Press Release #2

Long Beach Fire Department Receives Critical New Equipment for Water Rescues

from left to right: Dave Cole , Senior Product Director Firemans Fund, Ben Thomas , Vice President RSI Insurance Brokers, and Chief Jeff Reeb Long Beach Fire Dept. Station# 20

New Pumps Aim to Save Sinking Boats & Vessels

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2007) – When a boat is taking on water and quickly sinking into the ocean, time and safety are of the essence. RSI Insurance Brokers, Inc. and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company donated $9,012 to the Long Beach Fire Department to purchase new equipment to help save sinking vessels.

The department’s fire boats 15 and 20 will share a new submersible water pump to be used for suctioning water from vessels in the Port of Long Beach.  The equipment will allow crews to rapidly pump water from commercial vessels and personal watercraft in the early stages of sinking.

“The time saved with the new submersible pumps will make our rescue operations more efficient,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Reeb. "It’s an essential rescue tool.”

Along with the new pumps, fire boat personnel also received nine new inflatable flotation devices to protect them during rescues. They will enable rescuers to work unencumbered, yet be protected in the event of a fall overboard.

“These new jackets are state of the art, and replace the older, dated models,” added Reeb.

A formal public presentation event and demonstration of the new equipment took place with Long Beach Fire Department officials and executives from RSI Insurance Brokers, Inc. and Fireman’s Fund on Thursday, Sept. 13th. at Long Beach Fire Dept, Station #20.

"Long Beach fire boat personnel deserve to be working with the best equipment available and we’re proud to help them improve their rescue efforts," said Ben Thomas, founder and vice president with RSI Insurance Brokers, Inc. "It can be prohibitively expensive for a fire department to purchase everything it needs, so we hope this new equipment will make a difference.”

The grant package is part of a nationwide program called Fireman’s Fund HeritageSM, which is funded by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. The program is designed to provide needed   equipment, training and educational tools to local fire departments. Since 2004, Fireman’s Fund has issued grants to hundreds of different departments totaling more than $13 million. Independent insurance agencies that sell Fireman’s Fund products are able to direct these grants to support fire stations in their communities. RSI was instrumental in directing this specific donation to Long Beach.

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