News brief: Pe Ell fire department’s stolen Jaws of Life returned

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Jaws of Life are back in the hands of the Pe Ell fire department.

The extrication equipment for automobile accidents – with an estimated replacement value of up to $10,000 – were among the tools and other items carried off during a burglary at the fire station last month.

Fire Chief Michael Krafczyk said sheriff’s deputies called him to identify it and other recovered property this morning.

“I’m not positive where they found it but we’ve got our Jaws of Life back, two SCBAs back – self-contained breathing apparatus – and a medical jump bag,” Krafczyk said today.

Sometime between April 23 and 27, someone broke into the station on state Route 6 and stole more than $18,000 worth of property belonging to the volunteer fire department.

The Jaws – consisting of a spreader, cutters and a power unit – are a necessity for responding to wrecks, according to Krafczyk.

“If somebody get trapped and we’re unable to use tools to get them out, it could be life or death,” he said.

An automatic mutual response was put into place with the Boistfort fire district in case they got any calls for vehicle collisions.

Then, the Rochester-area fire department loaned them a set of Jaws, Krafczyk said.

Last week, the sheriff’s office reported they found the fire department’s stolen tool box, axe and industrial light in the possession of a 24-year-old Centralia man.

Tags: ,

Comments are closed.