Fireboats in Norfolk, Virginia

In 1924 Norfolk, Virginia commissioned the first of a number of fireboats in Norfolk, Virginia.[1] She was a former US Navy vessel, USS Gen. Harvey H. Brown, re-christened Vulcan. Vulcan was a steam-powered vessel, requiring a crew of 18. She could project 6,000 US gallons (23,000 L) per minute. She served until 1941.

Thomas Kevill is the most recent fireboat in Norfolk.

In 2008, when Vulcan II was acquired, Norfolk's only vessel was a 22-foot (6.7 m) inflatable craft.[1] Vulcan II could project 2,500 US gallons (9,500 L) per minute.

In 2013 she was supplemented by Thomas Kevill.[2][3] She cost about half a million dollars, three quarters of which were provided through a FEMA Port Security Grant. Like other fireboats funded by FEMA, in addition to fighting fires, and search and rescue, she is sealed so she can provide a front-line response to chemical spills or attacks by chemical weapons, and to biological or radiological threats. She has advanced sensors, including infrared sensors that aid in locating a fire's hot-spots, and to picking out the heads of distressed boaters or swimmers, in the dark or under conditions of blinding fog or smoke.

References
  1. Patrick Wilson (2012-04-02). "What's in a name? - Norfolk Fire-Rescue Vulcan II". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  2. Steve Earley (2013-06-22). "Photos: Norfolk commissions new fireboat". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  3. Roy Bahls (2013-06-23). "Norfolk's newest fireboat named for city's first fire chief". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
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