PLUM LAKE
Oct. 9, 2013
Courtesy of the News-Review and The Three Lakes News
Plum Lake
FROM PAGE 45
on people from the community for service and continued support.
“It takes a lot of effort, and I applaud anyone who does this,” he said.
“There are 144 hours worth of classes,
plus a lot more that goes into the service, and we appreciate those who are
interested in joining us.”
Plum Lake EMS averages nearly
300 calls a year, and the fire department makes nearly 40 runs. The department covers Star Lake, Sayner
and St. Germain, and works cooperatively with each town on mutual aid.
Plum Lake EMS volunteers meet
the first Wednesday of every month.
In recent years, the department received an Assistance to Firefighters
grant that helped provide training for
the new Rapid Intervention Team
(RIT), which has since joined the West
Central RIT consisting of five fire departments in the area — Arbor Vitae,
St. Germain, Plum Lake, Boulder
Junction and Minocqua.
Other recent additions included
jumpsuits and boots. Previously, the
department received a $32,000 U.S.
Homeland Security Department grant
that was used to buy a filling station
for air tanks, as well as a thermalimaging camera. Six years ago, the department took delivery of a four-wheel
drive personnel carrier.
The Plum Lake department built a
new fire station 10 years ago at the intersection of Froelich Lane and Glenbrook Lane in Sayner, one block west of
Highway 155, behind the Vilas County
Historical Museum. The department
previously occupied two bays in the
crowded town garage, but moved into
the new 70- by 70-foot fire station in
2002. The separate EMS building is located south on Highway 155.
The station features two drivethrough bays and a total capacity for
five rigs, an office, a meeting room, a
utility room with a washing machine,
and restrooms complete with showers.
The combination steel-and-block building also has hydronic in-floor heat.
There is a large-capacity well on the
property for refilling water tanks on
the engines and tankers. An on-site
generator can be used to power the
well and the building lights. The structure houses engine No. 1 and tanker
No. 1 in addition to the Gator and the
new Ford F-350 brush truck.
The fire department puts on several
annual fundraisers, including the
Fourth of July chicken barbecue and
spaghetti dinner at the end of summer
to help supplement funds from tax appropriations and donations.
The department holds its annual
firemen’s dinner and sponsors the
Sayner Old-timers Softball Tournament.
THANK YOU
to our local emergency
and rescue personnel!
LAND O’ LAKES
RHINELANDER
4348 Highway B, Unit B
715.547.6118
1630 N. Chippewa Dr.
715.361.5480
THREE LAKES
WOODRUFF
6951 S. Michigan Street
715.546.2543
611 Veterans Parkway
715.358.8610
CLINADS-011
Page 47
Plum Lake Fire Department members, Michael Errington, left, and Jerry Keller show the
pumps housed on the back of the Ford F-350 brush truck.
—NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
“The fire department really appreciates the support from residents and
nonresidents at these fundraisers,”
said Rasmussen, who added that the
department will continue to work toward its goals of recruitment, training
and retainment and providing safe,
quality equipment.