7-16-09 Full time Driver Position Opening: The Grinnell Fire Department has started the process to fill the position of Driver/Dispatcher. Please check back soon for a full description and when a test date will be posted.
11-15-08 The Grinnell Fire Department hosted an open house for Retired-Firefighter Larry Cox on Saturday evening at the Grinnell Eagles. Fellow firefighters and family gathered for a private meal and friends joined an open house and dance afterwards. Larry retired in August with 30 years of service. He was presented a Custom Painted Leather Fire Helmet as a sign of appreciation from Fire Chief Dan Sicard on behalf of the Department. Many firefighters shared memories along with family members and Larry was honored throughout the evening.
9-8-08 Grinnell Fire Department Receives $16,500 from Monsanto Fund to Help Fund Training Supplies for the New Public Safety Building
Grinnell, IA September 5th, 2008: The Grinnell Fire Department today announced it has received $16,500 from the Monsanto Fund, a private foundation and the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, to help fund training supplies for the new Public Safety Building. This program will provide new state of the art training software, up to date training manuals and supplies for the Volunteers to construct a search and rescue maze in the new building. “The Grinnell Fire Department is pleased to team up with the Monsanto Fund to address the needs of our community,” said Daniel Sicard, Grinnell Fire Chief. “This grant will allow us to support our Volunteer Firefighters with the best, most up to date, training available.” The Grinnell Fire Department protects approximetly 150 square miles covering the City of Grinnell and portions of both Poweshiek and Jasper Counties. The Department is made up of 5 full-time firefighters and 28 volunteers. Last year they responded to 470 calls for service. “As Monsanto continues to grow and expand its facilities in the Grinnell area, we are proud to be a part of the continued growth of the City of Grinnell and the surrounding area. Safety awareness at home and in the community are as important to Monsanto’s employees as safety awareness on the job. I feel a modern state-of-the-art public safety building is key
to a successful community safety awareness program. ”, said Al Henderson, Plant Manager of Monsanto.
The Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company. Incorporated in 1964, the Fund’s primary objective is to improve the lives of people by bridging the gap between their needs and their resources. The Monsanto Fund is focused on grant-making in four main areas: nutritional well-being through agriculture; science education, primarily on professional development for teachers; the environment, which includes conservation, protection of biodiversity, clean water and restoration of wildlife habitat; and improving the quality of life in communities where Monsanto employees live and work.
6-9-08 The Grinnell Fire Department held it's annual election of officers. The following are the results for the 2008-2009 year.
Scott Schmidt Assistant Chief of Operations Dan Walker Assistant Chief of Training Craig Sieck Captain Brett Epperly Lieutenant Mike Groves Lieutenant/Safety Officer
Don Ellis President Dave Byers Vice President Ken Conner Sec/Treasurer
12-23-07 The Grinnell Fire Department will be hosting a FF1 class starting January 16, 2008 from 6-10:00 pm. The class will run for 12 weeks with Saturday 4 hour class added after class size is finalized. Anyone interested please contact Captain Dan Walker @ walker@prirescue.com. The class will be open to everyone in the Poweshiek and Jasper county area. There will also be a FF2 class starting on February 20, 2008.
April 11, 2007 Grinnell Annual Firefighters Ball Check those mail boxes! The Grinnell Fire Department has sent out it's mailing for the Annual Firefighters Ball. This year the fire department is raising money for a Thermal Imaging Device. This will help enhance the firefighters ability to quickly perform a primary search in a house fire. The initial time saved by firefighters when they enter the house is the most crucial time in getting the occupants to safety. With the ongoing support of the citizens from the Grinnell Fire Department area the department will be able to call the fund raiser a success! Thank you for all your support today and in the future.
October 8, 2006 Today is the kick off for National Fire Prevention Week. The Grinnell Fire Department started the week with a great start serving nearly 1000 people for it's Annual Fire Prevention Breakfast. The Fire Department will be doing numerous tours and fire prevention presentations throughout the month of October. Don't forget Operation EDITH (Exit Drill in the Home) Wednesday night the 11th at 6:00 PM. Please meet at a central place in yard This year we are very excited about a new project. We are giving away Smoke Detectors for FREE. See get FREE Smoke Detectors for more information. Always Remember, Time to change clock, it is time to change your batteries in your smoke detectors. Stay safe
July14,2006 The Grinnell Fire Department and Wanda White will be hosting an open house and dance for Pat White who has just retired from the Grinnell Volunteer Fire Department with 30 years of service. The Open house will be at the Eagles Hall across the street from the Firehouse on August 5, 2006. Time will be Tuesday June 13, 2006
The Grinnell Volunteer Fire Department held it's annual elections last night and elected the following firefighters as their officers. Asst. Chief Scott Schmidt Captain Dan Walker Lieutenant Craig Sieck Safety Officer Mike Groves President Paula Ingle Vice President Ben McFarland Sec-Treasurer Ken Conner
Saturday April 22, 2006 The Grinnell Fire Department hosted the 128th annual Firemen Ball tonight. Route 66 was the Band for the evening. This is one of the main fund raisers for the Grinnell Volunteer Fire Department. It was a huge success and a big Thank You goes out to all who contributed and came and spent the evenings with the Firefighters. As a little appreciation on behalf of the Fire Department, 4 smoke detectors, 4 fire extinguishers, and 4 GFD hats were given away as door prizes at the dance. The GFD Ladies Aux also had 2 1/2 hog raffle plus $25.00 of processing, The two winners were Ellie Renaud and Dan DeMott. The hog was donated Barney Bahrenfuse Thursday November 3, 2005 The Grinnell Volunteer Firefighter's Association announced this week that it received 20 new self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that will be donated to the Grinnell Fire department, offering updated equipment that will act as a life line for anyone stepping through smoke and flames. Nearly $88,000 was brought in by the association over the past 2 years through grant writing and fundraising campaigns. The group wants to raise $115,000 total, so it can purchase four more SCBA. Another four were provided for the local department through a federal Homeland Security grant. The SCBA that are currently in use are more than 40 years old, so the new equipment, which all firefighters will learn to use over the next month, will improve firefighter safety. It also brings the department into compliance with national firefighting standards. The units each have a built in alerting system that will sound if a firefighter is immobilized, an electronic voice box that amplifies what a firefighter is saying. The equipment is also 15 pounds lighter than what is now in use, which feels more comfortable because the weight is distributed to the hips rather than the shoulders. " It is a shame we had that old equipment as long as we did. Our volunteers are finally protected to the level they should have been many years ago," said Dan Walker, Volunteer Training Captain for the Grinnell Fire Department. One of the candidates running for against an incumbent on the Grinnell City Council has complained that the bidding process for the firefighters' equipment has not been open, questioning how funds were used and how the bidding process worked. But no city funds were used to purchase the equipment, and the volunteer group bought the Scott Air-Pac breathing apparatus only after considering using similar units made by two other companies. The association thanks residents and businesses that made the purchase possible. Financial support came from the following: Alliant Energy Foundation, Claude and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, Donaldson's Company Inc., Fraternal Order of Eagles, Grinnell College, Grinnell- Newburg Community School District, Hammond's Hallmark, Jeld-Wen Foundation, Sully Cooperative Exchange, and Monsanto Corporation. If you have an upcoming event planned and want it posted, email us at the link listed below.