Pierce County’s fire and rescue departments will be getting new fire trucks and extrication equipment.
Commissioners approved the purchase of three used fire trucks in the amount of $174,500. The trucks will be purchased from Brackett Fire Truck Repair in Dallas, GA.
The trucks will replace 1978, 1980 and 1984 models currently in use by the county’s volunteer fire departments. The county will retain the 1984 model as a back up, but will advertise the 1978 and 1980 models for sale as surplus.
The county will also purchase two new extrication tools for a total of $77,386. The extrication tools will be purchased from AEST Fire and Safety in Laurinburg, NC.
The new extrication tools will be assigned to the Walkerville station on the county’s west side and the Otter Creek station on the county’s east side.
The county currently has one extrication tool which is based at the Hacklebarney station.
The extrication tool is similar to a “Jaws of Life”, but is more versatile. It features a cutter and spreader for cutting through wreckage, but also includes a ram that can be used to move a dashboard or engine that has pinned someone in the wreckage of a vehicle.
County Fire Chief Santo Niño says the county needs to have more of the extrication tools to help keep the community safe.
“Seconds count in the event of a severe accident with entrapment,” the chief said. “We need to have extrication tools located in the north, south, east and west sections of the county so that we can get to people that need help as soon as possible.”
Chief Niño pointed out that the number of accident calls with people trapped inside have been high for the last three years. There were 57 calls in 2021, 45 in 2022 and so far through the first seven months of 2023 there have been 30. The extrication tool has been used in two accidents so far this year and was used in seven accidents last year.
The equipment will be purchased using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. ARPA funds are intended to help governments with COVID relief. Counties and municipalities can use the funds to fight the pandemic and support families and businesses struggling with its public health and economic impact, maintain vital public services, even amid declines in revenue resulting from the crisis and build a strong, resilient, and equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth and opportunity.
