Lewiston has 'jaws of life' now but needs truck that can tote them

By Erik Bateman

March 29, 2004 | LEWISTON -- The city fire department has the tools to get victims out of burning houses and wrecked automobiles, but they don't have a vehicle to get those tools to where they are needed.

According to Mayor Paul Dent the fire department recently acquired extrication equipment so that they are better suited when responding to emergency situations. This equipment includes the famous Jaws of Life. This is in accord with a directive Lewiston received from the state to be the first-response emergency crew in the north end of the valley. The hope is to have 80 percent of the Cache Valley population within a nine-minute response time vicinity.

The fire department does not have a truck suited to move the extrication equipment. A new fire truck suitable to carry the new tools will cost around $40,000; the city budgets $17,450 a year for fire department expenditures.

Fire Chief Ted Johnson has asked the city council for an advance on next year's budget money. Even if he gets the advanced funds he will still need several thousand dollars to cover the cost of the new vehicle.

Chief Johnson has some ideas to find the necessary money. He is looking into obtaining state funding since the state wants Lewiston's fire department to be a first-response unit.

"It's a good situation we are in. We don't have the truck we need but every time we respond to an emergency outside of town we get more money from the state or county. Each time that happens I hope to put that money towards a new truck," Johnson said.

Johnson also mentioned there are grants available that could help pay for the expense. Mayor Dent suggested that the fire department take an older city-owned truck that is not currently in use and either raffle it or sell it to help raise money.

NW
AB