Damon Covington

KCBS's Mike DeWald continues our coverage this week of the fire anniversary, live from Oakland, Mike.

Steve, despite burning just 1,500 acres, the tunnel fire did more than a billion dollars in damage, and Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington says it also started a conversation for change.

The Tunnel Fire changed the national conversation about wildland firefighting, and especially in WUI, wildland urban interface environments.

Some of the gaps firefighters faced then are now filled.

The 42-foot Beowulf was christened on Wednesday, October 7th, and is stationed at Fire Station 2 in Jack London Square.

Fire Chief Damon Covington said that for more than two decades, the department has operated without a fully operational specialized fireboat.

According to an OFD spokesperson, it can pump 5,000 gallons of water per minute, tripling the department's prior marine firefighting capacity.

Before its official christening, the Beowulf assisted in extinguishing a fire at an empty warehouse near Brooklyn Basin.

The Oakland Fire Department has a new fire boat to help protect the Port of Oakland, waterways, as well as neighboring cities.

This morning, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and the Fire Chief Damon Covington were among city officials taking part in festivities.

They officially christened the Beowulf, capable of pumping 5,000 gallons of water per minute, tripling prior marine firefighting capacity.

The Beowulf replaces the Seawolf.

In the last

hour, Mayor Robert Lee and Fire Chief Damon Covington were among city officials that took part in festivities to officially christen the Bay Wolf.

It is capable of pumping 5,000 gallons of water per minute, tripling prior marine firefighting capacity.

The Bay Wolf replaces the Sea Wolf, which was retired after serving the Oakland Fire Department for nine years.