Cotter Fireboat getting ready to celebrate 125th anniversary

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — In 1900, what’s now known as the Edward M. Cotter Fireboat, was built and brought to Buffalo. It was when the the waterfront of the city was one of the busiest harbors in the nation and when grain elevators, warehouses, boats and almost everything was made out of wood.

Now, the 124-year-old vessel floats at around 178 tons, and can pump 15,000 gallons of water a minute, about 11 times more than the average fire engine.

In the winter the ship can help break through two feet of ice. Breaking it can help prevent ice jams and flooding in the community. But before the weather starts to turn, they’re currently doing some repairs to be ready.

“Obviously our number one job, being a fireboat is for fire suppression, and we’re available 24 hours a day, 365 for fire suppression and water supply if need to be land companies, it was designed and built as an ice breaker,” Lt. Michael Kick with the Buffalo Fire Department said. “By doing some preventative maintenance now we’re preventing a catastrophic failure while we’re out trying to fulfill our mission.”

The Cotter is the oldest active fireboat in the world, and they continue to keep its mission afloat from donations from the community.

“Being a national historic monument and national historic site we need funding and people should be proud of this apparatus that is sitting right under our feet,” said Kyle Zappia, a retired Buffalo firefighter and chairperson of Cotter Fest 2025.

Next year marks 125 years of service, and they’re hoping the community will come help support them and celebrate the historic vessel.

“It’s really a treasure,” Lt. Kick said. “It really is.”

To learn more about the boat or to make a donation, click here.

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Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

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