(Spirit Lake)– Some lakes area fire departments are raising money to purchase a new fire boat that would serve East and West Lakes Okoboji and the lower chain of lakes. Steve Dulin, Chief of the Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Department, says they’re hoping to raise between 110-thousand and 115-thousand dollars.
Dulin describes the boat as “a portable fire hydrant”. He says the boat would be capable of pumping water straight out of the lake and could be taken to any location that doesn’t have an adequate supply of water or hydrants. He says area fire departments could also use it as a pumping station to fill pumpers responding to fires in rural areas.
Dulin says they’re asking lakes area cities to each kick in about 10-thousand dollars. The county is being requested to come up with about 20-thousand. The board of supervisors took the request under advisement at their meeting today (Tuesday). They’ll take it up during budget talks in the upcoming weeks.
