Mahopac Falls To Get Hovercraft For Water Rescues

[mfvfd 1]

REPRODUCED FROM THE JOURNAL NEWS

By BARBARA LIVINGSTON NACKMAN

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: March 14, 2005)

MAHOPAC — Anyone who falls into local waterways, winter or summer, will have a better chance of survival when the Mahopac Falls dive team puts into action a new hovercraft, an amphibious rescue vessel.

The Carmel Town Board authorized spending $45,000 to purchase the vehicle, which easily can careen over land or water.

Firefighters expect to move ahead on purchasing the vehicle and trailer from Air Commander Hovercraft Inc. in Delray Beach, Fla., and put it into service before the summer.

"It can fly off the trailer and transition from water and land and back again to save lives," said Edward Barnett, chairman of the Lake Mahopac Park District Advisory Board. "It brings us into the modern age — improving rescue efforts and safety of our emergency workers."

The vehicle would be used countywide in any thin ice or water emergency. It would be operated by the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department, which has the county's only dive-scuba team.

The idea came to Barnett after a dog died on Lake Mahopac. About eight years ago, firefighters tried unsuccessfully to save Bugsy, a basset that fell through thin ice and drowned in Lake Mahopac despite efforts by rescuers.

Lake Mahopac is one of the town's largest lakes and the most frequently used for recreation.

Barnett said if volunteer firefighters would risk their own safety to such a degree for a canine, there should be equipment on hand to make them safer for all types of rescues on any body of water in the county.

"I think it would be wonderful to have this in the community," said Bugsy's owner, Patricia Libby, a 25-year lakeshore resident.

The new craft would increase rescue capacity, Carmel Supervisor Robert Pozzi said.

"Whether the lake is frozen or not, they can go out there," he said. "At this point, we realize the need. How could we not move forward?"

A police boat from the Carmel Police Department has enhanced safety on the lake, said Barnett, adding that this new vehicle would further help coordinated rescue efforts.

Also available during an emergency is a Cessna airplane from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

The hovercraft will be specially equipped so it can "fly on and fly off" the trailer, Mahopac Falls Fire Chief Jeffrey Boyle said.

It has diesel propulsion to slightly lift the pontoon-like craft off its trailer and shoot it onto ice in the winter or water in the summer. The hull is made of lightweight fiberglass or plastic with a pressurized air bubble skirt to help it float and reduce drag as it moves, according to specifications from Air Commander Hovercraft Inc. The model being considered by the town would hold the weight of up to six adults.

"There are circumstances which we could have made good use of a hovercraft," Boyle said. "It will make us safer and improve response time."

The town expects to initially draw the money from its general fund surplus and be reimbursed with state funding, Pozzi said.

Hovercraft facts

• Travels over water or ice.

• Can be used on lakes, rivers, snow-covered fields and frozen lakes; move upstream and through mud and marsh.

• Launches from almost anywhere.

• Moves safely in crowded areas.

SHOULD BE HERE IN BETWEEN 4 - 6 WEEKS

[E64PCFD2044 1]

That's awsome...Westchester needs one of those.

[WAS967 97]

Armonk FD has a Hovercraft.

[LCFD994 8]

Pretty cool for Mahopac Falls. Great Dive Team, I think this would b a great addition to there resources. BEST of LUCK with it...

[LCFD968 10]

mfvfd, Can we borrow it for fourth of July? hahaha!" I" , I mean the department needs to patrol the lake for the fireworks show.

[brian19fd 22]

hey you never know... there is always a possibility of showin off our new craft... we'll see what we can do :-k

[afd65 4]

how big is the one at armonk?

[WAS967 97]

Not big at all. Probably one or two man max.

[Guest CrotonFalls33]

Haha,, id love to borrow it for my pool.. lol

[afd65 4]

thanks was967 for the info