The Moultrie City Council voted Tuesday night to purchase new extrication tools for the fire department.
The current tools, used to cut or tear open automobiles to free trapped accident victims, were purchased in 2003, Fire Chief Jeff Thibodeau said. They’re both worn out and obsolete — if they break, no one makes the parts to fix them any more.
It’s the second significant equipment upgrade for the fire department since Thibodeau became fire chief Aug. 5. The department is waiting for delivery of new helmets paid for with a donation from Woodmen of the World. Every firefighter will get a new helmet; the oldest ones in use are 10 years old.
The extrication tools are battery-powered, which is an improvement from those that are now in service, Thibodeau said.