The Benton Township Fire Department is getting some new lifesaving equipment.

At this week’s meeting of the Benton Township Board of Trustees, Fire Chief Robert Harper said the old Jaws of Life device used at fire station 2 doesn’t quite cut it anymore.

“We had a jobs call…a couple months ago and with one guy over there, it took a lot of time to get the power unit and the tools off the truck,” Harper said. “You’re tethered by hydraulic hose. We’d like to replace that with a battery operated, what’s called a combination tool, which is a combination cutter and spreader.”

Harper said the new all-in-one unit would enable firefighters to free drivers trapper in their vehicles much more quickly. Plus, with the new Jaws of Life able to lift with twice as much pressure, he said they’ll be better suited to cutting through the more durable materials used in a lot of vehicles these days without breaking the machine’s blades.

Harper said the fire department has the money in its cost recovery fund to cover the purchase. Trustees authorized him to proceed with the purchase at a cost of about $19,000.