Пожарные Лоренсбурга сократили время спасения на реке Огайо благодаря новому катеру

Lawrenceburg rescue boat cuts response times on Ohio River LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (WKRC) — A rescue boat is helping Lawrenceburg firefighters cut response times and reach people in trouble on the Ohio River faster. The Lawrenceburg Fire Department put the boat into service in early 2025 after receiving funding through a Port Security grant. Fire Chief Patrick Myers said the department ordered the vessel from Munson Manufacturing in Washington state. Since then, Myers estimates the boat has been used in about six to eight rescues on the river, including calls for stranded boaters and people whose boats became stuck or grounded. In one recent rescue, crews deployed a swimmer from the boat to help get an autistic juvenile out of the water. Before getting the boat, Lawrenceburg often relied on other agencies to provide water rescue resources. Myers said that could take around 20 minutes in some cases. Now, with Lawrenceburg firefighters staffed around the clock, the department can typically have its own boat on the water within about 10 to 12 minutes. "It's just like in any type of fire rescue situation — the faster you can get people there, the better off the outcome generally is," Myers said. The boat is one of few rescue boats of its kind on the Indiana side of the Ohio River. Myers said crews would have to travel toward the Louisville area, below Markland Dam, to find a comparable Indiana fire boat. The added resource has become increasingly important as Lawrenceburg sees activity along its stretch of the Ohio River. "We have a lot of assets on the river in the city of Lawrenceburg with the casino and such, so it gives us the versatility to be able to use that in different ways," Myers said. "Plus, with the increased motor traffic and stuff in our area of the river, it has been really valuable for that." The boat is equipped with radar and sonar, along with technology that can help crews detect the heat signature of someone in the water. It also has a front bow door that can be lowered to help rescuers bring people aboard and a fire pump capable of moving 1,000 gallons of water per minute. Firefighters are trained to operate the boat or perform different roles during a response. Myers said crews typically head onto the water with at least two to three firefighters aboard. The boat is currently docked at Waterways Marina and RV Resort in Aurora. The department hopes to eventually secure a slip closer to the Lawrenceburg fire station, which would make it easier for crews to access the boat when an emergency happens. Myers said the all-aluminum boat was purchased with the department's long-term needs in mind and is expected to remain in service for decades.