1952 - 1953 - The William S. Grattan Fireboat was sent to Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding in Wisconsin where her steam engines were replaced with diesel engines, twin propellers replaced the old single propeller and the firefighting platform was outfitted with hydraulics. When the rebuilt Fireboat made it back to Buffalo, it was also given a new name, Firefighter.

1954 - The William S. Grattan, now known as the Firefighter, was given a new name in honor of a well respected, recently deceased president of the Firefighters Local 282 and the Fireboat continues to bear his name, "Edward M. Cotter."