County Fire Department tools save life

The Howard CountyFire Departmentis one of a handful of agencies in the state using new technology to save lives.

Saturdaymorning,a grain truck rolled over on Highway40,trappingitsdriver.

At thescene,fire crews used that new equipment for the first time to cut the man from the truck.

It took crews only four minutes to get the driver out from underneaththetruck.

The new spreader and cutter have five times the power compared toold tools.

More power allows fire crews to breathe a sigh of relief in any situation.

They are big enough to cut thenew cars. Newercars have difficult metals in them, they are stronger so ouroldtools wouldn’thave,but the metalsdelaya large vehicle extrication if someone is trapped,” said Howard CountyAssistant ChiefTony Hill.

Hill says without these new tools, Saturday’s driver might not have been so lucky.

Crewsfrom Booneville and surrounding areas would havehadto becalled to rescue the driver.

The driver wasairliftedfrom the scene and taken to a local hospital.