Tuolumne County, CA…The Tuolumne County Fire Department received a regional grant for $105,000 to purchase new extrication equipment.

A 2016 Regional Collision Response and Extrication Improvement Program Grant administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the amount of $105,000 will fund the replacement of current extrication tools which are 10-15 years old. These new extrication tools, also known as the “Jaws of Life” will greatly enhance our ability to provide rescue services to those that are trapped in vehicles. This is particularly significant as these delays can negatively impact the patient’s critical “golden hour” of trauma survivability.

The Departments that participated in this grant opportunity were Tuolumne County Fire Department, Groveland Community Services District, Jamestown Fire Protection District, Twain Harte Fire & Rescue District, Tuolumne Fire Protection District and Sonora City Fire Department.

The Tuolumne County Fire Department would like to remind residents to always use your seat belts while driving and allow a little extra time for travel during these winter months when roadways can be wet or icy. In 2015, the Tuolumne County Fire Agencies that participated in this grant responded to 386 traffic collisions in which 58 of those required extrication.

For more information you may call the Tuolumne County Fire Department or visit our web site at www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov.