Association president says community’s support vital to purchase
By Heather Ruenz
Editor
The support of the community was essential in the purchase of a new Utility Terrain Vehicle, according to Dave Rockteacher, president of the Eagle Fire Department Members Association and 45-plus year member of the department.
“We saved for over three years from money we raised at our fundraisers – Kettle Moraine Days and pancake breakfasts,” Rockteacher said. “We’re thankful for the community’s continued support which allowed us to purchase the UTV.”
The vehicle, chosen because it has tracks in addition to wheels, provides an additional 6 to 8 inches of ground clearance when the tracks are on it.
“That’s big, especially in this area with all of the thick, wooded terrain. We have the wheels for it but will leave the tracks on for the most part,” he said.
The vehicle came at a hefty price, to the tune of $25,000, but was worth saving for, Rockteacher said. In addition to Kettle Moraine Days (cosponsored by the Eagle Lions Club and Eagle American Legion Post) and the pancake breakfasts, the association held a one-time gun raffle last year to bring in additional funds.
“We fundraised $23,500 to go toward it with only the remaining $1,500 coming out of the budget,” he said. “It’s important that people in the community realize their donations helped greatly with this purchase.”
The multipurpose UTV, which was purchased at East Troy Marine, can be used in a variety of rescue situations, including cross country skiing, horseback riding and snowmobiling on the numerous trails in the area. Of course, regular maintenance and upkeep will be required for the vehicle, to ensure that the vehicle remains in top shape – the ATV handlebars need to provide a strong grip, the engine needs to provide enough power for rough riding through difficult terrains, and many other technical considerations come into the picture.
“It will also be used in grassfires because it can travel safely in areas where the ground is soft because it’s on tracks,” Rockteacher said, adding that the vehicle has a 55-gallon water reservoir and portable pump on it.
Though the vehicle wasn’t officially in service at the time, it was used last fall when a mountain biker was injured in an area of thick brush well off of the Emma Carlin Trail near Highway Z in the Town of Palmyra.
“We didn’t plan on using it but once two other off-road vehicles broke down during that rescue we came and picked it up,” Scott Kugel, captain of the department, said. “The patient had to be carried out by rescuers for some distance because of the thick brush, but we were able to get the UTV far enough in to transport him the last mile or so out of there.”
The department added a Stokes basket to the vehicle as well – a lightweight rescue stretcher used to move a patient safety in rescue situations where a vehicle or cot cannot be navigated – for use in situations such as the trail rescue.
Now that the UTV is officially in-service it’s listed on the Eagle Fire Department’s box alarm system. The department typically provides mutual aid to Palmyra, Mukwonago, North Prairie, East Troy and Dousman and also works closely with the DNR but is willing to go as far as needed to aid others.
“If it’s needed anywhere we’ll be glad to help out. The UTV is trailered and ready to go. All they have to do is call us,” Rockteacher said.
The department, he said, is thankful to have the UTV available and he hopes members of the community realize the role they played in the purchase of it and also that the department fundraised for most of the money needed.
“It’s important that they know where the money came from. People supporting our fundraisers really do help us out and we’re very thankful for that,” Rockteacher said.
