CENTRE HALL — Members of the Centre Hall Fire Company gathered at Bierly’s Garage on top of Mount Nittany on July 20 for a training and testing session for their newest pieces of rescue equipment.
The company recently purchased several new cutters and spreaders used for the extraction of vehicle crash victims trapped in their cars.
The new tools, manufactured by the Hurst Jaws of Life Company, were purchased from the Susquehanna Fire Equipment Company in Dewart. Susquehanna representatives Dana Shaffer and Brian Bryson were on hand to explain and help demonstrate the new devices.
One of the cutters and a spreader came with a portable hydraulic pump powered by a small gasoline engine, allowing the tools to be used away from the fire trucks. Each pump has dual hose outlets, so a total of four tools can be used simultaneously, and the pumps feature self-closing quick disconnect hydraulic connectors which allow “hot swapping” of tools without shutting down the pumps.
Another cutter is powered by a self-contained pump driven by an on-board electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, providing up to 45 minutes of cutting power per battery charge. It can also be plugged into a fire engine’s generator in the event of a dead battery.
The new tools are lighter, faster, and much more powerful than the fire company’s old extraction tools, which were purchased in the early 1980’s. Bryson said the new cutters can generate 277,000 pounds of cutting force, and weigh about 50 pounds, making them manageable by one man. CHFC member Domer Smeltzer said that their old cutters generated 115,000 pounds and weighed between 75 and 80 pounds.
Smeltzer noted that the higher force is needed when cutting into today’s vehicles because of the increased use of high strength boron alloy steel in areas which enclose the passengers.
“It’s meant to not crumple or give,” said Shaffer. “Everything’s meant to tear away except for the ‘bird cage’ around the passengers.”
Another new tool is a windshield cutter, which is useful for gaining access to front seat passengers. The cutter resembles a cordless drill, but with a three prong cutting head. CHFC member Harry Hockenberry demonstrated this device by snipping out a wrecked car’s windshield in a matter of seconds.
“When I first started (in the fire company), you used an axe and chopped the whole way around the windshield,” said Smeltzer.
All this power and technology doesn’t come cheap. Smeltzer said the company paid nearly $40,000 for all the new tools and accessories. Some of the funding came from the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association, a state agency that helps fund equipment purchases and training, and the remainder came from CHFC fundraisers and donations. He said the CHFC sold their old extraction tools to the Gregg Township Fire Company in Spring Mills, and that extraction equipment owned by the Millheim, Gregg Township, and Centre Hall companies is all compatible, allowing the tools to be shared if necessary.
Smeltzer noted that volunteer firefighters are certified by the state.
“We are all tech level certified, which is a state certification on vehicle rescue,” he said. He said the firefighters must pass a 48-hour course on vehicle rescue to attain certification. “People don’t realize how much time we put in,” said Tom Barner, a 46-year veteran of the CHFC.
Smeltzer is grateful to Harold Bierly of Bierly’s Garage, who provides his parking lot and wrecked autos from his auto salvage business free of charge to the CHFC for training.
“He’s been really good to us,” Smeltzer said.
The CHFC consists of about 30 members, headed by Fire Chief Brian Tice.
“We’re always looking for new volunteers,” said Smeltzer.
For more information, contact the Centre Hall Fire Company at (814) 364-1816.
