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The rescue boat, donated to the BGFD by the Lee County Sheriff's Office in August 2006, helped establish a maritime rescue presence for the Boca Grande Fire Department.

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The Boca Grande Fire District is dealing with a failing distress call boat known as the "Boca Submarine" to the firefighting crews.

In dealing with an increased number of rescue calls, Fire Chief C.W. Prosser said it will soon become critical to launch a more seaworthy rescue vessel.

The rescue boat, donated to the BGFD by the Lee County Sheriff's Office in August 2006, helped establish a maritime rescue presence for the Boca Grande Fire Department.

"It's definitely paid off after we acquired it," Prosser said. "We've already made several rescues."

But now he's worried it could become part of the problem when answering distress calls. The 1997 boat is showing its age in terms of numerous mechanical failures, he said.

"It's starting to nickel and dime us," Prosser said. "We're concerned about its seaworthiness."

The recent death of a distressed swimmer in the Boca Bop triathlon illustrated another shortcoming of the rescue boat when rescuers struggled to load the woman onto the high-sided boat.

"We need a boat with a platform almost water-line level," Prosser said. "Something we can work off of during rescues."

No money has been budgeted for a new rescue boat but Prosser said he will aggressively chase grant money.

"There are actually quite a few grants out there," he said.

He planned to present the Boca Grande Fire Department Commission with possible replacement scenarios as early as the Wednesday meeting, he said.

In other BGFD news, six island firefighters are competing at the "Combat Challenge" in Las Vegas against the elite smoke eaters in the nation. The BGFD firefighters, who qualified for nationals in a Kissimmee regional qualifier, go head-to-head against other departments in simulated, timed rescue challenges.

"It's very physically demanding," Prosser said.

The trip has a budget of an estimated $6,000, he said.

"This kind of competition pays off in the physical fitness of our firefighters," he said.

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