By CHRISTIE BLECK
March 20, 2011
From Ingham County Community News
Mason firefighters responded to 191 calls last year compared to 165 in 2009. Big increases were seen in Aurelius Township (13 to 23) and mutual aid (21 to 30).
"Our crews met those challenges and stepped up to those challenges," Minshall said.
Some of those challenges were significant, and included a pickup truck-versus-train accident on Kipp Road, an airplane crash at Jewett Airfield and large fires at Americhem and Launstein Hardwoods.
Minshall noted that the city's investment in training and equipment helped the department handle these emergencies.
The Fire Department conducts a regularly scheduled training practice every other Friday. Other training includes live burns, extrication classes and ice rescue, among other areas.
This year, Mason firefighters are set to participiate in a live burn with Delhi Township on Willoughby Road and holding its own live burn at a city-owned house on Jefferson Street.
Capt. Dennis Howe noted in the annual report, "Familiarization with each other's equipment and personnel are crucial to the success and safety of the firefighters and citizens."
New arrival
In October, the Fire Department took delivery of its new Rescue 806, a pumper that has a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump capacity.
The apparatus also has onboard extrication tools, a generator, foam and more.
Minshall said the apparatus cost about $510,000.
Councilwoman Barb Tornholm said she hopes the department can find "creative ways" to maintain its equipment.
"I'm not sure we're going to be able to keep up with purchasing equipment as we have before," Tornholm said. Minshall said the department is looking into collaborative resources.
"I think you're going to see a lot of departments move toward joint puchase and maintenance," he said.
It's a common problem: fiscal challenges.
"Because everybody's facing the same issues," Minshall said.
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