Photo:North Adams Fire Department tests new hydraulic rescue tools

North Adams Firefighter Jeff Bleu operates a cutter, one of a set of new hydraulic extracation tools the fire department recently purchased to replace a set that was about 28 years old. Ed Ashegh of Industrial Protection Services in Wilmington was on hand Thursday to provide training on the new state-of-the-art equipment. The tools, which cost $27,000, were purchased through an Assistance Firefighter Grant offered by the Department of Homeland Security. North Adams' share of the cost is $1,300, according to Fire Director Steve Meranti.