This has the earmarks of being a union turf issue. The news media reported the boats were operated by the Police Department. If so, the Firefighters union would be expected to make issue of their use, since it would be viewed as job-robbing. Sacramento Fire Department is srongly (read exclusively) union, and well-known for suppressing any non-IAFF firefighting. Also, the reference to "oxygen masks" is erroneous. Modern firefigting uses Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with compressed air tanks, not oxygen. Another clue is that the firefighter quoted in the report is NOT the public information officer (PIO) for the department... that job is held by Capt. Doucette. They make it all sound like it's checklist items missing, so it doesn't appear that a union (firefighters) is angry with a union (police). Had a firefighter been present on each of the two boats WITH the police officers, there wouldn't be any issue at all. After all, firefighters are like soldiers... they go to battle with the equipment they have and do the job as best they can. And, they're very good at innovating when it's needed.