VIDEO: The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department is rolling out new wheels that are different from its typical engines. The two heavy rescues the department has received are designed to work through unique situations that standard trucks can’t.
“You have engine companies, who their job is to supply water to the fire through hose and pumps. Then, we have ladder companies who utilize ladders or master streams to bring water or rescue operations on the fire ground. Then, we have rescue companies which are essentially a rolling toolbox,” said TFRD Lt. Jamie Morelock.
Morelock says these rolling tool boxes respond to all kinds of scenes, including search operations, advanced extractions and confined space operations. They’re equipped with advanced thermal cutting systems, greater support jacks, rigging equipment and much more.
“We had an incident several years back that involved a locomotive vehicle underneath what they call the truck, which is the wheels of a locomotive, and we had a real difficulty lifting that locomotive to effect that rescue. So, one of the things we added to this was larger jacks that are designed to actually facilitate that type of operation,” Morelock said.
Even the firefighters on heavy rescue trucks have to go through special training. “By having a unit like this where we have people that are trained to do more than the average firefighter, it ensures that when we are responding to those unique incidents that we have personnel able to mitigate those safely, efficiently, effectively,” Morelock explained.
TFRD typically buys new heavy rescues every 12 years. Before this year, the new ones rolled in in 2014, but before that, the newest fleet was in the ’90s. “There were intentions of replacing that on the cycle, but at the time the city could not afford to do that,” Morelock said. The new rescues are set to roll out in July. One will be stationed in east Toledo and the other will be placed in the Old West End, but they’ll respond to scenes across the city.
