New equipment expands D-F Fire Department capabilities

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A pair of extrication tools and a half dozen airbags for the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department will expand the capabilities of firefighters responding to various accident calls, such as cutting through hard material and lifting heavy debris.

Fire Chief Joe Guyotte said the approximate price of the extrication tools is $31,500 and the six airbags is about $10,000 for $41,500 combined. “Thank you taxpayers of Dover-Foxcroft and anonymous donors,” he said, with department members also conducting various fundraisers throughout the year.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT ADDITION — Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department officers stand near a pair of battery-powered extrication tools stored in a truck compartment at the fire station. The department also purchased an airbag system to assist in lifting heavy items and debris. The approximate $41,500 in equipment will expand firefighter response capabilities.

Lt. Brian Gaudet said the two battery-powered tools are designed for extrication. “We can use these off road for ATV accidents, logging accidents, industrial accidents,” he said. “It’s just going to expand our capabilities of what we could do vs. what we can do now.”

“We got six new airbags in an airbag system,” Gaudet said, which like the extrication tools is stored in a fire truck compartment. “If it is placed under a car or machine you can lift it, it can be used in all kinds of scenarios.”

The lieutenant said each airbag has its own line with a manual shutoff, and these can be stacked if needed. He said the bags inflate in a square shape.

“These tools are all specialized, with fire service when you need, you need it,” Gaudet said.”Let’s hope they never have to come off the truck except for training. We train for the worst-case scenario and hope it never happens.”