Hanceville Fire and Rescue showed off new lifesaving tools purchased through a Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant Tuesday, July 16, at the franchise’s Cullman location.

Hanceville Fire Chief Rodger Green said the department received the $34,745 grant in May and used the funds to replace one its two “jaws of life” used for emergency vehicle extractions. The new equipment from Hurst comes equipped with the latest lifesaving technology, are battery operated and able to be completely submerged for underwater extractions.

Green said the department regularly travels outside its coverage area to assist with nearby departments and having a second set of equipment on-hand at all times allowed for Hanceville residents to be covered at all times.

The foundation uses funds collected at individual franchise locations when customers round up meal costs, purchase recycled pickle buckets or pay to have their name displayed on a medallion in the restaurant during First Responders month to provide equipment, education and scholarships to first responders throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. More than $86 million in grants have been awarded since its foundation in 2005.

The company has also committed to donating .075 percent of all purchases in 2024 to the foundation. Cullman franchise owner Jason Hayles said he aims to go a step further by having at least one percent of weekly revenue being from charitable contributions.

Hayles has been involved in 25 grants equalling more than $400,000 through his nine locations since 2007. He said the Decatur location had the opportunity to see their work in action less than a week after several AED’s were awarded to Decatur Fire and Rescue.

“An elderly gentleman had a heart attack and the fire department said that without that equipment they had just received, they wouldn’t have been able to save his life. Once his name was released, we all realized that he was a regular customer that came in at least two days every week,” Hayles said. “That’s what really drove me to get behind the foundation, seeing someone that I knew who would not be here today.”

Hanceville Mayor Jimmy Sawyer said even with a group of talented and dedicated first responders, smaller municipalities rely on grants and donations to protect its residents.

“With a small city like we are, a grant like this goes a really long way. I think we have one of the finest fire departments around,” Sawyer said.