Hamlin Firefighters Raise Funds for First Rescue Boat

When someone needs help in Lake Ontario's waters near Hamlin, New York, every second counts, but the local firefighters don't have a boat to reach them.

The Hamlin Fire Department protects nearly 14 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and several inland ponds. For the past decade, these all-volunteer firefighters have relied on rope rescue equipment and flotation devices to save people from the water.

When emergencies strike, neighboring fire departments from Kendall and Lakeshore rush to help with their boats. But in water rescues, time is everything.

"You can't beat physics. There is a lot of space to cover," said John Deserto of the Hamlin Fire Department. "Kendall and Lakeshore are fantastic about getting here, but it takes them time and during a rescue that is the cruel part. You don't have time."

This year alone, firefighters have already responded to four water rescues. That reality pushed department leaders to launch a fundraising campaign for a new 15.5-foot Zodiac rescue boat with a rigid aluminum floor and 40-horsepower motor.

The goal is $30,000. Rather than asking taxpayers to foot the bill, they turned to their neighbors for support.

The Ripple Effect

The community answered immediately. In just three to four weeks, donations poured in totaling 20% of the fundraising goal.

"District leaders have been surprised at the response," Deserto said. "That's a lot of money very quickly so we are really excited about this whole thing."

The new boat will dramatically cut response times for water emergencies. Instead of waiting for backup from neighboring towns, Hamlin's firefighters will be able to launch their own rescue operations within minutes of a call.

For a small all-volunteer department serving miles of Lake Ontario coastline, that difference could mean everything to someone struggling in the water.

The fundraiser continues as the community works together to bring this critical lifesaving equipment back to their lakeshore.