Smith Mountain Lake, VA Fireboats

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FIREBOATS
Photos by Britton W Crosby

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New Page February 22, 2020 Updated March 21, 2023

VIRGINIA BOATS
Alexandria   Chesapeake Chesterfield County Colonial Beach Fairfax County
Hampton Henrico County   Newport News    Norfolk    OWL / Woodbridge   Portsmouth
Smith Mountain Lake Spotsylvania County Suffolk Virginia Beach   York County / Seaford

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE
COMPANY 11

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE MARINE VOLUNTEER FIRE/RESCUE
Website

The Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue organization is very unique.
It is an all volunteer, exclusively water based, fire/rescue department, organized in 1975.

It is located in the West-central part of Virginia, just East of Roanoke, on a 20,600 acre
man made lake with 540 miles of shoreline in a rural area, with a high seasonal population.
The lake is within parts of 3 Counties (Bedford, Franklin, and Pittsylvania).

The department has 8 strategically located "boat stations" around the lake.
Boats respond to all water related incidents on the lake, but also to any
fire or alarm within 1000 feet of the shoreline to provide water supply
or potentially extinguishment working with land based volunteer fire companies.
Because of the terrain and many coves, it could take land units much longer
to reach areas that the boats can reach much quicker.
There are about 300 responses a year (349 in 2019).

Chief Todd Ohlerich was kind enough to provide us with the opportunity
to see the fleet and even get a ride on one of the specialized fire/rescue boats.
The organization counts on a couple dozen active volunteers, with funding
supported primarily by donations to operate.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE BOAT STATIONS
Fireboat 11-1 - Bridgewater Plaza
Fireboat 11-2 - Gills Creek Marina
Fireboat 11-3 - Trailer Unit
Fireboat 11-4 - Indian Point Marina
Fireboat 11-5 - Crazy Horse Marina
Fireboat 11-6 - Virginia Dare Marina
Fireboat 11-7 - Magnum Point Marina
Fireboat 11-8 - Water Wheel Marina
Fireboat 11-9 - Mariner's Landing

Fireboat 11-1 - Bridgewater Plaza

Smith Mountain Lake
"Fire Boat 11-1"

1995 WhaHoo 17' Fire/Rescue Boat
500 gpm
Deckgun / 400' 3" supply hose / 15' 1-3/4" /200' forestry hose
2 SCBA

Fireboat 11-1 is located at the Bridgewater Plaza on Booker T Washington Highway (122)
on the West end of the Hales Ford Bridge.

Fireboat 11-2 - Gills Creek Marina

Smith Mountain Lake
"Fire Boat 11-2"

1995 Boston Whaler 17' Fire/Rescue Boat
500 gpm
Deckgun / 400' 3" supply hose / 150' 1-3/4" /200' forestry hose
2 SCBA

Fireboat 11-2 is located at the Gills Creek Marina at the end of 1302 off of
Burnt Chimney Road at the tip of a peninsula.

We accessed this one via boat ride on 11-5

Fireboat 11-3 - Trailer Unit

Did not see

Smith Mountain Lake
"Boat 11-3"
2007 Alumacraft 18' boat
115 HP Yamaha

Fireboat 11-4 - Indian Point Marina

Smith Mountain Lake
"Fire Boat 11-4"

1997 Boston Whaler 27' Fire/Rescue Boat
1250 gpm
Deckgun / 1200' 3" supply hose / 400' 1-3/4" /200' forestry hose
4 SCBA

Fireboat 11-4 is located at the Indian Point Marina at the end of Morewood Rd
616 off of Booker T Washington Highway in the Westlake area.

Boat 11-4 came to us at the Water Wheel Marina visit

Fireboat 11-5 - Crazy Horse Marina

Smith Mountain Lake
"Fire Boat 11-5"

2009 Boston Whaler 27' Guardian Fire/Rescue Boat
1500 gpm Darley pump
Deckgun / 1000' 3" supply hose / 400' 1-3/4" /200' forestry hose
4 SCBA / 28' Ladder, 12' ladder, 10' ladder / Foam
Side Sonar

Fireboat 11-5 is located at the Crazy Horse Marina at the end of Crazy Horse Drive
off Scruggs Road 616 in Scruggs.

Boat 11-5 is one of 3 identical boats built in 2009 by Boston Whaler
specifically for Smith Mountain Lake duty. These vessels (11-5, 11-6, and 11-8)
are yellow and distinctive (one of the reasons I learned online about SML).

Chief Ohlerich took us out for a ride on 11-5 to see boat 11-2 from the
Crazy Horse Marina on a sunny, but chilly day in February 2020.

At the 11-2 Dock

Fireboat 11-6 - Virginia Dare Marina

Smith Mountain Lake
"Fire Boat 11-6"

2009 Boston Whaler 27' Guardian Fire/Rescue Boat
1500 gpm Darley pump
Deckgun / 1000' 3" supply hose / 400' 1-3/4" /200' forestry hose
4 SCBA / 28' Ladder, 12' ladder, 10' ladder / Foam
Side Sonar

Fireboat 11-6 is located at the Virginia Dare Marina at the end of Airport Road 853
off of Smith Mountain Lake Parkway in Huddleston.

Fireboat 11-7 - Magnum Point Marina

We did not get to 11-7

Fireboat 11-8 - Water Wheel Marina

Smith Mountain Lake
"Fire Boat 11-8"

2009 Boston Whaler 27' Guardian Fire/Rescue Boat
1500 gpm Darley pump
Deckgun / 1000' 3" supply hose / 400' 1-3/4" /200' forestry hose
4 SCBA / 28' Ladder, 12' ladder, 10' ladder / Foam
Side Sonar

Fireboat 11-8 is located at the Waterwheel Marina at the end of Waterwheel Drive
off of Moneta Road 122 on the East side of the Hales Ford Bridge.
This is located just across the lake from 11-1 at Bridgewater Plaza.