Battling blazes will be a little easier for the Pembroke Fire Department after recently receiving a donation from local business Liberty Auction.

The fire department now has a Super Vac exhaust fan, a powerful fan used to draw smoke out of homes and buildings after crews have any flames under control, according to Pembroke Fire Chief Jimmy Cook. The fan can clear smoke out of a home within just a few minutes, he said.

Liberty Auction owner Matt Mattingly said Wayne Bozeman, also with Liberty Auction, purchased the fan in an online auction. But instead of trying to sell it, they thought it would benefit the department.

“We were going to try and sell it but thought it would serve a better use to donate it to the local fire department,” Mattingly said. “We’re in hopes they never have to use it.”

Bozeman said many fire departments use these types of fans and estimated the cost of one to be around $2,000.

“The fire department takes any kind of (equipment) donation because it costs so much,” Cook added. “Anything the fire department, police department or EMS uses is not cheap.”

Cook said he and the department were glad to get the fan, and he is sure it will be put to good use.

Read more in the Jan. 21 edition of the News.