Various seaside municipalities operate fireboats in Connecticut. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001 several municipalities received grants from the US Federal government to build fireboats, so they would be prepared for a maritime terrorist attack.[1][2][3]
image | name | homeport | entered service |
retired | notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Branford | 2007 |
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Bridgeport | 2007 |
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Bridgeport | 2013 |
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Nathan Hale | New Haven |
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City of Stamford | Stamford | 2013 |
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Harry E. Brewer | Norwalk | 199? |
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Robert L. Bedell | Norwalk | 2012 |
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Joseph B. Herman II | Mystic, | 2012 |
The Norwalk Fire Department's new 42-foot fire boat, acquired through a $600,000 grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security, is named after Bedell, who received a Commendation of Heroism for the rescue of an unconscious victim from a house fire in 1986.
The 32-foot boat replaces a smaller 40-plus-year-old boat that the department acquired second hand and used for more than 20 years. Funding for the fireboat came from the national Port Security Grant Program. Deputy Chief Tony Manfredi wrote the grant application.
The money obtained through the grants has paid for equipment ranging from surveillance cameras and fences at State Pier in New London to patrol boats for police and fire departments, such as a $700,000 state-of-the-art firefighting boat at the Mystic Fire Department.