From left to right are Tom Davidson, local Firehouse Subs franchise owner, Fire Chief Chris Adams, Maura Sullivan, chief operating officer for the City of Chattanooga, and Robin Peters, executive director of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
Local firefighters and police officers have some new tools that will enhance their jobs, thanks to grants from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. On Tuesday afternoon, at the Firehouse Subs restaurant on Gunbarrel Road, the foundation made a combined donation of $29,447 to the Chattanooga Fire Department and the East Ridge Police Department.
The Chattanooga Fire Department received $18,908 to purchase 12 "W" forcible entry tools.
The "W" tool is used to spread a door frame to gain access while causing little or no damage to the frame. The East Ridge Police Department received $10,539 to get 10 automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are portable devices used to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
"We truly appreciate Firehouse Subs and the support they have provided to our community," said Fire Chief Chris Adams. "They have provided us with another specialized tool that will enhance our service to the citizens of Chattanooga." In addition to its use as a forcible entry tool, Chief Adams said the "W" tool can be used like a jack for vehicle stabilization, a rescue strut, structural support in a collapsed structure or to simply hang a ventilation fan in a doorway. The tools will be placed into service after the firefighters have had a chance to receive some training on how they can be used.