Caledonia Argus

City township cooperation improves fire protection

Posted: 10/8/02

by Tom Murphy
Special to The Argus

A new pumper truck was entered into service by the City of Caledonia and the Caledonia Rural Fire District this summer.ÝThe unitÝ immeasurably improves fire protection to the 140 square mile area served by the Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) and is another testament to the good working relationship between the city and the rural fire district which serves parts of ten townships in the Caledonia area.

Planning began in February, 2001 at the annual Rural Fire District meeting.Ý At that time, the fire district projected how the pumper would be financed over five years.Ý These estimates were then taken to township residents at their annual March meetings.ÝDetails on the new fire truck were worked out and made available for public reviewÝ andÝlevies were approved by township residents in 2001.ÝRural fire district officers said the fire protection levy will cover the annual obligations of the fire department's operations.

Gone is one 1960 Ford 500 gallons per minute pumper.ÝIt had served as a backup, even though it failed annual pump tests.ÝAt one point, the newest pumper, a 1985 Chevy, was out of service for 2 1/2 months waiting for parts.ÝThe 1960 pumper will be sold on sealed bids.Ý La Crescent sold a comparable unit at the county auction in the range of $1,500 to $2,000.ÝÝ

The new fully equippedÝunit was purchased at a cost of $237,331 and split evenly between the rural fire district and the city of Caledonia.ÝThe equal cost sharing is new after a review of the old cost sharing based at that time on the actual adjusted market value.ÝThe city and the rural fire district, after a meeting with county assessor Tom Dybing, agreed the rural fire district had 54 percent of the totalÝadjusted market value.ÝWhile the city and the rural fire district do split nearly all of the expenses, there are some exceptions. Last year, the city paid for all of the shingles and roof repair to the fire barn.Ý The city also pays the entire cost its fire marshall.

The total expenditure included $44,277 of additional loose equipment which was purchased in this manner in order to avoid sales tax, which would have been applied had they been purchased separately.ÝÝ That loose equipment included 1000 feet of five inch hose.ÝWhen the Augedahl Construction fire occurred, Caledonia firemen found the five inch hose used by the Houston Fire Department in mutual aid especially beneficial.ÝìYou getÝ about triple the flow of water over our four inch lines,î CVFD Chief Charles Gavin explained.ÝThe firemen feel the addition of the larger hose better match the water supply.Ý ìWe have the best water supply in this part of the state,î Gavin said.Ý ìWe have an excellent feed on Main Street,î he said after the new improvements. ìYou need the higher water flow for hotter fires we now have.î

Also purchased were additional three new air packs for the pumper at a cost of $20,372.Ý ìWe now have 18 comparable units,î he said.

Members of the panel were shown figures that the city and rural fire districtÝhad spentÝan average ofÝ $34,127 per year for the last five years on new equipment.

The new pumper will have triple the water supply of theÝ1960Ý pumper.ÝThe 1975 unitÝwill become the backup.ÝThe 1,500 gallon per minute pump will be complete with a foam unit.ÝFoam is new to rural areas andÝGavin said, ìItís better than water.î The dispenser portion of the foam unit also measures the quantity of product dispensed at each fire.ÝInsurance companies of property owners will now receive an additional bill for the amount of foam used at each particular fire.Ý The fire department will keep a minimum amount of the expensive foam in its inventory.Ý It has a backup agreement with La Crosse county to have more foam delivered in an emergency in a fire involving gas or oil fires.

The new pumper also has four doors which allows transportation of five fire fighters.

Gavin and second assistant chief Mike Meiners met with the city the rural fire district at several meetings.ÝThey emphasized that new materials in buildings cause higher combustion, burn hotter and faster than building materials of decades ago. It requires better trained firemen and better equipment.Ý New materials require the use of the new equipment which can put triple the amount of water on a fire.Ý The foam is also a very effective fire fighter.ÝWith the addition of a thermal imaging camera, the department will also be able to locate the rescue people from fires and locate and focus fire fighting efforts onÝ ëhot spotsí which become clearly visible on the camera.ÝFunds for the camera were donated by people and businessesÝfrom the community.

The strong demand for fire equipment increased after 9/11.Ý That incident caused a five month delay in delivery of the truck to CVFD.

While the debt to the Farmers Home Administration will be paid in February, 2006, Chief Gavin made it known that he hopes to replace the current backup 1975 pumper at that time.Ý He said that 25 years is about the standard for equipment replacement in rural areas.

What comprises Rural Fire District #2?

Parts of the following townships are in Rural Fire District #2:Ý Black Hammer, Brownsville, Caledonia, Crooked Creek,ÝMayville, Mound Prairie, Sheldon, Union, Wilmington and Winnebago. As an example, fire departments from Houston, Mabel and Spring Grove also serve Black Hammer.ÝResidences are designated to each fire district based on ìwho can get there the quickest,î Gavin said.ÝHe said the fire chiefs had met at the sheriff's office recently and decided what rural residences would be assigned to the fire districts.ÝìActually, Caledonia gave up some area because another department could get there before we could."

Here are the rural fire districts serving residents of Houston County: #1-Brownsville; #2-Caledonia; #3-Eitzen; #4-Hokah; #5-Houston; #6-La Crescent; #7-Mabel; #8-New Albin; #9-Spring Grove; #10-Rushford.

Rural fire district, city conferees

The members of Rural Fire District #2 are Jerry Frank, president; Maynard Welscher, treasurer; mayor Bob Burns; councilman John Klug; Bob Nelson, secretary; Chief Gavin; Mike Meiners; and township representatives Glenn Meiners, Greg Myhre, Kermit McRae, Glenn Kruse, Roland Bolduan, Marty Ranzenberger, Gene Tessmer, Andy Moen and Dale Runningen.

CVFD officers

In addition to Gavin and Meiners, other officers for 2002 of the Caledonia Volunteer Fire Department are:ÝBob Lemke, first assistant chief; Terry Ranzenberger, secretary; Mark Betz, treasurer; Walter Macomber, fire marshall; and Jesse Peterson, custodian.

Personnel changes in the department reported this year were the addition of Doug Colsch and Matt Ginther, Joel Hesse, Brad Hoscheit and Pat Jilek.ÝBob Burns and Tony Klug retired from the department in 2000 and Jake Hauser retired in 2001.ÝRetiring this year were Bill Klug, Paul Schiltz and Bob Jacobson.Ý ìWe are aggressively looking for four to five new fire fighters,î Gavin said.ÝìWe are looking for more ëdayí people.î

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