Safety Equipment

FAIRMONT - Thanks to grants from the Minnesota Automotive Dealers Association, local fire departments and ambulance crews are getting the emergency rescue equipment they need. On Wednesday, Trimont Ambulance crew members received a new backboard and head brace in part to this grant, which was applied for through Hawkins Chevrolet-Cadillac in Fairmont.
"Our other back board that we have doesn't even have a head brace," said Jody Nelson, chief of the Trimont Ambulance crew. "We were in desparate need of this."
This isn't the first time local vehicle dealerships have helped other local departments receive these donations. Fire and ambulance crews from Sherburn, Welcome, Dunnell and Ceylon have also been awarded through the MADA grants through other Fairmont vehicle dealerships.
These grants will likely become even more important to the small town volunteer fire and ambulance departments due to the economic crunch many cities are facing.
"They've been taking advantage of these grants and that's good," said Keith Vos of the MADA fountation. "I come from a small town myself, and I understand where some of these small town departments are coming from."
"We try to participate in this as much as possible," said Evie Anderson of Hawkins Chevrolet-Caddilac. "We hope to be able to do this again next year."