The South Padre Island Fire Department has received a Dive/Rescue boat. The boat, a Mercury DR-520 with a 75 horsepower engine, will be used to support the newly formed Dive/Rescue team and assist in beach patrol rescue operations.
The boat was purchased through funding from a 2010 Homeland Security Grant Program. The grant provided over $30,000 to the City of South Padre Island Fire Department to start and equip a SCUBA Dive/Rescue team. The twelve member dive team has completed their basic SCUBA training and is now working towards their Rescue Diver certification.
"The new boat will bring a much needed asset to the Island," said Fire Department Chief, Burney Baskett. "Being an Island, a boat is obviously a critical tool for us. We naturally have a lot people engaging in water activities almost year round. This boat will allow us to respond more effectively to emergencies that occur on the water," Baskett explained.
The Boat was purchased in Corpus Christi were it was used as a demo boat at several boat shows. The boat has only approximately 40 hours of use on the engine, looks new and is still covered by warranty. "Although it is technically a used boat, it has had very little use and still has all the warranties in place. This allowed us to get more boat for the available grant dollars and still have the boat backed by a warranty," Baskett stated. The boat will go into service immediately.
For more information you may contact Fire Department Chief, Burney Basket at (956)761-3206 or BBaskett@MySPI.org.
 The Fire Department with the new acquired Dive/Rescue Boat.
 The boat is a Mercury DR-520 with a 75 horsepower engine.
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