DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 8, 2023) — The Davenport Fire Department has received a $600,000 Port Security Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the City’s $200,000 contribution, this funding will be used to replace DFD’s current large fireboat stationed at the boathouse with a more capable and safer one.
DFD collaborates with the Quad Cities Area Maritime Security Committee and nearby agencies to ensure the safety and security of the Port of Davenport and surrounding ports. The need for an updated fireboat is due to the high volume of commerce that passes through the river, including barges, trains, and commercial passenger vessels.
The new fireboat will feature an enclosed cabin to protect patients from the elements until they can be transferred to an ambulance onshore. Additionally, it will be equipped with navigational and communication equipment to allow for collaboration with the Coast Guard during large-scale incidents.
As this project evolves, more details will be released.
The Davenport Fire Department serves Davenport, Iowa community members with eight engine companies and three truck companies that respond to about 17,000 emergency incidents per year including structure fires, emergency medical calls, hazardous-materials calls, technical rescues, and citizen's assists. The department’s prevention programs provide public education to help protect citizens. As one of only 258 agencies to achieve Internationally Accredited Agency status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence Inc (CPSE), the department provides the highest quality of service to the Davenport community — a place rich in history, rooted in Midwestern values, and pulsing with opportunities.
