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When there’s a fire, minutes, make that seconds,  can have an impact in reducing property damages and injuries and even enhance survival. Wyoming area firefighters  and responders will see response capabilities get a boost courtesy of an early holiday present delivered last week.

Minnesota Masonic Charities donated seven FST fire suppression devices to Wyoming Public Safety.

Police Chief Neil Bauer said the units are easy to use and convenient, being carried in vehicles on-hand without awaiting large rigs and skilled personnel to arrive on a fire scene.  The device emits an aerosolized product about eight seconds after being tossed into a fire,  which also doesn’t hurt electronics of the kind you’d find in a modern car and trucks.  They are valuable in all sorts of firefighting scenarios, according to a Grand Lodge official, Greg Vakovan.

As the Masons’ coordinator for this program; Vakovan said the organization rolled out the first donation last April and this has been popular with a number of first response groups. (Rush City and the Chisago county sheriff also have been recipients.)  “Typically a local lodge will connect with a department” and organize the details, he explained.

In the case of Wyoming Public Safety, the Forest Lake Masonic Hall #344 served as the facilitator for the units. 

Hunter Cloutier, Forest Lake Mason member pictured with Wyoming Chief Bauer,  said, “...the lodge is proud to donate these to help make our community a safer place.”  He encourages anybody who may want to learn more about the Mason’s activities and area charitable projects, to visit the website and find a meeting hall convenient to them.

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