The Cooper County Fire Protection District has new lifesaving tools to use this year: two 2008 Kawasaki STX - 15F Jet Ski watercraft.

The new Jet Ski watercraft, which were provided by Columbia Power Sports in Columbia, Mo., will enable emergency personnel to reach distressed boaters, swimmers and respond to other water emergencies.

Fire protection Chief David Gehm said, “The fire protection district has more than 60 miles of rivers and streams in our jurisdiction for which we provide coverage. We are frequently asked to respond to various types of water rescue and the Jet Ski watercraft prove to be very valuable in providing this service.”

The STX-15F watercraft is powered by a 1,497cc four-stroke engine that meets the California Air Resources Board 2008 emissions requirements, the most stringent marine engine emissions regulations in the U.S. boating industry.

To read the rest of the story, see BDN's June 17 print edition.