Publication Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Water rescue program could sink
Water rescue program could sink
(May 12, 2004) Without hovercraft, program could be discontinued
by Bill D'Agostino
At a time when cities and nonprofits are fishing for funds, the Palo Alto Fire Department is hoping to purchase a hovercraft for bay rescues.
The city rarely comes to the aid of drowning boaters and aircraft pilots (about once or twice a year), but is likely to provide quicker rescues than the Coast Guard. Palo Alto firefighters mostly save stranded windsurfers.
According to Palo Alto Fire Chief Ruben Grijalva, the current program is hampered by out-of-date equipment. The current rescue boat -- a rigid hull inflatable craft -- is more than a decade old and in need of replacement. The city has allocated $40,000 to replace the boat, but a hovercraft costs slightly more than double that amount.
Grijalva said the department doesn't want to buy another rigid hull craft, since it often gets stuck in the mud - especially at low tide.
"It's almost more of a liability than an asset at this point," Grijalva said.
Like numerous other major projects, the city is seeking outside money to cover costs. More than $300 million of private money will be needed to make all the city's dream projects come true. (See sidebar.)
If the city gave up the program, sinking locals would probably rely on the Coast Guard. A spokesperson for the agency said Palo Alto is 40 minutes away via boat from its San Francisco station in San Francisco. But rescue boats are often out on the water on homeland security patrols, said Coast Guard spokesperson Matt Juillerat.
"There is a strong chance that one of our units is out on the water" at any given time, he said.
Palo Alto shares the rescue program with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. The joint agreement is up for renegotiation this year.
Menlo Park Fire Chief Paul Wilson said he has no plans to cancel that city's program. Its boats and water-skis are adequate to do the job, he said.
In 2003, the Menlo Park department conducted five water rescues, sailing out of the Port of Redwood City.
Staff writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com
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