On deck: Firefighters EJ MCCormick, Colin Ballew, and Nick Coats

March 22. By Dave Yochum. POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN: Cornelius Fire Boat 4, named the “Simon Aliotta” in honor of a four-year-old boy who died from a rare brain tumor in 2007, is back in service. The 14-year-old boat is now faster and more powerful—and ready to take on virtually any kind of lake disaster ranging from a boating accident to a fire in a large waterfront home.

UPDATE: A new date has not been set as of Friday morning.

Refurbished stem to stern at a cost of nearly $300,000, the boat has new Volvo D4 engines rated at 320 horsepower each, new transmissions, paint, electronics, fuel tanks and windows.

Christening event

It will be christened along with two new firetrucks and a new police boat near the boat ramps at Ramsey Creek Park  from 1 pm to 2 pm on March 22.

—Simon Aliotta’s family raised much of the money for the fireboat after he died in 2007.