LEMON COVE, Calif. —A thief stole thousands of dollars’ worth of extrication equipment from a fire department in California last week.
YourCentralValley.com reported firefighters from the Lemon Cove Fire Department were in the middle of training when someone cut through the fence and stole equipment from one of their fire trucks.
“Unknown suspects gained entry into a fire truck that contained a Jaws of Life kit,” said Lt. John Weeller.
According to Fire Chief Charlie Norman, the cost of the emergency kit when the department bought it was about $18,000 but purchasing a new kit to replace it will cost much more.
“The cost of that to replace it this day and age is between $25,000 and $30,000,” said Norman.
Without the equipment, firefighters will have to use smaller hand tools and rely on equipment from neighboring fire departments to extricate victims from their vehicles during car accidents.
“In essence it will delay services,” said Norman. “It’s very disheartening. The crews at our station as well as other Tulare County fire departments are here to serve the public and this diminishes our capacity to do that.”
No suspects have been found in connection with the theft. Police are investigating.