By Kiera Morgan

The Newport Fire Department has been evaluating methods to address fire protection for port and bay front properties. Major structures suspended over the bay create significant complications in fighting fires. The Newport Fire Department has proposed the purchase of a fireboat. The ability to fight these fires from the bay side would substantially increase the opportunities to reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire on the Bayfront.

However according to city manager Spencer Nebel it is also important to evaluate the potential cost of owning, maintaining, and manning fireboats in the City of Newport. There are also opportunities he added to apply for grant funding to assist in the acquisition of these vessels. There have also been some discussions about other donations to help offset the purchase price of a fireboat.

Fire chief Rob Murphy explained that a fish processing plant in Warrenton caught fire doing over $32-million in damages. He said Newport’s biggest vulnerability right now is the bayfront area. “I don’t think I need to tell you that the amount of money, both in facilities and what is contributed to the economy through the bayfront and the port area, it’s a lot and it is a vital part of our community and right now I have very little means to protect it.”

He said they have the fire engines, personnel and portable dock pumps, but what they really need for proper protection is a fire boat. Murphy also told the council that since a fire boat gets it’s water supply from the bay it can supply water on land also. They are looking at a Port Security Grant and have received community support for this project. The council also expressed support for the project and approved moving forward with a grant application.