Chatham Emergency Services adds to vehicle fleet
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Command staff and firefighters with Chatham Fire rolled out in new rides Tuesday, and they're showing us the advantages of having that new equipment.
The CEO of Chatham Emergency Services spoke to WTOC about the significance of getting the new vehicles, and how they'll help them keep county residents safe.
Wrapped in a black over green paint scheme, three Ford Explorers and three fire engines will be serving residents in the Georgetown, Wilmington Island and Fort Argyle Road areas.
The three additional Fire Engines are E-One "Typhoon" models. Known as Rescue Pumpers, they are equipped with a 1,250-gallon per minute pump capacity, 750-gallon water tanks, firefighting and rescue equipment, scene lighting, and Basic Life Support (BLS) medical equipment.
When funds allow for it, the company's board of directors can reinvest in the equipment and apparatus they use daily, but it's more than just new, shiny rides for emergency responders. Something as simple as newer light bar packages can cut down on battery use in the vehicles, and radio systems are more powerful with a longer reach for clearer transmissions while responding to emergencies.
"The vehicles don't really get an awful lot of mileage on them. But what happens over the course of time, technology changes. And so you want to upgrade the vehicles so that you have newer technology that enhances your capability to fight fires," said Chatham Emergency Services CEO Chuck Kearns
Kearns also outlined a few other advantages they'll have in the new vehicles.
"Squad 7 and Squad 8 are fully capable firefighting apparatus that also have vehicle extrication equipment on them, so the Jaws of Life. They would respond to car accidents, bad car accidents and help clean up environmental hazards, when radiator fluid goes on the ground. But if someone had to be cut out of a car, they have the equipment to do that," Kearns said.
While these vehicles may have been brought in from out of town, the paint jobs and lights and sirens packages were outfitted locally.
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