Harry Newell (fireboat)

The Harry Newell is a highspeed fireboat operated out of Ketchikan, Alaska, since August, 1986.[1] She is built of aluminum, is 45 feet (14 m) long, is propelled by a pair of 410 brake horsepower (310 kW) diesel engines, at up to 30 knots (56 km/h).[2] Her pumps can throw 5,000 gallons per minute through four water cannons.

She replaced a wooden fireboat with a pumping capacity of 4,000 gallons per minute.[1]

Ketchikan is built on a narrow strip of low-lying land that back on to mountains.[1] Locals say the city is "five miles long and two blocks wide," which means much of it is within range of a fireboat's pumps.

The vessel is named after Harry Newell, a Ketchikan firefighter who died in the line of duty in 1955.[3] He was the first and only Ketchikan firefighter to die on duty.[2]

The Harry Newell was held in reserve when the fishing vessel Sable had a fire, at her moorings, on January 25, 2010.[4]

Early on the morning of October 18, 2016, a fire was detected in a dwelling on Gravina Island.[5] The Harry Newell responded. Firefighters were unable to save the building, but prevented the fire spreading.

References
  1. "Workboats Northwest Yard Delivers High-Speed Fireboat To Ketchikan". Maritime Reporter. August 1986. Retrieved 2017-03-18. The all-aluminum Newell culminates a more than three-year effort by Ketchikan to replace a well-used, 65-foot wooden fireboat, which despite its 4,000-gpm pumping capacity, was deemed too slow to serve the city.
  2. Murray Lundberg (2014). "Images of Ketchikan, Alaska". Explore North. Retrieved 2017-03-18. With an overall length of 45 feet and beam of 12 feet, the fireboat has a pumping capacity of more than 5,000 gpm through four fire monitors.
  3. Murray Lundberg. "2017 Alaska Small Ships". Alaska Cruise. Retrieved 2017-03-18. It was named after firefighter Harry V. Newell, who died in the line of duty on April 7, 1955, at the age of 56.
  4. "Boat Saved by Neighbors: Call reported smoke and flames seen on boat in harbor". Sit News. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2017-03-18. Responding vehicles included Engine-2, Engine-1, Rescue-1, Fire/Boat Harry Newell (standby), FD1, and Medic-1.
  5. Mary Kaufman (2016-10-18). "No injuries in Rosa Reef area fire; Structure a total loss". Sit News. Retrieved 2017-03-18. The M/V Harry Newell responded early Sunday morning to a report of the structure fire in the Rosa Reef area on Gravina Island.
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