Chicago fire boat – The Christopher Wheatley

Dan Jasina from Michigan recently came across an interesting article featuring photos and a video about the new fire boat. You can find the full article [here](#), with some highlights below: The vessel represents over a year of hard work for Hike Metal Products Ltd. and its dedicated team of more than 20 employees. This is the largest boat shipped out of Wheatley in nearly half a decade, surpassing even the size of the fire boat built back in 2007 for Baltimore. On Friday morning, this impressive Chicago fire boat will depart the harbor, potentially cruising down the Detroit River later that day. It will journey through Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan, reaching Chicago by Sunday evening if the weather cooperates. There’s a heartwarming coincidence tied to the boat's name that has left both Chicago fire officials and the shipbuilders in Wheatley pleasantly surprised. The fire boat is named **Christopher Wheatley** in honor of a 31-year-old Chicago firefighter who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on August 9. During a restaurant fire, he fell to his death while carrying equipment up a fire escape. Upon learning that the new fire boat would be named after his son, Daniel Wheatley, the fallen firefighter's father, reached out to the Chicago Fire Department. When he discovered that Hike Metal Products Ltd. was constructing the vessel and learned about their location in Wheatley, he was truly astonished. In March, he visited Wheatley to see the boat and the town for himself. Interestingly, not all Chicago firefighters are aware that the incoming fire boat will bear the name Christopher Wheatley. Hike Metal officials only found out about this meaningful connection four months ago when they inquired about the appropriate name for the boat. Andy Stanton, the company president, expressed his delight that a hero like Christopher Wheatley would have his name proudly displayed on such a robust vessel. “We were really taken aback,” he admitted. The Christopher Wheatley is a heavy-duty fire boat capable of breaking up to 12 inches of ice, allowing it to operate year-round. It can be utilized for scuba diving operations, rescues, firefighting using foam or water, and as a supplementary water pump for the city's firemain system. With a minimum crew of five or up to ten members during a fire operation, the boat features essential amenities below deck, including a kitchen, bathroom, and crew quarters. One of the four monitor nozzles sits on a platform that can elevate up to 30 feet, and the force of the spray is powerful enough to remove bricks from a building’s exterior, according to Stanton. To ensure it can pass under low bridges, the boat's mast can be lowered, keeping it at a maximum draft of 16 feet. Equipped with four engines—two for water pumps and two 1,500 horsepower propulsion engines—the vessel can reach speeds of 12 knots or move slowly at three knots when breaking ice. Dan also shared some fantastic photos which you can view [here](#).  *Chicago's new fire boat sits completed and ready to head out in a week. Dan Jasina photo.* This remarkable story highlights how a tragic loss has been transformed into something positive, ensuring that the memory of Christopher Wheatley lives on in a tangible way.

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