Critical life saving gear has been stolen from one Eastern Carolina fire department.
Someone make off with thousands of dollars worth of equipment from three mobile trailers behind New Bern's main fire department. Chief Bobby Aster says that gear is used for technical rescues, such as when a building would collapse.
The items stolen include three generators, air compressors, jack hammers, circular saws, and various hand tools.
Chief Aster says they are still able to fight fires, but would need help in the event of a major fire that involves those types of rescues.
“This has put a serious dent in our resources,” said Aster. “The TRT is essentially out of business until we can recover these items or afford to replace them.”
“We share these mobile units with Craven County and North Carolina Task Force 10, so the loss is widespread,” said the chief. “I hope we can catch whoever did this. These people have compromised our ability to go out and do our jobs and save lives, and that hurts on a personal and a professional level.”
Chief Aster says in the meantime the Greenville Fire Department Technical Response Team has been put on standby.
