Fireboats of Toronto

At least six Fireboats in Toronto have helped protect the city's waterfront and maritime commerce.[1]

name image in service notes
Nellie Bly 1906–1909 Steam tug provided fire protection on Toronto Islands.[1]
T.J. Clark 1909–1923
  • A private vessel.[2]
  • Converted to a passenger vessel.[2]
  • Named for Tom "T.J." Clark, co-operator of wooden screw ferry in Toronto that began service in 1890, it was a part-time fire boat only.
Charles A. Reed 1923–1963?
  • The city's first full-time official fireboat.[2] Remained in service until 1963.
Rouille later HMCS Rouille 1929–1943
William Lyon Mackenzie 1963–present
  • Custom built fireboat/tug/ice-breaker and named for Toronto's first mayor William Lyon Mackenzie. Remains in active service.
Sora 2005–2015
  • Formerly a Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Small Multi Task Utility Craft built in 1982 and retired from CCG in 2005. Acquired as to act as backup to William Lyon Mackenzie but was not used during winter as does not have icebreaking capabilities. Retired October 31, 2015.
William Thornton October 2015–present
  • In June 2015 Toronto Fire Services announced that Sora was to be replaced by another former CCG vessel, Cape Hurd, which would be renamed after William Thornton, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter who died while fighting a fire in 1848.[4][5] Like Sora, William Thornton does not have icebreaking features.
  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Tfs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference MaritimeHistoryOfTheGreatLakesTJClark was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Rouille".
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference TorStar2015-06-25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tfs2015-06-09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).