entry with an original name and an explanation of why it should be assigned to this boat.
Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, May 1, whereas a winner of the contest will be decided and that winner will receive a breakfast with the Fire Chief Robert McGrath and a ride with a family member on the new Stratford Fire Boat.
Mail or drop off submissions to: Stratford Fire Department, Name Our Boat, c/o Tim Brennan, 2750 Main Street, Stratford CT, 06615; 203-385-4070; or email tbrennan@townofstratford.com.
Stratford Fire Boat 233