They are frequently used for fighting fires on docks and shore side warehouses as they can directly attack fires in the supporting underpinnings of these structures . They also have an effectively unlimited supply of water available , pumping directly from below the hull . Fireboats can be used to assist shore-based firefighters when other water is in low supply or is unavailable , for example , due to earthquake breakage of water mains , as happened in San Francisco due to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Fireboat