Crime & Safety

Rescuers Get Last Use of Junk Cars

Hamptons EnvironMetals donated two cars for the East Hampton Fire Department to tear-apart in an economy where junk cars are at a premium.

The 's heavy rescue squad held a training exercise last week, where they got to practice ripping apart cars in a mock-accident scene thanks to some donations.

Junk cars are, ironically, at a premium — or at least the steel they are made out of are.

Squad Lt. Gerard Turza Jr. said it has been more difficult in recent years to get junk cars to train on. "Especially nowadays with the way the scrap metal pricing in the industry is going, we don't have the luxury of having cars like we used to," he said. People and scrap companies want to junk cars when the price is high, and not wait for a rescuers to drill. "Our needs have kind of become secondary."

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Hamptons EnvironMetals, a metal recycling company based in East Hampton, donated two junk cars for volunteers to hone the delicate skill of cutting crash victims out of smashed-up cars on Wednesday at the East Hampton Training Center in Wainscott.

One sedan was placed on top of the other to mimic a crash where the back tires of one vehicle smashed through the windshield and the passenger doors would not open. Certified heavy rescue equipment operates used the "Jaws of Life" and other tools to cut and pop open the doors and allow emergency medical technicians access to patients, amidst broken glass and other debris.

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Office manager Julia Celano said EnvironMetals' partner David Wisner and general operating manager George Miller have a good relationship with the fire department and were happy to oblige when the fire department made the request. The next day, they picked up the torn-apart cars, she said.

On Tuesday, Celano said they can get 12-cents per pound. For a car that weighs 2,000 to 3,000 pounds, that's $240 to $360.

Turza said the drill focused on ensuring the heavy rescue squad and the have a chance to practice together. "They have to worry about the patient, we have to worry about the patient and the vehicle. The more we can educate those folks about what's going on, the better off we'll all be and the more smoothly it will all run."

Hamptons EnvironMetals, located on Springs Fireplace Road, next to Wisner's mechanical shop, , has only be around since October, but Miller has been in the scrap metal business for 25 years.

Depending on the condition, sometimes the company pays for the cars, other times they acquire them for free. "Hamptons EnvironMetals offers a safer, free, and environmentally friendly way to cleaning up the metal-mess," the description reads. They pick-up all metal, including cars, with the sister-company Hamptons Transport Towing.

Lt. Zeb Perinhas said the department continues to look for car to train for emergency situations. Call the fire department and leave a message if you are interested in donating your used car.


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