Calls for service involving collapsed trenches or buildings often require firefighters to search for and remove victims, stabilize trenches or buildings to prevent further collapse, and dig through and/or dismantle the collapse to free victims. These scenarios often require special equipment that has to be stored at Station 17 on the city's far Eastside and transported in a trailer to the incident scene.
This equipment includes rescue struts, lumber, a generator, concrete breaching and metal cutting tools, which cannot be carried on the department's Heavy Rescue Truck. Firefighters currently transport a limited amount of equipment using a trailer that has to be connected to a truck before it can be moved. Firefighters say this is a time-consuming effort that could add unnecessary time during critical situations. That is why the Technical Rescue Program is asking the Fire Foundation's help to purchase a dedicated collapse vehicle that will carry all the needed equipment and eliminate the need to transport it in a standalone trailer that requires a separate truck. The ideal truck will have the following specifications:
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