In 2021 Garibaldi Fire & Rescue applied for the 100% funded SPIRE II grant through the Oregon Department of Emergency Management for a Low Water Rescue Jet Boat and were successful. State procurment awarded River Wild Boats in Grants Pass, Oregon the contract to build four boats to be placed throughout Oregon.
Garibaldi Fire received the first boat a few weeks ago and has been up fitting with electronics and life saving equipment. Over 50 hours of training by personnel has been completed and it will go into service April 1st* serving Garibaldi and greater Tillamook County in water rescues, flood rescues and other emergencies.
GF&R will continue to train weekly on the boat mastering the waters of the county. “We are excited to bolster our district and county with this resource and the first of its kind within the fire agencies locally,” said Garibaldi Fire & Rescue.
Thank you to everyone who supported the grant application and assisted in building our Rescue Boat Program from the ground up. Garibaldi Fire Department Volunteers, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Tillamook County Sheriff Office, US Coast Guard- Tillamook Bay, Oregon State Marine Board, Tillamook County Emergency Management, Clackamas County Fire District 1, Port of Garibaldi, and Tillamook County Fire Defense Board. Thank you all.
*Rescue Boat 31 saves the day
Less than 24 hours after announcing Garibaldi Fire’s newest equipment, it was put into use.
Yesterday evening March 21st at 4:40pm, Garibaldi Fire & Rescue received a call from a large commercial boat bringing a crew member who suffered a traumatic injury to Garibaldi Marina.
Due to boat size and unfamiliarity with our bay, It was decided that RB31 could be utilized. Crews awaited inside the Tillamook Bay bar and transferred the patient to our boat. Due to patient injuries, Life Flight was called and the patient was flown to Portland.
This new resource has a bright future ahead in serving our community.
Thank you to Adventist Health, Tillamook 911 and US Coast Guard for the teamwork in this unique incident.
