The Plum Coulee Fire Department is now equipped with an upgraded arsenal of cordless power tools, thanks to a pair of local businesses. 

Schnell Industries contributed $7,500 and Access Credit Union pitched in $2,500, totaling $10,000 in new tools and equipment. Vantage Construction also helped supply many of the Milwaukee tools at a great deal. 

"It really feels good to have local businesses support us, to fill the needs that we have," said Fire Chief Tony Fehr at a presentation Wednesday at the new Plum Coulee fire hall. "Our guys, you know, they put in a lot of hours and to have this kind of gift given to us boosts morale in the hall. Guys take ownership of their stuff, of all our stuff here, so everything is treated with respect. (The) guys feel good about it and the support that we get from the community, local businesses and everything that we do, we couldn't do it without that."

Included is a cordless impact driver, disc grinder, a cordless chainsaw for roof venting and tree removal, a leaf blower for assisting with grass fires, scene lighting and other equipment.

Included is a cordless impact driver, disc grinder, a cordless chainsaw for roof venting and tree removal, a leaf blower for assisting with grass fires, scene lighting and other equipment.Included is a cordless impact driver, disc grinder, a cordless chainsaw for roof venting and tree removal, a leaf blower for assisting with grass fires, scene lighting and other equipment.

Brenton Dueck from Schnell Industries is also a member of the Plum Coulee Fire Department.

"Traditionally, a lot of the equipment was generators, extension cords and that kind of thing. So, this means things like extrication on the highway if there is a reciprocating saw needed, there's no generator being pulled out. It's just grab the tool and go, probably chopping down set up time from two or three minutes down to a matter of seconds until we're working with the tools." 

"I've been to multiple scenes and, I said, a high percentage of our calls are highway related," added Dueck. "I've been to many scenes where it was hooking up all the corded tools and it took time and there's people hurting, and we just want to help as quick as we can and being able to get to them that much faster. it just really puts the relief on everybody when we can help out faster." 

While these are tools Chief Fehr hopes members will never have to use, he said having them at the ready means they'll be better prepared when the time comes. 

With many of Schnell's employees living in the Plum Coulee area and travelling to work in Winkler, Dueck noted, this was a cause near and dear to the company's heart.

"We originated out of Plum Coulee. In fact, the Plum Coulee Fire Department is currently in the building that Schnell Industries was in for quite a few years. So, it's kind of, you know, a little bit of a connection there. Some of our employees are also members of the fire department, so it kind of creates a close connection there as well."

Meantime, fire fighters are setting into their new digs at the former Schnell plant in Plum Coulee. It has been converted to house the fire department and local public works department. A grand opening celebration is being planned for Saturday, April 20th. Past and present fire fighters, along with the public, are invited to come check it out. 

With files from Connie Bailey