Benton County gets a new rescue boat

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

BENTON CITY – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Benton County Fire District No. 2 unveiled a new rescue boat earlier this week. The two agencies have been working together to purchase the jet boat which will be used for calls of service on the Yakima River.

“We are very glad to get this boat up and running,” Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Bates said. “It has been needed in the area for a long time.”

Bates said this particular jet boat has a flat bottom, which allows it to maneuver in shallow waters, something the county’s other boat cannot do. The new rescue boat will be stored in the fire district’s building in Benton City.

District firefighters are participating in swift-water rescue training in preparation for this summer.