The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department has placed a new inflatable rescue raft into active service, expanding its ability to reach people in floodwater and swiftwater emergencies.
What’s Happening: The department put Raft 2, a new inflatable rescue boat, into service on June 3. The raft was paid for entirely through donations raised at the department’s annual fundraising auction last summer.
What’s Important: The 12-and-a-half-foot boat is made from a tough, weather-resistant rubber material and has a solid aluminum floor. It is powered by a 30-horsepower outboard motor with a blade guard to protect anyone in the water nearby. The boat and motor together weigh about 350 pounds.
How This Affects Real People: The boat can be carried by hand to the water’s edge when no boat ramp is available, letting crews reach very shallow or flooded areas that a regular boat cannot get to. Raft 2 will be towed by a department truck and respond alongside the department’s heavy rescue vehicle, so crew members arrive on scene already dressed in water rescue gear.
Catch Up Quick: Department members spent several months training and equipping the raft before it was placed in service. The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department serves parts of St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland.