The Kitimat Fire and Ambulance Service has taken a step forward in emergency response, adding a Holmatro Cordless Combi Tool to its lineup of equipment.
The addition was made possible through funding support from TC Energy and Coastal GasLink, both of whom have worked closely with the community on safety initiatives.
The Combi Tool is a versatile hydraulic device that combines spreading, cutting, and lifting functions into one portable unit. Unlike older hydraulic systems that rely on heavy pumps and hoses, the new model is fully cordless and battery-powered. That difference, Fire Chief Trent Bossence explained, will allow firefighters to move faster in situations where every second counts.
“This tool just provides us with another piece of equipment that we can use in the event that we get to an emergency that requires some type of extrication,” said Bossence. “It’s not just for vehicle extrication. This can be used in structure fires to open up windows, to open up doors, and to do multiple different tasks with it. It’s really a multi-use tool.”
Bossence noted that one of the biggest changes will come from where the tool is stored. By putting it on the department’s frontline engine, the first to arrive at most incidents, it will be available immediately at a variety of emergencies.
“When we get called to an emergency within the district, we’re typically taking our frontline engine. That’s the engine that arrives on the scene first. This tool gets placed on that truck, and it will have multiple different uses, from opening up doors to lifting up heavy structures or equipment. Whatever the case is, this tool will do it for us.”
Another key advantage is mobility. Traditional hydraulic tools are effective but can be cumbersome, requiring hoses to be run from pumps to the tool. Bossence explained how the cordless system eliminates those limits.
“The older technology required us to have hydraulic pumps and run hydraulic hoses to the tool itself. That adds weight and limits what areas we can use it in. In a confined space, those hoses and the pump could get in the way. With this tool, the battery slips in, and it is completely mobile.”
While the new equipment will directly benefit frontline crews, Bossence was quick to point out that the purchase would not have been possible without industry partners. He said TC Energy and Coastal GasLink have been consistent in their willingness to step up for the community.
“When it comes to industry, TC Energy and Coastal GasLink have never hesitated to support us and provide us with what we need to make our work easier and the public safer. They understand the importance of safety and the importance of having the right tools for the right jobs. They work and live in their own world every day, so they understand what we’re looking for and why we’re looking for it.”
At the end of the day, Bossence said, every upgrade comes back to one goal, protecting firefighters and the public they serve.
“Safety is at the top of our list, especially when it comes to the work that we do. There is an inherited risk in this job, but if we can reduce hazards by upgrading tools and having the best tool for the job, that provides a safety factor that is hard to put a value on,” he said.
“Knowing we have the right tools and reliable tools makes a difference not only for our responders but also for the community and its expectations of us.”
