Freeport has always had a close association with the water. With a shipyard, marinas, homes on the bay and creeks, boating visitors and more water related development coming, Freeport Fire Chief Ben Greenslait recently asked the city council to purchase a fire boat.

The boat is a 1999 model, located in West Point New York. It was purchased prior to 9-11. After a lot of the area departments in New York got boats through FEMA, the old one is no longer needed. It has been in storage. The chief says it has very few hours on it and the Garrison, NY Fire Department wants to sell it. The fireboat can pump 750 gallons a minute strait from the water it is sitting in. The boat can get in as little as 4 inches of water. The cost of the boat is $35,000 and the money has been donated. 

Chief Greenslait says he has two operators now and will have more certified. The city will go and pick it up and bring it back to serve the Freeport and surrounding bay area.