12-05-2012 Firehouse Subs Donates Rescue Equipment to CFD

At the Firehouse Subs restaurant at 6025 East Brainerd Road in Chattanooga today, Chattanooga firefighters put on a short demonstration, using their new Hurst eDraulics S 700E Cutters. These cutters are designed to cut through extra strong steel, which is what is being used in new cars and trucks.

Firehouse Subs provided a grant of $17,500, which enabled the fire department to purchase two of the new cutters. "We are very grateful for the support Firehouse Subs has provided to us," said Fire Chief Randy Parker. "These new cutters will speed up the extrication process at motor vehicle accidents, and when you save time, you save lives." The new cutters will be carried on the department's squad trucks, which carry extra specialized equipment used in automobile accidents and other rescue incidents.

Background: As early as 2003, car manufacturers have been reinforcing the core structure of cars with advanced high-strength steels to improve passenger safety and to meet new federal safety standards (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214 and 216). These new standards require that all vehicles meet upgraded pole and barrier tests, and the current roof strength tests have doubled the force that a car must withstand. The new cutters are designed to cut through the new high-strength steels.

In the photo (from left to right): Fire Chief Randy Parker, Captain Jonathan Lehman, Senior Firefighter Jack Thompson, Senior Firefighter Justin Vice and Tom Davidson, co-owner and manager of several Firehouse Subs restaurants in the Chattanooga area.

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