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Three fire stations in Saskatchewan have new tools thanks to a donation from Firehouse Subs.
The sub chain, which was started in 1994 by brothers who were former firefighters and expanded in 2015, has been able to give back to local fire crews for 10 years.
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The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada has raised $5 million in the last 10 years, all of which has been used in gifting new tools to fire departments.
The Warman, Rosthern and Birch Hills fire departments split $75,000 between the three of them which purchased these new tools.
The new tools for the fire stations. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)
Warman Fire Chief Russ Austin said the new equipment will help his team cut rescue times, making it quicker for patients to get the help they need.
“Technology has changed so much in the last few years,” he said. “These tools actually allow us to get out there fast, to cut things quicker and get people out of their vehicles quicker.”
Austin said modern tools allow for more flexibility and make it easier to save a patient.
“Ten years ago any tools that you had to cut cars apart had to come off a fire truck with a line coming off of them,” he said.
“Cars in the ditches made it tough to get a fire truck into the ditches a lot of times and we would have a hard time accessing those patients.”
The new tools are battery powered and cordless so crews can take them wherever need.
Austin said the tools are essential when it comes to firefighters doing the job.
“I don’t think that you could do the job properly without the proper extrication tools,” he said. “We were able to supplement those tools with extra ones to be a really high functioning, fully capable department for vehicle extrication.”
Within five hours of getting the new tools Warman fire crews were out on a scene using them, Austin said.
He thanked Firehouse Subs for giving back and helping local fire departments.
“Before they even opened up their first store, they were already reaching out to myself and some of the (other) fire chiefs,” he said. “We’re very thankful they’re thinking of Saskatchewan.”
The car before its roof was taken off by Warman, Rosthern and Birch Hills fire firefighters. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)
The car after its roof was taken off by Warman, Rosthern and Birch Hills fire firefighters using the new tools. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)
Crew from the three fire stations that benefitted met in Warman to celebrate the new tools, and cut the roof off of a scrapped car.
Sam Gallant, general manager of Firehouse Subs Canada, said the money was raised through tips and other donations.
“Our guests have the opportunity to round up when they place their order,” Gallant said.
“They can also purchase a pickle bucket (the empty bucket that the pickles come in) which is totally unique — a lot of construction workers love the pickle bucket.”
The three Saskatchewan fire stations were selected after they applied for the grant.
“The way our process works is you actually apply for a specific piece of equipment,” said Gallant.
“So the $75,000 is across three fire departments who all applied for different pieces of equipment.”
There are five Firehouse Subs locations in Saskatchewan.
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