The Sioux County Firefighter’s Association works to enhance readiness and share equipment between the different firefighting agencies of Sioux County.
Purpose & Community
The group meets every quarter of a year in a different town serving Sioux County which includes Sheldon, Doon, and Hudson as well. One of the benefits of the association is being able to share equipment a different fire department might not have, like a grain vacuum. Ryan De Kruyf, Sioux County Emergency Management Coordinator, describes the importance of sharing department resources.
“It’s impossible for smaller departments to have all the resources they need. To know what other departments have available to them. If there were a grain bin emergency in Rock Valley, well we know there’s that mini grain vac in Sheldon so we’d probably be getting that on the way, right away.”
Orange City Fire Chief Dan Roghair explains why he believes it’s important for Orange City and other small fire departments to collaborate.
“That’s your opportunity as well to share things and assets and again training and things like that. Any organization has to do with involvement and has to do with commitment. And so, within that county organization, the more we have people committed the better training we can offer.”
Rock Valley Fire Chief Brent Eshuis echoed Roghair’s statement.
“The more you can get together and actually do a training together, whether it’s a controlled burn or extrication training, the more you can work together, the smoother it’ll go.”
Each participating station pays yearly dues to the organization to help pay for training resources or other things that serve the community. The Sioux County group serves the community by supporting local firefighters and their families in times of crisis. Ryan De Kruyf lays out a time they supported wounded firefighters.
“The firemen that got burned really bed with the Hospers Fire Department, the fire association came together and gave a donation to the family, each fire department yearly pays dues. And so that was able to be a great donation that we were able to give that family just to kinda get a head start. If there’s an unfortunate event where someone passes away we are able to send a memorial to the family.”
Participating Stations
The local fire departments that benefit from the Sioux County Firefighter’s Association are:
- Alton Fire Department & EMS
- Boyden Area Fire & Ambulance
- Granville Fire & EMS
- Hawarden Fire & Rescue
- Hospers Fire & EMS
- Hull Fire Department
- Ireton Fire Department
- Matlock Volunteer Fire Department
- Maurice Fire Department
- Orange City Fire Department
- Rock Valley Fire Department
- Sioux Center Fire
- Sheldon Fire Co.
- Hudson Fire & Rescue
Other Collaborations
The Sioux County Dive team has a mutual aid agreement with the Plymouth County one so both teams will respond to each call when possible.
