WHIGHAM FIREFIGHTERS are pictured with rescue truck and new rescue tools. Front row, l-r, Chief Scott Newberry and Assistant Fire Chief Al Akridge; back row, Clay Strickland, Thomas McElvy, Al Thomas, John Fincannon, Tyler Akridge, Kevin Starling, Chris Harrell, William Gordon and Joel Singletary.
Whigham firefighters have a new set of hydraulic rescue tools thanks to an investment from the Whigham City Council. The $30,000 set of tools is the newest and strongest in Grady County, according to Scott Newberry, chief of the Whigham Volunteer Fire Department.
The tools, commonly referred to as the “jaws of life”, are used to rescue trapped motorists in wrecked vehicles. The set includes a pump, spreaders, cutters, and a telescoping ram device.
Newberry said the new cutter is curved, which will provide more stability when cutting into a vehicle. He said while most rescue departments opt for a mid-grade set of such tools, they purchased a larger unit since they have a train running through town along with many large 18-wheeled trucks.
The first responders are donating their old hydraulic set of safety equipment for the Grady County Volunteer Fire Department to disburse where needed. The department also has a second set of battery powered rescue tools it can use in emergency, Newberry says.
