The Coral Gables, Fla., Fire Department has christened its first fireboat, adding a dedicated marine response vessel for the city’s coastal and inland waterways.
The 28' vessel, named Fire Boat 5, was built by DGS Boats Corp. under a contract awarded by the Coral Gables City Commission in November 2025.
City procurement records show Coral Gables awarded DGS an approximately $300,062 contract for the custom-built marine fire-rescue vessel. The city’s solicitation specified a DGS PRO 28 SAR, or approved equivalent, for operations in access-challenged inland and coastal waterways.
Four companies submitted bids for the project before DGS was selected.
Fire Boat 5 will be used for marine emergencies, rescues and other emergency-response operations along Coral Gables’ approximately 42 miles of coastline and waterways, according to the city.
The vessel was funded in part through a State of Florida grant.
The new fireboat expands the department’s marine-response capability as part of a broader investment in fire and emergency services infrastructure.
