Sheldon Fire Department receives Conservation grant

Billy Neuenschwander, left, from the Missouri Department of Conservation presents Sheldon Fire Chief Bill Jeffries with a check, Tuesday.

Gabe Franklin

Sheldon Fire Department received a grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation Tuesday to help purchase equipment for fighting wildfires.

The department has purchased four gas-powered leaf blowers which will be used for fighting fires in short grasses and leaf litter in wooded areas.

Billy Neuenschwander from the Department of Conservation presented Sheldon Fire Chief Bill Jeffries with the $899.98 check — half of the $1,800 total cost of the four gas powered leaf blowers.

The leaf blowers are particularly effective in wooded areas not accessible by fire department apparatus or beyond the reach of firefighting hose lines.

Approximately two years ago, Sheldon Fire Department received a grant from the same program to purchase wildland firefighting personal protective clothing. Wildland firefighting PPE is lighter than the structural firefighting PPE most often seen by the public and reduces the weight and heat stress on a firefighter.

Additionally, Sheldon Fire Department has recently placed into service a new tanker used primarily for hauling water to fires. The tanker is a military surplus 5-ton truck acquired through the Department of Conservation’s Firefighter Property Program.

The fire department replaced the bed on the truck, mounted a 2,000-gallon water tank, a pump and emergency lights and siren. As per the program requirements, the truck was repainted.

Jeffries said the department has spent approximately $7,000 building their new tanker and that ordering one from a manufacturer could cost more than $200,000.