New equipment donated to the Greenwood Fire Department by a local manufacturer will reduce entry and exit time during house fires and motor vehicle accidents, say fire officials.
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. provided five reciprocating saws that will upgrade the equipment firefighters have been using.
The saws were donated with the help of Jack Bilotta, vice president of U.S. accessories operations for Milwaukee Tool, said Fire Captain Marvin Turner.
The saws, which cut with a push-pull motion, are typically used for forcible entry in house fires and in motor vehicle accidents, said Fire Chief Marcus Banks.
“They are smaller, yet powerful, which means that they are more maneuverable,” Banks said. “A lot of the tools we use are bulky, especially in a motor vehicle accident.”
The new saws weigh less than 15 pounds, are cordless and quieter than most tools the department uses, Banks said.
The saws can cut through bars on windows and help evacuate victims in car accidents.
If the vehicle is too small for a hydraulic rescue tool to remove a person from a vehicle, the reciprocating saw can make precise cuts.
“We are grateful for that type of donation, and we send our thanks to Milwaukee Tool and all of those who were involved getting those donated,” Banks said.
Two of the new saws will go to the main fire station on Main Street, and the other three stations will receive one saw each.
The Fire Department will keep its older reciprocating saws for training or as backup, Banks said.
•Contact Lauren Randall at 581-7239 or lrandall @gwcommonwealth.com.
