Dundee fire dept. raises over $200,000 in 3 years

Dundee fire dept. raises over $200,000 in 3 years
Dundee Township Volunteer Fire Department received a federal grant this week, in the amount of $49,630. That brings the total amount of money raised by the department through grants at about $205,000 over the last three years.

“We want the people to know that the firemen’s association is putting forth a lot of effort to take care of their community,” said Fire Chief Dan Motylinski.

Dundee firefighters have been successful at securing a series of grants in the last couple of years, to purchase necessary equipment for the department. This is equipment the taxpayers would have otherwise had to pay for.

Last year, the department received a similar federal grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Domestic Preparedness in the amount of $82,288. Each of the federal grants requires only a 10% match by the local taxpayers.

In addition, in 2002, the department secured a $55,000 grant from an anonymous local businessman to purchase a rescue truck for the community. In mid-2002, the department sought and received a grant to purchase a new Jaws of Life, from AAA and La-Z-Boy, in the amount of about $18,000.

All the grants total about $205,000 worth of necessary equipment for the fire department.

Chief Motylinski said the firefighters started applying for this year’s federal grant about a week after they received the last one. It requires a lot of work to complete these grant applications.

“We’ll be applying for a grant for next year, too, if they still have the funding,” said Chief Motylinski.

All of the equipment purchased with the grants is state-of-the-art equipment, which should last the department a long while.

Equipment to be purchased with this year’s grant includes the following.

• A fixed Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Compressor, to be kept at the station, and also used to fill the mobile truck. Cost is $19,736.

• RIT Pack, mandatory new equipment, to outfit a rapid intervention team, a new federal requirement. This team will be packed and ready to go, but standing by in case of a fire. They will only assist downed or trapped firemen in case of fires. Cost: $4,154.

• RIT Accessories, ropes, harnesses, carabiners, pulleys, $2,790.

• Air Bag Lift System, is an inflatable lift for beams, vehicles, and for stabilizing collapses. It is a lightweight, extremely strong, portable lift that will be very helpful to the department. Cost: $6,560.

• 800 MhZ Radios, to supplement the county’s new 800 system. The county is buying other radios for the department as well. Cost of two radios, $6,800.

Last year’s grant was used to purchase a thermal imaging camera, cascade fill tanks, SCBA packs, SCBA spare cylinders and SCBA masks.

Due to an increased population and more development, such as Cabela’s, the Dundee fire department has been responding to an increasing number of calls.

“We responded to more than 500 calls last year, and we will easily exceed that this year as well,” said Chief Motylinski.

He said he occasionally fields calls from members of the public who complain that the fire siren goes off so often.

“What they don’t realize is that the siren itself doesn’t sound between 10 p.m. and 6 or 7 a.m., but the firemen are still called to go out on calls,” said Chief Motylinski.

He added that every business in town that employs a volunteer firefighter has been very good about letting the firefighters respond to the calls.

“I praise that,” said Chief Motylinski. “We’ve covered everything so far. But it’s a concern down the road.”

Assistant Chief Bret Waterstradt said that in addition to the grants used to purchase equipment for the department, the firefighters also are looking at the next new vehicle for the department.
“We made a promise to the taxpayers when they approved the fire millage that we would keep the trucks in a 15 to 18-year rotation,” said Mr. Waterstradt. “We are looking at a pumper-tanker as our next vehicle, to replace a 1983 tanker truck.”

“We also will work with the township as much as possible to get a new fire hall. We want to stay centrally located for the safety of the community,” he added.

A new fire hall is going to be necessary soon, because new fire trucks are too large to fit into the existing building. The last truck purchased didn’t fit into the hall, either, and the back of the building had to be extended to accommodate it; that can’t be done again.


Dundee fire dept. raises over $200,000 in 3 years Dundee Township Volunteer Fire Department received a federal grant this week, in the amount of $49,630. That brings the total amount of money raised by the department through grants at about $205,000 over the last three years. “We want the people to know that the firemen’s association is putting forth a lot of effort to take care of their community,” said Fire Chief Dan Motylinski. Dundee firefighters have been successful at securing a series of grants in the last couple of years, to purchase necessary equipment for the department. This is equipment the taxpayers would have otherwise had to pay for. Last year, the department received a similar federal grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Domestic Preparedness in the amount of $82,288. Each of the federal grants requires only a 10% match by the local taxpayers. In addition, in 2002, the department secured a $55,000 grant from an anonymous local businessman to purchase a rescue truck for the community. In mid-2002, the department sought and received a grant to purchase a new Jaws of Life, from AAA and La-Z-Boy, in the amount of about $18,000. All the grants total about $205,000 worth of necessary equipment for the fire department. Chief Motylinski said the firefighters started applying for this year’s federal grant about a week after they received the last one. It requires a lot of work to complete these grant applications. “We’ll be applying for a grant for next year, too, if they still have the funding,” said Chief Motylinski. All of the equipment purchased with the grants is state-of-the-art equipment, which should last the department a long while. Equipment to be purchased with this year’s grant includes the following. • A fixed Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Compressor, to be kept at the station, and also used to fill the mobile truck. Cost is $19,736. • RIT Pack, mandatory new equipment, to outfit a rapid intervention team, a new federal requirement. This team will be packed and ready to go, but standing by in case of a fire. They will only assist downed or trapped firemen in case of fires. Cost: $4,154. • RIT Accessories, ropes, harnesses, carabiners, pulleys, $2,790. • Air Bag Lift System, is an inflatable lift for beams, vehicles, and for stabilizing collapses. It is a lightweight, extremely strong, portable lift that will be very helpful to the department. Cost: $6,560. • 800 MhZ Radios, to supplement the county’s new 800 system. The county is buying other radios for the department as well. Cost of two radios, $6,800. Last year’s grant was used to purchase a thermal imaging camera, cascade fill tanks, SCBA packs, SCBA spare cylinders and SCBA masks. Due to an increased population and more development, such as Cabela’s, the Dundee fire department has been responding to an increasing number of calls. “We responded to more than 500 calls last year, and we will easily exceed that this year as well,” said Chief Motylinski. He said he occasionally fields calls from members of the public who complain that the fire siren goes off so often. “What they don’t realize is that the siren itself doesn’t sound between 10 p.m. and 6 or 7 a.m., but the firemen are still called to go out on calls,” said Chief Motylinski. He added that every business in town that employs a volunteer firefighter has been very good about letting the firefighters respond to the calls. “I praise that,” said Chief Motylinski. “We’ve covered everything so far. But it’s a concern down the road.” Assistant Chief Bret Waterstradt said that in addition to the grants used to purchase equipment for the department, the firefighters also are looking at the next new vehicle for the department. “We made a promise to the taxpayers when they approved the fire millage that we would keep the trucks in a 15 to 18-year rotation,” said Mr. Waterstradt. “We are looking at a pumper-tanker as our next vehicle, to replace a 1983 tanker truck.” “We also will work with the township as much as possible to get a new fire hall. We want to stay centrally located for the safety of the community,” he added. A new fire hall is going to be necessary soon, because new fire trucks are too large to fit into the existing building. The last truck purchased didn’t fit into the hall, either, and the back of the building had to be extended to accommodate it; that can’t be done again.
		Dundee Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dan Motylinski hands Assistant Chief Bret Waterstradt an SCBA pack at the Cascade fill station. The equipment was purchased with grant money sought by the department. Story here...