Local

Orange County Fire Rescue commissions new rescue boat

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Fire Rescue has commissioned its newest addition to its growing fleet of rescue boats.

The new, lighter boat is specifically designed to navigate the springs and waterways of the northwestern parts of the county.

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The 17-foot, flat-bottom aluminum boat, based out of Station 27 in Apopka, has a number of features that make it ideal for springs and canals where weeds, stumps and muddy conditions make traditional rescue boat navigation difficult.

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Some of the unique features include 180-degree LED lighting, a surface drive “mud” motor, a miniature chainsaw and storage for specialized medical equipment.

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The new boat is one of 10 rescue boats in the Orange County fleet.

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Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.