Lutsen’s safety equipment made a nice display in the Lutsen Town Park recently. (L-R) Lutsen Fire Department’s 2011 tactical tender, 2005 pumper and the new 2014 rescue truck.
The Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department was treated to a picnic at the Lutsen Town Park on Wednesday, September 3, to celebrate its relationship with General Safety of Wyoming, Minnesota. Adding to the scenic beauty of the town park was a display of three of the state-of-the-art emergency vehicles that the Lutsen department has purchased from General Safety—a fire engine, tactical tender and rescue truck.
The celebration was hosted by General Safety representatives Steve Harris and Lutsen homeowner Kevin Kirvida. Kirvida is affiliated with Rosenbauer which provides fire equipment and airport vehicles worldwide.
Lutsen Fire Department spokesman John Groth said, “Both Kevin and Steve have been instrumental in upgrading Cook County fire departments with new vehicles.”
Groth said in addition to Lutsen’s three vehicles, General Safety has helped with the purchase of vehicles for the Tofte, Grand Marais and Gunflint fire departments.
“Our relationship with Kevin and General Safety started in 2005, when with the help of donations totaling
$100,000 from Lutsen residents and other great people, we bought our first new vehicle—a leap in 31 years from our only pumper, a 1974 truck.”
Lutsen has been involved in many fires since obtaining its general pumper: the Ham Lake wildfire, the Bluefin Bay Resort Fire, the fire at two houses at Devil’s Track Lake, the Finland church fire and others. “With this new equipment, and great firefighters and first responders, the Lutsen Fire Department has changed from a defensive department to an offensive fire department.”
Lutsen’s emergency vehicles will be on display again this weekend at the annual pancake breakfast, Sunday, September 21 from 8 – 11 a.m. at the Lutsen Town Hall.
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