BLOUNTS CREEK — A Beaufort County volunteer fire department has received a generous gift of lifesaving equipment from a rescue squad in another part of the state.

“The Cabarrus Rescue Squad was disbanding, going out of service, and we were one of the departments they picked to get some of their equipment,” said David Williams, chief of the Blounts Creek Volunteer Fire Department.

Cabarrus Rescue, founded in 1957, ceased operations earlier this year because of, in part, a lack of volunteers. Blounts Creek EMS was disbanded in 2008 for the same reason, Williams noted.

BCVFD wrote a letter stating why it deserved the gift and was one of approximately 100 applicants from across the state, according to Williams. Once word was received that Blounts Creek was among those to receive equipment, department members traveled to Kannapolis to pick up the equipment.

That equipment, valued at nearly $20,000, includes an extrication device. The equipment aids rescue workers and firefighters in the removal of car-accident victims from wreckage, Williams said.

The equipment package yielded a combination spreader/cutter tool, two hydraulic rams, a pump, cribbing used to stabilize vehicles during operations, pneumatic tools and assorted chains, hoses and a hose reel.

“This improves our capability with car accidents and it gives us more equipment at our own disposal,” Williams said. “We thank Cabarrus Rescue for this donation. It will definitely be put to good use and it will never be forgotten by us.”

The BCVFD serves a population of around 2,600 people, according to Williams.

For more on the Blounts Creek Volunteer Fire Department, see a future edition of the Daily News.