$25K donation to Butterfield Fire means new equipment
The check from First State Bank was presented to members of the Butterfield Fire Department and the auxiliary. In the front row, from left to right: Donnie Privett, fire chief; Larry Privett, Butterfield Fire; and Larry Moennig, First State Bank. Back row: Randy Henderson, First State Bank; Rusty Dilbeck, assistant fire chief; Lois Deener, Bauxiliary member; Carl Brown, firefighter; Larry Littler, firefighter; Makenzi Dilbeck, auxiliary; and Billy Garner, firefighter.
September 5, 2018
Charlea Estes-Jones
A generous donation made to the Butterfield Firefighters Auxiliary means the fire department will have new life-saving equipment. First State Bank made a donation of $25,000 to the auxiliary, and that money will go to purchasing new extrication equipment for firefighters to use in vehicle crashes.
According to auxiliary member Staci Dilbeck, they were surprised about the donation. She said, “We received it out of the blue. We are planning on using the funds for extrication equipment. That’s what we are in dire need for.”
Butterfield fire chief Donnie Privett said the extrication equipment will be a huge asset to the department. He said, “This is a monumental purchase for the department. This is huge for us. The purchase of the extrication equipment was one of my main goals when I became chief in January.”
Dilbeck said the auxiliary’s main function is to support the firefighters within the department. Usually that means on-scene support through meals, water and Gatorade when they are on a long fire call. This year, both the department and auxiliary have been extremely busy, and a large donation makes that equipment attainable.
Privett said, “We’re already at 122 calls so far this year. Normally, we do 75 to 80 all year.”
Dilbeck said the auxiliary is excited about the new equipment which has already been purchased and should be delivered in mid-October. “They have not had any new equipment in years,” she said.
Privett said, “We have a combination tool right now. We’ve never had a full set of actual extrication equipment. Without it, we’re waiting an extra 20 or 30 minutes to cut someone out of a car. We are waiting on Cassville, Purdy or Wheaton to bring it.”
All of the 26 Butterfield volunteers will be trained on the equipment by the company before it is delivered. Privett said, “The company will offer training. The trainer will sign off that everyone in the department knows how to use them before we receive them. Most of us are already certified on extrication and vehicle rescues. But he’ll go through each individual volunteer and give training on these specific tools.”
The auxiliary was excited to make the purchase. Dilbeck said, “We are there to support them.”
Dilbeck has been a member of the auxiliary since 2014 and they currently have nine active members. She said, “It takes all of us working together to support the fire department.”
The auxiliary also hosts a chili dinner in March and a country breakfast in June. She said, “We do that for the community and let them see the improvements we’ve made to the fire department in the last year like the loft, a place for storage, rescue truck, etc.; things to serve the community better.”
First State Bank did not have a specific reason for the donation to the auxiliary. Landon Fletcher, bank vice president, said the founder of the bank was originally from Butterfield and they wanted to give back to the community.
Charlea Estes-Jones
A generous donation made to the Butterfield Firefighters Auxiliary means the fire department will have new life-saving equipment. First State Bank made a donation of $25,000 to the auxiliary, and that money will go to purchasing new extrication equipment for firefighters to use in vehicle crashes.
According to auxiliary member Staci Dilbeck, they were surprised about the donation. She said, “We received it out of the blue. We are planning on using the funds for extrication equipment. That’s what we are in dire need for.”
Butterfield fire chief Donnie Privett said the extrication equipment will be a huge asset to the department. He said, “This is a monumental purchase for the department. This is huge for us. The purchase of the extrication equipment was one of my main goals when I became chief in January.”
Dilbeck said the auxiliary’s main function is to support the firefighters within the department. Usually that means on-scene support through meals, water and Gatorade when they are on a long fire call. This year, both the department and auxiliary have been extremely busy, and a large donation makes that equipment attainable.
Privett said, “We’re already at 122 calls so far this year. Normally, we do 75 to 80 all year.”
Dilbeck said the auxiliary is excited about the new equipment which has already been purchased and should be delivered in mid-October. “They have not had any new equipment in years,” she said.
Privett said, “We have a combination tool right now. We’ve never had a full set of actual extrication equipment. Without it, we’re waiting an extra 20 or 30 minutes to cut someone out of a car. We are waiting on Cassville, Purdy or Wheaton to bring it.”
All of the 26 Butterfield volunteers will be trained on the equipment by the company before it is delivered. Privett said, “The company will offer training. The trainer will sign off that everyone in the department knows how to use them before we receive them. Most of us are already certified on extrication and vehicle rescues. But he’ll go through each individual volunteer and give training on these specific tools.”
The auxiliary was excited to make the purchase. Dilbeck said, “We are there to support them.”
Dilbeck has been a member of the auxiliary since 2014 and they currently have nine active members. She said, “It takes all of us working together to support the fire department.”
The auxiliary also hosts a chili dinner in March and a country breakfast in June. She said, “We do that for the community and let them see the improvements we’ve made to the fire department in the last year like the loft, a place for storage, rescue truck, etc.; things to serve the community better.”
First State Bank did not have a specific reason for the donation to the auxiliary. Landon Fletcher, bank vice president, said the founder of the bank was originally from Butterfield and they wanted to give back to the community.