History
Toronto, Ontario
NameWilliam Lyon Mackenzie
NamesakeWilliam Lyon Mackenzie
OwnerCity of Toronto
OperatorToronto Fire Services (previous Toronto Fire Department 1964-1997)
Ordered1963
Awarded1963
BuilderRussel Brothers Limited, Owen Sound, Ontario
CostCAD$605,000
Yard number1216
Laid down1963
LaunchedNovember 7, 1963
Sponsored byCanadian Maritime Commission
Christened1963
Completed1963
AcquiredDecember 1963
Commissioned1964
Maiden voyageDecember 1964
In service1964-present
Out of service2004 (refit)
Reinstated2004
HomeportToronto
Nickname(s)Mac
StatusActive
NotesNamed after William Lyon Mackenzie
General characteristics
TypeFireboat-Icebreaker
Tonnage102 gt
Displacement200 tonnes
Length24.7m (81 feet)
Beam6m (20 feet)
Draft2.5m (7 feet)
Depth3m
Ice class1C
Propulsion2 x 3412 Caterpillar Diesel
Speed12 knots (13.8 mph; 22.2 km/h) - max 22km/hr
Complement3, (can use boost crew of 4)
Crew22

William Lyon Mackenzie, is a fireboat operated by Toronto Fire Services (TFS) which provides marine fire fighting and icebreaking capabilities within the Toronto Harbour. Built by Russel Brothers in 1964, it is named after William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor of Toronto. In 2004 the fireboat was refurbished and it is expected to be in service until 2037.

Design and equipment

As designed, the vessel was to be equipped with radar, echo sounder, radio, and daytime accommodation for the off-duty shift.[1]

The fireboat is equipped with:

  • Aerial tower – 54' Amador/Trump Limited Giraffe (refurbished 2004)
  • Hiab 5 ton crane
  • 2 diesel driven water pumps
  • 5 water nozzles

Operational history

William Lyon Mackenzie in action.

Built in Owen Sound, Ontario by Russel Brothers Limited with a modified Tugboat hull.[2] William Lyon Mackenzie operates 12 months a year, providing emergency services within Toronto Harbour and the adjacent waters of Lake Ontario. The boat is mainly docked at 339 Queen's Quay West next to Fire Station #334. It is the main fireboat for Toronto Fire Services as well as an icebreaker for the City of Toronto. William Lyon Mackenzie is one of a few fireboats to ply the Great Lakes, Edward M. Cotter is operated by Buffalo Fire Department and operates in Lake Erie. William Lyon Mackenzie does duty during the Canadian International Air Show, using its spray to make a very visible visual point of reference at the centre of the display area.

In 2004, the vessel completed a CA$1+ million refurbishment that will extend the in-service life of the vessel by approximately 30 years. The main propulsion diesels engines were replaced and the aerial platform was refurbished.[3]

In 2015, the TFS purchased the William Thorton, a mid-shore patrol built in 1982 for the Canadian Coast Guard. The Thornton will be staffed by the crew of the Mackenzie as a backup/additional boat. The Thornton replaced the Sora which the TFS had bought in 2006. The Thornton is named after William Thornton, the first known Toronto firefighter to die fighting a fire. Thornton died in 1848.[4]

William Lyon Mackenzie was called upon to give the newly commissioned tugboat Iron Guppy a ceremonial shower when she joined PortsToronto's fleet, on July 23, 2016.[5]

William Lyon Mackenzie has been featured in the TV series Mighty Machines, filmed in action by their film crew during an exercise.

Notes

  1. ↑ Brydon, Arthur (October 2, 1961). "$'150,000 Toronto Tug Launched at Erieau Honors THC Veteran". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 2, 2012. Still in the works for the harbour is a fire boat to be paid for by the city. It is in the process of being built. The new craft is 65 feet long with an 18-foot beam and is equipped with radar, echo sounder and radio. Daytime accommodation is provided for the crew which will work in two shifts.
  2. ↑ Briggs, Steve (2018). "Russel Brothers Boats Archive". [Steve Briggs].
  3. ↑ "Toronto Fire Service Annual Report 2004" (PDF). Retrieved December 17, 2007. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ↑ Rider, David (June 24, 2015). "Toronto fireboat to be named after fallen firefighter". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  5. ↑ Filey, Mike (July 23, 2016). "Meet the 'Iron Guppy': The past and future of Toronto's waterfront tugs and fireboats". Toronto Sun. Retrieved March 29, 2017. Ports Toronto's new tug "Iron Guppy" (or perhaps pronounced a more sophisticated "Eeron Goopay") is the most recent in a succession work boats that over the years did yeoman service in and around our harbour.
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