Amid a busy year, Citizens Hose takes possession of new rescue boat, thanks to Clinton County Community Foundation grant

LOCK HAVEN – Citizens Hose Co. No. 5 – Station 6 in Clinton County – has a new and very much needed inflatable rescue boat, motor and trailer thanks, in part, to a Clinton County Community Foundation grant of $15,000. 

Costing nearly $20,000, the new boat replaces a 33-year-old one that leaked, said Eric Brungard, Citizens’ fire chief. The price also includes training by the dealer. 

Citizens has a dive team among the critical services it provides and responds to water rescues in Clinton and surrounding counties when needed. 

While it took nearly a near to receive, the wait was worth it, Brungard said. 

The boat is housed at the station at 415 Bellefonte Ave.

Brungard and long-time Firefighter Carl Houtz made the trip to York, Pa., to pick up the boat.

They said the new boat and motor have a total weight of approximately 300 pounds so it can be carried to any remote location to be launched. 

The boat will be placed in service as Boat 6-1.

Citizens’ Water Rescue and Dive Teams, Brungard said, “are fully funded and operated by our fire company.”

The teams are equipped with various dive and water rescue gear and equipment.
“The funding for all of this comes from grants and our various fundraising efforts, like ice sales, mass mailing, chicken bar-be-ques and more,” he added. 

“Our team not only services the City of Lock Haven, but all of Clinton, and some surrounding counties.”

Houtz noted that 2024 was a very busy year for Citizens Hose and 2025 has started out just as busy, including a recent and very tragic fatal house fire where a young woman lost her life.

Last year, the station responded to approximately 697 calls, or about 1.5 per day on average.