Nahant Fire Dept. gets rescue boat

NAHANT-With boating and beach season well underway, the Nahant Fire Department Ocean Rescue Team is well equipped to respond to water emergencies.Acting Chief Edward Hyde said the Nahant Fire Department’s Ocean Rescue Team is a valuable resource for the town.?The team is well trained and well equipped,” he said. “The Ocean Rescue team is trained to deployed at a moments notice.”The Ocean Rescue Team launched a new rescue boat, a 14-foot Zodiac inflatable with a Honda outboard, at the start of the boating season so it is ready to respond in an emergency.The money to purchase the boat and trailer was raised a couple of years ago at the annual Mitchell’s Cannah fund-raiser and block party. Hyde said the new watercraft increases the Ocean Rescue Team’s ability to respond to on-water emergencies.The Ocean Rescue Team had a jet ski that it received years ago second hand from Lynn Fire but it is no longer serviceable. Ocean Rescue Team member Dennis Ball said Parkway Cycle of Revere donated the use of a jet ski for the season to the team.Ball said the primary reason for having a jet ski is it can be rapidly deployed from almost anywhere.?It has great capability to get into the surf off the beach, ” he said. “It is portable so it allows us to access the water from numerous points. We’re very excited about it.”The team already has a smaller inflatable boat and climbing gear for high-angle cliff rescue.