FireStorm Aluminum Fireboats

The Firestorm High Speed Aluminum Fireboat represents a new generation in fireboat technology. It is a culmination of years of study and research into high volume pumping systems and their effects on a small boat’s stability, controllability, dynamic loading and righting moments.

The Firestorm operates on the Kingston design platform. The Kingston hull form is a proprietary design that features a delta pad center planing flat which provides the additional lift required to provide a low trim angle through the pre-planing transition zone, “the hump”.

As all fireboats carry so much fire and rescue gear, they are approximately 25% heavier than a conventional patrol boat. This can cause the planing surface area to be very marginal or even too low to plane at all. A heavy boat with a small water plane causes exaggerated bow high planing angles and heavy loads on engines reducing longevity.

The high efficiency of the proven Kingston hull form (copyright 1987) offsets the Firestorm’s high load condition, provides additional speed and better fuel economy.

The Firestorm-40 can be fitted wit twin or single fire pumps for redundancy or added fire power. Flow meter results were 2850 from 2x 1000 GPM pumps and 2200 GPM from a single 1500 GPM pump. This is due to a unique Metalcraft Marine proprietary designed sea chest (Copyright 2001). This sea chest with an intake as large as a firefighter provides a filtered water source to the pump, but self drains with the boat on plane.

The monitor location is central to good design and is close to the center of buoyancy of the boat. This permits the helmsman to pivot the boat around the thrust load at low rpm, not unlike a towboat. Operators are amazed at the boat’s control under full streaming at any angle. The boat’s head never blows off its course.

Simplicity in design was key to the fire system and is based on truck system design and components for ease of maintenance and repairability.

The Firestorm-36 is an NFPA Class ‘C’ fireboat but can meet NFPA Class ‘B’ pumping requirements and pumps more than 25% in excess of its pump rating. There are too many design features specific to Fire/Rescue to mention. Items like the wrap around recovery deck©, track system for safety harness (patent pending), internal foam tanks, and forward push knees© to name a few.

For first or only response the Firestorm-36 offers more specialized rescue features than much larger boats and gets their much faster.

These systems were designed with the input and insight of the Owl Fire Department Boat Team Firefighters. Metalcraft Marine would like to thank these men for their contributions to all water borne Fire/Rescue teams and their affect on the future of fireboat design.

* Some exceptions to the NFPA 1925 apply, based on individual specifications.