VIDEO: South Area Fire District now has a hovercraft to add to its arsenal.
The cost was around $60,000, and it weighs more than 400 pounds.
It will be commonly used for rescues on bodies of water. but can operate on most surfaces.
The hovercraft is not in circulation yet because a lot of training is required before anyone can perform a rescue with it.
"It's not as easy to control as a boat. Just because you turn doesn't mean you're going to turn now, you need to plan your route a lot sooner than you would with a boat or a vehicle," said battalion chief Steve Genrich.