MPFPD Water Rescue Program
In 1989, the Menlo Park Fire District increased the size of the Fire District when it assumed the responsibility of providing service to people using the Baylands and water ways bordering the District.
In April of 1990, a report was submitted by the Disaster Operations Division titled, "Water Rescue Report." This report outlined a hazard analysis for potential water rescues in the newly annexed bayland areas, as well as proposals to mitigate this new hazard. The proposals dealt with the development of a "Rapid Surface Water Rescue Team," and the purchase of equipment and a water rescue craft.
In 1991, the Palo Alto Fire Department joined the effort to develop a water rescue capability with the Menlo Park Fire District. They formed under a joint powers’ agreement known as the South Bay Water Rescue Team. The idea was to always have 2 water resources as support on the water for south bay water rescue needs. In 1992 the team took delivery of an 18' Panther flat bottom air boat and a 16' Zodiac Hurricane Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) with a 90-horse power outboard motor. The airboat was housed at Menlo Fire’s Station 77 and the RHIB was housed at Palo Alto’s Station 3.
In 2004, Menlo Fire sold the Panther Airboat after the purchase of a new Airboat from American Airboat in Orange Texas. This boat is currently in service and is a 2004 Air Ranger with an actuallength of 22’ 1” and a width of 8’2”. The Hull is an aluminum flat bottom boat with polymer sheets on the bottom and on each side. The sheets allow the boat to easily slide over mud, grass, tulles, wood, and rocks with minimal damage. The boat can achieve speeds of 35-40 mph on the water and over 50 mph on the mud. 
There are approximately 40 personnel that participate on our local Water Rescue Team. All personnel are required to pass an annual swim test. The swim test consists of a 500 yd continuous swim, tread water for 15 minutes, the ability to use throw-able rescue devices and retrieve a 30 lb weight off the bottom of a pool, among other things.
Of the 40 personnel, approximately ½ are qualified drivers of the air boat. The boat operator test consists of passing the annual swim test, a written test, and 1 hour of the following: driving on calm water, mud, rough water, launching/docking/trailering, and baylands familiarization.
On average the Menlo Park Water Rescue Program will do 10 to 15 callouts annually where the Airboat is the only piece of equipment that can facilitate a rescue.
For more information about MPFPD Water Rescue Program please go to: