Fireboats of San Diego

San Diego's first fireboat, the Bill Kettner.

As a major port, the city of San Diego has operated fireboats in San Diego, since its first fireboat, the Bill Kettner was commissioned in 1919.

City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

The city's first fireboat, the Bill Kettner, was named after San Diego's Congressional Representative William Kettner. The vessel was built by the city's own firefighters in their own workshop, in 1919.

The Point Loma II a small patrol vessel, with a modest pumping capacity, served from 1957 to 1977. She had a single water cannon, only capable of pumping 1,200 gallons per hour.

The Bill Kettner was retired in 1961, when she was replaced by the Shelter Island. The Shelter Island had a two water cannon, capable of pumping 2,000 gallons per minute and 1,000 gallons per minute.

A third vessel, the Harbor Island was also put into service. She had a single water cannon, capable of pumping 2000 gallons per minute.

San Diego Harbor Police

The San Diego Harbor Police has an area of responsibility that includes the San Diego Bay shorelines of the cities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, and Coronada.

On November 22, 2010 the city accepted 2 new fireboats, to be operated by the San Diego Harbor Police, that were paid for by a Port security grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The two new vessels each have three water cannon. They replaced three older and less capable vessels, that had been in service for 35 years.

In 2011 the City of San Diego agreed to accept an additional three more vessels, under another grant from the Department of Homeland Security. These five identical vessels are named Fireboat 1, Fireboat 2, Fireboat 3, Fireboat 4 and Fireboat 5.

San Diego Lifeguard Service's fireboats

San Diego's Lifeboat Service operates a separate fleet of fireboats. Marine 2 and Marine 1 were commissioned in 1991 and 2004. Marine 3 was commissioned on June 26, 2015.

Her pumping capacity is double that of the older vessels, at a still modest 1,200 gallons per minute. She is equipped for search and rescue in addition to firefighting duties. She is equipped with infrared and other sensors, for helping to find missing sailors and lost boats. The two water cannon, each capable of pumping 1,200 gallons per minute, can be remotely controlled from the cabin. The lifeguard department's previous rescue and fire vessel had just a single water cannon, capable of pumping only 500 gallons per minute. The vessel cost $1 million, and its projected life is 25 years.