NORWALK, Conn. – City officials here christened the new
fireboat Robert L. Bedell on Monday, at Veterans Memorial Park. The vessel,
built by North River Boats, Roseburg,
Ore., cost $600,000 and was paid for largely by a FEMA grant.
The Bedell was named for a Norwalk firefighter who died in
2004 after 29 years of service. According to the Norwalk Patch,
his children Keith, Matthew and Melissa attended the ceremony, along with his widow Linda.
With chemical and radiation detection sensors, the Bedell is
outfitted with technology to make it more than a simple firefighting vessel,
but it can stream 2,400 gpm out of three nozzles. Its propulsion is provided by
two 425-hp Cummins engines and has a top speed of 35 knots.
For video of the christening ceremony, visit the
Patch site by clicking here (their embed code was working before, but now
it’s not).