Source: Mahaska Chamber and Development Group
When Oskaloosa firefighters return from a call, getting a truck ready for the next emergency can depend on something simple: enough hose that can be trusted to hold pressure.
For the Oskaloosa Fire Department, that need had become harder to meet as portions of its hose inventory continued to age. Some of the department’s hoses are 25 to 40 years old, and more of them have failed annual testing in recent years, Oskaloosa Fire Chief Scott Vaughan said.
Each year, fire hose is tested by being pressurized to a required level and holding that pressure for five minutes. Vaughan said the department had identified its 2 1/2-inch hose as a growing concern. The hose is not used as often as the smaller attack lines firefighters regularly pull, but sitting on a truck for long periods can create its own wear.
“We just consistently saw more and more failing every year to the point where it was time to make this switch and make sure that these guys had the equipment they needed to obviously work safely and get the job done,” Vaughan said.
A $25,000 donation from Clow Valve Co. will help the department replace that aging hose, strengthening firefighter safety while also easing pressure on the department’s budget. Vaughan said the need reflects a broader challenge for fire departments as equipment costs rise and public budgets remain tight.
“What we’re seeing is a trend of our needs outpacing the money that’s coming in,” Vaughan said. “Budgets are tight everywhere. It’s not just here, but it’s everywhere. So it’s great to be able to reach out to community partners like Clow.”
The partnership between Clow and the fire department is not new. Vaughan said the department has used Clow facilities for confined space training, and Clow employees have also served with the department. Mark Willett, vice president and general manager of Clow Valve Co., said the donation began with Austin Glandon, a Machine Tech Specialist and a reserve firefighter with the Oskaloosa Fire Department. Glandon helped identify the need and brought the opportunity forward.
“He brought this opportunity to us, identified a need within the fire department they were able to address,” Willett said.
Willett said the gift also reflects the company’s broader commitment to the people and community around it.
“We demonstrate that through obviously caring for our employees, but also caring for our community that does business in and supports us,” Willett said.
