Port Clinton Fire & Rescue now has an inflatable 14-foot Brig Hard Bottom available for all water calls from the Port Clinton City Beach to the head of the Water Trail in Oak Harbor. It can now team up with its 23-foot hard bottom inflatable shown here that stays trailered at the Port Clinton Fire Station for response in Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay and the Portage River.

The Portage River in Port Clinton, Ottawa County and Oak Harbor has become a busy waterway, especially with its recent designation as an Ohio Water Trail. To help the people who are enjoying the local waters to be safe, Port Clinton Fire & Rescue began seeking funding for a Rapid Response River Watercraft that could remain docked in the Portage River in Port Clinton on a floating jet ski dock.

The local businesses and community came through again.

With the new elevated Portage River Walkway in Port Clinton, increased beach activity, and yearly issues in the Portage River, along with the newly created Portage River Water Trail, Port Clinton Fire & Rescue has obtained an inflatable 14-foot Brig Hard Bottom boat available for all water calls from the Port Clinton City Beach to the head of the Water Trail in Oak Harbor.

The new craft is available to all responding agencies from Port Clinton to Oak Harbor.

Port Clinton officials have thanked the Jet Express for the floating dock and Brands Marina, The Bait House Bar, Superior Marine and the Port Clinton Firefighter’s Association for making this possible. The Port Clinton Firefighter’s Association, a non-profit, is still accepting donations for the project, which are tax deductible.

Port Clinton Fire & Rescue also has a 23-foot hard bottom inflatable (see photo) that stays trailered at the station for response in Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay and, of course, the Portage River. The area has multiple public and private launch sites in Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay and the various rivers.