LIVERMORE – A Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund grant has given seven area communities the opportunity to share use of an emergency rescue boat. The towns are Turner, Leeds, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Jay, Wilton and Farmington.

Last week, Livermore Fire Chief Donald Castonguay and Assistant Chief Andrew Berry displayed the $11,523 Zodiac inflatable boat with a 25 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor, to selectmen. It’s the same type used by Navy Seals.

“Why an inflatable boat? Because it can easily be rolled up into a bag for compact, easy storage; inflates in two minutes with a regular scuba air tank; two men can easily transport it in an emergency situation, and no trailer would be needed,” Berry said. “And because the boat is made up of separate compartments, it can be punctured in one, two or three sections – you could lose the whole front of the boat and still float,” he said.

According to a statement by the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the boat will be available for emergencies on a 30-mile stretch of the Androscoggin River, the Nezinscot, Dead and Sandy rivers, and dozens of local lakes and ponds for ice, cold water and swift water rescues. The boat will also be available to support law enforcement and other agencies or groups that interact with the waters for research, wildlife and resource protection and conservation.

“Firefighters are called upon to respond to emergencies involving threats to life and environment. Our ability to respond in a practical and safe manner for victims and rescuers has been very limited,” said Randall Berry, project coordinator. “Having this rescue boat may mean the difference between a rescue and a body recovery. Local responders will now also have a tool to deploy booms that might contain spills into local waters along transportation routes that are common for large quantities of petroleum and hazardous products.

Although the boat will be shared by the towns and departments, Berry said that, “Livermore would be responsible for the monthly maintenance of the boat and deliver it when needed. Training would be worked out with other towns, and Wilton has a dive team,” he said.

And, according to Castonguay, “More and more people are using the lakes and rivers, with kayaks and canoes. The boat will be a good piece of equipment. The boat will also be made available to game wardens and to support local cleanup conservation efforts.

In discussing the boat purchase, Castonguay noted that since municipal funds that were set aside as matching funds were not used in its purchase, he asked the board whether the Fire Department could use that money to buy mandatory safety equipment, such as throw lines, waterproof strobe lights, dry suits, ice suits and other items.

The board approved the request.