Burton Gets New Fire Boat

by Donald Fraser, Staff Writer for The Clayton Tribune - May 3, 2001

What's big and red and squirts water? Another clue is it's a big example of the Lake Burton Civic Association's (LBCA) commitment to Rabun County's fire and rescue departments. If you haven't already guessed, it's a brand new fire and rescue boat on Lake Burton.

There is a shiny new boat prowling the  pristine waters of Lake Burton. The county, with donations from the Lake Burton Civic Association, has purchased a new fire boat for use by the Lakes Volunteer Fire department. Delivery of the new boat was made this week.

Warren Blye, the county's coordinator for marine operations, said Burton One is closely modeled on a similar boat on Lake Rabun. Certain improvements were specified based on experience with operating Rabun's boat. Burton One is driven by two 150 horsepower Mercury outboard motors that pop the boat up on plane quickly and scoot it along at about 50 miles per hour. Prominently mounted forward in the boat is a large white cabinet housing a Chevy V-6 engine. The Chevy powers a 1,000 gallon per minute pump for the water cannon mounted on the boat's bow. A stream of water jets about 100 feet for lake side firefighting.

The boat, delivered to Lake Burton at the end of April, was pulled out of its temporary home, Georgia Power's boathouse on Murray Cove, for presentation to county officials on Monday. Current LBCA president Bill Bomar, with his wife Jan, and Sid Kollme, association president last year, were on hand for the presentation.

At the fire boat presentation were (from left) Warren Blye; Barry Wood; Roger Harrison; Jim Bleckley; Sid Kollme, past LBCA president; and Bill Bomar, current LBCA president.

Bomar said over 500 of about 890 LBCA members contributed to the boat donation. The boat fund raising effort was a separate activity from the LBCA's other fund raising efforts for Rabun County fire and rescue stations. Roger Harrison, a representative from Georgia Power Company land office was also present, while Jim Bleckley was on hand for Rabun County. Bomar said while the LBCA raised $116,000 for the boat, Georgia Power Company and the State of Georgia were also major players. Lakes Fire and Rescue Station chief Barry Wood, who will have operating responsibility for the boat, and Blye took the LBCA representatives for a test cruise after the presentation.

Burton One is now on Lake Burton to provide quick response to emergencies on the lake and near the shore. Emergency medical equipment will include standard response equipment and a floating Stokes basket.

Over the last four years the LBCA has donated over $135,000 to three volunteer fire departments. The Wildcat Fire and Rescue Station on Highway 197 across from K-astner’s Store received a new pumper truck from Rabun County this year and a donation from the LBCA is being used to help equip the vehicle.

Copyright © 1999 - 2004 by Lake Burton Civic Association and Scot Roberge.  All rights reserved.