IOLA & RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND AMBULANCE SERVICE
Community Appreciation Page
The Iola & Rural Fire Department & Ambulance Service truly appreciates all of the support the community has given us over the years. This support comes in many different forms. It might be a community member or organization doing a fundraiser on our behalf or giving us a donation. It could involve a local business willing to donate a raffle prize for our department's Fall Festival. We have had community members bring in meals for our department after an emergency response or training session. But this support also involves our community "having our back" in other ways like supporting our town and village boards as decisions are made regarding our department. Our community support is what makes it possible for this department to provide the level of service that we do. This page is in appreciation to all those who have supported our department over the years!
Neighborhood Appreciation Fundraiser Event 2025
On July 27th, 2025 Cindy and Claud Berry held a SECOND appreciation fundraising event for our fire and ambulance department. Once again, Cindy and Claud pulled off another great event! Music was provided by Cousin Lou and the Redeux with an Iola-Scandinavia school group called the "T-Bird Rockers" joining in a few sessions. Even though the weather was a little warm out, there was plenty of food, water, raffle prizes, and music to keep crowd entertained. Once again, a great time was had by all who attended. The Iola Fire Department & Ambulance Service would like to thank Cindy and Claud, along with everyone who attended this event, for their generous support - it is truly appreciated!
Iola Fire & Ambulance Fall Festival 2024
Each year our department holds an annual Fall Festival. This is our main fundraising event of the year where we have food and beverages, exhibits, demonstrations, and activities along with several raffles and drawings throughout the day. As you can see by some of these photos, our community members support this festival very well!
(By the way, our Fall Festival in 2025 is on October 4th, starting at 3PM... mark your calendars!)
To see a video of the sponsor list showing all of those who supported our 2024 Fall Festival with a cash donation or door prize, click on the image below.
What We Have Done With Some of Our Community's Generosity...
With budgets being a concern and the cost of emergency equipment always rising, it is often difficult for departments to get the type of equipment that can improve their efficiency at an emergency scene. With this in mind, departments often rely on fundraisers and donations to be able to make those type of improvements for their department. Shown below are just a few of the items that our
department has fully or partially paid for with fundraised and/or donated funds.
This LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System provides consistent and highly effective chest compressions to a person in cardiac arrest. In our rural setting where transport times can be long, this device can make a significant difference.
This Ready Rack locker system made is much easier to keep our turnout gear organized and clean
These Holmatro battery powered extrication tools replaced an old hydraulic system we had before. They make a tremendous difference in the efficiency at which we can extricate a victim in a motor vehicle accident.
This is a multi-gas meter which allows us to detect and identify various types of gasses which may be leaking in an area. Its accuracy and versatility allows us to detect anything from a small furnace leak in a home to a large natural gas main leak in the village.
This is a thermal imaging camera. It allows us to see through smoke within a burning building which is critical for us to be efficient at searching for and rescuing victims in a burning building. It can also be used to find hot spots at a fire as well as locate missing people at night.
This is an electrically powered positive pressure ventilation fan. We use it to force smoke or gasses out of a building either from a fire or a gas leak.
These were each major purchases for our department but have all made a significant impact in how effective we can resolve an emergency situation in an outdoor setting. Our two squads (pickup trucks) are each hooked up to a trailer which has either a Med UTV or Fire UTV loaded onto it. Their primary function is in hauling our UTVs to emergency scenes such a grass fires, tree stand accidents, or any other emergency scene which is not easily accessible. However, our squads are used for numerous other functions including fire rehab, transporting firefighters and EMTs to training sessions or scenes, or hauling hose or equipment to and from scenes. Living in a rural community, these vehicles have proven their value many times.
Community Appreciation Fundraiser Event 2023
On August 6th, 2023 an appreciation fundraiser for our department was held at the home of Cindy and Claud Berry. Cindy and Claud had a fire at their home the previous year and in appreciation for what the fire and ambulance service did, they organized and held this great event. A large crowd of community members came to support this event and to listen to the band Dammit Jim as they performed. It was an amazing day which everyone there seemed to enjoy. In the end, this event raised $6000 for our department. Thank you Cindy and Claud for everything you have done!
**For those of you who missed this event, Cindy & Claud are hosting another one this summer on July 27th from 1-5pm. Join**
us for a great afternoon of fun!!
