Firefighters Test Next-Generation HURST and Battery-Powered Rescue Tools in Hands-On Clinic

Garden City, GA - Personnel from Garden City Fire-Rescue recently completed specialized hands-on training at MES Life Safety’s South Georgia Extrication Road Show, focusing on the tactical challenges posed by modern vehicle construction and updated rescue technologies.

The technical rescue clinic took place in the period leading up to Wednesday, October 14, 2026, bringing regional firefighters together to practice advanced patient-extrication methodologies on contemporary automotive frames.

During the practical evolutions, Garden City responders observed and operated next-generation rescue tools, including hydraulic HURST extrication equipment and high-output Makita battery-powered cutting and spreading systems. Instructors guided personnel through updated stabilization, glass management, and structural cutting tactics engineered to overcome high-strength boron steels, multi-stage airbag assemblies, and complex hybrid or electric vehicle safety systems.

Department officials emphasized that as automotive manufacturers continually introduce reinforced cabin materials and advanced occupant protection systems, hands-on exposure to modern extrication tools ensures responders can safely, rapidly, and efficiently free trapped motorists during roadway emergencies.