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Emergency responders have to be prepared for all scenarios when answering the call.
This includes having the best possible tools at their disposal, which is why it is good to see the recent investment made by the City of Weirton in better outfitting the city's firefighters.
Last week, Weirton officials unveiled a set of new rescue equipment, valued at almost $90,000, to be used by the Weirton Fire Department.
What makes this set of equipment unique is that it is all powered by rechargeable batteries.
Traditionally, rescue equipment, such as air chisels, spreaders, air hammers and more, have been powered by pneumatic systems, often using gas-powered generators which limited the number of tools available for use at any one time. Firefighters also would have to carry the generators from the truck as the air hoses limited their reach. This resulted in additional time being spent lugging equipment around and switching between tools in instances when every minute can count.
Now, with the battery-powered equipment, there is the potential to have several tools being in operation at the same time, with the ability to quickly get them off the truck and to the site of need without those extra steps or delays.
We thank Weirton Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick and the members of the Weirton Fire Department for their never-ending work in answering the call in protecting the community, as well as Weirton Council for the insight in making sure the department is as well equipped and ready as possible when those calls come in.