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Platteville Fire Explorers get grant, donation
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Pictured are (seated, from left) Secretary Sebastian Gerhards, Vice President Colten Hying, (standing) President Cody Adams, Community Fund Representative Ron Boldt, (back row) Third Assistant Fire Chief Tom Covert, Morgan McKinney, Brad Dean, Treasurer Jimmy Bogardus, and Fire Capt. Jason Fiedler, the post advisor.

The Platteville Fire Department has received a $1640 grant from the Clarence Gribble Trust of the Platteville Community Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., to support the Fire Explorer Program Safety Equipment.

The Platteville Fire Department has started a Fire Explorer program that introduces individuals 14–20 from Platteville and surrounding areas/communities to the fire service. This program will allow those cadets to be introduced to community service, fire fighting, and a strong team environment. Other programs of this sort have seen their cadets move into volunteer firefighter positions as well as paid full time firefighting positions.

For those cadets to be safe while training and learning, the Fire Department has provided them with spare turnout gear (fire coat, pants and boots). The shortcoming the department realized was the lack of helmets.

The goal is to provide helmets for the safety and well being of the Explorers. While the explorers will not be entering burning buildings, there is inherent danger on any training ground or scene. The helmets greatly decrease that danger.

Each helmet from Bendlin Fire Equipment costs $205. The Explorer post currently has eight cadets, and can have a maximum of 15 cadets. The grant covers one helmet for each current Fire Explorer.

The Fire Explorer program is completely funded by donations. Since this program is just taking off, the need for this equipment is immediate, and future support will be more drawn out and supportable by donations.

For more information about this program, contact Third Assistant Chief Tom Covert, pfdac23@gmail.com.

This grant is made available from the Community Foundation’s Clarence Gribble Trust of the Platteville Community Fund. The Clarence Gribble Trust of the Platteville Community Fund is a resource for area nonprofit organizations whose programs and services are working for the betterment of our communities. Grants from the Clarence Gribble Trust of the Platteville Community Fund have supported the arts, education, environment, health and human services and historic preservation.

For more information about how you can impact your community, contact Barb Daus, 778-3344 or the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, 1-800-995-2379, or visit www.cfsw.org.