When there is a medical emergency and 911 is called, the Chisholm Ambulance Service and the volunteer First Responders are dispatched by St. Louis County. The First Responders provide basic life support until the ambulance arrives to transport the patient to the Hibbing hospital. When advanced life support is necessary, the Hibbing Ambulance is dispatched as well as other resources.

First Responders respond to emergencies in their own vehicles and may have their flashers on to announce that they are responding to an emergency. Thank you for your cooperation in yielding when you see these vehicles. This allows for a more rapid response time to emergencies.

Generous donations from the community and various organizations have allowed the Town of French First Responders to acquire up-to-date medical equipment necessary for our community. Purchases made from donations include the rescue rig truck; the defibrillator and suction; snowmobile rescue sled and supplies; ice/water rescue raft, trailer, suits and ropes; back boards; air splint; BLS drugs; glucometer; pulse oximeter; medical oxygen and general medical supplies. In addition, French Township Fire Fund tax money is budgeted for miscellaneous supplies and continuing education training.

The French Responders meet monthly to train and conduct business on the first Tuesday of each month at the Fire Hall at 6:30 PM. A minimal pension is available for longer term volunteers through the French Firefighters Relief Association with good standing and dues. Anyone interested in joining the Town of French First Responders should contact any of the above members to obtain information on requirements and available training.

Incidents:

Since 1979, our department has been paged to many calls over the years. Firefighters have responded to many incidents, including structure fires, vehicle fires, wildland fires, car accidents, downed power lines, snowmobile mishaps, searches, boating accidents, and carbon monoxide alarms. In 2020 alone, our firefighters responded to 30 fire calls.

The EMS branch of our department was organized in 1992. Anytime the ambulance is called in our coverage area, our first responders are also dispatched and will be first on scene in an emergency. In 2020, our EMS members responded to 62 medical calls.

Jurisdiction:

In addition to the 36 square miles of French Township, the department also has primary responsibility for 6 square miles of South Bearville Township and 1 square mile of Unorganized Township 59-22 (both in Itasca County), and 1 square mile of Unorganized Township 59-21 in St. Louis County, for a total of 44 square miles. EMS coverage extends to all of 59-21 in conjunction with Chisholm Ambulance. Additionally, the department has mutual aid agreements with Bearville, Evergreen, Chisholm, Kinney-Great Scott, and Greaney-Rauch-Silverdale fire departments. Equipment agreements for wildland fire are also in place with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the US Forest Service.

Resources:

The department maintains 4 emergency vehicles: one pumper, one pumper/tender, one water tender, and a rescue truck. In addition to these vehicles, we also have portable pumps, a defibrillator and 12-lead ECG, a LUCAS Chest Compression System, a rescue sled, some basic extrication tools, and water emergency equipment including four ice water rescue suits – to name just a few items we have on our department.

The fire hall was completed and occupied in 1989, featuring sub-slab electrical heat and 3000 gallons of overhead water storage. In 1992, in cooperation with the DNR, the department developed a Major Incident Action Plan to deal with a large fire or other complex disaster. The plan has served as a template for agencies in other parts of Minnesota, and received recognition on the national level.

Contact:

Fire Chief: P.J. Bjur, 218-969-3323, frenchfiredept@gmail.com

EMS Coordinator: Emily Nelson, frenchfirstresponders@gmail.com

Box 41, Side Lake, MN 55781