LEVERETT – When someone breaks through the ice, saving seconds can save a life. That’s why the Fire Department is seeking donations for a hovercraft, a vehicle that travels on a cushion of air.

“Water rescues are done with boats, or with an ice sled during colder seasons,” said David Chastin-Stultz, president of the Leverett Firefighters Association. Conditions often make both types of vehicles too slow to save a victim. “One issue is thin ice, where neither vehicle is the best for the job.”

An ice sled breaks through thin ice, which stymies a rescue attempt. Boats hit unevenly frozen ice and may crack a fiberglass hull. A hovercraft is a sensible alternative.

Hovercraft, invented in the 1950s, are loud and inefficient to operate and never became popular with the general public. The flexibility of hovercraft, however, make them ideal transportation over rough trails and varied ground cover. One or two fan-like drivers propel the craft. Jets of air also shoot out the bottom, supporting the craft, and that smooths the transitions across dirt, sand, pavement, even water.

“The good thing about a hovercraft is that it goes over any ground, other than boulders and sharp heavy rocks, things like that,” said Chastin-Stultz. “But for the aquatic realm, it can go over slush, ice, broken ice. It can be used in all seasons.”

Shaving the time to reach a victim is a significant benefit.

“With an ice sled you bring the sled out there, you have a rescuer on there, and they have to be tethered to something, then move themselves out slowly to a victim,” Chastin-Stultz said. The rescuing officer has to push the sled across the ice, which is often slippery underfoot. “But with a hovercraft ... all you do is unload it and go.”

According to Chastin-Stultz, the fire departments in Westfield, Shrewsbury, Haverill, Webster, North Brookfield and Carver all have hovercrafts. Response times for mutual aid from those towns, if available, are too long to be of service in the Pioneer Valley. The cost for a hovercraft is also low when compared with other rescue vehicles.

Most rescue apparatus have maintenance costs; but hovercrafts are relatively simple machines, according to Chastin-Stultz. The engines are common internal combustion engines, upkeep is only somewhat specialized. He said, “We don’t anticipate there would be any outside, large maintenance costs associated with it.”

The Leverett Fire Department hovercraft will cost about $60,000, with less than half already in the coffers. The Friends of Leverett Pond donated $10,000. The Firefighters Association has shirts for sale, an online clothing store, put out the call on the local listserv, and hosted breakfasts.

“We’ve done pancake breakfasts, but this is a larger purchase,” Chastin-Stultz said. “It’s been a little slow going.”

Donations can be made by check, made out to Leverett Firefighters Association, located at 95 Montague Rd. Donations can also be made at Paypal at Paypal.me/leverettfirefighters.