Truckee Fire sells their airboat to Washoe County Hasty Team for $1

The Truckee Fire Protection District sold their airboat used for in-the-water rescues to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team for just one dollar. This important piece of equipment can be used for missions on shallow bodies of water such as Swan Lake and could also potentially be used to speed response time for ice rescues, particularly in areas where thin ice is an issue.

When the Truckee department acquired a new boat for their uses they transferred ownership to Washoe County who had borrowed the boat in the past for help at the Reno Air Races.

The airboat is a rescue tool that Washoe County Search and Rescue Hasty Team has been in need of for some time, said the Sheriff's office. Hasty volunteers are stationed at the edge of Swan Lake during the annual National Championship Air Races at Stead Airport in case there is ever a need to perform a water rescue. Swan Lake is shallow with large amounts of growth in the water, requiring the use of an airboat. In years past, Hasty had to borrow boats from other entities such as the Truckee Fire Protection District to support this mission.

“Thanks to the men and women of Truckee Fire our search and rescue teams are now better equipped to serve our community,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said. “When we’re needed for this kind of a mission, we’re ready to go.”