---

Goods collected by a local organization to aid a small eastern European country in improving fire fighting capabilities are on their way. The International Fire Relief Mission loaded up a semi trailer truck in Wyoming last week, which headed to Rochester, Minnesota for additional items, and then went to the east coast for overseas shipping.

Mark Allen, of International Fire Relief Mission, said it'll take about 45 days for the donated fire fighting items to arrive in Chisnau, Moldova. Allen, a Lindstrom resident, and others will arrive in Moldova soon after to show the departments how to use the donated goods and spread some some Christian fellowship.

Allen and Ron Gruening spearheaded an aide mission over this summer after a trip with their church to Moldova on mission work. (Story in Press in July).

With shared backgrounds in emergency services and fire fighting, they realized there was a great need for upgraded equipment.

Allen said there is so much used fire fighting equipment here that's obsolete or doesn't work with new systems, and it seemed a shame to have it all just gathering dust. The Fire Relief Mission was established as a charitable organization and Allen and Gruening started putting the word out.

Fire departments from all donated items-- from large items like an air compressor (Lindstrom F.D.) and used vehicles, to gloves and turnout gear.

Allen thanks General Safety-Rosenbauer for its donations and for assistance with storage of donations. Sunrise Fiberglass also, for cooperating on storage.

Northwest Airlines has given the mission seven 'round trip tickets which Allen said will transport the training team to Moldova, in November.

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman's office also came through for the effort when red tape at the State Department, as the coordinating agency for the overland travel of the equipment, started bogging down.

Sen. Coleman's press spokesman Luke Friedrich said, "The senator is thankful we could play a small role in helping move things along. We made a few calls... I'm glad to hear it all worked out." Coleman's staff basically stepped in as liaisons for communications between official channels and the mission's needs.

Allen says the aid effort hopes to continue to send periodic shipments of donated items to needy fire fighters in and around eastern Europe. The International Fire Relief Mission has sort of blossomed into something with a life of its own, he added. Donations of cash to support the mission work are gratefully accepted through the Kost Church in rural North Branch. Send checks to Kost Church, with the Intl. Fire Relief Mission noted on the memo line-- in care of the church at 37405 Kost Trail, North Branch, MN 55056.

---