News Release | What's New - The Cliffs Communities

State-of-the-art watercraft to offer support to local fire districts in emergencies

Sunset, SC (December 19, 2007) – Today The Cliffs Communities announced that, working in conjunction with area fire districts in Pickens and Oconee Counties, it has purchased a state-of-the-art Harbor Guard Fire Hawk 28 watercraft to serve as a fire, rescue and safety boat for patrolling the waters and shoreline of northern Lake Keowee. In addition to the automatic aid service that will be provided to The Cliffs’ three communities on the lake, mutual aid pacts are in motion and will be formalized with the lake’s other communities so that, upon request, supplemental assistance can be provided to the extent possible.

“Meaningful time with friends and family is a core value at The Cliffs Communities, and it is our desire to ensure that our owners and Members’ experiences are safe and enjoyable,” stated Kristofer Clark, Senior Director of Operations for The Cliffs Communities. “With that in mind, The Cliffs has partnered with the fire districts covering our communities on Lake Keowee to
provide a Fire, Rescue and Safety Boat to patrol the northern end of Lake Keowee. This state-of-the-art watercraft will also allow us, when needed, to support nearby fire districts in the event
of an emergency on the water. In short, we think this new resource will be a win-win for all who enjoy the recreational activities on the lake because they can have peace of mind knowing that they are in a more managed, responsive, and safe environment.”

“This boat will be another tool in our arsenal in regards to firefighting,” explained Phil Black, Fire Chief at Vineyards Fire Station in Sunset, SC. “It gives us the ability to either fight fire directly from the boat or supply our engines with water from the lake. We are also working with State of South Carolina’s Forestry Department to supply the boat with several hundred feet of forestry hose, which could aid us in the event of a wildfire. It is truly a state-of-the-art vessel with many capabilities, and we welcome anyone who wants to see it to stop by the Vineyards Fire Department and take a tour.”

Custom built to meet the specific needs of inland lakes like Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee, The Cliffs Fire, Rescue and Safety boat is a one-of-a-kind Harbor Guard Fire Hawk 28 that includes several patented features making it the best boat in the industry for safety management. Some of its many features include a sophisticated Garmin Navigational system, camera technology that allows night vision, equipment to aid in search and rescue operations and to help spot objects underwater, Jet Drive technology to maneuver in shallow water, and a mounted pump system capable of both diverting approximately 3,000 gallons of water per minute and fighting fires up to 1,000 feet from the shoreline. The boat has an onboard foam system – essential to suppressing a boat, dock or any type of marine fire. In addition to fire suppression capabilities, the vessel has many water rescue capabilities to assist in victim recovery and transport to shore.

“Oconee County is excited to have this new resource available to our residents and visitors on Lake Keowee, said Oconee County Administrator Dale Surrett. “The Cliffs Communities understands the importance of partnerships with local government and the communities in which they develop. With the acquisition of this boat, The Cliffs have yet again set the standard for exceptional quality of life and state of the art amenities.”

“We are extremely proud to have this unique piece of firefighting equipment to help protect the lives and property of the citizens of Pickens County. We deep appreciate the concern that The Cliffs has shown and are sure that this boat will be used to assist us in supporting the needs of the fire districts of Pickens County,” added Chap Hurst, Pickens County Administrator.

The Cliffs Fire, Rescue and Safety Boat arrived last week and will begin navigating Lake Keowee’s waters within days. For quick access by the Vineyards Fire District, the boat will be docked adjacent to The Lakehouse Restaurant in The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards community.