WARNER L. LAWRENCE LAFD FIREBOAT 2

Release: December 2005
Material: Resin
Edition Quantity: 1,500

Why make the world's most powerful fireboard? LAFD Assistant Chief, John D. Badgett wrote in the Los Angeles Fire Department Newsletter "Fire Watch", "The new boats are the result of a ten-year, joint effort project between the Fire Department and the Port of Los Angeles. It began with a focused need assessment. This process researched the current and projected future port protection role of the Fire Service in the port area, including the possibility of responding beyond the port's limits as needed. The port's hazards, potentials, and expansion projects were studied in close detail. The entire port area was divided into hazard types, and then further refined into specific hazards. The target hazards were then measured for fire flow, fire stream reach, potential Firefighting Foam requirements, alternate water source needs and a wide range rage of other criteria." Once this was accomplished, the data was compared against our existing Fireboat capabilities, and the potential for enhancement, or reduction was carefully studied. On completion, a list of equipment and capabilities required to address the port's needs was developed. This list included items such as Firefighting Foam capacities and flow rates, on board EMS facilities, SCUBA program needs, towing capabilities, improved water supply ability and many many others."

Chief Badgett continues, "Once all of these issues were addressed, the platform that would best carry the equipment and address our delivery requirements was researched. Among the top priorities of the new boar were the overall strength, longevity, technological superiority, and a wide range of enhanced capabilities. Ultimately, Marine Architects and specialists were hired to formally develop the Department's specifications, and the new large and small boats became a reality."

The Warner L. Lawrence was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, BC and built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland, WA. Boat plans can be download directly from Nichols Brothers Boat Builders; click here to download the plans. Acrobat is required.

Chief John D. Badgett wrote, "Nichols Brothers Boat Builders was chosen because of their experience in building large Fireboats and Tractor Tugs. The boats design was chosen because of its tried and true reputation in the work boat industry."

The boat is berthed at Los Angeles Fire Department Station 112. The station is located at 444 S Harbor Blvd Berth 86, San Pedro, CA. This award winning station was originally built to house the Ralph J. Scott. However, the station's size presented a problem when designing the Lawrence. In terms of length and beam (width) The Lawrence (length 105', beam 29') is not much bigger than the Ralph J. Scott (length 99', beam 19 feet. According to Robert Allan, part of the challenge was coming up with a design that was bound by the physical strictures of the boathouse.

The Lawrence is propelled and steered by a single unit; the Voith Schneider® Propellers. According to their website "This solution is as convincing as it is straightforward: on the Voith Schneider® Propeller, a rotor casing which ends flush with the ship's bottom is fitted with a number of axially parallel blades and rotates about a vertical axis. To generate thrust, each of the propeller blades performs an oscillating motion about its own axis. This is superimposed on the uniform rotary motion. Blade excursion determines the amount of thrust, while the phase angle of between 0° and 360° determines its direction. As a result, the same amount of thrust can be generated in any direction, making this the ideal variable-pitch propeller. Both variables - the magnitude and the direction of thrust - are controlled by a mechanical kinematic transmission." In other words, this solution makes the "Lawrence" great for maneuvering. However, it is not built for speed

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