Photo: Dracut Fire Department
DRACUT, Mass (WBZNewsRadio) - Earlier this year, the Dracut Fire department bought two new rescue boats and now thanks to the Old Home Day Committee, the boats are now ready to hit the water and furnished with safety equipment, rescue equipment and waterproof portable radios.
The two new boats replace an older vessel that suffered an engine failure, and an old ice rescue boat that suffered a cracked hull.
"We were fortunate to be able to replace out boat with two state-of-the-art rescue vessels," said Chief Richard Patterson. "The generosity of the Old Home Day Committee gave us the opportunity to equip both boats with new personal flotation devices, throw ropes and rescue equipment as well as communication equipment that we otherwise would not have been able to purchase. We can't thank them enough."
The Old Home Day Committee donated around $5,000 to the department, using funds collected during last year's Old Home Day.
"Dracut Old Home Day's mantra is to give back to the community, and we were fortunately enough this year to raise enough money from our event to give back $31,000 to the community," said Old Home Day Committee Vice Chairman Dave Paquin. "Part of the money we gave back was this grant for the Fire Department to buy all the equipment they needed to outfit these boats. Anything the chief needed that wasn't included in the grant to buy the boats, we provided funds for."
Marine 1 will be kept in Station 3 on Nashua Road and used primarily for rescues and calls for service on Lake Mascuppic.
Marine 2 will be kept in the Jones Avenue station and used primarily for rescues and calls on the Merrimack River.
Old Home Day was created in 2001 stemming from the Town of Dracut's tricentennial celebration. Since then, the organization has raised more than $500,000 to give back to the community.
This year's Old Home Day will take place Saturday, Sept. 9, in the yard at the Englesby Elementary School.