FDNY To Take Possession Of New Fireboats For First Time In Decades

The Fire Department of New York has a fleet of two fireboats that are decades old - one was commissioned in 1938 and the other was commissioned in 1958. They are from another era and while they've been periodically updated, the fireboats are ready to be replaced. The FDNY has bought two new fireboats that will be brought into service this year that will greatly improve the firefighting capabilities on land and water.

The boats will be able to pump 50,000 gallons of water a minute, which is more than double the current fireboats' capabilities. During 9/11, the FDNY fireboats were a major lifeline enabling the FDNY to fight fires throughout Lower Manhattan following the collapse of the Twin Towers because water mains and standpipes were demolished. With so much of the city accessible from water, this is a capability that is badly needed, particularly in major incidents.