Tools lost off a fire truck by the McNeill Volunteer Fire Department, which were apparently picked up by a passerby, are needed back at the department.

According to a press release from the McNeill Volunteer Fire Department, a rescue truck was responding to an accident call on Saturday when important tools fell out of the truck and into the intersection of U.S. 11 and McNeill-Steephollow Road. The tools fell out of the truck into the intersection because a compartment on the truck was not closed, according to a press release from the department. The tools are described as Holmatro spreaders and cutters and have saved numerous lives in the past. The tools also are known as the “jaws of life.”

Witnesses at the intersection of U.S. 11 and McNeill-Steephollow Road said they saw a person in long wheel base, white Ford F-150 pickup truck pick up the tools and drive away. The tools have not been returned to the department.

The loss of the tools is a great loss to the department as these tools could be needed by the department at any time to save a life.

The department asks the party responsible for picking the tools up at the intersection to bring them back to the station . If the tools are not returned, the party will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, possibly even charged with homicide if there is a delay in an accident extrication that is caused by their not being returned, according to the release.

The department asks for the person who picked up those tools to bring them to the department as soon as possible.