Robert L. Bedell

The Robert L. Bedell is a fireboat operated by the Norwalk Connecticut Fire Department.[1][2] The vessel was supplied to the city via a Department of Homeland Security grant through the Port Security Grant Fund. She was ordered in 2009 and delivered in October 2012. It is named after a longtime member of the department who died in 2004.[3]

According to the vessel's captain, Phil D'Acunto, the purpose of DHS's Port Security Grant Fund is that by supplying local municipalities with maritime fire-fighting equipment they freed up United States Coast Guard resources for their primary role, by freeing them of a need to fight local fires.[1] "What they're trying to do overall is take the responsibility off the Coast Guard. Since 9/11 they're trying to get the Coast Guard back to guarding the coast."

The 38 foot vessel was built in Oregon, and shipped to Norwalk by truck.[3] She is propelled by water jets, and is capable of traveling at 35 knots. Her three water cannons can project high-velocity jets of water at a rate of 2,400 gallons per minute. Her cabin can be sealed, and kept at over-pressure, to protect the crew from smoke, toxic gas, or biological or radiological dangers. Her water cannons can be remotely aimed from within the cabin.

The vessel has a shallow draft, so she can come close to shore, if broken water mains require a local fire engine to rely on her pumps.[4] On July 29, 2014, she participated in a training exercise with the fire department of the neighbouring municipality of Westport, where 850 feet of hose was stretched to supply water to a Westport fire engine. The Robert Bedell's pumps had no problem supplying the fire engine with enough water, as it could only project 1,500 gallons per minute.

The vessel is also equipped for search and rescue, with infrared cameras that can detect floating survivors even in poor visibility conditions. She has a platform for deploying scuba divers.

Norwalk operated a used, smaller fireboat, the Harry E. Brewer.[5]

References
  1. Nancy Guenther Chapman (2012-10-24). "New Norwalk Fire Boat Increases Homeland Security". Norwalk Daily Voice. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2014-10-24. It was ordered in 2009 and fully paid for by a Port Security Grant through the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Norwalk Fire Department Lt. Steve Popadoulos said. It was shipped from Oregon and delivered to Cove Marina two weeks ago.
  2. "Meet Norwalk's New Fire Boat !". Norwalk Cove. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2016-01-01. The aluminum boat, which was constructed by the Almar division of North River Boats in Roseburg Oregon, was delivered to Norwalk Cove Marina yesterday. North River personnel were familiarizing Norwalk Fire staff on the complex systems today before handing over the boat.
  3. Harold F. Cobin (2012-11-26). "City Christens New Fireboat [Video]: The 38-foot-long Robert L. Bedell was built in Oregon". Norwalk Patch. Archived from the original on 2014-10-24. Besides the ability to fight fires, the Bedell is outfitted with sensors that can detect chemicals or radiation. The grant from FEMA requires that it participate in homeland security operations on Long Island Sound.
  4. "Pumped up: Fire boat deployed for firefighting drill". Westport News. 2014-07-29. Archived from the original on 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2014-10-24. The fire boat, which has a pumping capacity of 2,300 gallons of water per minute, "had no problem" supplying a water deed to the pumper, which can pump 1,500 gallons per minute, fire officials reported in a statement.
  5. Britton W. Crosby (2014-07-22). "Connecticut boats". CapeCodFD. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
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