Berkeley Seeks Big Bucks To Pay For Fire-and-Rescue Boat

The city of Berkeley wants a boat.

The Berkeley City Council is angling for $1 million towards a 37-foot jet boat that would provide services cut back since U.S. Coast Guard cuts, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The boat is needed to provide fire services because Berkeley has Northern California's "largest residential marina," with over 100 berthed boats "where people live," according to Fire Chief Gil Dong.

There are 1,100 boats in total at the marina in Berkeley, the newspaper reported.

The jet boat would be paid for by $230,000 from the city council as well as $690,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA grant is not yet secured, the newspaper reported.

The boat would be able to maneuver in deep mud near the shoreline, would be able to fight fires, and also respond to "suicide attempts," according to Berkeley authorities.