VIDEO: The Orick Volunteer Fire Department is grappling with the theft of crucial lifesaving equipment following a break-in discovered by a maintenance staff member earlier this week. The stolen items include a hydraulic unit, hose and scissors โ all part of the Jaws of Life units, as well as two portable LED lights on telescoping stands. Surveillance footage captured two individuals leaving the scene, but no vehicle was recorded. “We did not get any vehicle; all we have is a very short clip of two people walking around the backside of our fire hall,” Fire Chief Steven Baker said. In response to the break-in, both the front and back doors of the fire hall have been secured from the inside to prevent further incidents.
Despite the setback, the fire chief emphasized the department’s commitment to saving lives, which has been made more challenging without the Jaws of Life. “We’re volunteers. We don’t get paid for it. We get up in the middle of the night to help these people, and we got our real jobs in the daytime, and you stole lifesaving equipment,” the chief said. To aid in the recovery of the stolen equipment, the department is offering a reward. “So if I get the equipment back, we’re giving a $2,500 reward. If we get the equipment back with a conviction, it will be a $5,000 reward,” the chief announced. The department is seeking the public’s assistance in resolving the case and recovering the vital equipment.
