The Culver-Union Township Fire Department is hoping to improve its emergency response with a few equipment upgrades. The Culver Town Council voted Tuesday to encumber the department’s remaining 2016 funds to purchase several items.
That includes nearly $10,000 for a backup generator for the fire station from Live Oak Electric. Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told the town council earlier this month that the generator would cut 10 to 15 minutes off the department’s response time during a power outage.
The council also approved funding for spreader tools used in vehicle extrications. “They’re made for removing dash boards and moving seats back,” Wakefield told the town council Tuesday. “You put them in, and they push or they pull. You can pull dashes with them. You can push seats with them. You can do a lot of things with them. They’re really handy tools, and we don’t have one. Our old set used to have one, but I think they sold that 10 years ago or 15 years ago when we upgraded and just never upgraded with this tool.”
Wakefield says the fire department will buy a set of two of the tools, for a cost of just under $3,000. A new carbon monoxide detector is also being purchased, for just over $1,300.
