Just after Christmas, the Dresden Volunteer Fire Department received a much-needed gift of new HURST tools (commonly referred to as the Jaws of Life). The funds to purchase the tools were made possible through a $31,825 BWC (Bureau of Workers’ Compensation) grant that the Fire Department was awarded.
Since this grant was a matching grant the Fire Department paid $7,956.00 but the BWC contributed $23,868.00.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation recently began offering grants to Fire Departments to help reduce the number of hazards Firefighters face in the line of duty due to having old equipment or work environment obstructions.
The tools which these replaced were 20 years old and required hydraulic attachments to operate. The new equipment is a bit smaller, lighter, are battery-operated and cut with more force. This will aid in speed, will cut down on fatigue due to the difference in weight, and are easier to maneuver in tight spaces.
Firefighters will be trained on how to use the new devices before putting them into use. Some of the training will include going over the new features that the equipment offers, learning how to safely handle the batteries, and also new requirements for using the Jaws of Life on newer vehicles including electric cars. Ford’s Towing is partnering with the department to provide wrecked vehicles to train with.
This was the first time that the Dresden Volunteer Fire Department has received grant money from the BWC. Previously the Fire Department has been fortunate to be awarded grant money from FEMA which allowed them to purchase a pair of LUCAS Devices, heart rate monitors and a new tanker truck. In the fall of 2018, a grant through the Aladdin Shriners helped the department purchase a special camera to see through smoke.
The DVFD is working towards acquiring new hose and nozzles through grant money that should be available later this year.
