Life-Saving Equipment Purchased for Manor Township Firefighters
Manor Township Supervisors Bob Southworth and Don Palmer (on left and right ends) look at new fire rescue tools with (left to right) First Lieutenant John Breski, Fire Chief Chad Evans, Assistant Fire Chief Matt Klingensmith and Second Lieutenant Luke Linnon.
by Jonathan Weaver
Before continuing their hazardous materials instruction Thursday, Manor Township volunteer firefighters showed off some of their new lifesaving tools outside their fire department.
The $30,000 spreader, cutter and ram tools will be used to bend and cut metal of vehicles to rescue entrapped motorists and passengers during vehicle accidents or structure fires.
Fire Chief Chad Evans said firefighters waited about six weeks from the time tools were ordered until delivery.
“This is the first time Manor has had rescue tools,” Chief Evans said. “It’ll benefit us drastically.”
Currently, volunteer firefighters are aided by Kittanning Township volunteer firefighters for rescue, and have been for more than 24 years – a department that is increasingly sought after.
“That kind-of puts us in a bind if something would happen in Manor Township. Our nearest rescue would either be Ford City or across the river – depending where it’s at,” Chief Evans said. “Manor Township is 18.2 square miles. We have two major highways - State Route 422 (and) State Route 66.”
Assistant Fire Chief Matt Klingensmith said the tools will help rescuers get patients in a trauma center within an hour.
“There are a lot of times we need two rescue trucks or two pieces of a specific tool. We can use ours while they use theirs,” Klingensmith said. “It’s a good asset to have. It was a great investment.”
Chief Evans explained the tools can cut to 10,000 PSI and allow emergency responders to cut metal in newer, stronger vehicles.
“We had a demo of them, and we literally cut three cars apart before we had to change batteries,” Chief Evans said. “You can basically grab them and go anywhere – with them being battery-operated, if there’s a car down over the hill, you can grab them, grab a couple of batteries and go – you don’t have to worry about a portable power plant, tools and hoses.”
“These are going to start every time, no matter what – whether it’s five below zero or 105 degrees out.”
But, the fire department did purchase adaptors just in case. Each tool has its own power supply.
Township Supervisor Don Palmer, who has been involved in the fire service for 37 years – including in Blacklick and Indiana (coincidentally two rescue companies) – has also used the equipment.
“I’ve been on many, many, many vehicle accidents where we’ve had to use these tools,” Palmer said. “They do make a difference.”
With the added equipment, Manor Township volunteers can now be requested by another department for rescue.
Palmer explained the tools were purchased through Act 13 Marcellus Shale impact fees
“If we are able to help save one life, the investment was worth it,” Palmer concluded.
The tools will also be useful in some farm rescue applications and trench rescue.
The fire department has 17 State-certified vehicle rescue technicians and two State-certified vehicle rescue instructors – including Palmer and Larry Rice.
Manor Township | jweaver September 12, 2016
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