London-Laurel Rescue Squad received a new rescue apparatus called "Rescue 26" on behalf of Laurel County Fiscal Court on Tuesday night, February 15.
"Rescue 26" is in honor of Doug Cawood, who held 26 as his unit number on the London-Laurel Rescue Squad from 1996 until 2017.
The $250,000 2021 Ford F-550 Quick Response Rescue Truck came from a portion of Laurel County's $3.3 million funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funding under ARPA provided the opportunity for local governments to make investments in long-lived assets such as fire trucks and rescue vehicles, which should last about 20 years. In due time, Laurel County will have 11 new fire trucks.
Rescue Chief John Allen said, "Ive been in this for 32 years and this is a once in a life time opportunity that you ever hear of a county buying that many fire trucks and rescue trucks to help better our community."
Chief Allen said the new rescue apparatus is fully equipped with a 70,000 lum-seam light tower that offers bright lighting when working at night. He said it's also capable of any kind of auto extrication, such as cutters and spreaders needed to cut someone out of a vehicle. It also comes fully equipped with rope rescue, equipment for lifting vehicles, stabilizing vehicles, as well as first aid equipment.
Chief Allen said, "We, here at the Rescue Squad, are grateful and we want to thank the County Judge-Executive, the Magistrates, and the Laurel County Fiscal Court for making this apparatus purchase possible. This truck is a once in a life time opportunity. We will serve the community well and take Doug's name over all of Laurel County. This was an answer to our prayers."
Samantha Walden, Staff Writer at the Kentucky Daily