Stronger and faster: West Jordan Fire brings in new rescue tool

Firefighters in yellow protective gear use hydraulic rescue tools to open a black cars door in a parking lot. The car is stabilized on wooden blocks, and shattered glass is visible on the ground. Emergency vehicles are in the background.

Extrication tools are massive claws built for slicing into car metal and fabric. These tools can cut passenger vehicles and large semi-trucks, freeing patients without causing them further harm.

West Jordan Fire acquired stronger, faster and more durable claws from TNT, that outperform their old ones.

“Some of the older tools couldn’t cut through the metal,” said West Jordan Deputy Fire Chief, Chris Trevino. “These have a higher cutting force than any of our previous tools.”

The new tools meet all the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines for fire safety and rescue equipment, and they have a lifetime warranty. In contrast, the older tools frequently broke, requiring a lot of time and money to repair.

The new extrication tools are battery powered allowing them to be grabbed and used without the need for plugging in, saving first responders precious time on the scene.

Over the past few weeks, all our platoons have been hard at work training with these state-of-the-art tools, sharpening their skills to make sure we’re always ready to handle even the most challenging emergencies.

aerial view of West Jordan neighborhood