March 5, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2002-16) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FIRE OFFICIALS TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE FIRE BOAT STATION Beginning Friday, March 8, 2002 Fire Officials will be closing the Matt Sloan Fire Boat Station, located on the Mobile River at 213 Commerce Street, for several months while work is being completed on the new bulkhead on the Mobile River. Matt Sloan Station is home to Fire Engine # 2 and FireBoat #2 the "Ramona Doyle". The time frame for the work to be completed is unknown. Engine 2 and its crew will be moved to Central Fire Station where it will continue to respond to emergency calls. In cooperation with the Mobile Convention & Visitors Corporation, Fire Boat #2 will be moved and docked behind the Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The Ramona Doyle, a 1941 Navy Mine Tender, was brought to Mobile and commissioned in 1974 as a FireBoat and has been in service the entire time. The fire crew of engine 2 also serves as the crew for the fireboat. ###