The Boca Raton Fire Department has invested in new rescue equipment.
Firefighters were training with the new equipment all week. The department bought a new motorized surfboard to help with water rescues.
“It is going to cut through the waves, it has handles to hold onto the board,” said Lieutenant Mike Sember.
The board cost about $5,000 and will be kept at Fire Station Three at the beach.
Captain Lange Jacobs is a first responder who could use the board, “It will save energy as far as making the rescue and make the rescues faster.”
The department also invested $50,000 in two new jon boats. The 20-foot-long boats can hold up to 11 people and 1,500 pounds.
“The two boats that we had were just too small,” said Capt. Jason Owens.
Owens said seeing the flooding during Hurricane Harvey and now during Hurricane Florence made the department realize they needed proper boats to respond.
“We do want to be proactive,” said Owens.
One boat will be kept at Station Three and another at Station Five. Owens said the department plans to work through FEMA required training so they can respond to emergencies like Hurricane Florence.
