WINCHESTER
Oct. 9, 2013
Courtesy of the News-Review and The Three Lakes News
Members of the Winchester Fire Department include, front row from left, Andy Harris, Jim
Cayo, Renee Melzer, Joan Wainio, Sara Moore, Sulo Wainio and Richard Novotny; and
Page 67
back row, Steve Nielsen, Matt Schmidt, Jesse Moore, Bill Sell, Jeff Thomson, Don Melzer
Jr., Fire Chief John Melzer and Brad Durango.
—NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
Winchester gets thermal camera,
plus wildfire gear with three grants
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BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH
NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR
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The Winchester Fire Department
purchased a second thermal imaging
camera and equipment for battling wildland fires in 2013, according to Fire
Chief John Melzer.
The fire chief said the thermal imaging camera was purchased through donations to the department. The camera
allows firefighters to see areas of heat
through smoke, darkness or heat-permeable barriers.
About $10,000 worth of wildland firefighting equipment was purchased with
the help of three grants, including a Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
grant, a Plum Creek Foundation grant
and a Thrivant Financial grant, which
provided matching funds.
“We were able to purchase several
wildland firefighter suits, chain saws
and ground equipment,” said Melzer.
Future plans for the Winchester Fire
Department include updating its No. 2
fire engine with new lighting, updating
a brush truck and replacing its 1983
tanker, which was pieced together nearly 30 years ago.
“This is one of our oldest pieces of
equipment,” said Melzer. “It only has a
1,200-gallon tank and we would like to
get a 3,000-gallon tank like many of the
other departments have. We’ll get rid of
this vehicle and replace it.”
Other future plans include a small
remodel of part of the fire station facility to accommodate a training and exercise area, according to Melzer.
In 2012, the Winchester Fire Department installed a new sign in front of its
station and acquired a new water pump
for one of its fire-fighting trucks.
The department ordered the sign
from Woodworks Signs in Winchester
and funded the $3,000 cost of the project
through private donations, according to
Melzer.
The pump was purchased for $9,500
from Melrose Park, Ill. The pump, which
attaches to the front end of a 1998
forestry truck, pumps water at 500 gallons per minute. Firefighters use the
truck and pump to fill a portable tanker
when near a lake. Although the truck
has no fire-fighting capabilities of its
own, Melzer said the goal is to attach a
tank to it.
The Winchester Fire Department
beefed up its remote rescue capabilities
by equipping its Polaris Ranger XP with
multiple slide-in units and traction options in 2011.
The Ranger now features both all-
terrain tires and snow tracks, allowing
for trail rescues anytime of the year and
in nearly any weather conditions.
“The vehicle was purchased in 2009
and we added a new trailer early in
2010, giving the department a complete
trail rescue package,” said Melzer.
The Ranger’s rear-cargo area features the option of two slide-in units.
One unit includes a water/foam tank
that can be used in the spring, summer
and fall to battle brush fires. A second
slide-in unit can be installed in the winter and used for patient transport when
people may become injured on a trail or
lake.
The department also has a rescue
trailer that can be pulled behind the
Ranger for trail rescues in the summer
or fall. The entire unit is hauled on a
To WINCHESTER, Pg. ???((0