By Kate Klimesh,
Fr. Nick Radloff (l) gifts a St. Florian plaque to Fort Atkinson Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ron Franzen (r). Radloff blessed the department’s new fire truck and gifted the plaque. (submitted photo)
Most people understand the value and importance of their local volunteer fire departments in the rural Driftless Region. But, just to illustrate the impact it can have on the community, we visited with members of the Fort Atkinson Volunteer Fire Department recently to get a feel for what involvement in the life-saving volunteer crew actually means.
Beyond the call to action, volunteer fire departments are community resources of the highest order, especially when a small town doesn’t have access to many other organized services. Those volunteers become community assets with a wide, varied skillset they can apply to multiple aspects of the roles they accept. They answer not only the call to action, but the calls of the community, ensuring the residents and people they serve – at home and across the area on mutual aid calls – stay safe and supported in times of emergency, and as a community.
Fort Atkinson Fire Chief Ron Franzen stated, “Our members bring experience at a lot of things: plumbing, mechanics, carpenters… and that benefits the department and is a great benefit on calls, as they see things with a more in-depth understanding on how to tackle certain situations we find ourselves in.”
He also noted that many dedicated volunteers bring their expertise into play and perform added maintenance on the station or equipment to help it last just a bit longer, as well as save precious time when a call comes in.
Fireman Jay Schwamman added, “You go out into the community with your fire shirt on, anywhere in the area, and you have people thanking you, and find yourself with a lot of best friends. The community is very supportive.”
Franzen added, “and it’s all the local businesses, too, that let these guys leave work when there’s a call. It’s not just for taxpayers in town, it could be for someone we don’t even know.”
Speaking of local businesses, Franzen, part-owner of Franzen Sales and Service, allows the volunteers to use their business shop and truck wash for the fire department vehicles and equipment, as well as minor repair, so the department wouldn’t have to purchase their own.
In smaller towns in the Driftless Region, volunteer fire departments are the only organization of any size that is accessible and available within the community. Which is why they respond to more than just fires, but to storm response and damage, missing persons or children, flood response, fuel spills, river recreation mishaps and storm spotting, just to name a few. They also respond as a group to help with community events, and the Fort Atkinson Fire Department has a tradition of outdoor clean-up at the Community Center and steps prior to the Rendezvous event, as well as trash can and picnic table clean up after the event. They even provide overnight security for the encampments Friday and Saturday for Rendezvous.
The comradery and teamwork they exhibit in response to their community, and the region at large, is also supported by a number of spouses and local businesses.
“We’ll get called out in the middle of the night, and our spouses pick up the responsibilities of the home while we’re gone. And they help us get cleaned up afterwards and tolerate the hours we’re away training and on calls. We couldn’t do it without their support. Often, we’ll come back to the station and they’ll have bars or goodies waiting for us,” reported Franzen.
Local businesses, too, have sent refreshments to the station after a call. It’s their way of supporting the firefighters and all they do.
Fireman Keith Herold estimated they spend around 200 hours each year in trainings, meetings and on calls as a volunteer firefighter. The Fort Atkinson Fire Department gets between 20 and 100 calls each year, depending on the weather for the number of grass fires. All for a whopping $250 tax credit from the state of Iowa. But they don’t do it for the money, they do it for the people in their communities and the region.
They all come together in this common cause, regardless which fire department they are with. Franzen recalled, “That hail storm that knocked out the windows all over town, we responded and were helping board up windows everywhere in town. We didn’t have to call… other fire departments just knew we were in trouble and they came to help. That’s the family we have. We always have lots of help, and make sure no one has to do it all alone.”
Franzen started with the fire department in 1971 has been serving as chief since April 1974. “The biggest reason I stay with it is the support I get from the team, my wife and the town.”
The Fort Atkinson Fire Department, celebrating 126 years of service to the community, received many generous donations and raised funds to get a new fire truck for their use on New Year’s Eve last year, which was gratefully blessed by Fr. Nick Radloff who gifted a St. Florian plaque to them as well for the station.
“We figure we saved the community $100,000 ordering the truck when we did,” stated Schwamman, “we’d been working on getting the new truck and raising money for around five years.”
Franzen added, “If we’re out promoting a fundraiser, it’s not for a party.” Schwamman interjected, “Ron always has projects lined up for fundraisers, so we stay active and have what we need.”
The Fort Atkinson Fire Department finds support from the Winneshiek County Community Foundation as well as the Depot Outlet Foundation. While Franzen reported seeing eight new vehicles (one being an ex-military truck transformed into a tanker through a DNR program) come in to the community during his almost 50 years as chief, he noted not one penny of local tax dollars went into repurposing and refurbishing the tanker through the DNR program. A lot of donations and volunteer work goes into keeping the fire department well-equipped, but it’s the support of the community and their fellow firefighters that makes people want to keep doing it.
A few things almost every fire department needs: new volunteers to take the place of those retiring out, updated equipment and most of them need a bigger space for their trucks and equipment. Many are fundraising for new equipment that benefits all area departments as being readily available within the service area.
Those interested in learning more or to volunteer can contact their local fire department.
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