Generator Donated To Twp. Fire Dept. by Parlin Family
By Amy Polk

Les Cheneaux Islands cottager Dave Parlin (left) turns over the Honda generator he is seated on to Clark Township firefighters Keith Kester (also seated) and Clark O'Brien (right). Mr. Parlin and his wife, Linda, donated the generator to fulfill one of the items on the fire department's wish list of equipment and gear they want to upgrade or replace. (Photograph by Linda Parlin)

A generator donated by Les Cheneaux Islands cottager Dave Parlin to the Clark Township Fire Department will enable the volunteers to run a ventilation fan and power tools. Used only once, the 3,000-watt generator has an estimated value of more than $3,000, said firefighter Bill Kohlmann.

A ventilation fan pulls air and smoke out of rooms where firefighters are working and need clear vision.

Clark Township owns three 1,000-watt portable generators volunteers use to illuminate accident or fire scenes.

Gasoline-powered generators are essential at fire scenes where electrical outlets may be unavailable and are especially useful when fighting island fires, Mr. Kohlmann said.

"It increases our operating capacity where we didn't have enough power before," he added. "When we were running the three generators we had, just to power the lights, we couldn't run anything else."

Other recent improvements include 10 sets of turn-out gear, which include a coat, pants, boots, a helmet, hoods, gloves, eye protection, and a bag to store the gear. Gear sets also include a device that sounds an alarm if the firefighter becomes immobile. Gear sets are assigned to each firefighter, so a little more than half the department is using the new sets.

"We still need 12 more sets of turn-out gear, but we would be really happy with about six right now," Mr. Kohlmann said.

Gear sets cost about $1,500 each.

Other outdated items the fire department hopes to replace over the next 10 years include six pike poles for an estimated $1,200; two dock carts for $500; irons sets for $1,000; 100 feet of rubber fire hose for $2,250; four Streamlight light boxes for $520; six safety vests for $210; a portable fire pump for $5,000, and a new Jaws of Life for $12,000. Sometime in the future, Clark Township also plans to replace the fire department's rescue truck for about $125,000.

A Les Cheneaux Community Foundation grant provided the money to buy 22 pairs of boots this summer, and they are expected to arrive this week.

The Islander Bar in Hessel is planning the second of its fire department fundraisers in September or early October.

Donations can be mailed to the Clark Township Fire Department Equipment Replacement Fund, P.O. Box 367, Cedarville 49719.