3M donates confined space rescue equipment to Prairie du Chien Fire Department
The cost of the new confined space equipment donated to the Prairie du Chien Fire Department by 3M is close to $20,000. Pictured, from left, are Tom Harris, 3M plant manager; Bob Irvine, 3M plant engineer; Harry Remz, Prairie du Chien fire chief; Tim Deluhery, Prairie du Chien deputy fire chief and 3M employee; and Joel Arnold, 3M plant engineering manager. (Photo by Caitlin Bittner)
By Caitlin Bittner
On Tuesday, July 21, 3M officially donated new confined space equipment to the Prairie du Chien Fire Department.
“We’re required to have a back up rescue team,” explained Bob Irvine, 3M plant engineer.
For this rescue team, confined space training is a must, which is why 3M also paid to send a few members of the fire department to Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore to be certified in confined space rescues.
“The equipment cost about $20,000 and we really hope that the only time we have to use it is when we train,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tim Deluhery.
These sentiments were echoed by everyone in the group, glad to have the gear in case of emergency. Although 3M was the company to make the donation, the equipment can be used on any confined space rescue, throughout the county. “People out here have grain bins, silos and sewers. The equipment could function well in any of those circumstances,” added Deluhery.
Fire Chief Harry Remz said the Prairie du Chien Fire Department has benefited quite a bit from partnering with 3M over the years. “This is not the first time they’ve done something for us. We used to send people down to Texas A&M for training. We really appreciate their help. It helps the community.”
Training is one of the most important parts of being a firefighter and being prepared for a crisis can go a long way to making it through. “You train as you fight,” said Joel Arnold, 3M plant engineering manager.
“You have to be ready. It’s a real workout to get someone out of a tank,” remarked Deluhery.
As part of their training, the Prairie du Chien Fire Department makes sure to be familiar with all of the big buildings in town, such as 3M and Cabela’s, so that, if a situation does arise, they will be prepared.
“We do annual tours of 3M,” explained Deluhery. “We need to keep aware of changes so we try to tour so we know where we’re going. We also have [firefighters] who work at these places. We’re not going in blind. You don’t want to get lost in a big place. It takes a lot of training to do what we do.”
