Fireboats of Seattle facts for kids

As a big port city, Seattle has always needed special boats to fight fires on the water. For over 100 years, the Seattle Fire Department has used a fleet of powerful fireboats to protect ships, docks, and even buildings near the water.

What Are Fireboats?

Fireboats are like floating fire trucks! They are strong boats built to fight fires on the water. They have powerful pumps that can spray huge amounts of water from cannons, called "monitors," onto burning ships, docks, or waterfront buildings. They can also help rescue people from the water and even pump water to land-based firefighters when needed.

Seattle's Fireboat History

Because Seattle is a major port with lots of ships and docks, especially in the past when many ships were made of wood, fireboats have always been super important. They can reach fires that land-based fire trucks can't, and they have access to an endless supply of water from the sea or lakes.

The First Fireboat: Snoqualmie

Seattle's very first fireboat was named the Snoqualmie. It was launched in 1891 and was the first fireboat ever on the West Coast of North America! The Snoqualmie served the city for many years, helping to keep the busy waterfront safe until 1935.

The Unique Duwamish

The Duwamish fireboat joined the fleet in 1909. This boat was very special because it was built with a unique "ram" bow. This meant its front was designed to be strong enough to push or even sink a burning ship if it was threatening to set other ships on fire! The Duwamish served Seattle for a very long time, until 1985. Today, you can still see the Duwamish because it's a museum ship, showing people what fireboats were like in the past.

The Long-Serving Alki

Another important fireboat was the Alki, launched in 1927. The Alki had an incredibly long career, protecting Seattle's waterfront for many decades until it was retired in 2013.

Modern Fireboats: Chief Seattle, Marine One, and Leschi

Today, the Seattle Fire Department has modern fireboats that continue the important work.

• The Chief Seattle was launched in 1984 and is still in service today.
• Marine One joined the fleet in 2006.
• The Leschi was launched in 2007.

These newer boats are equipped with the latest technology to fight fires and perform rescues on Seattle's waters. They are essential for keeping everyone safe in a city surrounded by water.

Images for kids

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  The Snoqualmie, Seattle's first fireboat.

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  The Duwamish with its special "ram" bow.

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  The Alki fireboat around 1928.

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  The Chief Seattle fireboat.

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  The Marine One fireboat.

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  The Leschi fireboat.