Fireboat "Torrent"
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On January 16, 1951, while battling a 10 alarm blaze at
the old. Hawkins Point .Ammunition Pier,. the Torrent
was momentarily overtaken by the flames, and had her
paint burned off,. and some glass broken. The Pilot and
one Firefighter received burns. --------------------------------
the old. Hawkins Point .Ammunition Pier,. the Torrent
was momentarily overtaken by the flames, and had her
paint burned off,. and some glass broken. The Pilot and
one Firefighter received burns. --------------------------------
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Fireboat Torrent conducting a water display
in 1954.. She was. the .only Baltimore .Fire
boat to have five fire monitors.-----------------
in 1954.. She was. the .only Baltimore .Fire
boat to have five fire monitors.-----------------
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Rare color photo of Torrent at her berth, Pier 3, Lower Canton, in 1956, near
the end of her service as a Baltimore Fireboat. She spent her entire Fire Dept.
career with Engine Co. 48, at Canton.------------------------------------------------------
the end of her service as a Baltimore Fireboat. She spent her entire Fire Dept.
career with Engine Co. 48, at Canton.------------------------------------------------------
..On May 8, 1952, the City began interviewing Naval Architects for the design of a new steel hull diesel Fireboat for the purpose of modernizing the Marine Divisions fleet.
..On September 16, 1956, the new Fireboat, “Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.”, was placed in service with Engine Co. 49, at Curtis Bay.
..Although Engine 49 received the new Fireboat, all four of the old boats were subject to close examination by a competent Marine Surveyor in order that there be no mistake in which vessel should be replaced. The results of this survey disclosed the Torrent to be the least desirable to retain from a standpoint of its immediate extensive repairs and the present high operating cost per annum.
..Engine 49’s former Fireboat, Cascade, was assigned to Engine 48 when the new Fireboat went in service. The Cascade will effect greater savings by eliminating the oil burned to maintain the Torrent’s stand-by steam pressure around the clock. Fire Department officials estimate that this savings along with the elimination of the Torrent’s Fireman/Water tender personnel will pay the entire cost of the new Fireboat in seven years. ..
..On September 16, 1956, the new Fireboat, “Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr.”, was placed in service with Engine Co. 49, at Curtis Bay.
..Although Engine 49 received the new Fireboat, all four of the old boats were subject to close examination by a competent Marine Surveyor in order that there be no mistake in which vessel should be replaced. The results of this survey disclosed the Torrent to be the least desirable to retain from a standpoint of its immediate extensive repairs and the present high operating cost per annum.
..Engine 49’s former Fireboat, Cascade, was assigned to Engine 48 when the new Fireboat went in service. The Cascade will effect greater savings by eliminating the oil burned to maintain the Torrent’s stand-by steam pressure around the clock. Fire Department officials estimate that this savings along with the elimination of the Torrent’s Fireman/Water tender personnel will pay the entire cost of the new Fireboat in seven years. ..
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On September 16, 1956,. the Fireboat Torrent was decommissioned .and laid
up behind the Fire Department Repair Shop on Key Highway and made avail-
able for inspection by potential bidders. --------------------------------------------------
up behind the Fire Department Repair Shop on Key Highway and made avail-
able for inspection by potential bidders. --------------------------------------------------
..At 12:00 noon on December 7, 1956, bids were opened at City Hall, with “J. Willis Smith and Brother, Inc.” of Curtis Bay, Baltimore, MD being the high bidder at $18,088.00.
TORRENT CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
