It took Warren firefighters about 20 minutes to remove four doors, the posts between the doors, a roof, and a hatchback from a car on Thursday.

After the exercise, there wasn't much left.

A dozen firefighters trained for several hours at Tom's Auto Repair in Wrightsville with some new rescue equipment.

The Holmatro Rescue equipment arrived June 9 and will replace a Hurst tool system the department has been using since the early 1980s.

"This one has several advantages over our last system," Operations and Training Officer Joe Beardsley said. "The Holmatro system will provide for a lighter, more user-friendly system that provides improved cutting and spreading capabilities."

As in the past, the crew only had one power supply unit to run the tools. However, unlike with the old unit, they could use two different tools at the same time off of one unit.

"When he's using that cutter, he's not taking anything away from that second tool," said Marvin Waxham, of ESI Equipment in Lake City, who was instructing the firefighters in the use of the Holmatro Rescue Equipment.

So, one firefighter could use the combination tool while another was using the heavy-duty cutter, the heavy-duty spreader, or one of the smaller attachments.

Also, the new system allows for "hot" swapping of the attachments. With the old system, hoses had to be drained and refilled when tools were changed.

The combination tool itself is another improvement. The tool allows "a single firefighter to spread and cut without changing tools," Beardsley said.

The cutting and spreading forces possible with the new system are greater than those that could be produced by the old equipment, Beardsley said. That's important because the vehicle safety standards have resulted in the use of stronger materials in the construction of new vehicles.

While the tools are stronger, they are also much lighter.

"This power unit is about 100 pounds lighter than the old one," Beardsley said. The Hurst power unit weighed about 150 pounds; the Holmatro weighs in at about 55 pounds.

The largest of the new tools weigh about 40 pounds. The Hurst tools weighed up to 70 pounds.

"We'll carry the combi-tool and the power unit to the car first," Beardsley said. "The heavy-duty cutter will be next if we need it. Then the heavy-duty spreader."

The heavy-duty pieces will probably not be needed on passenger vehicles.

Department officials chose Holmatro after research and product demonstrations, Beardsley said.

"If you want to see something or try something, this is the place to do it," Waxham said.

In addition to cutting up cars, the firefighters also received classroom-style instruction in the use of the equipment.

"Marvin Waxham has been a tremendous held to ensure we received the system that would allow us to provide the services needed for the community," Beardsley said. "Tom Eyler, owner of Tom's Auto Repair, provided numerous vehicles for the training. Many thanks to the two gentlemen for their assistance."

The three days of training included the whole department.

A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters program provided $72,705 to the department for the system, personal protective equipment and hazardous materials equipment, Beardsley said. Of the $35,000 cost of the Holmatro system, 95 percent was covered by the grant.