Lutsen Fire Department donates old turnout gear to Ukraine and holds fundraiser for new gear

On Friday, June 14, community members gathered on the west end to support the Lutsen Fire Department at the 8th annual Lutsen Block Party.

The block party included a fundraiser for new firefighting turnout gear for the Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department. “We’re buying new turnout gear, ten sets of turnout gear. They’re quite expensive. So they thought this would be a good way to help raise those funds,” Lutsen Fire Chief Steve Duclos said.

As the fire department prepared to retire the old turnout gear, the volunteer crews decided donating the gear to those in need would be beneficial. After meeting two Ukrainian refugees, the fire department donated eight sets of old turnout gear to Ukraine. “They were greatly appreciative to get that. They said some people over there fight fires in the same clothes that you and I are wearing. So it’s good to help a brother across the sea like that,” Duclos said.

In more Lutsen Fire Department news, Duclos said the Lutsen Fire Department recently joined the Tofte Fire Department in handling a fire at Pancore Lake. There were “Two structures that were a total loss, he said. “I do believe it’s under investigation.”

Duclos said the department is also repairing fire hydrants at Lutsen Mountains and Lutsen Resort.  “Both of those are slotted to be replaced this year before the ground freezes,” he said.

Last but not least, Duclos said community members can be assured plenty of fish sandwiches will be available at the Tofte July 4th celebration to raise funds for the department. “Usually, we do 125 pounds. We went up to 150 pounds this year. Given the day of the week, it’s on Thursday this year, so people are going to have a longer weekend. I missed the first one last year since we’ve been doing it, and it sounds like we were sold out before the parade even [began]. So we upped it a little bit.”

WTIP’s Chuck Olsen interviewed Lutsen Fire Chief Steve Duclos at the Lutsen Block party on Friday,  June 14. The audio from the interview is below.

Chuck Olsen June 19, 2024