Miami-Dade Fire Rescue issued a boating safety advisory July 2 after state data showed the county ranked second in Florida for boating accidents in 2025, with 65 reported incidents, trailing only Monroe County's 71.
The department, known as MDFR, joined Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and county public safety partners for the announcement, citing a convergence of the Fourth of July holiday, the nation's 250th anniversary celebration and World Cup matches in South Florida as drivers of heavy boat traffic. But the warning applies all summer: July logged 94 boating accidents statewide in 2025, the second-highest month of the year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's, or FWC's, annual report released in May.
Where fireboats patrol Miami-Dade's waterways
MDFR's Marine Services Bureau patrols Biscayne Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Miami River and the Atlantic coastline, all accessible from Coral Gables and South Miami. Two fireboats, FB-21 and FB-73, are staffed around the clock and respond to emergencies through 911.
MDFR said its fireboat crews are ready to respond throughout the county's waterways as thousands of boaters take to the water this summer.
Five steps MDFR wants boaters to take before departure
The department's July 2 advisory lists five steps for boaters:
- Check the weather before leaving the dock
- File a float plan with someone on shore
- Carry a VHF radio tuned to Channel 16
- Ensure every passenger has a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket
- Keep a first aid kit and fire extinguisher on board
Why the state is emphasizing life jackets
Drowning accounted for 27 of the 51 boating deaths in Florida waters in 2025, the FWC reported. Of those 51 victims, 37 were not wearing a life jacket.
Florida law requires a wearable, Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for every person aboard. Children under 6 must wear one on vessels under 26 feet while underway.
Two other state requirements often catch casual boaters off guard: Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who operates a motorized vessel of 10 horsepower or more must carry a boating safety education ID card. The blood-alcohol threshold for boating is 0.08, the same as driving.
Alcohol or drug use was a factor in 14% of fatal boating accidents statewide in 2025, and 67% of operators in fatal crashes had no formal boater education, according to the FWC.
How to call for help on the water
Boaters in distress on Miami-Dade waterways can hail MDFR's fireboats on VHF Channel 16 or call 911.
