The End of a Long Trip all the way from Beloxi Mississippi
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History of the Marine Unit
In July of 2018 the Roosevelt Fire District merged with the former Staatsburg Fire District. This increased Roosevelts coverage on the Hudson River from 9 tenths of a mile to 5.1 miles of river front including 2 large marinas. The leadership of the department decided it was time to look into options to best serve the public. In August of 2019 a small committee was put together to start gathering information. After many conversations and researching the cost of a new firefighting equipped boat, it was decided to look for a used vessel. This search lead us to Biloxi, Mississippi where we found a 27’ Boston Whaler Fire Boat they had just replaced. The Board of Fire Commissioners agreed to the purchase in December of 2019. In early February 2020, 2 members of the fire district made the trip to Mississippi and brought the boat just over 1300 miles to its new home. Once it arrived members got right to work giving the boat some upgraded electronics, fresh paint and many other items done in house. In the spring of 2020 the Roosevelt Marine Division officially hit the water, with members once again dedicating hundreds of hours to training to provide the best services possible to the fire district as well as our neighboring departments. On June 11, 2020 The Board of Commissioners officially approved to name the boat the “William B. Ollivett” in honor of 35 year Commissioner Bill Ollivett. The following day June 12, 2020 at 2000 hrs., the vessel was official placed in service with Dutchess County 911. On Sunday July 5, 2020 while escorting the USS Slatter down the Hudson River with senior members that are military veterans, the marine unit got its first emergency call. After returning the senior members to shore 63-99 responded mutual aide to the Red Hook Fire Department for the report of a capsized vessel with 9 persons in the water. The RFD marine unit made it to the scene however all victims were safe and accounted for, already aboard other private vessels in the area and the Ulster County Sheriffs unit.
Marine Unit Officers
Captain Steve Jackson C9
Co Capt Loren Quimet
