The Phil Campbell Rescue Squad has replaced two flat-bottom boats with a 2021 Boston Whaler named Marine 1. The addition, squad members said, is a much-improved option for the rescue squad fleet.

“We’d been considering it for a good while,” explained rescue squad president and EMT Barry Pounders. “It can draft in about eight inches of water, so it can get into a lot of places other boats can’t.”

Sporting a Mercury 60 horsepower 4 stroke motor, the boat is also equipped with a Feniex Industries dual color LED lightbar, high-power LED flood lights and a remote-controlled LED spotlight, as well as emergency and scene lighting.

“It can be cut in half with a chainsaw and still float,” said Pounders. “The boat will be equipped with down-scan and side-scan sonar for conducting searches, and this will allow us to locate objects under the water.”

While the boat was acquired in December, Pounders said the system has been ordered, but it has been delayed because of the worldwide chip shortage. “We expect it to arrive within about another month; however, the two-way radio should arrive much sooner, probably around the middle of February, and we’ll get that installed as soon as we are able.”

“We are very thankful and excited about adding Marine 1 to our fleet in order to better serve the community,” added Pounders. “This is an important advancement to allow us to continue increasing the level of service we are able to offer.”