BCVFD plans extrication tool fundraiser
Bear creek volunteer fire departent and ems
Bear Creek and Moose Pass volunteers watch a demonstration of the new e-hydraulics extrication tools before getting to go hands on and use the tools on four cars at the Seward dump last month.
A grant for Bear Creek Fire Service Area to purchase extrication equipment was rejected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) last month. The letter from FEMA said, “Assistance to Firefighters program received approximately 16,400 applications requesting funding across the United States. This high number of applications and the finite amount of funding available resulted in many worthy applicants not being funded. A panel of your peers reviewed your application and assigned high scores, but unfortunately, we were not able to fund your grant request this year.”
The $163,836 grant would have placed rescue tools in the hands of Seward, Bear Creek and Moose Pass fire departments along with advanced training.
As a contingency plan to receiving the grant the volunteers, after a recent training event with L.N. Curtis, a dealer for Hurst Jaws of Life new generation extrication tools, began planning a fundraiser to purchase one of the tools.
The engineering in modern cars use high-strength steel to form a cage to protect the occupants within vehicle. This same protection also increases the difficulty for rescuers getting into the vehicles to remove the occupants.
BCVFD’s newest hydraulic cutters and Jaws are 10 years old. The current cutter has a cutting force of 80,000 pounds, but tools for newer and safer cars require more cutting force. The cutter the department hopes to purchase has 350,000 pounds of cutting force and is portable versus being tethered to the rescue truck with a 100-foot hydraulic hose. The price tag for the cutter cost is just under $12,000.
To raise funds for the department a dinner cruise is planned for 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 25 aboard Major Marine Tour’s M/V Star of the Northwest (a donation to Bear Creek Volunteer Fire & EMS from Major Marine Tours). The evening includes an all-you-can-eat salmon and prime rib buffet, door prizes and an auction. The tax-deductable cost is $50 for adults, $25 for youth 6-12, and free for children under 5.
Donations for door prizes and for the auction fundraiser are being accepted.
To purchase tickets or make a donation contact a BCVFD volunteer or call the station at 224-3345 (all messages will be returned).