By Milt Helmer

Members of the Freemasons of Hancock Masonic Lodge in Ellsworth and the Durand Masonic Lodge presented the Plum City/ Union Fire Department with a portable state-of-the-art fire suppression tool on Wednesday, July 13 at the Fire Hall in Plum City.

These small devices fit in the trunk of squad cars or other first responder vehicles and can dramatically reduce fire and water damage in enclosures like houses, garages, stores, or sheds. They are lightweight and easy to deploy; just “pull the pin and throw it in,:” and within 35 seconds, the fire is suppressed and the temperature inside the enclosure drops over 1,000 degrees, making it a safer environment to extract trapped firefighters or citizens.

These devices save lives – and the freemasons of Ellsworth and Durand are proud to donate these to help make our community a safer place.

Members of the Plum City/Union and Elmwood fire departments are shown here with members of the Freemasons from Hancock Lodge 229 in Ellsworth and Durand Lodge 149. (From left): Rich Brommer, Mike Hunter, both of Durand; Patrick Mooney of Hancock Lodge, Elmwood Fire Chief Tom Joyce, Plum City Fire Chief PJ Hines, Kraig Krueger of Hancock Lodge, and Mike Hayden of Durand Lodge. Photo courtesy of Milt Helmer