Relief (201)

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The Relief is a fireboat operated in Alexandria, Virginia.[1] She replaced the Vigilant, a smaller vessel.[2]

She does not have a dedicated crew, she is operated by firefighters who normally staff the Alexandria Fire Department's Engine 201.[3]

The Alexandria Fire Department has the responsibility to provide the water necessary to fight fires on the nearby Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The Relief will provide this water.

In September, 2011, Alexandria received a $1.23 million FEMA Port Security Grant to acquire the Relief.[4]

Design

She was built in Kingston, Ontario, by MetalCraft, to its FireStorm 50 design.[5] Her hull is aluminum. She is propelled by a pair of waterjets to a maximum speed of 44 knots. She carries four water cannons, that can project approximately 7,000 US gallons per minute. Her two Rolls Royce diesel engines generate 1830 horsepower.

Her air-conditioned cabin has an airtight seal, to operate in areas with toxic fumes. She has a small infirmary section, and is also equipped for search and rescue.[5]

Operational career

The Relief was delivered in September, 2013.[3] Problems were found, and she was returned to the manufacturer, and returned in June, 2014.

The Relief joined the fireboat John Glenn in leading a celebratory parade of vessel down the Potomac River on the evening of December 9, 2021.[1] The Parade was illuminated, and included fifty vessels, stretched over a distance of one mile.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Jeanne Theismann (2021-12-09). "Love on the Docks in Alexandria: Holiday boat parade lights up the waterfront.". Connection newspapers. http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/dec/09/love-docks-alexandria/. Retrieved 2021-12-10. "Sponsored by Amazon, the mile-long parade was led by Alexandria’s fireboat Relief and Washington, D.C.’s fireboat John H. Glenn, and closed with the Ever Vigilant Fire Boat 57 from the Prince George’s County Volunteer Marine Fire and Rescue Station 57." 
  2. "Fireboats: Virginia". Cape Cod FD. 2015-12-01. Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508042714/https://www.capecodfd.com/pages%20special/Fireboats_VA.htm. Retrieved 2021-12-10. "This boat replace the 2005 MetalCraft Firestorm 32 in 2013" 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Michael McMorrow (2014-06-19). "Relief Just Moments Away: Alexandria's fireboat comes home". Connection newspapers. Archived from the original on 2014-08-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820025420/http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2014/jun/12/relief-just-moments-away/. Retrieved 2021-12-10. "Named Relief, Alexandria’s fireboat returned to its berth last week and stands ready for action in service to the Port City. However, its responsibilities are broader than one might expect. Of course, the boat can pump huge amounts of water to extinguish fires aboard other vessels and in structures along the city’s shoreline." 
  4. "Alexandria Fireboat Has Busy 9-11 Weekend". City of Alexandria, Virginia. 2011-09-12. Archived from the original on 2015-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20150413180049/https://www.alexandriava.gov/fire/info/news_firedisplay.aspx?id=51862. Retrieved 2021-12-10. "Alexandria has been awarded a $1.23 million Port Security Grant to purchase a new fireboat with increased firefighting, rescue and CBRNE capabilities." 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Firestorm 50 High-Speed Aluminum Fireboat". Metalcraft. Archived from the original on 2021-08-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819055618/http://metalcraftmarine.com/html/firestorm_50.html. Retrieved 2021-12-10. "It is fitted with twin Hale pumps that produced flow meter results of 6665 GPM @ 150 PSI, 7000 GPM @ full stream, from two 3000 GPM Hale pumps. The pumps are situated low in the engine room and are, therefore, self-priming."