St. Cloud Fire Department Looks to Buy New Rescue Boat

ST. CLOUD -- The St. Cloud Fire Department will look for permission tonight to replace a rescue boat lost during a Sauk River rescue this summer.

The fire department was responding to a call on the river July 20th. High water and strong current swamped and sank the boat.

Fire officials says a major contributing factor was that the boat was underpowered. It was recovered days later but was a total loss.

An insurance settlement is expected to pay for just over half the cost of a new inflatable, high-powered, unsinkable rescue boat. The remaining $13,600 would come from from the department's reserves.

The city council will decide whether to approve the purchase at tonight's meeting.