LYMAN — The Goodwin’s Mills Fire-Rescue recently purchased extrication equipment, including air lifting bags, a hydraulic ram and support struts, thanks to a $14,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King foundation.

“This is equipment I’ve wanted to have for a long time,” said Fire Chief Roger “Rod” Hooper.

The equipment will help speed up extrication time and help prevent further escalation of problems in situations where it’s needed, said Hooper. The bags can be used to lift a car or an object such as a tree that’s fallen on someone, and the struts can be put in place to hold it up. The hydraulic ram can be wedged into a doorway of a vehicle and used to spread open a car.

“It’s one of those deals, if you need it, you need it right away,” said Hooper.

The air bags are made of reinforced rubber, and are placed under an object and inflated to lift it up. The air bags can each support 20 tons, and the struts can each support 10,000 pounds, said Hooper.

The air lift bags are filled using oxygen tanks, which are standard equipment on fire trucks.

Hooper said all staff will be trained on the new equipment.

Stephanie Leonard, administrator of the Stephen and Tabitha King foundation, said the foundation’s primary focus is literary efforts and libraries, but it also supports other causes.

Leonard said the foundation is aware that local fire departments often struggle to pay for equipment updates, and funds are directed to organizations located in Maine in areas that are “geographically fair” to allow the foundation to spread the money across the state.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.