According to a report from WBAY, the Suamico (WI) Fire Department (SFD) has cut the ribbon on its new $6 million fire station, a plan that had taken years to complete.

The SFD hosted the private opening on Sunday afternoon, cutting the ribbon at their new $6 million dollar building, which took 10 months to complete.

Suamico Administrator Alex Kaker said that SFD’s previous station, Fire Station 1, was about 60 years old and just 5,000 square feet, which was too small to accommodate the larger fire trucks and increased firefighting technology.

The new station is now 23,000 square feet and features hands-free technology, an air vac garage, and a decontamination zone. SFD Chief Joe Bertler says that the decon hallway aids in a sanitizing process that will decrease firefighters’ risk of getting cancer. He added that firefighters will put their gear in the gear washer and dryer, go into the decontamination and steam showers, wash their personal clothes, and change into an extra set of clothes they brought.

Officials said there are still a few small details to iron out, but they will host a public open house later in the summer after most people have been vaccinated from COVID-19.

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Rosenbauer—Frankford (MI) Fire Department pumper. Ford F-550SD Super Cab and chassis; Power Stroke V8 330-hp engine; Rosenbauer NH 1,250-gpm pump; 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; 20-gallon foam cell; TurboFoam TFC100 Class A foam system. Dealer: Bill Sedlacek, Emergency Vehicles Plus, Holland, MI.

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Rosenbauer—Frankford (MI) Fire Department pumper. Ford F-550SD Super Cab and chassis; Power Stroke V8 330-hp engine; Rosenbauer NH 1,250-gpm pump; 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; 20-gallon foam cell; TurboFoam TFC100 Class A foam system. Dealer: Bill Sedlacek, Emergency Vehicles Plus, Holland, MI.

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According to a report from WTVG, the Richfield Township (OH) Fire Department (RTFD) is auctioning off a Willys fire truck to help pay for new equipment. The sealed-bid auction begins with a minimum bid of $10,000.

At the time the jeep was placed into service, crews would use it to fight all kinds of fires. In its later years, it was only used to battle brush fires. At more than 75 years old, it will once again provide a valuable service to the community after it is auctioned off.

The jeep initially cost about $500 and was paid for with community donations. It has sat mostly idle for more than a decade, and the RTFD has a lot of older safety gear and vehicles in its fleet right now. The proceeds will help pay for some much-needed updates.

RTFD Chief Keith Clonch said that the estimate value of the jeep about $15-16,000. However, if fully restored, he said it could be valued at about $30,000.

Clonch also said that people are coming from all over the country to the old “workhorse.” Visitors have come from as far away as Las Vegas, Indiana, and Kentucky to place bids on the vehicle. A woman in New York has also set up a GoFundMe account to raise enough to buy it and donate it to a museum.

Address sealed bids to Chief Keith Clonch and the RTFD at 11450 Sylvania Avenue Berkey, OH 43504. Bids will be accepted until April 2, with an announcement on the winner April 5.

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According to a report from Minot Daily News, the Glenburn (ND) Fire Department (GFD) is recovering nicely after a fire on March 6 severely damaged its fire hall and contents, and the main reason for the recovery is an unexpected outpouring of help.

Thanks to donations from other area fire departments, the GFD was able to respond (with the Maxbass, Mohall, and Lansford departments) to a grass fire that saved a structure and farm equipment on March 20.

Fire departments that donated gear and other equipment to the GFD include Burlington, Kenmare, Wing, Ray, Tioga, and Maxbass. The Columbus Fire Department donated a 200,000-gallon tanker truck. Wildrose donated a grass firefighting truck and Velva a combination pumper/tanker. Williston Rural donated a fire engine, complete with equipment and gear.

Additional aid also arrived from fire departments as far away as Brainard, Nebraska, which provided air packs and bottles. Departments in South Dakota and Minnesota have also contacted the GFD to provide any help.

And it hasn’t just been the generosity of other fire departments: the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office has sent the GFD an offer of communication radios, and the Minot Air Force Base Fire Department agreed to wash and test hoses that came through the initial station fire to determine whether they remain viable.

Fire departments that are loaning equipment are Antler, a grass-fire unit; Newburg, a combination pumper/tanker; Tolley, a combination tanker/grass-fire unit and extrication gear; Upham, a four-wheel drive grass-fire truck; and Tioga, extrication gear.

Overton said the Glenburn board has yet to act on more equipment that has been offered.

The GFD has received more than $60,000 in direct personal and corporate financial donations, which doesn’t include online donations or by outside individuals and entities for the department.

Minot’s Minotauros is donating $1 per ticket sold for its April 22 hockey game, providing the GFD with some of its own tickets to sell for which it can keep all the proceeds. Also, the Fire and Iron Motorcycle Club, consisting mostly of firefighters and which has a Minot chapter, is planning a benefit ride this summer.

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