South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue looks to City Council for new boat

Without a boat since 2015, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) will ask City Council for $75,000 on Tuesday for the purchase of a used SAFE boat.

The former fire rescue boat, Marine 17, was taken off the lake (decommissioned) in 2015 after 15 years of service. Needed repairs amounted to more than the value of the boat. Since the SLTFR has borrowed Marine 2 which belongs to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD).

Both departments need boats on the lake for the safety of tourists and locals, especially during the busy season of Memorial Day to Labor Day. Law enforcement needing two boats on the lake is a common occurrence, and SLTFR borrowing the SLTPD boat has created a lack of full coverage.

"Due to the high call volumes on the Lake during peak season, it is imperative to have a boat that is dedicated strictly for Emergency Medical Response and Fire Suppression," said SLTFR Battalion Chief Jim Drennan in his written report to City Council. "Emergency Medical Response on the Lake will have improved efficiency by having licensed Firefighter/Paramedics respond directly to a vessel that is equipped and ready to go allowing them to effectively administer Advanced Life Support (ALS) immediately upon reaching the person(s) in distress.

Normally costing $300,000 when new, SLTFR has found a used boat for $50,000, then expect it to cost $10,000 for inspection and transfer from the East Coast where it currently is stored and another $15,000 to fit it with radios and equipment.

If approved, this will strengthen safety off the shore of South Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District has a fire safety boat, as does the Coast Guard, but travel distances and staffing levels don't allow for a fast response to SLT.

"Mutual aid into the South Shore is currently unpredictable. Coast Guard has a 45 minute drive time from their base in North Lake Tahoe," added Drennan. "Law enforcement vessels are not staffed after 5pm and personnel would need to respond from home at a significant delay. Additionally both PD and El Dorado County Sheriff staff their boats five days a week. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is the only agency on the South Shore available for response 24/7. Tahoe Douglas can respond from the Nevada side; however, their response is also delayed due to drive time."