PUSLINCH – Puslinch Fire and Rescue Services is now even better equipped to preserve life, property, and the environment thanks to its recent acquisition of some new equipment made possible by a generous grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada.
Fire Chief Luis Gomes says that the grant allowed the department to purchase new vehicle stabilization equipment as well as a new water and ice rescue craft.
“This new equipment will help us better serve our community and we want to give a big thank you to Firehouse Subs for making this possible,” Gomes said.
The total value of the grant was just under $20,000. Mayor James Seeley applauded the fire department and council for making use of external funding sources like this one that allow the fire department to acquire new equipment without having to draw on township coffers.
The vehicle stabilization equipment is more technologically-advanced and is designed for heavier vehicles compared to the department’s older equipment.
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the most frequent emergency call that Puslinch Fire and Rescue Services receives each year and many of those calls are for collisions on the 401 involving heavy vehicles.
“This stabilization equipment is particularly important when our crews are responding to calls where there are patients trapped in a vehicle, as it enables us to stabilize the vehicles more quickly and safely, allowing us to then free the patients more quickly and safely, giving them better odds of a more favourable overall outcome,” Gomes explained.
The new water and ice rescue craft, known as a Rapid Deployment Craft, or RDC, allows rescuers to more quickly deploy the craft, and can move more quickly across the water compared to the older technology.
Gomes says that “having top-notch equipment coupled with top-notch training is a major factor in having an effective emergency response.”
