As a fire department, we have many tools in our tool box. They range from screw guns to thermal imaging cameras, from air packs to extrication tools. All these tools need to be kept up to date and maintained. 

The extrication tools that the Andover Fire Department have had were purchased through fundraising over 25 years ago. With their being that old, finding parts to repair them when they break and keeping them running top notch was getting harder and harder. We formed a committee to look into replacing these tools to get a set that was more modern.

The committee came across a set of battery-operated extrication tools that were recently traded in by a local department. These tools are only a few years old and in great shape. The department had received an anonymous donation shortly before we came across these tools, and we couldn’t think of a better way to use the money than to buy this new set. 

We were able to get these battery-operated tools, which consist of a small spreader/cutter tool, a larger spreader/cutter tool, a cutting/scissor tool, three chargers, six batteries, a corded hookup to run the tools off of a generator if needed, and truck mounts for the tools, for a total of $6,750. 

This bundle would have cost the department over $48,000. With the purchase being made from a donor, no tax dollars were used to get these new-to-us tools. Thank you to all the donors that help the fire department!

Our last fundraiser of the year is coming up quickly. I know it seems early to talk about it, but Christmas Tree sales are right around the corner! We will be selling trees at the East Andover Fire Department again this year, on December 1 and 2. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for more details to come.

With daylight saving time ending on November 5, we want to remind everyone that this is a good time to inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You should change your batteries, clean your units, as well as check the dates on the back to make sure they are still in date. It is a proven fact, and we have seen firsthand, that smoke detectors save lives, so make sure yours are working because they could save your life too!

Stay safe!