The Cabo San Lucas Fire Department has taken delivery of its new fireboat, AINA, marking the arrival of Mexico’s first locally operated firefighting vessel. The crimson-colored boat reached the department’s central station after clearing all maritime safety requirements and will be transported to the Cabo San Lucas Marina within days to begin active service.
“It has already passed all corresponding maritime safety procedures with agencies such as the Port Captaincy and the Merchant Marine for the navigability of the vessel,” said Gerardo Tizón, head of communications for the Cabo San Lucas Firefighters and Rescuers Department. Tizón confirmed that the fireboat’s documents, including its seaman’s book and registration, were authorized and delivered last week.
Built in La Paz With Private Funding
The vessel was constructed at the Maritime and Naval Bureau shipyard in La Paz. The project received over 5 million pesos (roughly $250,000 USD) in private support, funded largely through the Bisbee’s Offshore Fishing Tournament and Wild Cabo.
The boat’s name honors Aina Bisbee, the late wife of tournament founder Bob Bisbee, a pioneer of sport fishing who brought the world-famous Bisbee’s Tournament to Los Cabos. The Cabo San Lucas Fire Department, known formally as Bomberos Voluntarios de Cabo San Lucas, is a civil association that relies heavily on donations for equipment and operations. Its roughly 60 members handle emergencies ranging from urban rescue to water rescue.
First Maritime Firefighters Trained
Alongside construction, the department launched training for its first team of maritime firefighters. Crew members have been learning navigation, vessel handling, and pump operation under real-world conditions. Once stationed at the marina, AINA will respond to vessel fires, boat emergencies, and incidents across the bay.
Cabo San Lucas Marina is one of Baja California Sur’s busiest marine environments, home to sportfishing fleets, cruise ship tenders, water-sports operators, and private yachts. Until now, the fire department had no dedicated vessel for responding to emergencies on the water.
The fireboat project has been years in the making. Early efforts to deploy a fire response boat date back to at least 2023, when the department, the Mexican Navy, and the local tourist boating industry began collaborating on the concept. With AINA now cleared for service, Cabo San Lucas joins a small number of coastal cities worldwide that operate dedicated fireboats.
This story was first reported by the Gringo Gazette.