UPDATE: Lewes Fire Boat Sinks at Dock

Image courtesy Lewes Fire Department, Inc.

UPDATE: The vessel has been removed from the water in an overnight operation and is in dry dock. Authorities are working to determine the cause of the sinking.  There were no injuries according to Lewes Fire Department Public Information Officer Glenn Marshall.

Marine 1 is a MOOSE 44’ Aluminum Catamaran, 16’ wide, Twin 600hp Cummins Diesel Engines with Jet Drive Propulsion 750 Gallon Fire Pump, Cruising speed 30 knots, Top speed estimated at 40 knots, Weight 27,000 pounds, Water draft 24”, State-of-the-Art Electronics, Thermal Imaging Camera, room for 2 patients in cabin, ample seating for operator plus crew. It was delivered to the Lewes Fire Department in 2008.

The Lewes Fire Department is responsible for emergency responses within about 25 square miles of the Delaware Bay and 50 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, Roosevelt Inlet, Broadkill River and smaller tributaries.

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Lewes firefighters responded to a “water rescue” at their dock Thursday evening only to discover their own fire boat under water.  It was reported just before 7:30 p.m. at 901 Pilottown Road near the University of Delaware.

The boat had taken on so much water, pumps were of no use.  It will likely require a special salvage operation.

WGMD and WGMD.com will have updates as they become available.