City of San Rafael Fire Department awarded $25,500 grant for new emergency response equipment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2, 2026

San Rafael, Calif. - The City of San Rafael announced today that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to purchase new battery-operated extrication equipment. Known as the "jaws of life," first responders use these specialized tools to safely reach crash victims faster.

"In an accident requiring rapid patient access and complex extrication operations every second counts to prevent secondary injury and improve survivability. Thanks to this OTS grant, the San Rafael Fire Department will be able to purchase new battery-operated life-saving extrication equipment. These tools will strengthen our ability to keep our community safe and we look forward to adding this critical equipment to department."

-Abraham Roman, Fire Chief, San Rafael

Post-crash care is vital to saving lives. Delays in providing critical care impacts survival chances. Between 2019 and 2023, 43% of people killed in crashes nationally were still alive when first responders arrived. New hydraulic rescue tools will reduce the time it takes to access crash victims and help first responders deliver life-saving measures for patients trapped in vehicles.

"When crashes happen, time is of the essence to save lives," OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. "By equipping first responders with the right tools, we're helping crash victims get to critical care faster and significantly increase their chance of survival."

The grant program runs through September 2027.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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