Fairfax (Va.) Fire Department Wins Top Prize in Warn Industries'
Fire/Search & Rescue Contest

CLACKAMAS, Ore. (Aug. 18, 2006) -- A daring bridge rescue of a dangling pickup truck has won the City of Fairfax (Va.) Fire Department the grand prize in Warn Industries' Fire/Search & Rescue Contest for most dramatic real-life rescue story where a winch was an integral part of the operation.

The rescue was selected from among dozens of entries that were submitted to the Warn Industries' web site during the three-month contest.

"The important role that WARN winches played in the Fairfax operation, and the fact that a human life was at stake, made a significant impact on determining this rescue as the grand prize winner," said Mike Dorman, General Manager of Warn Industries' Industrial Division. "It also showed how vital WARN winches can be to a fire department's fleet, and that having a winch on a fire vehicle means savings lives. We congratulate all the entries and especially the Fairfax department for its successful rescue."

Here is the winning submission:

"On April 6, 2006, a pickup truck struck the cast iron handrail on a bridge. The handrail ran through the grill, motor compartment, firewall, and through the driver's thigh before stopping in the gas tank. The truck was hanging on the side of the bridge supported only by the guardrail. A WARN 15,000 lb. winch mounted on the front of the truck was used along with a snatch block to secure the vehicle from falling sideways off the bridge. A WARN 9,000 lb. portable winch was used to secure the vehicle from falling forward off the bridge. The victim was extracted from the vehicle after it was secured and survived the accident."

"If the winches had not been used we would have not been able to safely enter the vehicle to access and extract the victim," said Adrian Munday, a member of the Fairfax Fire Department who submitted the winning entry. "The winches were the primary means of preventing the vehicle from falling off the bridge."

By capturing the contest's grand prize, the Fairfax department will receive a WARN 9.5ti multi-mount winch system, a new Necky Search & Rescue kayak, plus a Humminbird side imaging GPS system.

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Note to editors: High-resolution images of the Fairfax rescue are available upon request. Contact Gaby Lopez at lopezg@warn.com for more information.

About Warn Industries
Warn Industries is the world's most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. The company designs, manufactures and markets a full line of off-road equipment and accessories that enhance the performance of four-wheel-drive and powersport vehicles. Warn Industries employs more than 600 people in and around Portland, Ore., Livonia, Mich., the Netherlands and Saltillo, Mexico. Warn Industries is a Dover company (NYSE:DOV).

For media inquiries:
pressinquiry@warn.com

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