By John Howell Sr.
The Como Volunteer Fire Dept. (CVFD) received on Wednesday a “Jaws of Life” extraction device bought for $9,157 with proceeds from the sale of cooked Boston Butt roasts, Como Civic Club donations and county fire rebate money.

Fire Chief Randy Perkins told town officials at their Tuesday night meeting that the device was “on order.”

“We’re playing with it right now,” Perkins said when contacted by phone Wednesday.

The Jaws of Life allows first responders to quickly free accident victims trapped inside wrecked vehicles. CVFD frequently responds to wrecks on the portion of Interstate 55 in the north part of Panola County. In the past, CVFD has contacted the Sardis Volunteer Fire Dept. when it responds to accidents with victims trapped inside vehicles, Perkins said.

The Como and Sardis volunteer fire departments will split the cost of repairing a water damaged radio “repeater” device they share, Como Fire Chief Randy Perkins told the mayor and aldermen during their Tuesday night meeting.

The device, which extends radio transmissions on the fire departments’ frequencies, was damaged by a wind and rain during a December storm, Perkins said. The equipment was insured, the fire chief said, but the departments had to cover the $1,000 insurance deductible.
“I want y’all to know I’m not setting a precedent,” Perkins said when he announced that the fire department would pay for the repair with fire department funds.

In other fire department business, Perkins reported:
• A “light month” during December with only nine runs — two car fires, one trash fire and six “EMR” runs to assist with medical emergencies;
• A successful “Cans for Christmas” drive that allowed CVFD to assist families with food;
• Electrical work on the triggering mechanism for the emergency siren has been completed.