A salute area fire departments
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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 41
Hageman fundraiser comes to fruition for area fire departments $60,000 raised for much-needed equipment By Kate Klimesh A tractor accident last fall that saw the rescue of Ossian’s Kyle Hageman from a turnover on Clay Hill Road turned into a mission for his family to support area fire departments. Their fundraiser to make good of a bad situation raised $60,000 for much-needed rescue equipment to ensure the county’s emergency personnel have the tools they need to ensure better outcomes from what could be tragic accidents. In January, Decorah Fire Department Chief Mike Ashbacher ordered the Paratech equipment needed. Together with the funds from the Hageman Family’s efforts, funds from the Decorah Rural Fire Protective association fundraisers and funds from the annual Winneshiek County Firefighters Association Bull Bash, the department was able to acquire $78,000 in new, life-saving equipment. With a truck and trailer in tow at the end of August, members of the fire department traveled to Frankfort, Ill., just 30 miles southwest of Chicago, to pick up the equipment ordered. “We had wanted to get this equipment since right after
The Hageman family was very excited to see the fruits of their efforts, turning what could have been a tragic accident into much-needed support for area fire departments. More photos inside, page 5. (submitted photo) Kyle’s accident last fall, when we knew we didn’t have the equipment we truly needed but had the best possible outcome using what we had. We had people in a bad, dangerous spot, but we knew there was an opportunity to get better equipment,” stated Ashbacher. Three members attended a training last year and had the opportunity to train with heavy duty Paratech structural support rescue equipment. Ashbacher recalled, “At that time, they had noted it would be a great tool for structural
collapse situations and heavy equipment accident rescue, but we didn’t have a lot of structure collapse calls – until the following week after they returned, we got a call for a partial structure collapse. And then the tractor/ trailer accident.” “We have a building full of equipment we hope to never have to use,” Ashbacher continued. “But, we do have to use it, and it’s so good to have it in-house now. The Hagemans were instrumental in getting this funding for us and in this equipment coming to fruition.”
The family of firefighters
Equipment Ashbacher explained the equipment doesn’t just do one job, but has many attachments and can be useful in many situations: grain elevator rescues, tractor and heavy vehicle rollovers, semi accidents, construction equipment accidents, structural support for building collapse, trench collapse and much more. The columns use air pressure to raise up heavy objects, with locking collars to create stability in unstable circumstances for rescues, or to create stable rigging to help
move firemen into position for rescues in tight places. The equipment they used for the Hageman rescue supports 5,000 pounds. The new equipment can support up to 80,000 pounds and has been proven to withstand the force of a highrise building crashing on top of it without failure. And the equipment will bolster all area fire departments’ capabilities, as it will be easily transportable upon request of mutual aid. “There’s still a lot of training for the guys to do on the new equipment,” Ashbacher added,
Fr. Nick Radloff (l) gifts a St. Florian plaque to Fort Atkinson Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ron Franzen (r). Radloff blessed the department’s new fire truck and gifted the plaque. (submitted photo)
A glimpse into the work behind the rescue By Kate Klimesh Most people understand the value and importance of their local volunteer fire departments in the rural Driftless Region. But, just to illustrate the impact it can have on the community, we visited with members of the Fort Atkinson Volunteer Fire Department recently to get a feel for what involvement in the life-saving volunteer crew actually means. Beyond the call to action, volunteer fire departments are community resources of the highest order, especially when a small town doesn’t have access to many other organized services. Those volunteers become community assets with a wide, varied skillset they can apply to multiple aspects of the roles they accept. They answer not only the call to action, but the calls of the community, ensuring the residents and people they serve – at home and across the area on mutual aid calls – stay safe and supported in times of emergency, and as a community. Fort Atkinson Fire Chief Ron Franzen stated, “Our members bring experience at a lot of
things: plumbing, mechanics, carpenters… and that benefits the department and is a great benefit on calls, as they see things with a more in-depth understanding on how to tackle certain situations we find ourselves in.” He also noted that many dedicated volunteers bring their expertise into play and perform added maintenance on the station or equipment to help it last just a bit longer, as well as save precious time when a call comes in. Fireman Jay Schwamman added, “You go out into the community with your fire shirt on, anywhere in the area, and you have people thanking you, and find yourself with a lot of best friends. The community is very supportive.” Franzen added, “and it’s all the local businesses, too, that let these guys leave work when there’s a call. It’s not just for taxpayers in town, it could be for someone we don’t even know.” Speaking of local businesses, Franzen, part-owner of Franzen Sales and Service, allows the volunteers to use their business
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shop and truck wash for the fire department vehicles and equipment, as well as minor repair, so the department wouldn’t have to purchase their own. In smaller towns in the Driftless Region, volunteer fire departments are the only organization of any size that is accessible and available within the community. Which is why they respond to more than just fires, but to storm response and damage, missing persons or children, flood response, fuel spills, river recreation mishaps and storm spotting, just to name a few. They also respond as a group to help with community events, and the Fort Atkinson Fire Department has a tradition of outdoor clean-up at the Community Center and steps prior to the Rendezvous event, as well as trash can and picnic table clean up after the event. They even provide overnight security for the encampments Friday and Saturday for Rendezvous. The comradery and teamwork they exhibit in response to their community, and the region at large, is also supported by a number of spouses and local businesses.
noting a representative would be coming in October to show the full capacity of the new equipment, whether monopod or bipod usage, in many different scenarios. Ashbacher stated, “We are fortunate to have such great community support to help us acquire this. It’s the same equipment FEMA uses, topof-the-line. Again, we hope we never have to use it, but this will help us make sure any future incidents or accidents can have a better chance of being one of the good stories, like Kyle’s.”
“We’ll get called out in the middle of the night, and our spouses pick up the responsibilities of the home while we’re gone. And they help us get cleaned up afterwards and tolerate the hours we’re away training and on calls. We couldn’t do it without their support. Often, we’ll come back to the station and they’ll have bars or goodies waiting for us,” reported Franzen. Local businesses, too, have sent refreshments to the station after a call. It’s their way of supporting the firefighters and all they do. Fireman Keith Herold estimated they spend around 200 hours each year in trainings, meetings and on calls as a volunteer firefighter. The Fort At-
kinson Fire Department gets between 20 and 100 calls each year, depending on the weather for the number of grass fires. All for a whopping $250 tax credit from the state of Iowa. But they don’t do it for the money, they do it for the people in their communities and the region. They all come together in this common cause, regardless which fire department they are with. Franzen recalled, “That hail storm that knocked out the windows all over town, we responded and were helping board up windows everywhere in town. We didn’t have to call… other fire departments just knew we were in trouble and they came to help. That’s the family we have. We always have lots of help, and make sure no one has
to do it all alone.” Franzen started with the fire department in 1971 has been serving as chief since April 1974. “The biggest reason I stay with it is the support I get from the team, my wife and the town.” The Fort Atkinson Fire Department, celebrating 126 years of service to the community, received many generous donations and raised funds to get a new fire truck for their use on New Year’s Eve last year, which was gratefully blessed by Fr. Nick Radloff who gifted a St. Florian plaque to them as well for the station. “We figure we saved the community $100,000 ordering the truck when we did,” stated Schwamman, “we’d been working on getting the new truck and raising money for around five years.” Franzen added, “If we’re out promoting a fundraiser, it’s not for a party.” Schwamman interjected, “Ron always has projects
Firefighters
continued on page 3
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