Union County Fire and Rescue Relies on Specialized Rescue Trucks for Multi-Hazard Responses

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Union County Fire and Rescue maintains seven rescue trucks stationed at career and volunteer fire stations across the county, vehicles designed primarily for technical rescues but equipped for a wide range of emergencies.

The trucks respond to water rescues, rope rescues, machine extrications and auto extrications from motor vehicle crashes. Department officials note that motor vehicle accidents occur nearly daily, and some involve significant damage or injuries that require specialized tools to free occupants.

Each rescue truck carries hydraulic extrication tools commonly known as the “Jaws of Life,” along with assorted hand tools usable on vehicles, farm equipment or industrial machinery. The trucks also carry flotation devices and other water-rescue gear for swift-water or lake incidents, plus ropes, pulleys, harnesses and related equipment for low- and high-angle rescues and water-support operations.

Beyond technical rescue, the vehicles carry medical equipment. Rescue 13 and Rescue 5 serve as primary response units for major medical calls in their respective areas. Most of the fleet also includes a fire pump and water tank, allowing the smaller, more maneuverable trucks to handle car fires, small structure fires or wildfires in areas less accessible to larger engines.

Fire officials describe the rescue trucks as multi-purpose assets capable of mitigating nearly any emergency. Obtaining and maintaining the trucks forms part of the department’s strategic plan. Most, if not all, were purchased with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funding, which department leaders cite as an example of how SPLOST has strengthened fire services and public safety in Union County.