Lake Assault nearing completion on fire/rescue boat for Rabun County

LAKEMONT — Lake Assault has taken on building the newest addition to the Lakemont-Wiley Fire Station and the production progress is nearly finished.

According to Assistant Chief Justin Upchurch, the newer fireboat will be taking the place of the current “Fireboat 4” due to a compliance and regulations issue – “the engine was not pumping enough water to keep the ISO [Insurance Services Office] rating.”

The Insurance Services Office, or ISO for short, provides statistical information and advisory services to insurance companies and evaluates criteria on fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities of individual communities or fire protection areas. The schedule measures the major elements of a community’s fire protection system and develops a numerical grading called a Public Protection Classification (PPC).

As a means to keep ISO regulations in order, the Lake Rabun Association raised a portion of the money and collaborated with Rabun County Fire Services to hire Lake Assault in constructing the new fireboat.

According to Upchurch, the new boat will have military grade features, such as an on-shore docking feature, as well as a drop-down gate that will aid in making the process easier for loading the hurt and injured onboard. The primary function of the vessel will be to do rescue missions as well as dive operations.

Upchurch told WRBN completion is is on the horizon and is expecting to see the fireboat built and ready for shipment within two months time or less.