Fire Department holds open house

The Grygla Fire & Rescue Department held an open house last week where the public could come and visit the fire station, take a tour, watch multiple demonstrations, visit with the crew and take a night off from cooking as the firemen grilled up brats for all the visitors, which were plenty!

Community members were able to get a close-up look at all of the equipment that belongs to the fire station. The original fire station was built in 1979-80. In 1992, a 40x44 addition was added on to the north; another addition was built on in 2012, which measured 44 x 55 to the west.

The station houses numerous pieces of rescue equipment, which includes Unit 1 – the 1st response truck that carries majority of the rescue tools, and Unit 2 – a pumper engine that pumps 1000 gallons of water per minute and carries the fire fighting equipment. Also belonging to the department are two water tenders that carry 3,000 gallons of water each, two grass rigs for wildland fires – each pickup carries 250 gallons of water and has its own ranger it pulls, and a 2006 ambulance, which just recently replaced the 1991 unit on October 27th. The new ambulance was made possible by various donations, fundraisers and Beltrami/Marshall County Con-Con funds. 

The department also owns a snowmobile and rescue sleigh, which has a wheel kit for summer use in response to hunting or ATV accidents. Polaris owns the snowmobile, but donates the machine for a 2-year usage period; the crew can then return it for a new one. This is the 3rd snowmobile that Polaris has donated a sled to the Grygla Fire & Rescue Department.

At the open house, community members enjoyed seeing numerous items on display, along with a few demonstrations from crew members. Vehicle extrication equipment was demonstrated, along with lift bags, which are placed under vehicle tires in case it needs to be lifted off of a victim. The bags were demonstrated lifting the fire truck that weighed approximately 30,000 pounds! Visitors also got a chance to look at the Coffer Dam equipment, which is used to extricate a victim in a grain emergency. 

Currently at 20 members, the Grygla Fire & Rescue Department is always looking for new volunteers to join. If you are interested, please get in touch with Fire Chief Bob Thompson.

Thompson has also provided a first responders report below.

January 1 – October 30th, 2016

Total calls: 41

Of those calls, 18 were medical, 8 wildland/grass fires, 3 structure fires, 3 motor vehicle/ATV accident, 1 search assist, 4 alarm activations and 4 weather watch calls.

Departmental training included a First Responders training for new certification and a refresher course for the experienced, along with a Sky Warn training and local trainings/meetings.