Local charity looking to raise funds for new fire suppression tool that can help rural Minnesota first responders
NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. (KVRR) – Technology is always evolving when it comes to saving lives. Especially when it comes to fires, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death. And in New York Mills, a fundraiser has been set up to bring the GreenPort Portable Fire Suppression Tool to the county.
“Anything for the law enforcement for our guys to go in there and help out and suppress the fire right away,” said Bobby Berndt, the New York Mills Police Chief. “Lower the temperature so it doesn’t spread as quickly or even throw it through a window of a vehicle fire so we can suppress it and save their property for the owner of the vehicle or the home. And ultimately save lives.”
This tool can lower the temperature of a room that is on fire, giving first responders time to rescue people stuck inside. It works by releasing aerosol into the air and expands. This would be helpful in rural Minnesota since it can take fire departments some time to make it to the scene.
“Rural fire departments, it takes us time. In the middle of the night, we’re not sleeping at the fire station,” said Nick Roder, the New York Mills Fire Chief. “So we have to get to the station, get our gear on and get to a fire situation. That can take a couple of minutes, it can take 15 minutes. Anything that can knock down a fire can buy us time to get there and suppress it.”
The fundraiser is being run by the Perham Masonic Lodge, to help bring in the needed funds. The idea of the fire suppression tool came from Wisconsin, and now they want to bring it to rural Minnesota.
“We picked up on this and saw the technology and saw the possibility of what this can do. So we decided to move it over here in Minnesota and raise money for our law enforcement and get these equipped in their vehicles.” said Kenny Friese of the Perham Masonic Lodge.
The benefit is set for February 17th from seven to midnight at the New York Mills Ballroom. The funds brought in will provide these tools to the New York Mills, Perham and Wadena Police Departments and the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office.
