IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. -- The Lake Norman Fire Department expects to encounter a new challenge when responding to calls on the lake -- finding the address of particular homes.

The fire department already has a pontoon boat, but it’s never been able to use it to actually fight fires. Soon they will battle blazes from the water in a new, fully equipped firefighting boat.

Fire crews worry because it’s a lot harder to find a home from the lake than it is from the road.

The fire department said it's a safety issue.

"Regular homeowners are out on their boats all the time, and when something happens, they have no way of saying where they are at," said Training Officer Neil Voorhees.

Voorhees said seconds in response time could mean the difference between life and death.

But the problem is not only on the lake side. Eyewitness News saw many homes lack a clear visible number on the house or mailbox.

The fire department is urging all homeowners to spend $35 for a sign to clearly display an address. The dock signs look similar to a street sign.

The new boat is the first firefighting boat for Iredell County. It costs about $400,000 and should be in service by the end of the year.