ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) –For the first time in decades, the Ithaca Fire Department has a new boat.
The 26-foot vessel known as Marine 1, which comes from Lake Assault Boats in Wisconsin, includes a fire pump, forward-looking infrared, charting, and sonar.
Affording to an IFD news release, “the need for a more advanced and capable fire boat has existed for a long time. IFD is often called to the lake for boat fires, sinking boats, and fire and medical emergencies on the water and along the shore.”
The boat will mainly patrol the southern portion of Cayuga Lake, though can also help out at other parts of the lake if called.
“Marine 1 will be available to our mutual aid partners on Cayuga Lake and will be stationed at the Alan Treman Marina,” officials stated.
In 2024, State Sen. Lea Webb presented IFD with a $250,000 grant to cover half of the purchase cost. Later that year, the Ithaca Common Council approved funding the remaining balance.
The boat will be tested on the water for a short time before it’s stored for the winter.
