LA ND O’ LAKES
Oct. 9, 2013
Courtesy of the News-Review and The Three Lakes News
Page 35
Land O’ Lakes
FROM PAGE 33
tion that kicks in automatically when
the power goes out.
“In the event that the power goes out
in Land O’ Lakes, we have power at the
fire station with this generator,” said
Otterpohl. “We also have a radio base
station here in the event something
would happen at the dispatch center in
Eagle River. With the generator and a
base station, we can still communicate
with rescue personnel in an emergency.”
The generator cost the department
$15,000, plus installation, but the
equipment was funded through the capital outlay fund for the fire station.
The department also purchased an
Argus HR 320 thermal-imaging camera
in 2010. The $11,000 purchase was
made thanks to a private donation.
“The camera helps firefighters find
hot spots in the walls of a burning building,” said Otterpohl.
Other trucks
The department purchased a Ford F350 brush truck for $31,000 in 2008. In
2009, firefighters added a wildfire skid
unit to the vehicle and, in 2010, The
American Legion in Land O’ Lakes donated money for a custom tool rack for
the brush truck.
The four-wheel drive vehicle was
originally delivered with a heavy-duty
front bumper and winch, heavy-duty
trailer hitch on the rear, emergency
lights and reflective striping.
“We added the wildfire skid unit that
includes a 250-gallon water tank, 10gallon foam tank, 500-gpm pump and a
100-foot hose reel, to the rear box,” said
Otterpohl. “The pump also can be used
for filling tankers.”
Otterpohl said the skid unit cost
$11,500. He said Conserve School donated one-half of the funds and the
other one-half came out of the department’s budget.
The rig also carries wildland firefighting equipment, including chain
saws, portable water packs, shovels,
picks and axes.
The Land O’ Lakes Fire Department
purchased a $280,000 Pierce pumper/engine in 2007, financed with the
help of a state grant and a loan from the
town of Land O’ Lakes.
The engine features a 1,250-gpm
pump, a 1,000-gallon water tank, and a
compressed air and foam system.
In 2005, the Land O’ Lakes department improved its hazardous materials
response capabilities with a new response trailer. The truck carries hazmat cleanup materials, gear, level A and
level B suits and other equipment.
Other trucks in the department’s
fleet include a tanker and Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) truck, which is used
to transport the Land O’ Lakes RIT to
fires across the area.
Training continues
Training is always a priority for the
Fire Chief Sam Otterpohl showed off the 2013 ambulance by Horton Emergency Vehicles which the Emergency Medical Services
Land O’ Lakes Fire Department. In
2010, fire department personnel were
trained in vehicle extrication and handling airport emergencies. The training
was held through Nicolet Area Technical College.
“Firefighters from Land O’ Lakes,
Phelps, Conover and Eagle River
learned about handling airport emergencies, including dealing with airplane
fuels,” said Otterpohl.
Several department personnel took
RIT training in 2009 and are now members of the Eastside RIT. They are
trained to locate and rescue injured or
trapped firefighters.
Otterpohl said Land O’ Lakes also
teamed up with Conover to prepare a
Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
“The plan will help us prepare for
wildfires as well as help us get Department of Natural Resources grants,” he
said.
The plan includes maps for high-risk
areas for wildfires, highly flammable
areas, land uses and evacuation routes.
“We are always looking for new firefighters and EMTs,” said Otterpohl.
Special equipment
Land O’ Lakes is the home of the
only fire boat in Vilas County. The 25foot pontoon is docked at Cisco Chain
Marina and serves the Cisco Chain
area, which encompasses Land O’
Lakes and Watersmeet, Mich.
The fire boat is a necessary commodity in the area due to the number of
crew acquired this year. The ambulance will aid the crew in reaching remote areas in winter months.
—NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
summer residences located on numerous islands throughout the Cisco
Chain.
Response time to an island fire is
three times quicker by boat to certain
lakeside locations. It may take 30 minutes by road to go around a lake, but the
fire boat could reach the same location
within five minutes, according to Otterpohl.
The Land O’ Lakes Fire Department
also has an inflatable boat and a Rescue
Alive flotation device. The inflatable
boat was purchased as a budget item
from the town of Land O’ Lakes. It is
used for getting onto private lakes, as
well as lakes that have no boat landing.
“It helps the response time because
we can throw the boat in at any location,” said Otterpohl. “Wherever the 911
comes from, we can slide the boat in the
water without going to a boat landing.”
The Rescue Alive was purchased
with money from the residents of Land
O’ Lakes. It is used for ice and coldwater rescues. Many of the department
members have taken the ice-rescue
course.
Land O’ Lakes also has a Polaris sixwheel ATV, used primarily for trail rescues.
The ATV was purchased by the
Emergency Medical Services department with the assistance of donations
and fundraisers. It features a rear box,
which was modified to haul a stretcher.
The Land O’ Lakes Volunteer Fire
Department and Rescue Squad moved
to its present location along Highway B
in 1991. The fire station features four
double bays with rear doors and was
funded by the town.
The 100- by 60-foot building includes
room for eight vehicles, two offices, an
EMT training room, a meeting room
and a kitchen.
Land O’ Lakes
Who do you call?
Police
911
Fire
911
Ambulance
911