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Vehicles and farm equipment are being manufactured differently than 10, even 15, years ago. This is posing extrication problems for fire departments when needed in traumatic accidents. The current equipment, while still effective, just doesn’t have what is needed for all the new vehicles on the road.

Because of this, Leesburg Fire Department invited Steve Pryor, an Indianapolis firefighter who is a rescue tool specialist for Halmatro Rescue Equipment, to come to demonstrate new equipment with the cutting and spreading strength needed for today’s vehicles. He also instructs fire rescue and extrication skills at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference.

Pryor demonstrated equipment the department is looking at purchasing.

“They are making more vehicles safer for the occupants, but when they get into a traumatic car accident, it’s harder for firefighters to get into them, extricate them out of the vehicle,” said Mike Wilson, chief of the Leesburg/Plain Township Fire Department.

The skin of today’s vehicles is made of very lightweight material, states Wilson. “But the skeletal material behind is a lot stronger.” The township not only has the farm industry, but also SR 15 and US 30 running through it, giving the potential for high speed accidents. “County roads are just as dangerous for vehicle travel, as the state highway,” he added.

The farming industry provides the same situation. “Equipment today is built to last longer, out of heavier materials. If someone is entrapped, we need upgraded tools to extricate them out of it, just as easy as we would extricate somebody out of a car.”

Firefighters had the opportunity to try several different types of spreaders and different kinds of cutters, including the new battery operated extrication equipment. “The uniqueness (about the battery operated equipment) is if someone is trapped inside a factory, you don’t have to carry in a gas operated hydraulic unit with the tools to get them out,” said Wilson, who stated the department will compare the needs on which type of equipment is best.

During Pryor’s demonstration, he noted the battery operated equipment has a 30 minute to 40 minute use expectancy, before needing the one-hour recharge and is straight power with no issue of being too hot or to cold. Additionally the equipment is manufactured to convert to the traditional hydraulic hose and generator usage.

Some of the cutter’s demonstrated have a maximum cutting opening of up to 8 inches, with up to 228,856 pound cutting force. There was even a mini cutter demonstrated to use in cutting a steering wheel or foot pedal.

The spreader demonstrated had the same 27-inch spread capability as current equipment, but the pound force is at 33,000 instead of 19,000. He also demonstrated if the hydraulic hoses are removed, the spreader stays where it was stopped, instead of retracting automatically.

Wilson stated Plain Township has a gracious tax base allowing the fire department funds to purchase new equipment. It is expected $17,000 will be spent on the new equipment. “It’s all about the community, our community,” stated Wilson.

The demonstration was held at Flora’s Auto Sales, which provided vehicles for the fire department to use in the demonstration.