The Duncan fire department will soon have some new rescue equipment that will help them get to people who are trapped in the wreckage of a car crash. They have three sets of "Jaws of Life" gear now, with one assigned to each of the city's three stations, but they're old, and worn out to the point where they only use one for the majority of their calls.
Firefighters are also limited in how they can use the equipment, because it has to be connected to a rescue truck for its power supply. The new gear is powered by a battery. Altogether, it'll cost about 100-thousand dollars, with the money coming from a sales tax fund approved by voters three years ago.
Duncan Fire Chief Dayton Burnside said the new equipment has several advantages. It has better accessibility and can help people faster. The new gear is lighter, and doesn't have to be connected to a truck for power, it makes it a lot simpler to maneuver into tight spots, and get victims to safety.
Steve Brosh has been driving the fire rescue truck for the Duncan Fire Department for 2 years. The city has 3 Jaws of life, but his is the strongest and most used. His job is to pop open doors, cut roofs, and do whatever it takes to safely get people out of the vehicle. He has already rescued over 30 people this year and says the old equipment they have is tough to use.
Fire Chief Dayton Burnside says the new equipment they receive will be much more reliable. It will replace items like a spreader, that weighs 52 pounds. The new equipment will be half the weight. They will be doing their job in fire gear that weighs 25 pounds."
"It will allow us to respond simultaneously to multiple incidents as well as be more efficient and will continue to provide superior level of care for fire and rescue operations that our citizens need", said Burnside.