A personal injury law firm recently donated an extrication rescue tool to the Bloomington (Ind.) Fire Department. The tool, a BEAST cutter/spreader manufactured by Champion Rescue Tools, was donated as part of the law firm’s community-based giving program.

The extrication tool used can by firefighters to cut out victims trapped in vehicles, Champion CEO Alan Discount said. “It has 372,000 pounds of cutting force and the ability to interchange the head on it to go from a cutter to a spreader.”

Bloomington Chief Roger Kerr said the donation was a welcomed surprise — especially in the current economic climate. He added the department may have eventually purchased a multi-tool cutter or spreader in the future, but it all depended on when they could afford it.

Kerr said the donation was the largest in the department’s history. It freed up funds for other equipment purchases. It also boosted morale.

“Someone made sure we had what we needed,” he said. “And then it brought in state-of-the-art equipment so we can service the community without taking a hit to the budget. So now we can go out and get another item that we need for the department.”

The company sold the tool “at cost,” to the law firm, Discount said.