National First Responders Day in October honors the bravery and dedication of first responders who keep people in our communities safe. We’re shining a spotlight on the Cottonwood Fire Department, and a grant from the Cottonwood Area Community Foundation supporting this essential public service.
Cottonwood’s fire department has 23 members. From responding to emergencies to conducting preventative measures like inspections and public education, firefighters are always on standby to protect and serve. Their responsibilities include operating emergency vehicles, administering first aid, performing rescues and maintaining firefighting equipment. Firefighters also educate residents about fire safety and prevention.
Numbers from the Minnesota State Fire Department Association show that our state has the second highest percentage of volunteer fire departments in the nation at 93 percent, and the average cost to train and equip a firefighter is $27,095.
Our community foundation partner the Cottonwood Area Community Foundation granted $1,000 to help the local fire department to purchase additional equipment for a new tanker/pumper truck that replaced a very old tanker truck.
Chief Jeremy Dieken has been on the Cottonwood Fire Department for 24 years and is grateful to have strong local support.
“We put the funds toward a new portable radio with headset for the pump operator to use. Any help from programs like Southwest Initiative Foundation and Cottonwood Area Community Foundation is always greatly appreciated as we continue to get better equipment to serve our community and our rural coverage area!” Jeremy said.
The Cottonwood Area Community Foundation was established in 2019 in partnership with Southwest Initiative Foundation. Our network of 31 community foundations supports passionate people with the resources to make positive change. A team of local advisory board members is in charge of fundraising, recommending grants, telling stories of good work happening locally and promoting their town.
Since 2021, the Cottonwood Area Community Foundation has granted more than $221,000 to support school programs and extracurriculars, the Cottonwood Splash Pad project, the local food pantry and more.
Current board chair Linda Dieken was part of the group that launched the CACF in 2019. You may notice Linda’s last name is the same as Jeremy’s: She’s his mom, so she sees firsthand how hard the fire department volunteers work.
“The volunteers of the Cottonwood Fire Department spend many hours training, staying up-to-date with regulations and being on call 24-7 ready to respond to emergency calls for fires, farm and auto accidents, and other rescue situations. The least we can do is help provide up-to-date equipment to keep them safe and show we appreciate them and their dedication to our community,” Linda said of the CACF grant.
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Support your local community foundation or another fund that benefits a cause you care about close to home. See a full list of our partner funds in southwest Minnesota.
