A small, rural fire department is dispatched to a structure fire. Firefighters must cut a hole in building’s roof, but first they must lug a heavy gas-powered chainsaw up a steep ladder.

The way Steve Hemsworth, Prince Township’s fire chief, describes it, it’s not for the faint of heart.

“When the saw is used to cut a hole in in the roof for ventilation, a firefighter in full turnout gear wearing  breathing apparatus has to either start the saw on the ground and carry it up the ladder running, or carry the saw up and start it while on the roof, which is going to be weakened from the fire, “ Hemsworth said.

Fortunately, firefighters with Prince’s volunteer fire department will find such tasks less risky, thanks to Chris Wakeley, of  Superior North Electrical and Communications Inc., who gifted the department with a battery- powered Milwaukee chainsaw.

Wakeley said he offered to donate the new saw after speaking with Hemsworth last year, when he’d come to the fire hall to install a generator system and work on some wiring.

”I was chatting with Steve about fire stuff, He said they’d really like to get a Milwaukee chain saw, because when they let go the trigger on their gas-powered chain saw the chain still spins,” Wakeley said. “But the  battery one would shut off and give them an added point of safety.”

Wakeley then contacted his electrical supplier, who he said offered him the model he wanted at “a good price”.

Hemsworth added that a battery powered saw can be taken off the firetruck and  “immediately and safely be deployed like a cordless drill.”

Another advantage is that it can be used indoors or in a confined space during a rescue operation, because it produces no exhaust. It could also be used after violent storms to cut through fallen trees if they damaged homes on blocked roads, Hemsworth said.

Wakeley, whose business is located in Goulais River,  said he enjoys lending a hand to area organizations, such as the Goulais River Community Centre and Community Living Algoma.

“It’s something I like to do with the business. Making money is important, I guess, but I get way more satisfaction out of helping someone,” Wakeley said. “I’m sure there will be more donations in the future.”

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