The lot of the Rome-Floyd County Fire Department Training Center looked eerily similar to roadways of Ga. 140 and U.S. 41 in Adairsville after the Jan. 30 tornadoes.

One car was upended, another was on its side, and one car was on top of another.

Rome-Floyd County firefighters face these scenarios far too often, and too many times someone may be trapped in the vehicles.

The challenge is trying to get to the victims without tipping the car, possibly further injuring the victim and hurting the firefighter.

A new Paratech rescue strut system is expected to help stabilize cars that have rolled over or landed on top of another vehicle or structure in a wreck.

On Wednesday, firefighters received their first training on the new equipment, using cars donated by Shane Rudd and set up by Perry’s Wrecker Service of Rome at the training center located off North Avenue.

Using a variety of equipment including struts and ratchet belts, firefighters and emergency workers can now rescue patients and offer medical aid without worrying if the car is going to move.

The system has a maximum load capacity of 80,000 pounds.

“Before, you could have pushed it, and it would have rolled over,” said Training Chief Roger DeBerry as firefighters worked on a car that was on its side. “Now you can push as hard as you want, and it’s not going to roll over.”

Fire Chief Gordon Henderson remembers a wreck many years ago where a moving truck went down an embankment and overturned in a ditch.

The firefighters had to get under the truck to open the door to get the driver out of the truck.

The new rescue strut system can be used for a structural collapse or trench rescues, as well.

The equipment was purchased through $180,000 set aside for safety needs from the 2009 special purpose, local option sales tax.