Department News

We have received word from the offices of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, and U.S. Congressman Steve Kagan that the Arbor Vitae Fire & Rescue department would receive a Grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The 2007 Grant is in the amount of $58,388.00. The Federal share will be for $55,468.00. The fire department's share will total $2,920.00.

In terms of what this grant means for the department  in the

form of equipment we received:

Fittings for a (R.I.T.) Rapid Intervention Team for use in firefighter rescue

On February 2nd 2007 the Arbor Vitae Fire department was awarded a Department of Homeland Security grant under the Assistant to Firefighters Grant Program. The grant was awarded for the purchase of a mini-pumper quick attack truck. The Federal share to be paid out is $166,250.00 with a matching share of $8,750.00.

The Fire Department approved an additional $16,000 added to the matching share. The total cost of the new truck is $191,000. The Grant was 95$ Federal and 5% local funding.

The truck, pictured below, is being built by Pierce Manufacturing in the Florida plant. The chassis is a 2007 Ford F-550. The truck will have a 750 GPM Hale Midship Pump. The truck has a water capacity of 300 gallons of water, and 30 gallons of Class A Foam. It is also equipped with a Foam Pro 1600 foam system with CAFS. The truck will have 2-200 foot cross lays and 1 3/4 inch hose and will carry 900 feet of LDH and an additional 400 ft of 2 1/2 supply hose.

The truck will arrive in Appleton on June 25th. there it will go through the final customization. The projected delivery date is July 30th.

The new truck will be used to respond to wild land fires, structure fire that are inaccessible to our large apparatus, and conduct water supply operations. The truck will have a 4" front suction.

This purchase could only generosity of the Department of Homeland Securty as well as the donations of hundreds of people.

Look for upcoming pictures after delivery

NEW Equipment Arrives   January 4, 2007

We have received the equipment we ordered as part of the grant we received back in October. Pictured above is the UFP Skid Unit installed in Rescue 2 by our department.

Click on an image for a larger picture.

NEW Certified 1st Responders  December 11, 2006

Three of our Rescue Squad members passed Nicolet Colleges 90 hour State Certification course for 1st Responders. They are Rick Whitehead, Carrie Imlah, and Dave Imlah. Rick and Dave are also members of the Fire Department

Grant Approved     October 2, 2006

On October 2nd the Arbor Vitae Fire Department was awarded a $16,495.00 grant through the DNR FFP (forest fire protection) Grant Program. This is a 50/50 grant of which the department has to provide $8,248.00 dollars in matching funds. On this grant we will be receiving:

 4 - New Helmets

 4 - Pairs of Leather Boots

 6 - Hot Shields

 3 - Helmet Lights

 30 - Helmet Goggles

 800 feet of 1 3/4 " Hose

 400 feet of  1 inch Forestry Hose,

 4 - Hand Tools,

 40 - Gallons of class "A" Foam

 4 - Bladder Bags

 2 - Pieces of 1 1/2" Suction Hose and a UPF Skid Unit with 150 gallons of water,  and  a 5 gallon foam cell. That will be outfitted on the new Rescue 2 Unit.

 1 - Laptop Computer and one PowerPoint Projector.

- SPECIAL DONATION -

Through a generous donation from a local business R & K's Great Outdoors in Arbor Vitae the department received a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit valued at $250.00.This will be invaluable for use in wild land fires, wilderness rescue and emergency landings for pick-up by the  Spirit of Marshfield Rescue Helicopter.

IN 2005 WE FILED FOR AN FFP (FOREST FIRE PROTECTION) GRANT FROM THE WISCONSIN DNR

We received:

25 pairs of Leather Boots

600 Feet of 1 3/4" Rubber Jacket Attack Hose for Engine # 2

2 - 1 3/4" Attack Nozzles

400 Feet of 1-inch Rubber Hose and Nozzle

6 - Hot shield Wild Land Forest Fire Masks

Several Hand Tools

1 - New Stihl Chainsaw

This Grant was worth between $10,000 and $11,000

IN 2005 WE APPLIED FOR AND WERE DENIED AN H.C.S. AFG ASSISTANCE TO FIRE FIGHTERS GRANT

This Grant would have been 95% funded by the state with 5% paid by the department

IN 2006 WE APPLIED FOR AN A.F.G. GRANT

This Grant is worth between $16,000 and $17,000

We applied for:

Helmet Flash

Goggles

800 feet of 1 3/4" Hose

200 feet of 1-inch Rubber Jacketed Hose

4 - Pairs of Leather Boots

4 - Helmet Lamp

1 - Laptop Computer with PowerPoint Projector

Hand Tools

Quick Attack Skid Unit

4 - Hot Shield Wild Land Forest Fire Masks

This Grant is Currently Pending

IN 2006 WE WERE AWARDED AN $1,100.00 GRANT

Which will allow us to reprogram our DHS Radios for mutual aid interoperability

75% of this Grant is paid by the State. 25% is paid by the department

It's a 100% funded Firefighter Safety Grant. Part of the "Everyone comes home" Program. This grant would fund additional Turnout Gear and additional Safety Training

This Grand is currently Pending

ARBOR VITAE FIRE / RESCUE RECEIVED A FOREST FIRE PROTECTION GRANT

The department applied for and received a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forest fire protection grant. Items purchased with the grant include; 20 lightweight helmets, additional Nomex coveralls, class A foam, collapsible backpack pumps, 1" forestry hose, fire rakes, and Pulaski axes, chain saw, strainer, and numerous fittings. 

The ARBOR VITAE FIRE DEPT. has been busy over the past year, with new equipment and members.

The department has purchased a new pierce pumper/tanker. This new truck features a 1250 gallon pump, 2000 gallon water tank, a class A foam system and on  onboard 6000 watt diesel generator. Delivery  was February 2005. This new vehiclereplaced a 20-year old pumper/tanker.