CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — With the privatization of Bluff's Landing Marina off Laguna Shores Road, 3NEWS first reported how it's affecting local fishermen there; but now, we have learned it could also have an impact on emergency response out on the water as Nueces County ESD #2 has also been told to vacate from their boat slip by the end of the month.
It's a resource that has helped save lives.
The fire station currently leases a boat slip at the marina which allows them quick access when responding to an emergency on the water.
"Obviously our boat being here has a tremendous operational value," Fire Chief Weston Beseda said. "We've been blessed operationally to respond straight to the boat and put it into the water."
But after several years at the spot, the fire chief is having to come up with a new game plan after the owner of the marina has decided to privatize.
"Due to the selling of this property and the individual boat slips we're going to have to vacate on the 30th of September," he said.
There is an option for the first responders to purchase the slip, but it will cost a hefty $80,000 up to $120,000.
The station has decided to take their rescue boat out of the water by the end of their lease and transport it by trailer as they figure out their next move.
"It will be housed at our station on Yorktown," Beseda said. "We have multiple avenues that we are investigating and to see what's best. Our ultimate goal is to get our boat back in the water as fast as possible."
The change is something that would increase response times.
Currently, if first responders with ESD #2 have to respond out on the water, the boat slip is less than a mile away from the station which allows them quick access.
3NEWS drove from the fire station to the boat slip in less than three minutes.
"Without a doubt the boat going onto a trailer is going to increase response times," Beseda said. "We're trying to put a couple of operational plans in place that reduce that time period as much as possible until we can get back into the water."
He said since the department posted about the situation on social media to keep residents updated, they've received a large response.
"What we want to make clear is that the department understands that business is business," Beseda said. "The individuals are doing what's right for their business. It is our responsibility to do what is right for our citizens and assist them as soon as possible."
3NEWS also checked with Fire Chief Brandon Wade to see how this could impact the Corpus Christi Fire Department.
"Based on where the emergency is, where we will look to launch our boats and with that closure of the public boat ramp of that facility, that is one we will have to have a discussion to see, are we able to use it for emergency use or not," Wade said. "We haven't started that discussion with them, but obviously, you know, we want to be able to have the quickest, most appropriate access point what there's a water emergency."