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BUFFALO LAKE, MN 55314

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Buffalo Lake Volunteer Fire Department

The Buffalo Lake Fire Department was organized in 1896. The fire department is an all-volunteer service, consisting of a 25-member roster. At this time, 25 members is our maximum number of firefighters. We do have applicants on file, so if an opening becomes available, we have resources to call on to try and fill the roster. Applications are filled out along with a personnel information file, a medical history file, and an employer authorization release form. When an opening occurs on the roster, an applicant will be called in for an interview with the officers of the fire department. If the applicant successfully passes the interview, they are instructed to obtain a general physical from a doctor of their choice. After the applicant meets all requirements, the fire department members vote at the next regular meeting to accept or decline the applicant. If accepted, the applicant will be placed on a probation period, 6 months to 1 year depending on past experience.

The fire department holds regular monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month, unless that date is a holiday or other conflicts of interest arise. Our regular training meetings are on the third Thursday of each month again depending on the issues at hand. We have a training officer within our department that handles training or we do have set-up with Ridgewater College where they send an instructor down to our fire hall to help us with training.

The fire department does have retirement program in place for active members. Each year so many dollars are put into a fund for each firefighter. A minimum number of years have to be put in before the firefighter is eligible to qualify for benefits. No payouts are made to the firefighters until they reach the age of 50 years. A firefighter who has been on the department of a minimum of 20 years would be fully invested. Each year after that, they would occur an interest allowance on their invested money. Firefighters who put in less than 20 years have their payment prorated depending on total number of years served.

Election of officers is held each January. All officers are eligible for re-election if they so choose. The voting is done by the consent of members who are at the meeting. At present, our officers are:

Fire Chief – Gayle Deal

1^st Asst. Chief – Corey Pagenkopf

2^nd Asst. Chief – Kurt Schultz

Safety Officer – Dave Kienitz

Training Officer – Bryan Ehlers

Secretary – Nathan Rath

Treasurer – Brent Hillman

            Funding for the fire department is done mainly through a city charge on resident and commercial water bills, and our section rates with the local townships we serve. At present we cover 67 ½ sections on the following townships: Boon Lake, Hector, Grafton, Martensburg, and Preston Lake.

            In 2004 we were fortunate to receive a grant from F.E.M.A., which is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Our total grant was $88.845.00. Of that total, $80.919.00 was paid by F.E.M.A. with our percentage being $8,919.00. This was the third year we applied for a federal grant, but the first time we were selected for one. With the grant, we were able to up-date our total department with new turn out gear, wild-land fire gear, 12 new SCBA unit, which are the air-pacs we wear in a smoky situation, 3 new water rescue suits for use with our boat, and other personal protection equipment. The fire department is very thankful for receiving the federal grants.

•             In 2003 we up-dated our truck fleet with the addition of a new 2004 International 4 – door pumper. This truck is equipped with diesel engine, an Allison automatic transmission, 1250 gpm pump, foam capabilities and 4 SCBA units mounted in the seats for quick and easy access. With the SCBA units mounted right into the seats, firefighters can easily and quickly put them on enroute to a fire. This is particularly critical if the fire consists of the possibility of people still in the burning building. Using foam to fight fires is becoming more popular due to the decrease in amount of water needed to extinguish a fire. The foam blankets the fire and smothers it, sticking to the area for a length of time. 

• Our second pumper is a 1982 GMC. This truck is equipped with a 750 gpm pump. We carry 2 SCBA units on this truck in the side compartments. 

• The rescue truck is a 1981 Chevrolet with a 20’ rescue van box mounted on it. In the rescue truck we carry 6 SCBA units set up so all the firefighter has to do is sit into the unit and buckle up and be ready to go. This unit also carries our extra hand held radios. It is equipped with a TNT Rescue System used for auto extraction and other emergencies that might need heavy metal objects cut apart. The rescue truck also carries ventilation fans, chain saws, roof ventilation saws, and misc. tools, ropes, and blocking used in different structures. We also carry 3 extra sets of turn out gear in the rescue truck if needed. Our spare SCBA tanks are also carried in the rescue truck along with some emergency medical supplies, such as; oxygen, backboards, and splints. This unit usually is dispatched with the ambulance to the scene of a motor vehicle accident. 

• The 1977 Dodge grass rig is a 4 x 4 unit with a slide-in skid unit, used for small fires or reaching fires in hard to get to areas. It has a 250-gallon water supply, the skid unit is powered by a 18 hp Briggs & Stratton engine. The pump can deliver from 100 gpm to 300 gpm depending on the engine rpm.  
  
  Our fleet consists of 3 tanker trucks, giving us ample water to start an attack on a fire. 

• The 1979 Mack diesel carries 3000 gallons of water and has a port-a-tank that can set-up at the scene to hold water for the pumpers to draw out of. It has a stainless steel tank and 5-speed transmission. 

• Our 1988 Chevrolet tanker is a 357 gas powered unit with a 10 speed transmission. It has 2300-gallon stainless steel tank and carries a 1500-gallon port-a-tank. 

• The third tanker is a 1981 diesel with an automatic transmission. This truck is equipped with a 3300-gallon aluminum tank. This particular truck was made available to the department through the D.N.R. The tank was originally a 5000-gallon aviation fuel truck operated by the U.S. Air Force. It has 6721 original miles on and is in very good shape for its age. This project was completely funded by the fire department. Total cost of the project came in at $20,000.00 with having the tank reduced, sand blasting and painting the entire unit and having the lights installed. After seeing the completed unit, some townships did make a contribution to the project to help defray the cost and for those donations, the fire department is thankful.

            Our fire department is broken down into truck committees where fire fighter is assigned to certain unit. It is the responsibility of these committees to maintain, service and clean the units. We also use a rotation system as to which unit will be in charge of our annual pancake breakfast held in July during Buffalo Lake Days and our fall benefit held in September. Each year a different unit is responsible to organize these events, but all firefighters are required to help the day of the activity.

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Last modified: 06/27/07