The Riverside Volunteer Fire Department was one of several organizations to receive a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant on Wednesday, November 29.

At the Foundation’s fall grant reception, the Riverside Fire Department was awarded $12,500 in matching funds to go towards new extrication tools. Often referred to as “jaws of life,” the new tools are battery-powered and aid in cutting and spreading vehicles or machinery to remove trapped individuals. With the old system requiring a gas-powered pump and hydraulic hoses, these tools will allow more freedom for the firefighters using them.

Fire Chief Chad Smothers tells KCII what the grant means for the department, as well as the community. “It helps us out tremendously. Everything’s getting more expensive so to get funds like this to help kind of offset our budgets and things like assist us so that we can keep the most updated tools out on the street so if people are in trouble or in need we can assist them and get them out of whatever they’re in.”

Smothers added that they would waste no time purchasing the tools, which they hope to have in early 2024.