The department recently gained status as a 501c(4) nonprofit organization, which gives the department the ability to raise funds and accept donations for equipment and supplies on its own.

“We had a local citizen who knew we were in need of a boat and knew our financial situation and had the ability to purchase a boat for us and then donate it to the volunteer department,” he said.

Forness had been trying to acquire a rescue boat for more than a year and even started an online fundraising campaign in April 2015. The fundraising wasn’t very effective and didn’t come close to the goal of more than $50,000.

Forness maintained then and now that the rescue boat is critical to provide emergency rescues on local waterways during the summer and shoulder seasons.

“We have a service area the size of some small states,” he said at the time. “Within our service area, we have two major rivers, hundreds of recreational boaters, three barge companies, commercial fishermen, tourists and missionaries that use these waterways 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the rivers are flowing.”

The boat, he said, is essential lifesaving equipment. Healy’s Tri-Valley Volunteer Fire Chief Rob Graham agreed.