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

Friday May 5, 2005

    The Grinnell Fire Department had their Annual Firefighters Banquet on April 22, 2006 at the Eagles Lodge.  Fire Chief Dan Sicard presented many firefighters with service awards.  The Fire Department recognizes firefighters for a 1 year probationary period, 5, 10 15, 20 , 25 and 30 years of service.  They all receive a certificate embossed with "Old Betsy" in the background noted with the accommodation they received.  There is also special achievement given at the 20 year mark, the firefighter will also receive a Gold Badge.  This years recipients were as follows.  

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.