Hall County Government and Fire Rescue will hold a christening ceremony for the county’s new fire boat Wednesday at 3:00 at Laurel Park.
“This new fire boat is more than just an addition to Hall County Fire Rescue’s fleet,” Fire Chief Jerry Smith said. “This boat represents our continued commitment to the safety, protection and service of the Hall County community, and we are honored to be able to expand on that commitment through a vessel that will not only serve our citizens and visitors but will also aid in calls that support our neighboring communities along Lake Lanier.”
Following weeks of training and preparation among Marine Rescue Team members, the christening ceremony will honor the department’s latest addition and celebrate that it is fully operational and ready for service.
The new vessel is a 38-foot landing craft-style Marine Rescue boat, equipped with twin Yamaha 450 horsepower motors, firefighting capabilities, a heated and cooled cabin for patient care, and a 300-gallon fuel tank to assist with further locations. The boat will house all diving equipment and transport public safety divers to emergencies on the lake.
“Part of serving the citizens and visitors of Hall County is being prepared to respond to any type of emergency, and this new addition allows us to enhance our public safety services and lower response times on Lake Lanier to the deserving citizens and visitors of our community,” Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Gibbs said.