Money will be used to purchase new lifesaving equipment

Ashland.news staff

Ashland Fire & Rescue received a $23,328.17 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, and officials say the funds will go toward new lifesaving equipment, according to a news release.

Specifically, the department will purchase hydraulic spreaders from the company Holmatro.

“Hydraulic spreaders are versatile rescue tools that can be used in various emergency situations, from vehicle extrications to disaster response,” according to Holmatro’s website. “They provide the power and control needed to pry, lift and move heavy objects, creating access points for rescue operations.”

The site adds that the spreaders can be used to create space and to lift or spread apart other wedged materials.

“We are grateful to the foundation and our local Firehouse Subs in Medford for providing us with this invaluable funding,” AFR interim Fire Chief Marshall Rasor said in the release. “The added benefit of having the very best equipment on hand means everything in an emergency when every second counts.”

The grant is one of 87 the foundation awarded during the most recent grant cycle, amounting to more than $2.1 million worth of equipment, the release said.