EAGLE RIVER
Oct. 9, 2013
Courtesy of the News-Review and The Three Lakes News
Page 5
Eagle River
FROM PAGE 3
stage pump, a 12-kilowatt diesel-powered generator, scene lights, 110-volt
power outlets and additional ground
ladders.
Additional rescue duties
Eagle River purchased more than
$68,000 in rescue equipment the past
seven years. Most of the equipment is
used on the department’s rescue truck,
which responds to accidents, fires and
other emergencies.
While the hospital still supplies the
ambulances and paramedics for rescue
calls, the Eagle River Area Fire Department responds with a rescue truck and
trained personnel.
The newest rescue equipment includes front bumper-mounted hydraulic
tools costing $25,000, two car stabilization kits at $8,100, a 10-ton air cushion
lift kit at $6,642, a defibrillator at
$2,000 and six search-and-rescue helmets at $540.
“The hydraulic tools (cutter and
spreader) each have 100 feet of spooled
air hose connected to a motor in the rear
of the truck,” said Bonson. “We can pull
the rescue truck up to an accident scene
and be ready to go.”
The department also purchased 24
Scott voice amplifiers for $6,216
through a grant.
“The voice amplifiers are for the firefighters’ face pieces which promote
where a self-contained breathing apparatus is required,” said Bonson. “They
promote stronger person-to-person communications by projecting the user’s
voice clearer and farther than it would
with no application at all.”
All of the equipment was purchased
through a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, with the grant covering $65,466 and the fire department
paying for 5%, or $3,440.
Because many of the Eagle River firefighters are now trained as emergency
medical responders and are certified in
vehicle extrication, having the proper
equipment was essential, according to
Bonson.
Some firefighters were certified in
cold-water rescue in 2007, when the department purchased a self-inflating ice
rescue boat, Mustang flotation suits,
ropes and life jackets.
The department also has a fully
equipped and trained rapid intervention
team (RIT) to locate and rescue an injured or trapped firefighter.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an average of 100 firefighters
die in the line of duty each year and
thousands succumb to other types of injuries.
Bonson said the department received
a federal grant of $48,279 in 2006 to
purchase equip ment that may be used
during an RIT rescue, including a helmet-mounted thermal-imaging camera
costing $10,500.
“Should RIT be called upon to perform an entry and rescue in the Eagle
Eagle River firefighters Jim Bonson, left, and Jim Kauzlaric display
the department’s new TurboDraft fire eductor. The unit allows the
River area or surrounding communities,
a thermal-imaging camera is an invaluable tool to help locate and rescue injured or trapped firefighters,” said Bonson.
Other gear includes a saw, hydraulic
forcible-entry tool, mobile air cart, hydraulic spreader/cutter and an automatic external defibrillator.
Other equipment
The department purchased a Chevrolet crew-cab pickup truck with seating
for five people in 2008. It replaced a
1995 Chevrolet Suburban.
“The pickup truck is used to transport personnel for training sessions and
conferences,” said Bonson. “It also is
used by our Fire Prevention Bureau. In
addition, it pulls our fire safety house
and our Gator rescue trailer.”
The truck cost about $28,000 and was
funded through the fire commission.
In 2005, Eagle River bought a brush
fire department to tap into water supplies like lakes, streams and
rivers at a distance of up to 200 feet. —NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
truck that is used to battle wildland
fires, according to Weber. The department also is fully trained in the use of
its 2003 pumper, an engine that provides firefighters with state-of-the-art
equipment. The Pierce Saber features a
1,000-gallon tank and a 1,500-gpm
pump, according to Weber.
The $350,000 truck has its own
8,000-watt generator, a compressed-air
foam system and a hydraulic ladder
rack which allows for more storage area
in the engine.
Another unique feature of the truck
is a revolving light tower on the roof
with 6,000 watts of lights, which helps
the department light incident areas at
night.
The truck can carry six personnel
and features an enclosed pump compartment for the operator. Much of the
fire-fighting and rescue equipment,
along with many other items, is carried
in the department’s equipment/person-
nel carrier, according to Weber.
Fire commission
A lot of credit for the new equipment
and training must go to the Joint Municipal Fire Commission, noted Weber.
“Without their backing, we would
still be using outdated equipment,” he
said. “I must also congratulate the officers and men of the fire department for
their devotion to duty and willingness to
demonstrate a very professional image.”
The Eagle River fire station is located at 820 E. Pine St.
The commission includes Carol Hendricks of the city of Eagle River, Scott
Maciosek of the town of Cloverland,
Dave Alleman of the town of Washington, Bruce Richter of the town of Lincoln, and Bonson, commission chairman
and fire department representative.
For more information about the fire
department or fire safety, call (715) 4798835.