Deluge (fireboat, 1949)

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Deluge was a fireboat built for the Milwaukee, Wisconsin fire department.[1] She was christened on 1 April 1949. According to The Milwaukee Journal, "Deluge will be the most modern and one of the most powerful fire fighting craft west of New York city."'

Deluge had a low enough profile to proceed under the State Street Bascule Bridge and the Cherry Street Bascule Bridge, without requiring them to be raised.[1]

Deluge was Milwaukee's first diesel powered fireboat.[2] According to an article published in Pacific Marine, shortly after her launch, diesel's advantages included: smaller crew; a crew requiring less specialized skills; and a lower profile, that enabled the Deluge to go under Milwaukee's low bridges to fight fires on her rivers.

In 1978 The Milwaukee Journal reported that a recent refit had made her the only fireboat in North America equipped with an aqueous film forming foam delivery system.[3]

Deluge was retired in 1984.[4] The last fire she fought was in 1975.[5] She was to be replaced by an amphibious firefighting vehicle, sparing the cost of the eight crew trained to operate Deluge.

In 1986 the chief of Milwaukee's fire department and the head of the firefighter's union disagreed on whether Deluge's replacement was safe.[6] Joseph Ruditys, President of the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association noted that the vessel was a used vessel, that dated back to service in the War in Vietnam, and that it had required 600 hours of repairs. Chief William Stamm said the repairs were normal, and that the new vessel was safer than Deluge.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 George Archer. Deluge Is Launched at Bay City, Mich. Is Duly Christened and Will Be Ready in May, The Milwaukee Journal, 1949-04-01, p. 25. Retrieved on 2012-08-24.
2. ↑ Milwaukee's Diesel Fireboat "Deluge", Pacific Marine, January 1950. Retrieved on 2016-09-02.
3. ↑ Mary Ann Cahill. Fireboat System Something Special, The Milwaukee Journal, 1978-08-08, p. 40. Retrieved on 2012-08-24.
4. ↑ Paul Bargren. Old city fireboat retires in October, The Milwaukee Journal, 1984-02-09, p. 12. Retrieved on 2012-08-24.
5. ↑ Fireboat DELUGE docked at the confluence of the Milwaukee and Menominee rivers. Milwaukee Public Library. Retrieved on 2016-09-02. “The DELUGE, built 1941, last fought a fire in 1975, and was replaced by an amphibious craft in 1984.”
6. ↑ Bruce Gill. Firefighter boat called unsafe by union chief, The Milwaukee Sentinel, 1986-03-08, p. 3. Retrieved on 2012-08-24.